First aid in children

There are innumerable occasions in the life of our children in which we are not able to discern between a true urgency of a simple fright. For this reason, it is good to have some notions of first aid, both for children and babies, to help us interpret the symptoms of the smallest of the house, with an analytical criterion.

Children are children and must act as children. Since they are little they will suffer falls, bruises and insect bites. We should not be excessively protective because, in the long run, it will influence the behavior of the child and we can make him introverted and afraid. The precaution must be justified and always in moderation.


The first aid kit

- It must be in a cool and dry place. Never in the bathroom.

- Accessible only for adults, always far from the reach of children.

- Consisting of: alcohol, thermometer, petroleum jelly, scissors, tweezers, nasal aspirator bulb, bandages, gauze, elastic and cloth bandage, sterilized cotton balls, liquid hand soap, antiseptic ointments, dropper or oral syringe calibrated for dosing medicines and ice packs (in the freezer).

To measure the temperature of children

- Never leave the child alone while you take the temperature. Do not do it after bathing, or if you just wake up.

- Rectal route. It is the most accurate and safe method.


- Axilar. In case of diarrhea or rejection of the child rectal method.

- Oral. It will not be very accurate if the child has just eaten, or to drink something cold or hot.

- Tympanic. Quick reading

- Cutaneous. Modern method, but less reliable.

To take the pulse of children

- You can take the pulse in any superficial artery, that can be compressed against a bone: in the inner part of the arm, or in the heart.

- You must do it with the index, middle and ring fingers, since in the thumb it is confused with the own pulse.

- Do not exert excessive pressure.

- Control during a minute, writing down the figures to verify the changes.

- The pulse data varies according to age. Babies months: 130-140 beats / min. Children: 80-100 beats / min. Adults: 72-80 beats / min. Older adults: 60 or


Fever in young children

- Frequent causes: infectious processes, dehydration, administration of drugs and vaccines, or different inflammatory, neurological or traumatic processes.

- What does it depend on? Of age and physical activity.

- How does it vary? In the morning it can be two tenths less than in the afternoon. In addition, young children tend to have higher febrile peaks than older children.

- Other symptoms: Decay, irritability, malaise, breathing with difficulty, lack of appetite, joint pain, excessive sweating or chills, paleness, vomiting or diarrhea.

- What to do? Undress your son and put him cool. Refresh the atmosphere and do not clothe it. If necessary, use wet cloths of cold water, or even give it a warm bath.

Convulsive crisis

- Main causes: high fever.

- What to do? The most important is Keep calm. Help him not to hit himself and watch him explain to the doctor what happened.

- Never stimulate him, neither zarandees, nor try to hold him.

- Always: guarantee your safety, put on something soft, loosen clothes and warn the doctor.

Vomiting and diarrhea

- Vomiting is common in children and in most cases is not urgent. The most important thing is to prevent the child's dehydration.

- The diarrhea. The number increases, and / or the consistency of the feces is altered in relation to the usual rhythm of each baby. The most important thing is to prevent the child's dehydration.

Bruises and bruises

-  Bruises. Fill a bag with ice, cover it with a cloth and apply it, observing its evolution.

-  Wounds. Wash the area under a stream of warm water, dry it with sterile gauze in one direction, use an antiseptic to disinfect (mercromine) and leave it in the air if possible, or put a plaster or gauze.

-  Serious injury. Elevate the limb above the heart, press the area of ​​hemorrhage directly and firmly, and if the cloth is soaked with blood, place another on top without removing the previous one. If it is still bleeding, the corresponding artery is plugged and, if there is an amputation, wrap the amputated area in a clean cloth and store it in an airtight bag, immersing it in cold water or, failing that, in ice.

- Never dry wounds with cotton because it leaves leftovers, nor use povidone iodine (Betadine) in the first month of life. Do not apply ointments containing heparin sodium either.

- If is one crystal, it is not convenient to remove it because it can cut more when leaving and, in any case, never make a tourniquet or place the amputated limb in direct contact with ice.

Burns and electrocution

-  Burns by fire. First extinguish the fire by covering the child with a blanket, which is not flammable, so that the fire runs out of oxygen and goes out. If you do not have anything to cover, make him roll on the floor.

-  Burns due to electrocution. The main thing is not to touch the child with his hands, but to separate it from the stream with a wooden or plastic object.

- Never break the blisters of a burn and, in the case of those produced by electric current, never put anything on the skin. In big burns, like in fires, Do not take your clothes

Ana Aznar
Advisors: Lucia Belmar, physiotherapist and expert in First Aid and Rosalina Pérez, psychologist and expert in First Aid.

Video: First Aid and Kids Medical Course


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