How to Teach Kids CPR & First Aid
Every parent dreads an emergency that involves a child getting injured. Perhaps even more scary, however, is the thought of something happening to an adult when a child is the only one around. Children naturally seek help from adults in case of an emergency, and if an adult is danger, a child may not know how to help. Teaching kids first aid and CPR at a young age can lead to more confidence for the child and life-saving action in the case of an emergency.
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Instructions
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Explain to children in an honest but calm way why they should learn this information. Children will become easily scared in an emergency, and if there is no adult present, they could be overwhelmed by their fear or their imaginations. Explain that they can help and don't have to be scared, as long as they learn what you want to teach them.
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Teach children to dial 9-1-1 or another emergency number at the first sign of trouble. Children should know that contacting the proper authorities for help is the most important thing to do in case of an emergency, and they should do that before trying to help.
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Show kids a first aid kit and explain what each piece of the kit is for, one at a time. Let them interact with the objects in the kit: applying bandages to themselves or you and wiping alcohol pads onto their skin. Hands-on work with the tools will give a child a better understanding of their uses.
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Assist the child in creating flash cards for the first aid kit out of index cards. These can contain pictures of the items, their names and what the items are used to accomplish. The child can study with these cards or can place them in the first aid kit so that they are handy in case of emergency.
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Talk to the child about CPR and why it is used. Explain that if someone gets hurt they may need help breathing. Demonstrate the techniques of pinching the nose, tilting the head and compressing the chest on a dummy or doll.
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Encourage the child to practice CPR and first aid techniques on dummies or dolls and you provide them with. Make up injuries for the doll ("Maggie fell down, and her arm is badly scratched") and let them provide solutions (applying rubbing alcohol and bandages, for instance). Allow them to practice using the materials as much as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Answer all of the child's questions calmly and honestly. Children who are learning about emergencies will have a lot of questions and may be unsure. Encouragement and honesty will a child the confidence she needs to react in an emergency.
If there is a specific type of illness in the household, such as diabetes or severe allergies, be sure the child knows how to use specified medications like insulin and epinephrine pens.
References
- Photo Credit old first-aid set image by Krasser from Fotolia.com
