As your teenagers hit the social scene, how sure are you that they would know what to do in an emergency? Samantha Laurie on why learning first aid could be the difference between life and death
You’ve given them the pep talk about safe drinking and the all-important grilling on drugs. But would they know what to do if the worst were actually to occur?
One teenager in seven has been in an emergency situation as a result of a friend drinking too much, says the British Red Cross, and almost nine out of ten have had to deal with a crisis such as choking, head injury or asthma attack. Asked what actions they took, almost half said that they had not known what to do, and had panicked.
Despite years of lobbying, first aid is still not on the national curriculum for schools. Nor is proficiency a condition for obtaining a driving licence (as per much of Europe). It’s not taught in teacher training colleges and, until recently, was not even mandatory for nurses and midwives (yes, really).
On the plus side, antenatal first aid classes are booming and smartphone apps such as the Baby and Child First Aid by British Red Cross have given new parents much needed confidence. By contrast, today’s teenagers can pass through most of their adolescence woefully lacking in the simple skills that can save lives.
“It’s not enough to have a few highly trained first aiders. What we need is a lot of people with a little first aid,” says Red Cross head of first aid, Joe Mulligan. “All the evidence tells us that the actions of the first person on the scene are crucial. At something like a house party, if there’s an accident it’s likely that the first person there will be another teenager.”
Picasa
According to Mulligan, there are two simple but life-saving first aid skills that all young people should know.
“If someone is unresponsive and breathing, you need to open their airway by placing them on their side with their head tilted back. I cannot stress enough how much difference this single intervention can make,” he says.
The second key is to put pressure on bleeding wounds. If such simple actions were more widely known, insists the charity, it could prevent up to 59% of deaths from injuries.
“It’s common sense, just not very common. People think it’s complicated. They fear they might do more harm than good, when actually the opposite is true: doing nothing is the worst thing.”
A vital message to share with teens is that no one has ever been successfully sued for administering first aid.
This year, the prospect of a compulsory first aid practical exam as part of the driving test is back in focus, thanks to a Private Member’s Bill introduced by MP Will Quince, with the support of St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross.
In the meantime, there are excellent private courses (practical and online) run by companies such as First Aid for Life, designed to encompass common party hazards. For free online resources, redcross.org.uk has lots of advice aimed at 11-19s, plus an app that can be used offline to guide them through a crisis.
firstaidforlife.org.uk runs a three-hour course for teenagers (Oct 27, Balham, £65), as well as bespoke courses for groups of friends run at your choice of location.
First aid tips
• Overdoing the alcohol
If someone is unresponsive and breathing, put them in the recovery position to clear their airway. Alcohol reduces the body’s ability to maintain its temperature, so the person could quickly succumb to hypothermia. Bring them inside or cover them in a coat or blanket (in particular insulate them from the ground). Stay with them to check that their airway remains clear, especially if they’re vomiting. Alcohol makes it harder to assess injuries, so get medical help if they’ve hit their head.
• Drugs
It is usually fairly obvious when someone is out of it – check for dilated or constricted pupils, speak to them and listen to what they’re saying. If they do not want help and you are concerned, call 999 and the paramedics will make the decisions. If they are unresponsive, put them in the recovery position.
• Asthma attacks
Remain calm and encourage them to use their blue inhaler. If they haven’t got access to it, call 999. If you are near a chemist, it may be possible to buy an emergency inhaler over the counter.
• Falls from a height or impact from a car
If you suspect spinal injury, first priority is to ensure that the person is breathing. It’s important to avoid twisting the spine, but the airway is paramount, so log roll them into the recovery position with help from others.
• Unresponsive, not breathing
Check for breathing by tilting head back and looking and feeling for breaths, call 999 and start CPR (pushing hard and fast in the centre of the chest). Many public places have defibrillators.
• Bleeding
Apply direct pressure and, if necessary, lay the person down, raising their legs. Watch for signs of shock and call 999.
• Burns
Run under cool running water for at least 10, ideally 15 minutes. Do not rush to dress a burn. Loosely cover the wound in clingfilm; get medical advice.
• Choking
Lean person forward, supporting their chest. Give up to five firm back blows, checking each time. If necessary, proceed to abdominal thrusts. If breathing stops, start CPR.
Compiled by firstaidforlife.org.uk
Check out our Kids/School Section for more great stories
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep updated with all the latest local news
