First Aid – what do I need to know?

Toddlers are very active beings – always looking for places to hide and leading investigations into who knows what! With their physical skills matching their curiosity, there’s bound to be an accident at some point. 

We never wish for any child to have an accident, but they do happen. We hope the bumps and mishaps your toddler has are small ones that can be dealt with quite easily at home.  

But if and when accidents occur that are bigger than we anticipate, here are a few suggestions for what to do when a cuddle and a plaster just won’t fix it. 

Who to call, 111 or 999? 

111 should be dialed if the call is not an emergency. It is a free advice line for when immediate or urgent medical advice and guidance is needed. The call handler will offer advice and signpost the most appropriate care for your toddler.  

999 is for emergencies only. When a situation is life-threatening, dial 999. 

Have you checked your First Aid kit recently? 

Your First Aid kit may well be established by now, but always keep a check on it and that the items you have in are in date. Most First Aid products have a lifespan (they are usually very long but we all know how quickly time passes). 

Suspected broken bones – try as best you can to comfort your toddler. It is best to keep the injured bone as still as possible, it might need protecting with a cushion or padding. Call 999. 

Heavy bleeding – if your toddler is bleeding quite heavily, pressure needs to be applied to the wound before either 111 or 999 are called. If the blood bleeds through the covering before seeing a doctor, replace it with a fresh covering. 

Do not wash deep wounds, as it may cause them to bleed more. 

Embedded objects – these must remain in the wound until being dealt with by a medic. Dislodging an object can cause further injury and increase blood flow out of the wound. 

Nosebleeds – this can be very distressing for young children so try to be calm and reassuring. Current advice is to pinch the soft part of your toddler’s nose and ask them to lean forward. If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 30 minutes, seek medical advice.  

Head bumps – sit your toddler down and apply a cold compress, such as a bag of frozen food wrapped in a tea towel, for around 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them. If they feel drowsy, sick or vomit, seek immediate medical advice. 

The British Red Cross states the following for when to dial 999 after a head bump: 

Call 999 if:    

They become less responsive or unresponsive   

They have numbness or weakness in any part of their body   

They have clear fluid or blood coming from their ears or nose   

They have a seizure   

They have been in a serious accident or had a severe blow to the head   
 

You should also seek medical advice if:   

They have had a previous brain injury   

They are taking medicines to thin their blood   

They are known or suspected to have been drinking alcohol or taken drugs 

There is no one to look after them   

You should also seek medical advice if you are unsure how bad the injury is but think it could be serious. 

Bigger accidents may never happen, but it might help to gain more knowledge of what to do if one does. 

There are many First Aid courses designed specifically for parents of young children. If this is something you would be interested in, check online to see whether there are any available locally.  

All information sourced from British Red Cross, accessed 8/12/2022 

For any First Aid related questions, follow this link: Learn first aid for babies and children (redcross.org.uk)