Even when you are careful about safety, accidents and illnesses will occur. You should know what to do and have a plan of action.

If possible, take a first aid course from the Red Cross, the "Y," the Boy or Girl Scouts, or review a course you may have already taken.

Life-Saving First Aid

Choking, bad bleeding, drowning, burns from chemicals, and electric shock require immediate action to save lives. You can't wait for help or advice.

Choking—Check to see whether your baby can still move air in and out. If so, wait for the baby to cough it up. If not, turn the baby's head down and slap firmly between the shoulder blades. If nothing happens, try again. If baby still can't breathe, try to remove the object with your finger while the baby is still upside down. If something is completely blocking the windpipe (trachea) and it can't be removed using a finger in the mouth, a sudden hard squeeze of the baby's lower chest may "pop" it out, like a cork from a bottle. Rush to the hospital if your baby can breathe but keeps choking.

Drowning or Electric Shock—Use the following steps for mouth-to-mouth Rescue Breathing until your baby starts breathing again or you get medical help.

1. Clear the mouth with your finger, quickly removing any mucus, vomit, food, or object.
2. Place the baby face up on the floor, table or other firm surface.
3. Tilt baby's head back with chin up.
4. Cover mouth and nose with your mouth and blow gently until you see baby's chest rise.
5. Remove your mouth and let baby's lungs empty.
6. Take a quick breath yourself.
7. Repeat at a rate of about 20 times a minute.

If air is not moving, quickly check the position of your baby's head and try again. If still no movement, hold your baby upside down, slap firmly between shoulders, check mouth to remove any blockage, and try again. DON'T STOP!

Heavy Bleeding—Stop the bleeding by pressing with your hand directly on the bleeding spot. Get a cloth or piece of clothing under your hand and press firmly. Continue to press. If bleeding continues, add more cloth and continue to press.

DO NOT use a tourniquet. Direct pressure from your hand will stop almost any bleeding. Even if an arm or leg is nearly cut off, you can stop the bleeding with pressure.

Burns from Chemicals—If lye, oven cleaner, pesticides or other strong chemicals come in contact with the baby's skin or eyes, wash it off with large amounts of water for a long time. Remove any contaminated clothing. Place the affected area directly under a faucet, garden hose, or shower and keep rinsing for 5 minutes. Use a bottle, cup, or gentle faucet to wash out eyes; keep the eyelids open as much as possible.

Poisoning from Swallowed Medicines or Products

1. Immediately feed as much milk or water as the baby will take. Keep the baby drinking.

2. Call a poison control center, physician, hospital or rescue squad. Tell them the name and brand of the substance that was swallowed. Keep the container, the label and anything left in the container.

3. IF a DOCTOR advises it or if you can't reach a doctor, make the baby vomit—but not if:

• The baby is unconscious or having a convulsion;
• The substance swallowed was a strong alkali or acid (lye, ammonia, drain cleaner, oven cleaner); or
• The substance swallowed was a petroleum product such as kerosene, gasoline, turpentine, lighter fluid, insecticide or furniture polish.

If any of these substances are swallowed, go directly to a hospital emergency room, clinic or doctor's office.

4. Make the baby vomit by giving 2 teaspoons of Ipecac Syrup (1 tablespoon for children over 1 year old). You should have a bottle in your medicine cabinet and in your automobile First Aid Kit. If you don't have Ipecac, and have a long trip to the doctor or hospital, stop at a pharmacy to get some and give it on your way to the doctor or hospital.

Poisoning from Smoke or Fumes—Remove your baby to a place where there is fresh air. Use Rescue Breathing if breathing stops.

Shock—After any severe injury, burn or bleeding, an infant may become pale, clammy and cold. Keep your infant lying flat and warm with blankets and get medical care immediately.

Emergencies Which Require Immediate Medical Treatment

• Poisonous Bites
• Vomiting Blood
• Crushing Injuries to the Chest
• Severe or Extensive Burns

DONT STOP FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT LIFE-SAVING FIRST AID. RUSH DIRECTLY TO A HOSPITAL OR OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY.

For most injuries there is no need for such rush and hurry. You have time to calm down, to comfort the baby and other members of the family, and to telephone for medical advice. Cuts (after the bleeding has stopped), most burns, convulsions, eye injuries, broken bones, high fevers, and head injuries all can wait until someone trained in medicine or first aid can be located to give advice by telephone or in person. Keep the baby warm and comfortable. Don't move the baby unless you are sure there are no head or neck injuries and no broken bones.

Minor First Aid

Cuts—Stop the bleeding by pressing against the cut. Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Pat dry. Cover with sterile gauze pad or adhesive bandage. Don't use iodine, mercurochrome or first aid ointment. Soap and water will take care of germs. If the skin does not fall back into place neatly, or if the wound is as much as 1/4-inch deep, stitches or a special bandage may have to be applied to speed healing and prevent scarring.

Scrapes—Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Use a wet gauze to remove all dirt particles. Cover with a sterile gauze pad or adhesive bandage.

Puncture Wounds—(a deep prick from a pin or tack). Press gently to encourage bleeding and soak in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Cover with an adhesive bandage. Get medical advice if it gets more sore or red.

Slivers—Wash with soap and water, remove with tweezers or scrape out with a needle. Wash again. Cover with an adhesive bandage.

Burns—Rinse with cold water. Cover with sterile dressing or clean cloth. Don't use ointments or greases. A cold pack made by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag and covering with several layers of cloth may relieve the pain of a fresh burn.

Falls—Don't pick your baby up immediately after a fall. Watch for a few moments. Babies who cry loudly and move their arms and legs normally, probably have no serious injuries, and they can be picked up and comforted.

If your baby is unconscious or if you think there may be a broken arm, leg, neck or back, call for medical advice immediately—before you move your baby.

If your baby is crying loudly and is not unconscious, run your hand over the head to be sure there are no lumps or depressions. Let your baby rest or play quietly, but check frequently. If your baby develops unusual sleepiness or vomits more than once, get medical advice. If activity and appetite stay about the same as before the injury, you have nothing to worry about.

Insect Bites and Stings—Remove the stinger if present. Calamine lotion may reduce itching and scratching.

Particle in Eye—Most of the time a small speck of dirt or tiny insect will be blinked into a position along the lid where it can be removed with a corner of a clean tissue.

If the eye seems irritated and a speck can't be seen, bring the upper lid down over the lower lid and release it. The tears may wash the speck out. If irritation continues, cover the closed eye with several gauze pads, tape them in place, and take the child for medical care.

Jeff Beaumont

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