Common Medical Emergencies in Children and how to Treat them

Children are incredibly resilient, and while it may seem like they can bounce back from anything there are some medical emergencies that often strike children and need immediate attention.

When working in an environment with children present, it is vital that someone can recognise these conditions and be able to act decisively and confidently to put treatment in place.

Choking

Choking is a medical emergency caused by the airway becoming blocked by a foreign object; this can be food or another object that has been accidentally swallowed.

The signs of choking are usually quite clear - the child will not be able to talk or breathe, so will likely be making strange noises in an attempt to breathe and grasping or gesturing towards their throat with their hands.

You should encourage the child to cough if they can, as this may dislodge the obstruction - if they can’t, give them five firm slaps on the back between their shoulder blades. The vibration created in the airway can often be enough to dislodge any foreign object.

If the child still can’t breathe, stand behind them with your hand around their waist and pull inwards and upwards, just above their belly button. If the obstruction is still not cleared, call 999 for an ambulance and continue the cycle of back slaps and abdominal thrusts.

If the child falls unconscious at any point, begin CPR immediately.

Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is a serious medical emergency where the heart ceases the ability to pump blood effectively around the body. Death is inevitable without rapid treatment.

Someone in cardiac arrest will quickly fall unconscious and will not be breathing normally or not breathing at all. They may be making noises that seem like snoring or gasping - this is called agonal breathing and is an innate reflex of the body, it does not effectively supply the body with oxygen.

You must begin CPR immediately. If the casualty is a child and you are alone, give five rescue breaths before calling 999 for an ambulance and sending someone for a defibrillator.

Begin giving chest compressions at a depth of around a third of the chest, twice a second. Then give five rescue breaths by pinching the nose and breathing into the mouth. Then continue compressions and breaths at a rate of 30:2 until emergency services or a defibrillator arrive.

Febrile Convulsions

When a young child’s temperature rises above 38°C, it can cause seizures, known as febrile convulsions. These seizures are usually not serious but can be frightening and the child should be checked out if this is their first seizure or if it lasts longer than five minutes.

During the seizure, there are a few things you can do to protect the child:

• Protect their head with something soft like a pillow
• Remove any dangerous objects that are nearby
• Record the time that the seizure starts and ends
• Don’t try to hold the child in place or move them

Poisoning

The symptoms of poisoning depend on the substance and the amount taken in by the child.

Parents and carers should be aware of sudden, unexplained illness in young children, particularly if they're drowsy or unconscious, because poisoning could be the cause.

Symptoms associated with serious poisoning include:

• being sick
• dizziness
• sudden, noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
• breathing difficulties
• uncontrollable restlessness or agitation
• seizures (fits)
• drowsiness or loss of consciousness

If a child seems to be showing signs of poisoning but is conscious, call 999 and ask them to sit still and stay with them while you wait for medical help to arrive.

If they've been poisoned by swallowing something, try to get them to spit out anything that is remaining in their mouth.

If a harmful substance has splashed onto their skin or clothes, remove any contaminated items and wash the affected area thoroughly with warm or cool water. Be careful not to contaminate yourself in the process.

If they are unconscious, try to wake them and encourage them to spit out anything left in their mouth. Do not put your hand into their mouth and do not try to make them sick.

While you're waiting for medical help to arrive, lie the person on their side with a cushion behind their back and their upper leg pulled slightly forward, so they do not fall on their face or roll backwards. This is known as the recovery position.

Wipe any vomit away from their mouth and keep their head pointing down, to allow any vomit to escape without them breathing it in or swallowing it. Do not give them anything to eat or drink.

If the child is not breathing or their heart has stopped, begin CPR.

Cuts and other Injuries

If there's a lot of bleeding, press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth, such as a tea towel or flannel. Use your fingers if you do not have a clean cloth. If there's an object embedded in the wound, like a piece of glass, press around the edges of the object, rather than directly on it.

Press until the bleeding stops. This may take 10 minutes or more. Do not tie anything around the injury so tightly that it stops the circulation.

If possible, raise the injured limb. This will help to stop the bleeding. Do not do it if you think the limb might be broken. If you can find a clean dressing, cover the wound. If blood soaks through the pad or dressing, leave it there and put another pad or dressing over the top.

It's very unusual for a wound to bleed so much that there's serious blood loss.If you think there may be something in the cut, such as a piece of glass, go to A&E.

Courses with Imperative Training

Imperative Training offers a range of courses covering Paediatric First Aid, whether it be the Emergency First Aid course, or the more comprehensive general Paediatric First Aid course.

Both of these courses are accredited by Training Qualifications UK, meaning that the content and delivery of the course has been audited externally and is judged to be of the highest standard possible.

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