It’s important to learn how to administer first aid to children and adults. Maybe you’re wondering why paediatric and adult first aid training is different. The simple answer is that children’s bodies and bone densities necessitate special consideration in various settings that would not apply to adults. As a child lacks the physical maturity of an adult, performing first aid in the same way can be fatal.

When help is needed quickly, adults are often better equipped to convey their condition than children. For this reason, it’s important that everyone, not just parents and teachers, is trained in paediatric first aid so that they can notice the signs and take appropriate action.

You can register for our first aid courses in Surrey to learn how to effectively administer first aid to children and adults. Below, we’ve compiled a few situations in which administering first aid to a child differs from first aid performed on an adult.

Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

When performing CPR on an adult, you must use both hands to compress the chest. However, a child older than a year needs just one hand to squeeze their chest. If the child is younger than a year, simply use two fingers to compress the chest. A child’s body is not developed enough to support the weight of two hands, which might be dangerous.

Remember that while chest compressions are the first step in CPR for an adult, five rescue breaths are the first step for a kid.

Using A Defibrillator

In the event of cardiac arrest, a person can use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore a normal heart rate.

Standard pads may be used with any AED machine when treating an adult. When administering electric shocks to children aged eight and less, only the specialized AED pads should be utilized. These pads are modified from standard adult AED pads to be more gentle on youngsters in the event of a cardiac arrest.

A Child Or Adult Choking

Children and adults require identical first aid procedures in the event of choking, while infants require a somewhat different approach. If you suspect your newborn has choked on an item or food, rest them on your knee with one hand on their chest. Make sure their torso is parallel to the ground by bending them over. Then, using the base of your palm, deliver five light strikes to the back, between the shoulders.

It’s important to be able to administer first aid in case of an emergency, whether it’s to a child or an adult. Take advantage of our first aid training in Surrey and other areas in British Columbia and ensure that you are always ready for any emergency.

We also offer occupational first aid level 1 training and part-time/evening OFA 2 training. If you want to learn more about our workplace safety courses in Vancouver, don’t hesitate to contact us.