BTEC AWARD IN PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID (LEVEL 2):
UNIT 1 ASSIGNMENT:
TASK 1
1.1
1.2 Application of first aid to each and reasons;
Toothache:
- Reassured the child
- To put on gloves
- Make the child comfortable because the child lying down makes the toothache worse
- To prop the child up with pillows
- Recommended dose of paracetamol syrup should be given
- To give the child hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel to hold against face or to give the child a rolled up plug of cotton soaked in oil of cloves to hold against the affected area.
- If the condition is persisted, I will call for the 999 (an Ambulance)
- I will contact the parent immediately.
- The accident book will be completed immediately.
Vomiting:
- To reassure the casualty
- To give myself a personal safety from infection
- To put gloves on
- To know what cause the illness
- Check the area
- Ensure there is a bowl nearby
- Support the child’s head when vomiting
- Wash the child hands and face, and ask the child to rinse mouth out with water
- Allow the child to rest/lay head on soft towels in case of accidents
- Change clothes when necessary
- Stay near the child
- Give the casualty plenty of clear fluids to sip slowly and often
- Prevent dehydration
- If the vomiting is persistent, I will call 999 (Ambulance)
- Wash and disinfect the bowl
- I will contact the parent
- The confidential accident and illness record will be filled, in case of future reference.
Diarrhoea:
- To reassure the child
- To put gloves on
- To know the course of illness
- Check the area if there is no other children around the area of incident
- Give regular drinks of clear fluids
- Keep a potty nearby, if possible for a younger child
- Keep spare under-wear handy
- Keep infectious children away from others in the case of gastroenteritis
- Good hygiene is important; to ensure the child washes hands after using the toilet
- Soak soiled underwear in Napisan solution before washing
- I will call the 999 Ambulance when the illness is not persistent
- I will contact the parent
- Confidential, accident and illness record book are recorded, should in case of future reference.
Fever:
- Reassured the child
- To put on gloves
- Keep the casualty cool and comfortable
- Give the casualty plenty of cool, bland drinks to replace body fluids lost through sweating
- A child may take the recommended dose of paracetamol syrup prescribed by the child doctor
- If the condition persisted, I will called for the 999 Ambulance
- I will contact the parent immediately
- I will complete report book for future reference.
1.3 (See the attached recoding form that record one of the illnesses)
TASK 2
2.1
2.2 Application of first aid to each major illness and reasons;
Severe allergic reaction:
- To wear a disposable gloves
- To reassured the child
- To arrange urgent removal of the child to the hospital by calling 999 for an Ambulance and give the information about the cause of the illness
- Check whether the child is carrying the necessary medication e.g. syringe or an auto-injection of Epinephrine for self-administration. Help the child to use it, if the casualty is unable to administer the medication of which they have to train to use an auto-injector
- To help the child sit ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
2.2 Application of first aid to each major illness and reasons;
Severe allergic reaction:
- To wear a disposable gloves
- To reassured the child
- To arrange urgent removal of the child to the hospital by calling 999 for an Ambulance and give the information about the cause of the illness
- Check whether the child is carrying the necessary medication e.g. syringe or an auto-injection of Epinephrine for self-administration. Help the child to use it, if the casualty is unable to administer the medication of which they have to train to use an auto-injector
- To help the child sit up in the position that most relieves and breathing difficulty, if the child is conscious
- To phone the parent as soon as possible
- To complete the accident and illness book for future reference.
Febrile seizers:
- To reassured the child
- To protect the child from injury, for example, by clearing away all the object that can cause an accident
- To cool the child
- To reassured the parents or carer
- Position pillows or soft padding around the child so that even violent movement will not result in injury
- Remove any covering or clothes, and ensure a good supply of cool, fresh air. But should be careful not to over-cool the child.
- Sponge the child’s skin with ‘tepid water’ to help cooling e.g start at his forehead and work it down the body
- Once the seizures have stopped, I will keep the airway open by placing the child in the recovering position. But if the seizure is not stopping I will call 999 for an Ambulance
- I will reassure the child and parents or carer and monitor and record the vital signs e.g level of response, pulse and breathing until medical help arrives
- I will contact the parent.
Head injuries:
- To reassure the child
- To contact the parent
- I will call 999 for an Ambulance immediately
- To complete a report form and and record it
- If the child goes into shock, I will start the C.P.R.
- I will monitor the child until an Ambulance arrives
- To know what cause the accident.
Electric shock:
- Break the contact between the casualty and electrical supply by switching off the current at the main or meter point if can be reached easily
- Otherwise remove the plug or wrench the cable free
- To protect myself, I will stand on some dry insulating material such as wooden box, a plastic mat or on a telephone directory
- Using something made of wood (such as broom), push the casualty’s limbs away from the electrical source or push the source away from the casualty.
- The casualty may be unconscious, once it is safe to do so, open the airway and check breathing; be ready to begin rescue breaths and chest compressions if necessary
- If the casualty is breathing place in recovery position
- Regularly monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse, and breathing
2.3 (See the attached recording form that record one of the illnesses)
2.4 Why it is important to record illnesses?
The major reason of why it is important to record illnesses (either minor or major) is mainly for future reference of any particular child in the setting.
Keeping the recording will help clear staff from any blame from the parents and it also help staff to monitor the progress of the prospective child in case of future re-occurrence of any sudden illness. More so, it is very important to keep the record so that in the case of future accident or child taken ill suddenly, referring to the child’s medical record may help to know the type of first aid that can be given on time.
TASK 3
3.1
(A) - Asthma:
Asthma is an attack of the muscles that air passages in the lungs go into spasm and the lining of the airways swell, and becomes very narrowed; this makes breathing very difficult and eventually trigger for attack. Asthma is potentially fatal and should always be taken seriously. It is caused by a narrowing and swelling of the airways and increased mucous production which is due to body response to an allergy or virus which are called ‘triggers’. Example of these may include the following;
- Lack of oxygen
- Animal furs (most especially cats)
- Anxiety
- Respiratory infections
- Some food items
- Air pollution house dust mite
- Cold air
- Pollen
- Exercise
- Tobacco smoke
Signs and Symptoms of Asthma;
-Coughing at night
-Recurrent cough in the cod or after exercise
-Fast breathing
-Wheezing when the child breathes out exhales
-Trembling
-The lip are blue because their lack of oxygen
-Tightness of the chest
-During the attack there may be;
- Difficulty in speaking
- Fear
- Dry tickly cough
- Grey-blue colour to the skin.
Medication for Asthma:
-Inhaler
-Bronchodilator’ drug, which are called (reliever)
-Ventolen (Salbutamol), which can be given as tablets, syrup form of inhaler.
-Preventer such as (intal), or a steroid such as ‘Becotide’.
-There are children under 5years old; who have difficulty in using inhaler might use a spacer device, such as Nebuliser.
-Children over 6 might also use a peak flow meter, through which the child blows regularly
- To records the results on a chart
(B) -Sickle Cell Crisis:
Sickle cell disease is a disorder of red blood cells, which is inherited. Some children were born with disease while other may be born with a sickle cell ‘trait’, which mean they are carriers of the condition. Sickle cell trait children are perfectly healthy children. Sickle cell children are more common in children of some ethnic backgrounds particularly those from Afro-Caribbean origin.
Cause of Sickle cell crises:
When the abnormal red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles, which can clog the flow of blood to an area of the body. This can cause pain; damage and anaemia, these pain and anaemia are called ‘crises’
Crises are likely to happen when the child is dehydrated and during illness especially with fever. Children are more prone to infections.
Signs and Symptoms:
-Pain
-Thirst
-Tiredness
-Fever
-Unusual headache
-Joint pains
-Chest pains
-Abdominal pain or swelling
-Numbness, weakness, shortness of breath.
-Sudden vision.
Other type of Sickle cell (Thalassaemia):
Thalassaemia is caused by lack of sufficient (enough) red blood cells. The blood cells do not regenerate and the blood count is low.
Signs and Symptoms include;
-Pale
-Tiredness
-Cold
-Lethargic and pain.
First aid (Thalasssaemia):
The only first aid for Thalassaemia is Hospital treatment and medication that is prescribed.
-I call 999 Ambulance
-Contact the parent
-And complete the report book.
3.2 Application of first aid for each chronic conditions and reasons;
Asthma:
- To keep calm and reassure the child
- Give the child the reliever inhaler and allow the child to use themselves
- Help the child find a comfortable position e.g often leaning forwards
- If the inhaler has no effect after 5 or 10 minutes, then I will call 999 for Ambulance
- I will check and record the child’s breathing, movement and pulse
- I will contact the parent
- I fill the confidential accident and illness record, in case of the future reference
- To continue to encourage the casualty to breath slowly.
Sickle cell:
- Reassured the child the child
- I put gloves on for safety of myself
- Administer pain reliever, antibiotics that are prescribed by the casualty doctor.
- I will call for 999 Ambulance when the condition is severe.
- Contact the parent about the incidents
- And complete report form should in case they may want to refer to it in future.
3.3 Copy of the chronic medical conditions in your portfolio:
PAEDIATRIC CASE SCENARIO:
GARY’S CASE:
(1). I would say that Gary told the truth, because when he fell down he may not feel the pain immediately the accident happened. But he may start feeling the pain say about five to ten minutes that he had sustained the injury in the accident.
(2). The action that should be taken in the setting can include the following:
- To assured Gary,
- To wear a protective gloves,
- To call 999 for Ambulance,
- To record the accident in the accident and illness book for future reference.
- And contact the parent.
(3). It is important that everyone in the setting should know when a child has had a minor accident because they all work as a team and in most cases, work hand to hand. Moreover, at least one or two must have been trained and qualified as ‘first aider’. In addition, whenever they wanted to attend to any child involved in accident, there have to be a witness. After the treatment had been given, the record book for recording both minor and major accidents should be filled for future reference.
A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD:
(1). I will call the attention of one of the workers to be my witness and the child would repeat what he or she had said to me in the presence of the witness.
(2). I would give the first aid as follows;
- I will reassured the child
- I put protective gloves on
- I will give the child water or fresh milk to drink.
- If the condition does not improve, I will call 999 for Ambulance.
- I will record it in the accidents and illness book and fill in a slip to give to the parent.
- I will contact the parent.
A YOUNG CHILD IN THE SETTING:
- I will protect the child from injury by;
- Clearing away any nearby objects
- Surround the child with soft padding
- Remove his clothing
- Ensure a good supply of cool air reassured the child and the parent
- I will call 999 for Ambulance, because we did not know the cause of the seizure and it is potentially dangerous.
(2). I will phone the parent or guardians.
(3). I will tell the parent that the child has seizure and reassured them, and
also advice them to take the child to hospital for proper check.
(4). I will write the name of the child (accident person),
- I will write the mane of the person that administered the first aid (first aider)
- The witnesses name
- The time the accident happens, the exact place and date.
- How it happen.
- Nature of the illness or accident.
- The sign and symptoms from the child.
- What first aid that I gave to the child.
- The advice that I gave.
- Where the child was removed to.
- Any observation about pulse, breathing and level of response.
THE BABIES TAKING THEIR AFTERNOON NAP:
(1). My first action is to shout for help and make sure that other colleagues were alerted so as have witnesses and tell other colleagues to take the rest of children away from the accident area.
- I will turn the baby back on a flat surface,
- Call 999 for Ambulance, because the situation the baby that is not breathing, is between life and death in which the first aid person have to act quickly.
(2). The type of first aid procedure that I would apply in case of the unconscious baby would include;
- To start the C.P.R, by turning the baby on his or her back on a flat surface.
- Gently tap or flick the sole of the baby feet.
- Open the airway by keeping the baby’s head tilted back and chin lifted.
- To place my mouth around the baby’s mouth and nose and blow steadily until the chest rise. But when there is no sign of breathing, I will tell my helper to call for Ambulance,
- Start the CPR by placing my middle fingertips and press down vertically on the chest and depressing it by one-third depth.
- I will do these for 5 minutes time at rate of 100 compressions a minute.
- I will continue CPR, by 5 chest compressions with one rescue breath until the Ambulance arrives.
THE ANAPHYAXIS CHILD:
I will have to act quickly and do the following;
- Put on protective gloves
- Call 999 for Ambulance
- I will try and relieve the symptoms,
- To check whether the child is carrying a syringe or an auto-injector of epinephrine (adenaline).
- I will help the child to find and use it if necessary.
- I will help the child to sit in a position that eases his or her breathing difficulties.
- I continue to monitor and record vital signs, such as, the level of response, pulse and breathing until help; the Ambulance arrives.
I have to act quickly to do these things so as to save the child’s life.
UNIT 2 ASSIGNMENT:
TASK 1
- Legislation: The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulation 1981;
According to the legislation, it is the responsibility of the employer to give immediate attention, in the event of employees sustaining injury or sudden illness. The Health and Safety (first aid) Regulation 1981; stipulates that, “employers are requires to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work”. These regulations apply to all workplaces including those with five or fewer employees and to the self-employed. There should be trained first aiders, first aid box (contents) and if possible first aid room.
The regulation does not place a legal obligation on employers to make first aid provision for non-employees such as, the public or children in schools. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), strongly recommends that non-employees should be included in a first aid needs assessment and the provision is made for them.
Appointed Person:
An employer should at least appoint a person to attend to the employees should in case of any occurrence of injury or taken ill and to call Ambulance if necessary. The appointed person should be given training on “First Aid” and how to look after the first aid equipment on a regular basis.
First Aid in Schools:
According to Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. It is the responsibility of the employers (that is, the school management) to provide appropriate first aid equipment and “trained first aiders” on behalf of both the staff and pupils and others involved in the running of the school.
First Aid Rooms:
If necessary, first aid rooms may be provided and it should be in-charge of the appointed person (First Aider). And this should contain essential first aid facilities and equipment. For example;
- A sink with hot and cold running water
- Drinking water and disposable cups
- Soap and paper towel
- A store for first aid materials
- Foot operated refuse containers, lined with disposable yellow clinical waste bags or a container for the safe disposal of clinical waste
- A couch with waterproof, clean pillows and blankets
- A chair
- A telephone or other communication equipment
- A record book of recording incidents where first aid has been given.
First Aid Signs:
This must have a “white cross on a green background” on all the first aid boxes and these signs must be displaced where they can be seen without being obstructed from view and can be easily identified.
First Aiders:
There is no criteria for choosing this but it depends on how large the organisation/school and the nature of the work being carried out and the number of employees.
Source of information:
Search Engine – Google Search;
Website Address;
- Why is it important to carry out the legislation?
It is a legal requirement or every employer to carry these Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulation 1981, in order to provide and maintain good working/studying conditions and safety environment for the employees, non-employees and the children in the setting.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in prosecution of any identified company or institutes by the Health and Safety Executives (HSE). If found guilty of any misconduct or not maintaining both the required quality and level of hygiene and first aid standard stipulated by the law, the company or institution in this regard may be liable for heavy financial liability or in the extreme case, the company or the institution may be closed down.
1.3 See copy of the legislation in portfolio:
TASK 2
2.1 The full contents of a first aid box (children):
- Disposable plastic gloves
- Crepe bandages, open weave
- Small conforming bandage
- Large conforming bandage
- Large roller bandage
- Clips to secure bandages
- 2 eye-pads with bandage
- Hypo-allergenic plasters
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Non-stick sterile dressings
- Gauze swabs
- 2 triangular bandages
- Cotton wool
- Cardboard tags
- Pocket mask
- Blanket, touch and whistle
- Face shield
- Cleansing wipes – Alcohol-free
- Survival bags.
2.2 Action for the missing items in the first aid box:
If I found out that one or more items were missing or the contents of the first aid box were incomplete, I will report this to the appointed person (that is, the First Aider). And make sure that these missing items have to be replaced immediately. The reason for taking this action, is that accident do happen or occur in the setting any time, most especially during playtime of which it might be one of these missing items that be needed for administering the required first aid.