Basic life saving skills Parent needs to know

Ignorant is said to be a disease. You don’t need to have a super power to be a hero, saving a life makes’ you one. This basic life saving skills will help you save a life.

THE RECOVERY POSITION

This works for older children and adults and is simpler to do than it sounds once you know how.

Make sure both legs are straight. Place the arm nearest to you at a right angle to the body, with the elbow bent and the palm facing upwards.

Bring the other arm across the chest and hold the back of their hand against the cheek nearest to you.

With your other hand, take their far leg just above the knee and, keeping their foot flat on the ground, roll them towards you and onto their side.

Lift the chin to keep the airway open and move the upper leg so the hip and knee are at right angles to each other. Call 999 or 112.

THE RECOVERY POSITION – BABIES

If the infant is breathing, put them in the recovery position to prevent them choking on their tongue or inhaling vomit.

Cradle the infant in your arms with the head tilted downwards. Monitor their breathing and pulse until help arrives.

IF YOUR CHILD IS UNCONSCIOUS AND NOT BREATHING..

Check their response by tapping their shoulders gently. Open their airway by placing one hand on the forehead and lift the chin to tilt their head back.

Place your ear above their mouth and look towards their toes, observing chest movements for 10 seconds. If they’re not breathing, call 999 or 112 and start CPR.

Firstly, give the child five rescue breaths. With their airway open, pinch the soft part of their nose closed, take a breath and seal your lips around their mouth.

Blow into their mouth for one second while you watch the chest rise. Remove your mouth, let the chest fall and then start the next rescue breath.

Give 30 compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute, in a steady rhythm without any breaks at a depth of at least one third of the chest.

For a child, place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest and press down with your arm straight.

Release the ­pressure but don’t take your hand off the chest. Do this 30 times.

Give another two rescue breaths and then another 30 chest ­compressions followed by two ­rescue breaths.

Keep repeating this pattern of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths until help arrives.

IF YOUR BABY IS UNCONSCIOUS AND NOT BREATHING..

Check their ­response by tapping the soles of their feet. Do not shake them as this could cause a brain injury.

If there’s no response, shout for help and open their airway. Place a ­fingertip under the point of their chin, put one hand on the ­forehead and tilt the head back.

Check if the baby is breathing as you would for an older child.

If they’re not breathing and you are on your own start CPR for one minute and then call 999 or 112 for emergency help.

Give the baby five rescue breaths as you would for a child.

Next, do 30 compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute in a steady rhythm without any breaks.

For a baby, put two fingers on the centre of their chest and press down sharply to at least a third of the depth of the chest. Release the pressure fully but don’t take your fingers off the chest.

Give another two rescue breaths and repeat 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths.

Keep repeating this pattern of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths until emergency help arrives.

IF YOUR BABY IS CHOKING..

Lay them face down on your forearm, supporting the body and chin.

Give up to five back blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check in their mouth for any obstruction and remove it. Don’t stick your fingers down their throat.

If the obstruction hasn’t cleared, turn the baby on their back.

Place two fingers on the centre of their chest and push inwards and upwards sharply against the infant’s breastbone.

Check their mouth again for obstructions and remove. Repeat up to five times.

If the obstruction doesn’t clear, repeat backslaps and thrusts up to three times.

If the airway is still blocked, call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Continue until help arrives.

ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK

If you suspect someone is having a severe allergic reaction, call 999 or 112.

Check if they are carrying a syringe or an adrenaline auto-injector.

If you’ve been trained, help them to administer it. Hold it in your fist, remove the safety cap and place the tip firmly against the casualty’s thigh.

Put them in a position that relieves breathing difficulties. If they turn pale or their pulse weakens, lie them down with their legs raised.

Monitor their responses, breathing and pulse until help arrives.

ASTHMA

If the injured person has a “reliever” inhaler or a “spacer”, ask them to use it. Tell them to breathe deeply but slowly.

Sit them down in a comfortable position but not lying down.

If their attack doesn’t improve after a few minutes get them to take another dose from their inhaler. Call 999 or 112 if the attack is severe or if the inhaler isn’t working.

Help them to use their inhaler and monitor them until help arrives.

SEVERE BLEEDING

Put pressure on the wound, using (gloved) hands and a sterile dressing to control the bleeding.

Help them lie down and try to raise and support the injured limb above their heart to reduce blood loss.

Raise their legs to ease shock if this is possible. Call 999 or 112 and monitor the casualty while waiting for help to arrive.

BURNS

Flood the area with cold water for at least 10 minutes to cool the burn and help relieve the pain. Remove any constricting clothing before the burn begins to swell.

If the burn is severe, once you have cooled the area, loosely place cling film or a plastic bag lengthways over the burn to stop infection and seek medical help immediately.

Any burns to a young child/infant need to be seen by a doctor.

HEART ATTACK

Sit them down and make them as comfortable as possible. Call either 999 or 112 if you suspect a heart attack.

If they are over 16 and not allergic, give 300mg of aspirin. Chewing it slowly can help limit damage to the heart muscle.

Be a hero today, not just for your child but for everyone.