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Emergency First Aid

Check if the baby is conscious
Can you get a response? Talk to him or call his name, and try tapping him gently on the sole of his foot. If there is no response you need to check for breathing.

Open the airway: Place one hand on his forehead and gently tilt his head back. Then using your other hand use one finger to lift the baby’s chin (a).
 

Take a quick look and remove any visible obstructions from his mouth and nose

Look, listen and feel for normal breathing: Place your face next to the baby’s face and listen for breathing (b), at the same time look along his chest and abdomen for any movement. You may also be able to feel the baby’s breath on your cheek. Allow up to 10 seconds to check if your baby is breathing or not.
 

If the baby is not breathing:

• If another person is present ask them to call an ambulance straight away.
• If you are alone give one minute of CPR (a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths) then take your baby with you to call an ambulance.

CPR

1. Place your baby on a firm surface
2. Open his airway (a): Place one hand on his forehead and gently tilt his head back, then using your other hand use one finger to lift the baby’s chin
3. Place your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and – by blowing steadily – attempt five initial rescue breaths (c)
    
4. Place two fingers in the middle of his chest and press down one third of the depth of the chest (d). After 30 chest compressions give two rescue breaths 
    
5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until emergency help arrives.

Recovery position
If a baby is unconscious but breathing, the safest position to hold a baby is known as the ‘recovery position’. Hold him on his side, head tilted, as if you were giving him a cuddle, with his head lower than his tummy (e). 
 

Choking
If a baby was unable to breathe, cough or cry, and you suspected he had a severe obstruction in his throat, would you know how to help?

• 1. Lay him face down, head low, along your forearm. Support his head and shoulders with your hand. Give up to five back blows between his shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (f)
   
• 2. Check the mouth quickly after each one and remove any obvious obstruction.

If the obstruction is still present:

• 3. Give up to five chest thrusts – place two fingers on the lower half of the baby’s breast bone and give five sharp downward thrusts (g). Check the mouth quickly after each one. If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts call an ambulance
   
• 4. Continue until help arrives and resuscitate if necessary.

If you have had to perform chest thrusts on your baby he must be seen by a doctor.

Bleeding
Blood loss can be serious and should be treated as quickly as possible.

How would you treat a baby who was bleeding severely?

Your main aim is to stop the flow of blood. If you have disposable gloves available, use them. It is important to reduce the risk of crossinfection at all times.

1. Check whether there is an object embedded in the wound. If you suspect there is something embedded, take care not to press on the object. Instead press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself
2. If there is nothing embedded, press on the wound with your hand, ideally over a clean pad and secure with a bandage
3. If an arm or leg has been wounded raise it above the level of the heart.

Take the baby to hospital as soon as possible.

Burns and scalds
Burns and scalds are among the most common injuries requiring emergency treatment in the UK.

With babies the most likely cause of scalds in the home is a baby that pulls a hot drink onto himself. Even if the drink does not feel hot to an adult it can still cause damage to a baby’s sensitive skin.

1. Cool the burn as quickly as possible by placing the affected area under cold running water, for at least ten minutes. A shower can be used to cool a burn providing you can support the baby in the shower. Ensure temperature is set to cool and the pressure is low
   Warning: Covering the whole baby, rather than just the area of the burn, with cold water could result in hypothermia
2. It is common for swelling to occur after a burn, so remove any tight clothing before the swelling occurs. However, do not remove clothing or material that may be sticking to the burn
3. Raise the limb to reduce swelling
4. Cover the injury using a clean pad or cling film, and call an ambulance.

Knowing first aid
First aid is a great skill to have, so why not reinforce what you have just learnt and build up your confidence by booking yourself onto a first aid course? Do relatives or friends look after your baby for you? Make sure that they too know what to do should an accident happen.

The Red Cross are the world’s largest first aid training provider so you can trust them to deliver courses to the highest standard with the most up to date information and techniques.

To find out more about first aid training visit: www.redcross.org.uk/firstaid or call the national first aid helpline on 0870 170 9222 or email firstaid@redcross.org.uk. No time for a course? Why not order a copy of First aid for Babies and Children Fast published by the British Red Cross and Dorling Kindersley. Order online at www.redcross.org.uk/shop

Swallowed a harmful substance
If you think your baby has swallowed some tablets or medicine, take him, and the bottle, immediately to an A&E department. Do not give your baby anything to make him sick.

If you think your baby has swallowed a household or garden chemical, keep calm and get him to hospital as quickly as possible. Take the container from which he has swallowed with you. If your baby is in pain or his mouth is red, sore and blistering, give him sips of cold water or milk to soothe him until you get to hospital.

Make a note of the time and how much chemical/how many tablets have been swallowed.

Dial 999 or 112 in an emergency
112 is recommended for use on mobile phones as it gives a clearer signal, but 112 also works on landlines. 112 is commonly used for the emergency services in other European countries.

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