What is Paediatric First Aid?

“The immediate care given to a child / infant who has been injured, or who has become ill prior to the arrival of qualified medical assistance”

The above definition clearly outlines what paediatric first aid involves. It almost makes things seem rather simple when in reality the average person may struggle to deal with the above situation.

Sometimes the situation is made more difficult when the bystander involved has not received any sort of training. During an emergency this could result in someone not knowing what to do, freezing or making a serious mistake. Just a little basic training could potentially prevent all three from happening.

Standard Training

Standard first aid training typically focuses on how to keep an adult alive in the period between finding a casualty, notifying the emergency services and their impending arrival. Topics on a basic course may examine how to check a casualty's breathing, the recovery position and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

There is often little time to focus on the specifics of a child or infant. Despite this most people could still come to the assistance of a child as many of the topics crossover. Breathing checks and the recovery position are the same. Dealing with an infant is more complex and would require specific training.

Paediatric Specific

Paediatric First Aid training concentrates solely on the child and infant age groups. This is useful to full time childcare workers such as childminders, nannies and nursery staff.

Standard paediatric courses will cover how to manage an ill or injured child / infant in the event of an emergency. The training outlines the differences in checking for a response on an infant and the modified recovery position.

Non breathing infants and children require a different form of CPR. Young hearts are unlikely to suddenly stop without the onset of heart disease. This is a good thing: however another deadly form of cardiac arrest (respiratory) can occur when the heart is starved of oxygen. Children and infants are prone to these forms of cardiac arrest through events like choking, drowning and illness.

CPR training focuses on the paediatric specific format of 5 initial rescue breaths, 30 chest compressions, then a 30:2 ratio until the arrival of qualified medical assistance, or the onset of normal breathing.

The other major practical difference is applied to the choking algorithm. Children require less cycles of treatment before contacting the emergency services when comparing to adults. Infants require their own specific treatment protocol when delivering thrusts in order to protect their small bodies.

Finally full time childcare workers may complete a second day of training or home study unit which focuses on childhood illnesses such as meningitis, asthma, croup and many more.

What Course Do I Need?

When working in an adult environment and without the responsibility of children it is recommended to enrol on an emergency first aid course. If you work part time with children and looking for a basic understanding of practical skills then the 6 hour paediatric first aid qualification is suitable. Those working full time with under 8’s and in positions of responsibility should enrol on a 12 hour course.