TL;DR: Teaching First Aid to kids helps them prepare for emergencies and builds confidence. The most common First Aid skills used by children include:
- Call 911/Activate EMS or get help.
- Cleaning and bandaging basic cuts and scrapes.
- Treating minor burns.
- How to treat a nosebleed.
- What to do for bites and stings.
Basic first aid skills aren’t just for adults. Children, whether young or in their early teens, can benefit from learning first aid and how to respond in a medical emergency. Here are a few age-appropriate skills for parents to teach their kids.
How and When to Call for Help
The first thing every child should know to do in an emergency is how to call for help. First and foremost, children should know how to remain calm and call for emergency services.
911 is easy to remember, but it doesn’t hurt to have other numbers handy for them as well. You can keep emergency numbers in a place that’s easy for them to see, like on a fridge or by the phone.
In order for them to be able to communicate calmly and clearly, teach your children how to memorize the following:
- Their full name
- Their home address
- The phone number of their parents or legal guardian
- How to explain what happened clearly
- Who got hurt? When and how?
Roleplaying is a great way for children, especially young children, to learn what to do in an emergency.
Treating Basic Cuts and Scrapes
Inevitably, kids will hurt themselves a little as they play. Cuts and scrapes are natural, and it’s good for kids to know how to handle the little ones by themselves and when to get help for the bigger ones. Teach your children how to do the following:
- Wash your hands. Children (or anyone, really) should always make sure their hands are washed with clean water and soap. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of introducing bacteria into the cut.
- Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle, even pressure over the cut or scrape with a clean bandage or cloth until the bleeding stops.
- Clean the wound. Run the area under warm water for five minutes to wash away dirt. Use soap around the wound, but don’t put any directly in it. After cleaning, pat the wound dry with a clean cloth or towel.
- Apply an antibiotic. Antibiotic gels or ointments will keep the wound moist and prevent it from drying out, thus promoting better healing and reducing scarring.
- Cover the wound. Keep the wound covered with an adhesive bandage or a sterile gauze. Change once a day, or more if it gets dirty or needs to be redressed.
These are simple steps for children to follow, and they suit most minor bleeding injuries. However, if the bleeding is severe, it’s important for children to seek help from an adult.
What to do about Minor Burns
Whether it’s from a hot stove, pans, pipes or water, burns can be painful and need immediate treatment. For minor burns, run the affected area under cool (but not icy or cold) water for 10-15 minutes. Remember to remove tight items like wristbands and jewelry, as these can cause pain and damage when swelling starts.
Also, teach them to avoid first aid mistakes. Never use home remedies like toothpaste, oils, or ice on burns, as these can make things worse.
How to treat Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds are another common situation for children. For an active nosebleed, teach your children to:
- Keep the soft part of their nose just below the bridge pinched shut with the thumb and forefinger.
- Lean forward slightly.
- Stay like that for ten minutes. Don’t let up the pressure to see if bleeding has stopped, since that can cause the bleeding to start all over again.
Remember to teach children not to lean back, as this can cause them to swallow blood.
Bug Bites and Stings
Bug bites and stings are inevitable for kids who play outside. For little bug bites that are more annoying than harmful, kids should learn to:
- Clean the area with soap and water. This is once again the first step to preventing infection
- Apply ice or a cold compress. This helps to reduce swelling and pain.
- Treat the itching. Calamine lotion, witch hazel, or hydrocortisone creams can treat the itchy symptoms.
- Leave it alone! Scratching an annoying bug bite or sting can break the skin, delaying the healing and making it take that much longer to heal.
As an aside, always make sure there isn’t a stinger left in the wound, as there might be with a wasp sting. If there is, don’t use tweezers to remove it, since that can cause it to release more of its venom. Instead, try to remove it with a fingernail or something flat like a credit card.
Some Final Thoughts…
We recommend that all parents complete a First Aid Certification Course. Sharing your knowledge is a great way to help kids learn the basics. Teaching kids First Aid techniques can help prepare them for situations ranging from minor injuries to major medical emergencies.