Training kids in basic first aid at an early age is both wise and empowering for them! Kids not only love being able to help, but also like feeling they have some control in a situation if it goes crazy. Don’t underestimate what a child can learn to do! Consider teaching these simple basic skills to help youngsters get started:
How to call 911. Probably the best first aid skill to teach a child is how to call for help if there is an emergency. All kids can remember the numbers! Teach your children how to turn on your cell phone, find the keypad and dial the number. Help them practice identifying themselves, who their parents are and what their home address is. Practicing will make it second nature if they ever need to make the call.
How to stanch bleeding. This is a simple skill that involves putting pressure on a wound. Whether they get a cut outside, a nosebleed or something a bit more dramatic, children easily can pick up on and practice this. Teach kids how to find a towel, rag or other cloth and then apply pressure to an area to help stop the flow of blood.
How to stop, drop and roll. Turn learning this skill into a game! Have a contest to see how fast your kids can stop, drop and roll in case there is a fire. By the time they are done learning this, they will be all giggles with no fears about the future! Also use this opportunity to teach them to avoid flammable substances and to crawl down the hallway if there is smoke.
How to handle family/friend specific emergencies. Every family or group of friends will have its own set of needs. If you have a family member who carries an Epi Pen, teach your child how to use it in case that person is unable to. If your kids have a friend they frequently hang out with who deals with something like low blood sugar, teach them the signs to look for and which snack to offer to stabilize blood sugar again.
How to identify a safe stranger. Even the very best parent will sometimes have a wandering child. Teach kids how to identify who the safe strangers are. In a public place, possible safe strangers are employees with name tags, police officers and moms with young kids. Help your kids practice identifying potential safe strangers the next time you are out in public. If they get separated from you, they will know how to start looking for someone to help them.
How to comfort. Sometimes the very best thing a child can do is help someone remain calm. Help your youngsters learn a few simple breathing techniques and comforting phrases they can pass on if someone gets anxious, needs to remain in a sitting position or wait for help to arrive. The double benefit is they also will have those techniques down if they need to utilize them for themselves!
Rebecca Ishum lives with her husband, Sean, and her 5-year-old quadruplets in Belton. Her kids are in the process of learning some of these basic first aid skills in the event they are ever needed!
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.