Children can have both a physical and emotional response to events that threaten the life or physical integrity of themselves or people important to them. This may overwhelm the child’s capacity to cope and they may elicit feelings of terror, powerlessness and out of control physical arousal.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
To help a child through a first aid trauma;
be aware of the child’s responses to the trauma
recognise emotional times as an opportunity for intimacy and teaching
listen emphatically and validate the child’s feelings
help the child to verbally label emotions which will help to soothe the nervous system and recovery rate
set limits while helping the child to problem solve
Talking to children about their emotions and responses to events can help them understand what’s happened, feel safe and begin to cope. Not talking to children about the event might give them the sense that what happened is too horrible to talk about, which should make the event seem more threatening and frightening.
Minor first aid incidents can see a happy resolution of the incident. However, more serious incidents can leave a child more stressed. Other factors that may add to their distress and anxiety are:
the absence of a parent or caregiver
presence of strangers
Maintain communication and always explain in simple terms (age appropriate) what has happened and what you intend to do. Providing a distraction such as playing with a bandage, penlight or other equipment can be helpful.
Croup, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, is a type of respiratory infection that is usually caused by a virus. The infection leads to swelling inside the trachea, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classic symptoms of “barking” cough, stridor, and a hoarse voice.
Signs and Symptoms
Distinctive barking cough
Difficulty breathing with increased respiratory effort and rate (sternal and rib retraction evident)
Poor colour
Lethargy and fatigue
First aid treatment includes:
Reassurance
Call emergency services on triple ‘0’
Create a steamy environment in a bathroom as an inhalation for a warm moist atmosphere to assist with respiratory distress
The approved provider of a centre-based education/care service must ensure that the persons in attendance at any place where children are being educated and cared for by the service, be immediately available in an emergency at all times. This means:
at least one staff member or a supervisor who holds a current approved first aid qualification
at least one staff member or supervisor who has undertaken current approved anaphylaxis management training
at least one staff member or supervisor who has undertaken current approved emergency asthma management training
Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations(2012)
The National Law sets a national standard for children’s education and care across Australia. The National Regulations support the National Law by providing detail on a range of operational requirements for an education and care service.
Under the Education and Care Services National Law, parents must be told within 24hrs of an incident, injury, illness or trauma to their child while under the care of the provider.
An approved provider must notify the regulatory authority of any:
serious incidents
complaints
circumstances at the service which pose a risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of children
any incident or allegation that physical or sexual abuse of a child or children has occurred or is occurring while the child or children are being educated and cared for by the service
Even for a mild electric shock, encourage the patient to seek medical aid for assessment of potential effects on the heart.
Signs and symptoms
A weak, erratic pulse or no pulse at all
Burns, particularly entry and exit burns
No pulse and no breathing = Cardiac arrest
Loss of consciousness
Downed power lines
Remain at least 8 meters from any live exposed electrical cable
DO NOT attempt to remove the cable
If a vehicle is being touched by a high voltage cable, DO NOT go near the vehicle or try to remove the casualty from the vehicle. Ensure casualty stays in the vehicle
Management of electric shock
Check for danger to yourself, bystanders and the patient
Switch off power, if possible, before trying to help the patient
If the patient is in contact with high voltage lines, do not approach, but wait until power is disconnected by authorized electrical personnel
If domestic power cannot be switched off quickly, remove the patient from the electrical supply without directly touching them. Use a non-conductive, dry material (e.g. a dry wooden broom handle)
Follow DRSABCD
Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance
If conscious, hold any burnt area under cool running water for 20 minutes
Remove jewellery and clothing from burnt areas, unless stuck to the burn
Cover the burnt area with a loose and light non-stick dressing, preferably clean, dry, non-fluffy material such as plastic cling film
Eye injuries may be serious, even if minor, as the eye is very sensitive and easily damaged. Eye injuries may involve either or both the bones and soft tissues surrounding the eye, as well as the eyeball itself.
DO NOT apply direct pressure on the eyeball! DO NOT try to remove any embedded object!
Treatment
DRSABCD
Reassure the casualty
Place in a position of comfort
Support the head and advise the casualty to avoid movement
Bandage to hold pad in place
Instruct to close affected eye and try not to move unaffected eye
A drowning person has the potential of respiratory and/or cardiac arrest. If possible use an item that floats to aid in the removal of the person from the water.
Treatment:
DRSABCD
Place casualty in the recovery position open the airway and let any water/vomit drain out
Reassure casualty
Continue to monitor ABC (Airway Breathing Circulation) and consciousness/responses
If no signs of life are present immediately start CPR and defibrillate
Continue with CPR until emergency personnel arrive
Normal human body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius. Usually, the body can regulate itself to deal with changes in external temperatures; however, extreme cold or hot weather conditions can wreak havoc on the body and cause fluctuations in body temperature that if left untreated can cause illness.
Please complete the 2 lessons below BEFORE marking this unit as complete.
A crush injury is an injury by an object that causes compression of the body. This form of injury is common following a natural disaster or work accident that may involve heavy machinery.
Management
Follow DRSABCD
If possible, remove the crushing force as soon as possible if safe, within the first hour
Control any obvious bleeding and treat the casualty for shock by keeping them flat and if possible, elevate their legs
Burns can be caused by various sources like heat, chemicals, electricity, extreme cold or solar radiation and damages the soft tissue of the body. Burns comes in various degrees from minor to severe.
DO NOT use ointments, lotions, creams or powders on a burn, it will seal in heat and may contaminate the burn. Avoid touching the area and do not burst any blisters. Do not remove anything sticking to the burn.
Signs and symptoms:
Superficial Burns (First degree Burn)
blistered
red
very painful
Deep Burns (Second-degree burn)
blistered, with a moist surface if the blister
has broken
dark red or pale yellow
mottled red and white
painful
Full-thickness Burns (Third-degree burn)
feels dry and leathery. Because the nerves are destroyed, the pain
will not be as great as in a superficial burn