There is now a Christmas Frenzy in the air and even those who don’t
celebrtate christmas seem to be getting caught up in the excitement of buying presents, preparing for over
eating and a general merriment. The children are excited as they eagerly wait to find
out what pressies they will be getting.
So it is up to us - the parents - to make sure that they have a Safe and Sound Christmas. Don't be tempted to buy cheap toys that are not suitable for toddlers - ensure they are age appropriate.
Every year over 35,000 children go to hospitals after an accident
involving a toy and the majority of these accidents happen to toddlers between
one and three years old. The child
accident and prevention trust advise parents to look at the suggested age range
on the packaging. There is usually a
warning symbol letting parents know if a particular toy is unsuitable for
children under 36 months. This is important because it means that a toy might
contain parts that could choke a very young child.
There are also safety marks that help identify safe toys. Toys
should conform to the European Standard BS EN 71. The Lion mark can also be a
helpful guide as this means they have been made to the highest standard of
safety and quality and it is the mark used by members of the British Toy and
Hobby Association. A CE mark is not a
guarantee of quality or safety but it is a legal requirement for all toys sold
in the European Union.
And those bottle of
aftershave and perfume should be kept well out of reach as they main contain
alcohol and chemicals which if swallowed could be harmful. Remember too
children are very curious and will want
to see what is at the bottom of mum’s glass. Small amounts of alcohol can
poison young children. I’ts not all doom
and gloom just taking a few careful precautions can ensure that the children
are kept safe and sound over the holiday period.
What to do
if your child chokes
How can I tell that my child is choking?
- She
may be gasping for air and unable to breathe
- She
may be holding or clutching her throat
- She
may be unable to speak
- She
may lose colour or look blue
What should I do?
1
Encourage your child to cough. If this does not quickly release
the object:
2
Bend your child forward from
the waist so that the head is lower than the chest and give 5 sharp back slaps
between the shoulder blades.
3
If the object is still not released give up to 5 abdominal
thrusts: kneel or stand behind your child with both arms around their waist.
Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button (below the
ribs) with your thumb inwards. Grasp this fist with the other hand. Thrust
sharply inwards and upwards. Try this up to 5 times. Check between thrusts and
stop if you clear the obstruction.
4
If the obstruction is still not cleared repeat steps 2 and 3. Ask
someone to dial 999 for an ambulance.
5
Be prepared to resuscitate if the child stops breathing.
If your
child suffers a burn or scald
Treatment
Cool
burn with cold running water for at least ten minutes. If cold water is not
available, use another cold,, harmless liquid, such as milk
Get
Medical help for any burn or scald which is larger than a 50p coin
Remember to keep calm and give lots of comfort and reassurance to the child
DO NOT
remove burnt clothing which has stuck to the skin. Burnt clothing is sterile
and will protect the wound.
Remove
carefully any jewellery, belts, restrictive clothing or footwear (that is not
stuck to the skin) from the injured area before it begins to swell
Cover
the burn with a clean, dry, not fluffy dressing and secure loosely. A
plastic bag or piece of cling film are ideal
DO NOT
put butter oil or any sort of grease or lotion on a burn or scald – these can
cause further damage and increase the risk of infection
DO NOT
apply sticking plasters or any other type of adhesive dressing to the skin –
they will cause pain and damage when removed
DO NOT
break blisters – you may introduce infection into the wound
DO NOT give the child anything to eat or drink with the exception of
painkillers
Give
the recommended dose of children’s painkiller syrup
REMEMBER Tell medical
staff when, what and how much medicine you have given. Not all medicines are
suitable for all children; please consult your doctor or pharmacist before
giving any medication to your child.
The above is
not a substitute for professional first aid training. For details of paediatric
first aid courses in your area please call safe and Sound on 0208 445 8998 or
go to www.safeandsound.uk.net
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