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Children’s health: our guide to first aid

Approved by our Clinical team | Mar 25, 2021

As they’re running around the house, park or playground, small knocks, bumps and grazes are an inevitable part of growing up.

Most of the time you can deal with minor accidents or injuries with some simple first aid and any help you need from our healthcare team. That’s why we’ve put together our top tips about what to do for the most common children’s minor ailments.

Your first aid kit

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To be prepared for any eventuality, it’s a good idea to keep a well-stocked first aid kit handy. Make sure it’s out of children’s reach and check the medicines are in date on a regular basis.

What do I need in my first aid kit?

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The NHS recommends that your first aid kit contains items such as plasters, scissors and bandages, along with alcohol-free cleansing wipes and cream or spray to relieve insect bites or stings. It’s also a good idea to have some antiseptic cream to hand, as well as children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen.

You may also want:

Plasters - LloydsPharmacy Sensitive Plasters made from a breathable waterproof fabric

Thermometer - LloydsPharmacy Digital Ear Thermometer a quick, easy and accurate thermometer with easy to read results

Antiseptic cream - LloydsPharmacy Antiseptic Cream helps heal: cuts, grazes, wounds, burns, scalds, nappy rash and other minor skin infections

Paracetamol - LloydsPharmacy Paracetamol for relief of mild to moderate pain relief

What to do for a cut or graze?

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So long as the cut isn’t serious, you can help your child bounce back by following these three easy steps:

Stop the bleeding

Press firmly on the area with a clean cloth or flannel, and if the cut is on the hand or arm raise it above the head to help stop bleeding. If it’s on the legs, lie them down and raise their leg above the level of their heart.

Clean the wound

When the injury has stopped bleeding, clean the wound under running tap water and pat the area dry with a clean towel. Avoid using an antiseptic cream as it may damage the skin and slow healing.

Apply a dressing

Like a plaster, waterproof dressings are handy if you need to keep the wound dry while bathing and showering. The dressing can be removed once the wound has healed.

First aid for burns

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If your child has a minor burn, try to act quickly and calmly. It it’s a severe burn, or your child is under 5 years old, go to A&E straight away.

The NHS advises treating burns by:

Move away from the heat source
Cooling the burn with cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes
Remove any clothing that’s near the burnt area
Make sure your child stays warm, using a blanket for example
Use pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed
If the burn is to the face or eyes, make sure your child is sitting up to help reduce swelling
For a minor burn, keep the burn clean and don’t burst any blisters that form

For more information on how to treat cuts, grazes and burns speak to our health care team today.

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