Dr Mark Porters
With the summer holidays approaching, more children than ever are expected to end up in A&E with their parents.
Each year in UK, one million children under the age of 16 are bundled off to A & E departments as a result of accidents in and around the home. Almost half of which are babies and toddlers under the age of 5.
Yet, according to new research released today, parents have little or no knowledge of basic and life-saving first aid to help their children should an accident occur.
Whilst the majority of parents feel confident dealing with bruises, cuts and grazes and taking temperatures, research shows that their confidence plummets when posed with delivering first aid for broken bones, choking, head injuries and other more serious incidents- with just 39% of mums and dads able to deliver anything but basic first aid.
Commissioned by Elastoplast, the research reveals that mums are better prepared than dads in the first aid stakes, with a third of dads admitting their skills amount to just putting on plasters and giving a dose of Calpol.
However, 42% of mums are confident in performing ‘serious’ first aid including CPR and resuscitation as well as broken bones.
Other key findings from the research:
- More than 70% of parents have sought emergency first aid treatment for their children (taken them to A&E or called an ambulance).
- A third (33%) of dads have been in a first aid situation where they were unable to cope - compared to one in five (17%) Mums in a similar
situation.
- Three in five dads and more than a third of mums said they have not dealt with the children’s real injuries as well as they could have done.
- One in three (30%) parents wouldn’t know what to do if their child is unconscious, swallowed foreign objects, been electrocuted or suffered from severe bleeding.
- Despite 74% of parents ‘claiming’ they are completely confident dealing with cuts and grazes, in reality a whopping 73% of parents do not know the correct procedure to follow if their child has fallen over and cut or grazed themselves
Dr Mark Porters Top Tips:
1. Stay calm and smile- your child will sense if you panic but will be reassured if you show you are in control and there to help them
2. Check your surroundings are safe- don’t put you or your child at risk
3. Reassure the child and keep them warm
4. A cuddle and a kiss can work wonders too!
5. Try to avoid children seeing blood- the sooner your child’s got a plaster on, the better they'll feel
6. Prevent infection- if possible wash your hands before applying dressings or wear disposable gloves
7. Be prepared- ensure you have a well stocked first-aid kit and replace anything you use as soon as possible