Introduction
In Germany, the rescue service needs on average eight minutes. In an emergency, this can be a very long time and happens even longer to particularly worried parents. In some cases, however, the measures that every first aider can learn can save lives.
For babies, different or modified measures are sometimes necessary than for adults. Most aid organizations offer first aid courses specifically for emergencies involving children. Most measures should actually be practiced and not just read up on.
What do I do if my child chokes?
One of the most common emergencies in infancy is probably swallowing. Children discover their world with all their senses and especially with their mouth. Everything is put in the mouth and some toys are so small that they find their way into the respiratory tract.
Nuts, Smarties and Lego bricks are particularly risky. In many cases only the food gets stuck in the esophagus for a short time and the situation calms down again quickly. However, if the swallowed object gets into the windpipe, there is a risk of suffocation.
The obstacle can be removed by a coughing attack. This coughing can be supported by tapping between the shoulder blades at head level. For babies, the child is placed on the forearm and the head is held as the lowest point.
Larger children can be placed over the knee of the helper. The so-called Heimlich manoeuvre should not be performed on babies and small children, as internal organs can be injured. In any case, a presentation should be made to the doctor to remove any remains. In an acute case, the rescue service should be called.
What do I do if my baby suffocates?
Suffocation means that the airways are closed and the baby is no longer getting enough oxygen. This can have various causes. Children often explore their surroundings by mouth and can therefore breathe in small toys.
In this case, the pat on the back described above can help the coughing stimulus and transport the foreign body out. The Heimlich grip from adult first aid should be avoided, as this can cause internal injuries. Likewise, first-aiders should not attempt to remove the foreign body from the windpipe themselves.
Another cause of suffocation is a swollen neck caused by an insect bite. This acute emergency requires the help of the emergency services. The child’s neck can be cooled from the outside to help, and in the case of somewhat older children, ice cubes can also be sucked.
Even severe infectious diseases, such as whooping cough, can lead to suffocation. The glottis can become cramped and thus block the airways. Some children get air better if they are brought to the open window, but here too, an emergency call is necessary.
Insect bites are painful, but in most cases not dangerous. In case of a wasp sting, the affected area should be cooled to reduce the pain. Wasp bites in the mouth are a special case.
Children often eat their ice cream without paying attention to whether a wasp is sitting on the ice cream. A sting in the throat can make the throat swell and cause breathing difficulties. In this case the rescue service must be called in.
The throat can be cooled from outside and older children can also suck ice cubes. Another special case of wasp stings are allergy sufferers. Children who are allergic to insect venom can also develop shortness of breath when stings occur in regions other than the neck.
If the allergy is known, parents sometimes already have an epi-pen with them as emergency medication. This should be placed on the thigh and pressed until the ampoule is empty. In any case an extreme allergic reaction should be clarified by a doctor. As a preventive measure, children should only drink from closed containers and parents should have a look at the children’s food.
