When talking about first aid training, most people are talking about training high school age children or adults. Knowing first aid is something that is important for everyone to know, though. In fact, it is becoming popular to teach younger children basic first aid skills. There are some tips to keep in mind when teaching children basic first aid.
1. Teach the child about 911.
As soon as a child is able to dial a phone, it is a good idea to teach them about 911. Of course, with this, you want to make sure that they know not only how to dial the number, but also in what circumstances it is okay and suggested to call 911. You don’t want them to be calling if there is no emergency. Along with this, making sure that they know your phone number and address can be very helpful in the case of an emergency as well.
2. Provide instructions in a clear, concise manner.
Giving the instructions to a child in a way that they will understand is extremely important. One of the best ways to do this is with step-by-step instructions. These instructions should be easy to remember as well. Remember the age group of the child that you are teaching, and tailor these instructions to them.
3. Make a chart.
Along with instructions, help the child make a chart to remember the instructions that you gave them. This can be something that is written out, if the age of the child is appropriate, or it could be pictures that you and the child draw out together. Either way, doing a chart can help the child remember. Keep it in a place that they can look over it from time to time.
4. Practice makes perfect.
Go through different scenarios with the child. This will help in a multitude of ways. First, it will help them understand the actual logistics of what to do. Pretend that you are bleeding, and have them go through the steps. Do this with different emergency situations. Not only does it help solidify the steps in their mind, but this can also be very effective in helping the child to understand that there is no reason to be scared in these situations. Helping them overcome this fear is essential in him or her being able to help someone in the future.
The more children know about first aid, and how to help those around them, the more likely they are to help. If the parent or adult in this case needs more information to be better equipped to handle teaching, there are many first aid classes and safety courses that could provide more information. Some are work-related, but it would be easy to apply the skills in a basic first-aid situation.
Many times, children may know the basics of first aid, but it is also important that they understand why they are doing certain things. If you teach them that they need to put cold water on a minor burn, you will also want to explain that the reason for this is to help pull the heat out of the burn, so it doesn’t get worse. Many times, children will remember the why more than the what. Because of this, you have to make sure that you make a link between the two.