Kids First Aid Review | Could You Save Your Child’s Life?

WIN A KIDS FIRST AID KIT: read on and comment below why you want to win one!

It’s an important question: could you save your child’s life? Before last weekend, I would have probably said ‘I don’t know’. Last Sunday my husband and I attended a Kids First Aid session and wow, was it an eye opener. I’d been meaning to complete a first aid course for a long time and I had great plans to do one before Hannah was born, however it didn’t quite happen. After Sunday’s lesson, I wish I could turn back the clock and complete the course before she was born, as it would have saved so many frightful moments!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m quite a worrier and can be quite anxious. When Hannah was about 6 weeks old, I had her on the couch next to me. I turmed to grab something on the other side of me, and when I looked back around she had rolled from our couch onto the ground. I FREAKED OUT. I quickly bundled her up, drove to the emergency ward at the closest hospital, parked illegally out the front, and rushed her inside with a crazed look in my eye and on the verge of hysterical tears. Although Hannah was absolutely fine, they ran some tests anyway and held ME for observation as I was not in a good way. Had I had done the first aid course before this had happened, I definitely would not have freaked out as I did, and I would have had the confidence to look for signs of distress and ensure she was ok (I probably still would have taken her to the emergency ward, however!).

What I learnt is that the first aid that I remember learning at school has changed a lot. CPR has been simplified and is now 30 compressions to two breaths for everyone – and what I loved about the course is that the trainer, Ben, took us through each step of CPR in detail. Another point, is that it’s better to go too deep with the compressions than not deep enough. I would honestly now be confident to do CPR if and when the need arises. And for someone who is a bit anxious at the best of times, that’s saying something!

The course also took us through the top ten medical emergencies that children can face, from choking, cuts and lacerations to burns, and bites from spiders and snakes. It was ridiculously interesting and I am so grateful to now have this knowledge. One of my major fears is choking, and now armed with the knowledge and tips to help a child who is choking I won’t feel so darn helpless when it happens! One thing that surprised me to learn is if the child is coughing or making a lot of noise while choking, let them try to cough up the item for a few seconds first before administering first aid in the way of five back blows (to ensure the back blows don’t knock the item further down and complicating the issue – however if the child is making no sound at all, go straight to the back blows). We also learnt how to deal with allergic reactions and anaphylaxis which was something I also worried about especially around children.

The course itself is run by qualified and expert paramedics, and although it ran for three hours, it felt like a lot quicker than that as it was quite entertaining, hands-on and very informative.

As I brought along my husband, Herman, I thought I’d ask him a few questions about how he felt it went.

How old is your child and what made you want to do the first aid course?
Hannah is 21 months and we’re about to have our second baby. I wanted to do a refresher on the first aid courses that I had done previously, to make sure I was up to date.

What did you learn during the session?
To be firm when giving CPR – it’s not a time to be gentle.

Have you ever been in a situation where having first aid knowledge could have helped?
Yes, my cousin nearly drowned in a pool – we took her straight to hospital, however. Luckily she was fine.

Since completing the session, do you feel more prepared in the event of an emergency?
Yes, as I’m now up to date, it’s fresh in my mind and I’m confident to act if needed.

What did you enjoy most about the session?
It was a very relaxed session, the speaker made everyone feel comfortable. The attendees were a good mix – couples expecting their first child, grandparents, parents of one or more children, and there was also a baby (it was very family friendly).

Do you have any other comments about your experience?
It was a great afternoon session, quite detailed and thorough in terms of the potential emergency situations that could occur with children involved. The choking information was great for me to hear.

The course costs $85 however readers can secure a 10% discount by emailing Kids First Aid (here) and mentioning this blog post. Although the course was provided free of charge for me to review, I would certainly not hesitate to pay that price and feel it is entirely good value (a great gift even for friends who may be expecting their first child).

AND, you have the chance to win a Kids First Aid kit – simply tell me why you want to win the kit in the comments below. The winner will be chosen by me at 9pm on Wednesday 30 September. (This is a game of skill and my favourite answer will win the Kids First Aid Kit, valued at $35.95.)

Kids First Aid (KFA) offers the only first aid courses delivered exclusively by experienced paramedics, designed to teach parents and caregivers how to respond calmly and confidently to ten of the most common first aid emergency situations involving children. KFA courses are available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide. To find and book your closest course visit www.kidsfirstaid.com.au, and email them to secure a 10% discount (mention this blog post).

*Note: the course was provided to my husband and I free of charge, in order to me to provide a knowledgeable review and thus the discount and chance to win a first aid kit for Pretty Chuffed readers.