Copyright mirror
Accidents and health emergencies happen all the time, and being equipped to deal with them can sometimes make all the difference to the outcome. When GP, media medic and bestselling author Dr Punam Krishan was nine years old, her grandfather suffered a fatal heart attack and, growing up, she worried that she should have known more about what to do. So in her new book Dr Krishan shares the best ways to navigate essential, life-saving and simple first aid tactics. “Teaching first aid doesn’t need to be overwhelming or frightening,” she says. “It can be introduced through stories, play, repetition and age-appropriate language. It’s about helping children feel empowered, not alarmed. Even knowing how to call for help and stay calm is a powerful skill. My book opens up those conversations in a gentle, safe way – and hopefully gives both children and parents more confidence.” From treating cuts, stings and allergies to identifying emergency situations and administering life-saving CPR, Dr Krishan, along with chief medical adviser at the British Red Cross Dr Barry Klaassen, passes on advice and tips that are suitable from seven years old. It’s vital to have a basic understanding of first aid in the home and workplace, and know that we can act in a calm and capable manner, no matter the emergency. William Spencer, Red Cross First Aid product manager says, “Imagine a world where everyone knows how to help someone in an emergency. That’s our aim. That’s why we provide free teaching resources for schools — called First Aid Champions —and training for teachers. And adults use our free First Aid app and website to access guidance on a range of first aid issues. You never know when an emergency will happen. To be prepared with basic knowledge should be a must.” Here, Dr Krishan shares her top five first aid skills she feels everyone should learn. Calling 999 When an emergency happens, knowing when and how to get help, and what to say, is essential. For a child or a panicking adult, simple measures can be forgotten and making that call at the right time can be vital. Also, in a world with fewer landlines, always ensure mobile phones are charged, and keep charged power banks in drawers. Make sure the family knows where they are, too,in case instant power is needed. Recovery position If someone is unconscious but breathing, this position can protect their airway until help arrives. Roll the person onto their side to keep the airway open to prevent choking and allow fluids to drain away. Monitor the person until help arrives, and only change their position from left side to right side if it has been longer than 30 minutes. Choking Learning what to do if someone is choking could save a life. Any small object can cause choking but even eating can be a risk. If you often eat alone, learn the Self-Heimlich manoeuvre, and never reach into your throat to pull the object out. Seek medical attention, even if you dislodge the object, as it can cause internal injuries. Bleeding Learn how to press on a wound to stop bleeding and know when to seek help. To slow down blood flow, use a non-fluffy sterile material, and press firmly. It’s best not to remove soaked materials, either – just apply another layer on top. Call 999 while doing so, especially if the blood flow is extreme. Elevate the wound, if possible, and keep the person as still as possible. Allergic reactions Learn to recognise the signs of a serious allergy (like anaphylaxis), and how to use an EpiPen. If the allergy is mild, then antihistamines and a cool compress on the skin should be enough. Anything that affects quality of breathing, which can start as a ticklish throat and cough, could require the use of an EpiPen. If the person has one,the orange tip is the needle that injects into the leg, and the blue tip points upwards – or ‘orange to thigh, blue to sky’. Inject firmly and quickly, and never inject more than once into the same thigh. Mel’s two-year-old daughter Amy accidentally ingested medication. Mel tells the British Red Cross how fast action saved her child’s life... “When my daughter Amy was about two years old, I had to carry medication all the time in my bag for a medical condition she has. “Amy was in the living room while I went into the kitchen. I’d only left her for a few minutes. I went back in to see her and found her with the empty bottle of medication. She’d managed to get into my bag, open the childproof lock and drink the entire contents. “I went into an immediate panic. I knew I had to get her to the hospital straight away. Amy was losing consciousness. We got to the hospital and I kept checking on her, making sure she was still breathing and trying to keep her awake. She was really pale, she wasn’t speaking, it was really frightening. “Thank goodness I remembered the bottle of medication because I would never have been able to remember the name, and the hospital wanted to know exactly what she’d taken, how much of it and when she took it. “At the time, I rushed to A&E in the car myself but, with hindsight, I know now I should have called 999 to get urgent medical support. While we were waiting for the medical professionals to see us, I stayed with Amy and constantly checked on how she was doing. I monitored her all the time. “The hospital checked on her, kept her in for observations for 24 hours and – thank goodness – she made a full recovery and she’s fine. “If anybody has any toddlers or youngsters, especially if they’re as precocious as Amy, then you need to keep an eye on them. “Don’t leave anything to chance. You can’t take your eyes off them for two minutes.” Learn for free with the British Red Cross First Aid app and YouTube videos
