If your baby has a serious illness or accident it or accidentntly – njury at speed by a movin 50p piecedownis important to get medical attention as soon as possible. The following symptoms should always be treated as serious:

• A high-pitched, weak or continuous cry.
• A lack of responsiveness, lethargy or floppiness.
• In babies, a bulging fontanel (the soft spot on a baby’s head).
• Not drinking for more than eight hours (taking solid food is not as important).
• A temperature of over 38°C if your baby is less than three months old or over 39°C if your baby is three to six months old or a raised temperature that you are unable to bring down.
• A high temperature, but cold feet and hands.
• Fits, convulsions or seizures.
• Turning blue, very pale, mottled or ashen.
• Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, grunting while breathing, or if your child is working hard to breathe, for example, sucking their stomach in under their ribs.
• Your baby or child is unusually drowsy, hard to wake up or doesn’t seem to know you.
• A spotty, purple-red rash anywhere on the body. (This could be a sign of meningitis.)
• Repeated vomiting or bile-stained (green) vomiting.

It can be difficult to know when to call an ambulance or go to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, but use the following as a guide.

Call an ambulance for your child if they:

• stop breathing;
• are struggling for breath (you may notice a sucking in under the ribcage);
• are unconscious or seem unaware of what’s going on;
• won’t wake up;
• Fall from a height or are hit at speed by a moving object;
• Have a major head injury;
• Have a severe burn larger than the size of a 50p piece;
• have a fit for the first time, even if they seem to recover;

Take your child to A&E if they:

• have a fever and are persistently lethargic despite taking paracetamol or ibuprofen;
• are having difficulty breathing (breathing fast or panting, or very wheezy);
• have severe abdominal pain;
• have a cut that won’t stop bleeding, is gaping open, or they have amputated a finger;
• have a leg or arm injury that means they can’t use the limb, or;
• have swallowed a poison or tablets;

Most importantly – trust your instincts. You know better than anyone what your child is usually like, so you’ll know what’s different or worrying.

Basic First Aid for Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can be terrifying for the injured person and anyone that has to give basic first aid care. The most important thing to remember is that basic first aid is used to stabilize the eye prior to going to the hospital. You should never attempt to remove foreign objects from an eye or perform any other treatment beyond basic first aid. Leave the detailed treatment to the professionals.

The thing that makes eye injuries so traumatic for the person trying to administer first aid is the distress that the injured individual is experiencing. It is hard to remain calm when someone is traumatized about his eye injury. But the best thing you can do is remain calm and apply basic treatment before heading to the hospital.

First Aid Supplies

Since you should never try to remove large foreign objects from someone’s eye, the last thing you want in an eye first aid kit is a pair of tweezers. Eyelashes and small debris can be washed out of an eye using a saline wash or warm water.

Your first aid kit should include a cold compress for several reasons. If something strikes a person in the eye, then the cold compress will reduce the swelling and the pain. Cold compresses also help reduce irritation that causes itching. It helps to reduce the itching especially on small cuts above the eye or if sand gets in someone’s eye.

Believe it or not, small paper cups are a necessary part of any eye injury first aid kit along with surgical tape. Anyone who gets a large object lodged in his eye, or needs the eye isolated to protect it on the way to the hospital, needs a small paper cup like a Dixie cup over the eye. The cup prevents you from having to place direct pressure on the eye which could make the damage worse, and protects the eye from irritating debris. The surgical tape is used to hold the cup in place.

Protective Eye Equipment

The most common form of eye protection is the use of soft, vinyl protective goggles. These goggles have a hard protective covering on the front and ventilation holes in the side of the goggles to prevent the front from steaming up. The soft, vinyl goggles are the best because they sit away from your eyes and have a better chance of absorbing a nail or other projectile while still protecting your eyes. Goggles that sit like glasses on your face and are often too close to your eyes to offer comprehensive protection.

If goggles are uncomfortable for you, then consider using a protective shield. It is made of hard plastic to protect the eyes, but it covers your entire face as opposed to just your eyes. Many people find shields more comfortable to wear than goggles and appreciate the fact that shields protect the rest of your face from flying debris as well.

Common Eye Injuries

Blunt Force

People often think of punch in the face when blunt force to the eye is mentioned. But blunt force can come from a broom or rake handle that you step on, a tree branch that you walked into or a plastic child’s toy that was thrown at your eye. While the conditions may seem amusing, the results are not. People take blunt force blows to the eye more frequently that you would imagine, and they can become serious injuries.

The first thing to do in the case of a blow to the eye is put a cold compress on the eye. If there is blood or obvious damage to the eye, then get to a hospital immediately.

Let the cold compress sit on the eye for a minute or two and then re-assess the situation. If the person cannot see out of the eye, or the eye is swelling up quickly, then put the compress back over the eye and get to the hospital. If the cold compress has helped the swelling and the person can see out of his eye, then he will have a nice shiner for a few weeks but he should be fine. The eye should still be looked at by a professional as soon as possible to make sure there is no permanent damage.

Cuts to the Eyelid

People working in a kitchen can make a movement that gives them a cut directly on the eyelid. Small children playing with sand in a sandbox or at the beach can rub sand in their eyes and cut their eyelid as well as grind sand into the eye. The simple act of passing someone a piece of paper can swipe across the eye at the wrong angle and cut the eyelid.

With cuts to the eyelid, it is important to follow the right first aid procedure to ensure that the person does not sustain any further damage. The most important thing to remember is that you should never apply pressure to the eye or the eyelid in this situation. If there is something stuck in the eyelid that caused the cut, then you will push that object deeper into the eye. You could also tear the eyelid if you apply pressure.

The best thing to do is to cover the eye with a small paper cup to prevent bacteria or debris from getting into the cut and get medical assistance immediately. This is an injury that only a professional should deal with to prevent further injury.

Chemicals in the Eye

Someone using household cleaning chemicals could rub their eye and get those chemicals in their eye. It is a common situation that requires quick action to prevent long-term damage to the eye.

If someone gets chemicals in their eye, wash the eye immediately with warm water or a saline eye wash and then get the person to the hospital. Do not put anything over the eye as that could just agitate the chemicals even more. If the chemicals have made the person sensitive to light, then cover his head with a towel before taking him to the hospital.

Symptoms

People scream in agonizing pain for a variety of injuries. That is why a reaction to pain is not a symptom to use when trying to determine if someone has an eye injury. Each eye injury is different, but they all display a similar set of symptoms that you should watch for.

The common symptoms of an eye injury are visual trauma to the eye, swelling of the eye, sensitivity to light, a persistent burning of the eyes, a constant watering of one or both eyes and impaired vision. If you see these symptoms, then you know it is time to put your new-found eye first aid abilities into action.

Written by Sara Reynolds from TravelInsurance.org.

http://www.travelinsurance.org/basic-first-aid-for-eye-injuries/

Practical First Aid Training is the best way to learn how to save someone’s life. 

First Aid for Life show you how to save a life -watch us in action now!

British Heart Foundation says ‘no kissing, just hard CPR’ -

but children and those collapsed due to drowning or a breathing problem need rescue breaths as well!

Vinnie Jones demonstrates CPR in the British Heart Foundation advert

The British Heart Foundation is urging people to forget “mouth-to-mouth” and to concentrate on chest compressions when performing CPR.

“Hands-only CPR” has previously been supported by the Resuscitation Council (UK).

But it is now being promoted in a new advertising campaign featuring footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones.

New polling by the BHF suggests many feel worried about the idea of giving the “kiss of life”.

The official position of the BHF is now that anyone who does not have CPR training should ignore the kiss of life in favour of hard and fast compressions in the centre of the chest.

A new poll conducted across the UK and involving 2,000 respondents showed nearly half were put off from performing CPR because of a lack of knowledge.

A fifth worried specifically about the thought of the kiss of life or about contracting an infectious disease.

Four in 10 people were worried about being sued if they did something wrong, even though the BHF argues no such case has ever succeeded in Britain.

“The kiss of life can often be daunting for untrained bystanders who want to help when someone has collapsed with a cardiac arrest,” said Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the BHF.

She said the kiss of life remained the “gold standard” of CPR, but added if a person had not had training the best option would be to just do chest compressions.

Bee Gees hit

The BHF is also suggesting people hum to the Bee Gees hit Stayin’ Alive, to get the tempo of chest compressions right, although others have in recent months questioned whether this is appropriate, suggesting it may lead to compressions which are too shallow.

The new BHF advert features Vinnie Jones in his traditional hardman guise, administering chest compressions to a Bee Gees backbeat after being thrown an unconscious body by his henchmen.

Commenting on the new campaign, he said: “There really shouldn’t be any messing about when it comes to CPR. If you’re worried about the kiss of life just forget it and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest.

“Hands-only CPR should give have-a-go heroes the confidence to step in and help when somebody is in cardiac arrest.”

Ms Mason said everyone should learn what to do: “Thirty thousand people have a cardiac arrest in the UK every single year and half of those are witnessed, but in most cases no-one acts, no-one knows what to do, people panic.

“If it was us, we would all want our loved ones and ourselves to be saved, wouldn’t we?”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16222183

Over recent years, there has been an increase in injuries involving falls from ladders while stringing lights and cuts from broken glass ornaments, the commission warned.

As roasting a turkey entails instructions more complicated than “pierce film lid”, it’s unsurprising that inexperienced cooks are injured when cooking Christmas dinner. Typical cases include drunken dads carving turkeys and severing fingers, slips as a result of grease on the kitchen floor and chefs pulling their backs when moving 24lb turkeys.

It’s a sobering thought that Christmas trees account for more than 1,000 injuries each year (including branches in eyes and falling off chairs while placing the fairy) and lights bring seasonal misery to 350 people.

While it may be wise to hide presents, it is not a good idea to put heavy gifts on top of wardrobes or on high shelves as there have been instances of people dropping computer monitors and TVs on to their heads. Even opening gifts is dangerous – whether it’s screwdrivers jabbed through the palm while trying to penetrate packaging, or a knife slash while cutting through thick layers of sticky tape.

If people are looking after or hosting elderly people for Christmas dinner, it is important to take extra care of them. Someone chokes on turkey over Christmas every single year.

During Christmas, your home is likely to be full of people and, in the excitement, accidents can easily happen.

“We want to help people prevent their festivities being cut short by a trip to A&E,” says Sheila Merrill, home safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

“Our message is that the home should be as safe as necessary, rather than as safe as possible. With a little more care and forward planning, most accidents could be avoided.”

Rospa’s advice for the prevention of accidents at Christmas:

Kitchen

Hot fat, boiling water and sharp knives make the kitchen one of the most dangerous places during the holiday.

“The Christmas meal is probably the biggest meal most families cook all year. It needs careful planning to avoid injuries,” says Merrill.

Try to keep other people (especially children) out of the kitchen. Avoid alcohol until you’ve finished cooking, and wipe up spills as soon as they happen, so that people don’t slip.

Stairs

Clutter, alcohol and tiredness make the stairs an accident hotspot during Christmas, says Merrill. It’s common to fall down steps or stairs after drinking.

“Keep the stairs well lit and free from obstacles, especially if you have guests who could be going up to the bathroom during the night,” she says.

Presents

Typical Christmas Day accidents include parents accidentally stabbing themselves with scissors, which they’ve used to assemble toys, instead of using a screwdriver. People often cut themselves with knives when they’re opening presents too quickly. People also trip over toys and electric cables while rushing to try their new computers and other appliances.

“Don’t rush,” says Merrill. “Take time to enjoy the moment. Have a screwdriver ready for toys that are screwed into packaging. Clear up the packaging and wrapping paper as you go along, and remember to recycle.”

Christmas trees

Beware of your Christmas tree. That Norwegian spruce is not as innocent as it looks. Every year, about 1,000 people are injured by their tree, usually while fixing stars, lights or other decorations to the higher branches, reports the RoSPA.

“Always use a step ladder to put up the decorations and don’t over-reach yourself,” says Merrill. Buy the correct size tree so you don’t have to saw the top off and risk cutting yourself.

Fairy lights

Around 350 people a year are hurt by Christmas tree lights, according to RoSPA. Injuries include people falling while they’re putting them up, children swallowing the bulbs, and people getting electric shocks and burns from faulty lights.

“Test your lights and the wiring before you put them up, as they can deteriorate over the years. If you have old lights, buy new ones that meet higher safety standards,” says Merrill. “Don’t overload sockets, as that’s a fire risk.”

Decorations

About 1,000 people a year are hurt when decorating their homes, says RoSPA. Children bite into glass baubles and adults fall while using unstable chairs instead of ladders to put up streamers, or fall out of lofts while looking for the decorations.

“Glass decorations should be placed out of the reach of toddlers and pets,” says Merrill. Novelty decorations, such as stuffed Santas, reindeer and snowmen, which look like toys, may not comply with strict toy safety regulations. Therefore, they should not be within the reach of children.

Candles

People are 50% more likely to die in a house fire over Christmas than at any other time of year. Taking care with candles and oil burners is one way to help you and your family and friends avoid a Christmas house fire.

“Never put candles on or near a Christmas tree,” says Merrill. “Never leave an open flame unattended.” Always place tea lights inside an appropriate container. “They have been known to burn through baths and television sets,” she says.

Christmas plants

Mistletoe is poisonous. Its berries contain toxic proteins that slow the heart rate and can cause hallucinations. The orange berries of the Christmas cherry can cause stomach pains. The Christmas rose is so effective at causing diarrhoea that it was used as a chemical weapon by the ancient Greeks. “Check with the garden centre whether the plants you’re buying are toxic,” says Merrill. “If they are, keep them out of the reach of children.”

Stress

Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year. The combination of drink, relatives, lack of sleep and the stress of Christmas shopping can be too much for some people.

Indigestion and food poisoning

Food poisoning is always a worry at Christmas. Read the instructions on the turkey well. It takes hours to cook a turkey properly. If you don’t, you could contract salmonella poisoning, which can be life-threatening for vulnerable people

Alcohol

Apart from the risks to your own health, alcohol can be the chief mischief maker when it comes to accidents. “It reduces your risk awareness,” says Merrill. “Alcohol can make people relax so much that they don’t think about everyday risks.”

After a party, empty any alcohol out of glasses. Children are likely to drink the remains if they get up early to play with their toys. Never drink and drive.

How have blind cords been involved in accidents?

This issue is currently being examined by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, who are meeting with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), CAPT (Child Accident Prevention Trust) and the BBSA (British Blind and Shutter Association) to call for better regulations to govern the design, manufacture, supply and installation of window blinds.

The British Blind and Shutter Association have produced an information leaflet (Make it Safe campaign) which is available from: http://www.bbsa.org.uk/docs/BBSA-Cord-safety-leaflet-140809.pdf  see also:

http://www.bbsa.org.uk/domestic/safetyissues.aspx for solutions to make blinds of different styles safer.

Many millions of blinds are sold every year in the UK and the BBSA has some simple guidelines for parents and carers of babies and small children as looped blind cords can pose a potential hazard:

• Do not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or high chair near a window so they may reach a blind cord
• Do not place furniture near a window that a child could climb on to reach a blind cord
• Do make sure that a safety device is fitted to keep the cords taut or out of reach

Over a four week period around November 5th more than 1,000 people are likely to suffer injuries due to fireworks. Of these accidents, nearly 600 are likely to occur at home or private parties and nearly 400 accidents are likely to  involve children under the age of 13*.

By far the safest way of enjoying Fireworks is to go to a properly organised display. However if you’re buying fireworks to use at home, then check that the fireworks you choose are suitable for your garden and conform to British Standards. The standard for fireworks is BS 7114; 1998 and you should avoid any fireworks that don’t meet that standard. Only set fireworks off in your garden if you’ve got enough space, both for setting them off safely, and so people can stand far enough back from them.

If you are organising a firework display, however small, you should ensure there is an appropriately stocked first aid kit close by – just in case of accidents. It is also sensible to have a bucket of sand available and plenty of water, a fire blanket and a bottle of sterile saline to irrigate eyes.

However you intend to enjoy the fireworks, ensure you follow the Fireworks code and never let a child handle or light a firework.

Sparklers

Sparklers are often viewed as a more harmless firework, but they still burn fiercely and they’re not suitable for children under the age of five years old. They can get six times as hot as a pan of cooking oil or as hot as a welder’s torch

Light sparklers one at a time and always wear gloves

Always supervise children with sparklers and ensure that they stand still, away from other people.

Children should not wear very loose clothing or scarves as these can catch alight.

However careful you are, injuries can happen and here is how to treat some of the more common ones:

Minor burns

A minor burn is red and painful and sometimes results in a blister – for instance when a child picks up an old sparkler that hasn’t cooled down.

• Hold the affected area under cold, running water for at least 10 minutes
• If a child is burnt and the area is blistered, or the area, larger than the size of the child’s palm, you should phone for an ambulance.
• Special care should be taken if the burn is on a young child or an elderly person. All deep burns of any size will require urgent hospital treatment.
• Once the burn has been cooled for at least 15 minutes, the burn can be covered with cling film or a hand can be inserted into a sterile plastic bag.

If clothing is on fire

Remember these four key things: stop, drop, wrap and roll.

• Stop the casualty panicking or running – any movement or breeze will fan the flames
• Drop the casualty to the ground and wrap them in a blanket, coat, or rug. Ensure they are made from inflammable fabrics such as wool
• Roll the casualty along the ground until the flames have been smothered.

Severe burns

If clothing has caught on fire it is more than likely that the burn will be severe. A severe burn is deep and doesn’t hurt as much as a minor one due to damaged nerve endings.

• Start cooling the burn immediately under cool running water for at least 10 minutes. Use a shower or hose if the burns are large. Keep cooling the burn while waiting for professional help to arrive. Ensure you are cooling the burn and not the casualty, keep areas that are not burnt as warm and dry as possible to try and avoid the casualty going into shock.
• Instruct a helper to dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance
• Make the casualty as comfortable as possible, ideally lie them down and elevate their legs, again to reduce the risk of clinical shock.
• Whilst cooling, remove any constricting items such as jewellery or clothing from the affected area unless they are stuck to the burn. Wear disposable gloves if they are available

For ALL burns NEVER

• Touch the burn
• Use lotions, ointments and creams
• Use adhesive dressings
• Break blisters.

Sprains and strains

These can be caused by falling or tripping over in the dark. There may be pain and tenderness with swelling and difficulty in moving the injured area.

• Advise the casualty to sit or lie down. Support the injured limb in a comfortable position
• Cool the area by applying an ice pack to reduce the pain and swelling
• Apply comfortable support  to the injury by surrounding the area with a thick layer of padding, such as cotton wool, and secure with a bandage
• Raise the injured part to minimise bruising
• If the pain is severe or you are worried send them to hospital, otherwise advise them to rest.

Eye injuries

Fireworks and bonfires have sparks, which can land in the eye and be very painful. Open the casualty’s eye and carefully look for any embedded object. If there is anything lodged in the eye, cover both eyes and phone for an ambulance. If you can see the object  in the eye and it is moving freely, have a sterile eye wash and gently irrigate the eye to remove it. If the casualty is still in pain, or discomfort, seek medical advice.

It is strongly advised that parents attend a practical First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

Emma Hammett

First Aid for Life

www.firstaidforlife.org.uk

emma@firstaidforlife.org.uk

0208 675 4036

First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.

*based on 1994 statistics

UK: 080 8800 3344

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: 1800 41 33 44

They are an extremely important organisation helping to fight Meningitis please visit their website link on my website. 

The Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that there are around 3,300 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK and Republic of Ireland. 

This means that every day nine people become ill with the diseases.  With one in ten people dying, a death will occur almost every day. A further two people will be left with life-altering after effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations.

The two forms of the disease have differentsymptoms. People who recover from meningitis and septicaemia may be left with a range of after effects that dramatically alter their lives.

Meningitis is usually bacterial or viral, and occasionally is due to fungal infections, although almost any microbe can cause it.

Viral meningitis can be very unpleasant but it is almost never life threatening and most people quickly make a full recovery.

Bacterial meningitis is more serious and can be caused by a range of different bacteria.

Most cases in the UK and Ireland are caused by meningococcal bacteria.

Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis, septicaemia or both. Most people who get the disease have some symptoms of both meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia; together these two forms of the disease are known as meningococcal disease.

Septicaemia is the more life threatening form of the disease and is more dangerous when there are no signs of meningitis.

Meningitis and septicaemia are very dangerous and can kill in hours.

Meningitis means swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs. Meningitis and septicaemia can occur together or separately.

People who are faced with meningitis and septicaemia have to act fast to save a life – a race against time.

Meningitis and septicaemia can be hard to recognise at first. Symptoms can appear in any order, but the first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell, just like in many mild illnesses.

• Meningitis and septicaemia can be hard to recognise at first. Symptoms can appear in any order, but the first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell, just like many mild illnesses
• Red ticks show symptoms that are more specific to meningitis and septicaemia and less common in milder illnesses. Limb pain and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than a rash, neck stiffness, photophobia and confusion.
• Not everyone gets all these symptoms
• Septicaemia can occur with or without meningitis
• In some cases of meningitis, a rash may not appear

		Septicaemia	Meningitis
	Fever and/or vomiting
	Severe headache
	Limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes with pain/diarrhoea)
	Cold hand and feet/shivering
	Pale or mottled skin
	Breathing fast/breathless
	Rash (anywhere on the body)
	Stiff neck (less common in young children)
	Dislike of bright lights (less common in young children)
	Very sleepy /vacant /difficult to wake
	Confused /delirious
	Seizures (fits) may also be seen

My baby has a cold and an awful barking cough, I took him to the doctor who told me he has Croup. The doctor would not prescribe any antibiotics for my baby, but told me to come back if the symptoms got worse.

I am very worried, please help.

Croup is a common childhood infection of the upper airways. It most often occurs in children from 3 months to 5 years, often in Autumn/Winter. Children are typically unwell with cold-like symptoms, a slightly raised temperature, wheezy, with a cough that sounds like a sea-lion barking. The infection is caused by a virus and so antibiotics will not help. Symptoms often get a lot worse at night. Humidifying a room can ease the breathing, this can be done either with a humidifier, or by holding your baby near a source of steam, such as a hot bath  – but please be careful to ensure your child doesn’t get burnt! If your baby gets much worse in the night and you are concerned, phone for an ambulance and they will bring nebulisers to ease the breathing. Taking your baby outside on a mild evening can ease their symptoms, however taking them out if it is very cold can make things worse.  Symptoms usually last for about 5 days. If their breathing becomes very wheezy and laboured, phone for an ambulance immediately.

Emma Hammett

First Aid for Life

www.firstaidforlife.org.uk

emma@firstaidforlife.org.uk

0208 675 4036

First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.