First Aid for Kids

The Importance of First Aid for Kids

Many years ago I was a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and district executive. Plus the dozens of other jobs. With my medical background, I taught first aid to both Cubs and Scouts. And over the years it has been well proven a child with training is as good and at times better than some adults.

First aid training for children can significantly reduce the severity of injuries and, in some cases, save lives. By understanding how to respond to common emergencies such as cuts, burns, or choking, children become proactive participants in their own safety and the safety of others around them. This early education lays a foundation for lifelong awareness and vigilance, creating a community of individuals who are well-prepared to act swiftly and effectively in crisis situations.

Kids Are Capable

The prevailing myth that children are incapable of handling emergency situations is a notion that needs to be addressed and corrected. Contrary to this widespread belief, numerous instances illustrate that kids, when properly trained, can perform exceptionally well in emergencies. The key lies in providing them with the right tools and knowledge through first aid education.

Now some would argue that there is a difference between Scouts and kids not in Scouting. I’ll call BS on that. Sure Scouting gives kids a bit more structure and discipline than non scouting kids. But give kids the training and the knowledge, you’d be surprised what they can do.

These are a couple of stories from the net:

HORSHAM, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- "It was a type of thing where it was like a quick reaction but it was also kind of scary at the same time," said Ethan Williams.

Williams and his friend, Bryce Henry, were having lunch like usual at Keith Valley Middle School last week. Both are 12-year-old students in 7th grade.

All of a sudden, Bryce began to choke on an apple. A few students quickly rushed to his side. Then, Ethan stepped in to perform the Heimlich maneuver, which successfully dislodged the piece of food from his friend's throat.

"While I was choking, everything was a little bit blurry and stuff. He, like, grabbed my stomach and I didn't know what was happening," said Bryce. "And then he did the Heimlich. He literally saved my life."

Ethan was fortunate enough to learn the Heimlich maneuver as a 6th-grade student earlier this year. His family and consumer sciences teacher, Maureen Carroll, taught him how to do it.

It was one of the last things she taught during her 26-year tenure before retiring. https://6abc.com/7th-grade-student-rescues-friend-heimlich-maneuver-students/13981466/

And this one of a child that just paid attention:

A 4-year-old boy is being credited with saving his mother's life by taking care of her and his two younger siblings when she went into septic shock.Rachel Milless of Big Lake, Minnesota, said she was home alone with her 4-year-old son Asher and his younger brothers, ages 2 and 1, while battling the flu last November.

"I felt like I was breathing through a straw and it was terrifying," she told "Good Morning America." "And then eventually I just didn't feel like I was breathing well at all."

Rachel Milless said she suffers from asthma and has a nebulizer at home. As she was trying to reach her nebulizer to help her breathe, she said she fell to the floor in the kitchen, and that's when Asher stepped into action. "He just instinctively brought [the nebulizer] over and plugged it in and hooked it up and put all the meds in it," Rachel Milless said. "He held it to my face and said, 'Just breathe, mom,' and was practicing with me." GMA

By debunking the myth that children are incapable of handling emergencies, we can shift the focus to empowering them with essential first aid skills. Training children in first aid not only prepares them to respond effectively in emergencies but also instills confidence and a sense of responsibility, fostering a proactive approach to safety and well-being.

Essential First Aid Skills for Kids

Equipping children with essential first aid skills is a critical step in fostering their independence and confidence. Teaching kids how to handle emergencies not only empowers them but also ensures they can act effectively and safely in urgent situations. Below, we outline some fundamental first aid skills that are suitable for children to learn, along with brief descriptions of their importance and methods for teaching them.

Calling for Help

The first and most vital skill to teach children is how to call for help. Kids should know how to recognize an emergency and contact emergency services by dialing the appropriate number. It is important to teach them to stay calm, provide their location, and describe the nature of the emergency clearly. Role-playing different scenarios can be an effective way to practice this skill. Now most of us that live out in the woods, calling for help is a bit more difficult. I know some families that only have cell service in certain parts of their home or land. They rely on 2 meter radio to get out reliably. So calling for help means showing kids how to not only ask Siri or Google for help. It means knowing how to turn on the radio and knowing what frequency/repeater to use.

CPR

While performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) might seem advanced, children can learn the basics of this life-saving technique. Teaching kids the correct hand placement and the rhythm for chest compressions can make a significant difference in an emergency. Simplified CPR courses designed for children are available and can be a valuable resource. Modern CPR has removed the Respiratory portion from non medical personnel CPR courses. This makes it even easier.

Practicing First Aid

Minor cuts and bruises are common in childhood. Teaching kids how to clean a wound, apply an antiseptic, and use a bandage can help them manage minor injuries effectively. It's important to emphasize the need for cleanliness and the steps to prevent infection. Using a first aid kit during practice sessions can make the learning process more engaging and realistic. This is where we get into the meat of this blog. Living out in the woods on a homestead is not dangerous. Hell I feel it's more dangerous in Charleston than out in the woods. But it’s not without it’s bumps bruises cuts scrapes bites, punctures, burns etc. We could spend hours and hundreds of pages on the “perfect”first aid kit. At the Scout store, you’d see dozens of first aid kits, “Scout Approved”. They cost a lot of money and didn’t even have a decent pair of scissors. I asked one of the employees “why?” “So the kid doesn’t cut himself” was the answer. These are the same kids that carry a pocket knife, and are taught how to maintain it and sharpen it. But no tools in the first aid kit. Sigh. Welcome to the 21st century. But this time we’ll talk about making a kid friendly first aid kit, Better and cheaper than any you can buy.

This is the kit we came up with for Troop and Pack 185 Edgewood NM. And its still used 10 years later.

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)

• 10 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

• 1 adhesive cloth or silk medical tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

• 5 antiseptic wipe packets

• Space Blanket

• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (sized to fit your kids)

• Scissors

• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)

• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)

• 5 4×4 gauze pads 2 pack

• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches))

• 2 triangular bandages

• Tweezers

• Safety Pins

• Coflex 1 roll

• Super Glue Gel type (THE GOOD STUFF)

This fits into an old Army Surplus M16 Ammo pouch. And it clips to your kids belt so they always have it. Right here they have just about everything with them to handle 90% of homestead issues. Now how to use it. The Red Cross and other organizations teach first aid courses. (NOTE This is my personal opinion) The Red Cross first aid course for kids is okay. It does teach how to apply a bandage and hold minor pressure to the bare basics. But mostly it teaches kids how to get help. Look, knowing how to get help is VITALLY important. But it seems be based for kids in an urban to maybe suburban setting. I keep going back to Scouting. To get the First Aid Merit Badge is not easy. You can download the First Aid Merit Badge book here: BSA First Aid

We feel that all kids 10 years and up (The ages of Scouts) and especially kids that are growing up on a homestead farm or just out in the woods need to know what Scouts do to get the First Aid Merit Badge. And the basics of CPR. Here are some examples of what a 10-14 year old scout needs to know for the Merit Badge test.

Do the following:

• (a) Prepare a first-aid kit for your home. Display and discuss its contents with your counselor.

• (b) With an adult leader, inspect your troop's first-aid kit. Evaluate it for completeness. Report your findings to your counselor and Scout leader.

Describe the early signs and symptoms of each of the following and explain what actions you should take:

• (a) Shock

• (b) Heart attack

• (c) Stroke

Do the following:

• (a) Show the steps that need to be taken for someone who has a large open wound or cut that is not bleeding severely.

• (b) Show the steps that need to be taken for someone who has a large open wound or cut that is severely bleeding.

• (c) Explain when it is appropriate and not appropriate to use a tourniquet. List some of the benefits and dangers of the use of a tourniquet.

• (d) Demonstrate the application of a tourniquet without tightening it.

And there is much more. This is not “Padded” or added to make it seem like more. This is verbatim from the BSA FMB requirements This level of first aid, we feel should be taught to all kids.

And that is what we intend to do.

We’re building classes for kids. Homesteaders kids, Country Kids, City kids ALL kids. Classes like Basic First Aid. The same course I used to teach to Scouts. What’s so special about this? Well the kids, AND the parents must take them together.. And a Herbal First Aid class. This is where we take what we learned in the first aid class and take it outside. And learn about the plants that grow on our homesteads and what they can be used for. These are sort of all day classes. You can’t keep kids cooped up for hours on end. They’ll be split up with class time and of course play time. The reason for parents to take the class is not to control the kids. But to learn with them. I’ve found over the years that when we teach kids and adults together, it makes it more real for the kids.

These courses will not be expensive. I see so many people charging hundreds of dollars for courses like this one. Well I don’t know where they are, but most homesteaders are living paycheck to paycheck or etsy sale to etsy sale. We’ll make it one price that's affordable for the entire family.

Once we get things figured out, we’ll post a schedule for these classes. Until then, the links for the BSA Merit Badge workbook above are very useful. And also build your kids a first aid kit. The one we listed is pretty suitable for most Scout aged kids

Christine, Katie and Chuck