It is every parent’s worst nightmare to see their child in pain, all the more if he’s in an emergency situation. Emergencies almost always come as a surprise, it happens when we least expect it to. Immediate intervention must be done in times like this, since most emergencies are life threatening.  Parents and care takers must always be prepared for emergency situations that may happen, they should know how to cope and act accordingly. They must be quick on their knees and be panic-free the whole time.  The main goal should always be the safety of the child.

Emergencies can be classified as life-threatening and non- life-threatening.  A life-threatening emergency is the type when the victim needs resuscitation. Conditions under this category include breathing problems, active bleeding, on-going seizure, severe choking, and permanent loss of consciousness (coma). In dealing with life-threatening emergencies, the most important intervention that needs to be done first is to contact the rescue squad or ambulance. The rescue team is composed of professionals and paramedics trained in basic life support and cardio pulmonary resuscitation.  They will be able to stabilize the patient’s condition before reaching the nearest medical facility. While waiting for the paramedics to arrive in the scene, the parents and care takers can also do certain first aid measures to rescue the victim. For children who have breathing difficulties, the rescuer can check the airway and ensure that nothing’s blocking the air passage. If there’s an obstruction in the mouth such as choking, they can use their fingers to sweep it out or even gently pat the back to dislodge the item. If the person is trained and if needed, CPR can be performed. In the event of external active bleeding, applying direct pressure to the site will help stop the bleeding. Elevating the site also prevents further blood loss. When the child has an on-going seizure, head-injury should be prevented, to do this, let the child lie flat on the ground free from any hazardous and constricting objects.

Non-life -threatening emergencies are those that need immediate medical attention but don’t require resuscitation. Children in this type of emergency are stable and the threat to their lives is less severe. Conditions that can be classified under this category are poisoning, burns, pain, inactive bleeding and temporary loss of consciousness. The first thing parents and care takers need to do is to bring their children to the nearest medical facility or to their pediatrician. These people can diagnose the condition properly and instruct the appropriate medical intervention. First aid for poisoning depends on the substance induced; milk or activated charcoal can be given to remove the toxins from the child’s body. For burns depending on the degree, it can be treated with burns ointments or burn wraps. For pain and inactive bleeding, assessment is key, the care taker should note the location, characteristic, onset, and duration of pain.

As what scouts always say, BE PREPARED, emergency situations should always be associated with those words. Being prepared and acting on time is essential in resolving such crisis.