As fellow parents and caregivers, we understand that the curious and adventurous nature of our
children can mean that a first aid incident can occur at any time or place. While it can be distressing to see your baby injured or hurt, it is important for parents to prepare themselves in advance for a first aid emergency and be ready to jump into action at any time!

We are joined today by one of our Community Support Centre Supporters, Tiny Hearts First Aid, to share their top five ways you can prepare yourself for a first aid incident with your little one:

1. Keep important phone numbers close by
   You’ve got our favourite pizza shop or hairdresser’s numbers saved to your phone, but what about the ones that could get you out of a first aid emergency?

   Key emergency phone numbers (such as Poisons Hotline or Nurse on Call) should be kept in your phone and also written down at all times. We  recommend you to  stick a copy on the fridge or next to the phone – this way, any family member or friend can access them when needed!

   If you are a caregiver of children, you should have two of the child’s updated emergency contacts  available. In the case of a first aid incident, it’s important to let them know what happened and what action you took.

2. Keep a record of their health and medication
   While we would love to predict and protect our little ones from first aid incidents, we can’t. Trips, bumps and scrapes simply happen!

   However, it is in your control and essential for parents to keep a record of any prior health conditions, such as allergies or asthma. This way, you can better prepare yourself (or anyone else minding bub) for what to do if the child were to undergo another episode.

   Keeping medication records is also super important. When administering medicine to bub, be sure to write down the type of medication (e.g., paracetamol or ibuprofen), the time and date it was delivered, and by whom. By keeping medication records, you can ensure that there is no doubling up when handing over to another caregiver.

3. Keep a first aid kit handy
   It’s integral for every home to have a fully stocked and easily accessible first aid kit on hand. Tiny Hearts First Aid highlights equipment such as resuscitation masks, thermometers, ice packs and bandages as some of the most important for caregivers to keep in their first aid kit.
4. Keep a folder of child health and safety apps on your phone:
   Lucky for us as parents born in this generation, there are lots of handy first aid apps that all parents or caregivers should keep on their phone. Tiny Hearts First Aid recommends their custom built app for anyone wanting to expand or refresh their first aid knowledge – simply search Tiny Hearts First Aid in your app store!

   Other great apps to keep on your smartphone are the Red Nose Safe Sleeping app by SIDS and Kids, and the Emergency + app developed by Australia’s emergency services.

5. Stay current with your first aid training:
   Now this one’s a given; without adequate first aid training, all of the apps and first aid kits in the world won’t help you in a first aid emergency!

   Ensure you register yourself and any other key caregivers of your little one into a paediatric first aid course and refresh yourself annually to keep up to date with content.

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Tiny Hearts is a registered training organisation (RTO #40664). For more information, please visit www.tinyheartsfirstaid.com