MTV Community and Child Watch Group

Children and Emergency First Aid

May 19, 2009

An emergency is a situation in which a resident or their neighbor gets injured or very sick and needs help quickly. A child may be faced with an emergency situation and have to act on his or her own before an adult or medical help arrives. Providing proper training and instruction in first aid for our children is a responsibility with which a parent can really find support and direction in fulfilling.

A child needs to have first aid basics explained to him or her followed by an actual demonstration of an emergency situation. For example, in a situation where a person has caught on fire, explain the following: (1) stay calm, (2) check the scene (Is it safe to approach the person who is hurt or sick?), (3) check the injured or sick person and try to keep him or her calm, (4) get help (call 9-1-1). Then explain to your child, if someone is with you or nearby, ask them to make the call. If no one else is around, tell him or her you may have to leave the injured or sick person to call for help yourself. And (5) instruct your child to give first aid until professional help arrives or help an adult give the first aid. Then, perform an actual demonstration for your child of how to stop the burning fire that is on a person. Do this by assisting a demonstrator person to STOP, DROP and then ROLL until the burning fire is out. Then follow with: (1) if possible, immediately run cool water over the burned area until it feels better, or (2) cover the burn with a clean, dry dressing (never put butter or grease on a burn) and (3) if the burn covers a large aea, or starts to blister, call your doctor or 9-1-1 -- and actually act this part out with your child in the following manner: (1) have your child state the reason for the call, (2) have your child state the location he or she is calling from, (3) have your child state his or her name clearly, (4) have your child state your address to the operator and teach your child not to hang up until the operator says it's OK to hang up.

For more safety information, you can call the Delaware SAFE KIDS Coalition at (302)739-6637. Each One Teach One.