Be prepared for school holiday mishaps

Whether you're at home or on holiday, it's important to be prepared for the inevitable scrapes and falls that your child will encounter during the school holidays. Former paramedic Allan Withers offers his expert advice

Statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) show just how frequent accidents are, with almost 300,000 children aged between 5 and 14 being the victim of accidents in the home.

Summer holidays should be a time for fun-filled family activities, not marred by injuries. It is essential for all parents to know the importance of first aid and to have some basic training. Knowing basic first aid allows you to deal with situations quickly and proficiently and in some cases it could possibly save a person's life.

It's recommended that at least one parent is first aid trained. Basic first aid courses run across the UK, including Blue Zebra and St John's Ambulance, and are designed to arm a parent with the knowledge to respond to any accident in the right way. You never know when the skills might be needed so it's always good to be prepared.

When it comes to dealing with a first aid scenario, the best advice is to stay calm and assess the situation. If your child is injured it's very easy to panic, but it's crucial you make sure you are not in any danger before you assess your little one (you are no good to them if you end up injured too.)

Depending on the severity of the accident you must decide whether it is serious enough to call 999 for an ambulance, to call NHS Direct for advice, to visit your local GP or to treat yourself.

What not to do

There are some common misconceptions with first aid, which can sometimes make a problem worse as opposed to better. Here are some things to remember:

1. Nosebleeds - Don't tilt the head back. If you put the head back all of the bleeding goes down the airway. Instead tilt the head slightly forward and allow the blood to drain out of the nostrils. Pinch the nose and make the child breathe through their nose.

2. Burns - Do not use creams or ice. Only use cold water to treat a burn, for around 10 minutes. If it's a serious wound then seek medical attention.

3. Grazes - For most cuts you will simply need to clean the wound thoroughly. If the wound is bleeding then apply pressure to stop it. If the cut is to your arm or hand, raise it above the head and if it is a lower limb, lie down and then raise the affected area to be above the level of your heart. If bleeding persists, or the injury is severe, seek professional medical attention.

4. Bites - Mostly bites are harmless and are more of an irritation, causing a few red, itchy, spots or limps as opposed to an allergic reaction. If, however, a child suffers from breathing difficulties, rapid pulse, itchiness all over, fainting, severe anxiety, vomiting or swelling of the eyes, mouth or neck do not hesitate to call 999 as they may have an allergic reaction and will require urgent medical assistance.

5. Sunburn - Don't stay in the sun! If you notice red skin, then move in to the shade or preferably inside. Take a cool bath or shower to cool the skin and apply sun lotion to the area of skin affected. Remember to drink lots of water too, this will help you stay hydrated.

In most cases a first aid kit will have everything needed to treat all basic holiday accidents such as cuts, scrapes and bites but anything beyond this should be seen by a medical professional.

Allan Withers is founder of online first aid superstore First Response Supplies, an online retailer of medical supplies, to both the professional medical and consumer markets. For more details visit www.firstresponsesupplies.co.uk