Sixty seconds to save a child's life

Dr Dawn Harper talks to mums about first aid

Children’s lives are at risk through a lack of first aid skills, a new study reveals.

Over 60 children die each year on average in accidents in the home, but almost a quarter of parents (22%) admit they do not have any baby or child first aid knowledge.

The study, from parenting site ChannelMum, showed one in five (21%) mums and dads have been forced to give a child emergency first aid, but of these, under a third (31%) said they felt confident treating the child.

Instead, 38 per cent were terrified the child could die with a further 20 per cent worried they would be left injured. And frighteningly, one in nine parents (11%) panicked and froze, leaving them unable to help at all.

Overall the most frightening first aid scenario for parents is choking with 53 per cent of mums and dads saying this is their biggest fear. Almost a quarter of parents (23%) have faced the reality of their child choking.

The next most alarming situation is a seizure with 14 per cent of parents reporting their child has had one, followed by a severe allergic reaction, experienced by one in 20 (5%).

A further six per cent said they have feared their child has contracted deadly meningitis, with 16 per cent also needing to treat their child for a burn.

Alongside this, almost one in ten (9%) has given CPR to a child.

The survey of 2,000 adults showed becoming a parent was by far the biggest trigger to wanting to improve first aid knowledge, with 55 per cent agreeing.

By contrast, just 11 per cent went on to learn more first aid after having a serious accident themselves and only two per cent to help elderly relatives.

The poll also revealed 84% of parents try to childproof their home to reduce the risk of accidents - but just 42 per cent keep a first aid kit at home and only 15 per cent keep up to date with latest first aid techniques.

While 82 per cent of families ensure they keep medicines out of children’s reach, over a third (36%) admit they leave laundry items which can be toxic within children’s grasp, while 54 per cent have yet to secure TVs to stop them falling. A further 43 per cent don’t tie up blind cords, despite them being linked to several child deaths.

However, parents correctly identified that spending just one minute a day learning first aid and minimising risks can cut the chance of your child having a serious accident or needing first aid. The total is equivalent to just six hours over the course of a year.

As a result, ChannelMum, St John Ambulance and TV GP Dr Dawn Harper have teamed up to produce a brand-new video first aid course.

The free-to-watch seven-video series includes expert tips from Dr Dawn and real-life experiences from mummy vloggers Charlie O’Brien, Nilly Dahlia and Kate Murnane (Dolly BowBow).

The videos, which include first aid techniques and signs and symptoms of common illnesses, are available to watch at:

http://www.channelmum.com/firstaidcourse