Advice for au pairs and parents on how to keep children safe in home and away from home.
The Department of Labour is changing the first aid regulations, meaning all current first aid level 1,2,3 courses will fall away and a new 5 day full qualification will take its place. Candidates will have to compete a portfolio of evidence to prove they can treat patients. While this change is being challenged and we are awaiting the outcome, the regulations are scheduled to change … Continue reading First Aid Course Special in Cape Town!
Tis the season to be jolly! Uhm… that could depend on how you tackle your next road trip with kids in tow. Traveling with kids may not always feel like that much of a holiday. So be prepared! Try to make the journey enjoyable for everyone. I can hear the ‘Mommy are we there yet” line ringing in my ear. I therefore went searching and … Continue reading Hacks For Travelling With Kids these Holidays
Remember how much you marveled at your baby’s smooth skin? Don’t let the sun destroy that beautiful canvas. Ultraviolet sunlight damages the skin and can lead to wrinkles and cancers later on. There is no such thing as a healthy tan; a tan is a sign of sun damage. ALWAYS put sunscreen on your child before going outside. Make a fun game out of it. … Continue reading Everything You Need to Know About Sun Protection for Your Children
A new Poisons Emergency Service came into operation on 1st June 2015, which is serviced by both Tygerberg Hospital and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The individual numbers (021 931 6129 and 021 689 5227) previously used for poison emergencies by these two hospitals have been phased out. There is now a single dedicated telephone number which is operative immediately on a 24-hour basis: 0861 555 777. Poisons Information … Continue reading A New Poison Helpline for Cape Town
As promised yesterday,courtesy of Brands Africa and MaxiCosiSA, ChildCareSA brings you our latest competition. What is this mysterious give away we have been raving about? It’s the Maxi-Cosi Priori SPS car seat in the 9 – 18 kg range (9 months to 3½ years) valued at R 2500! Protected by a shock-absorbing headrest and side panels (Side Protection System), the Maxi-Cosi SPS car seat is the perfect place for … Continue reading ChildCareSA and MaxiCosiSA Giveaway
Organic, it’s a term thrown around like a tennis ball at times. We find the term labelling clothing, fruits, vegetable, meats, wines and more. We know it’s better than a non organic product, but do we know why and what ‘organic’ actually implies? When we are referring to livestock that is certified organic; we are referring to animals who have been raised ‘free range’, and have been … Continue reading What Does the Term ‘Organic’ Really Mean?
A fracture is an injury to a bone often resulting in a clean break. Today we do not use a splint on a fracture victim, unless the injured person will have to be moved before emergency help can arrive. Your only other goal when assisting a fracture victim is to assist in easing the pain of the injured party. Encourage the patient to position the … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Fractures
Fever convulsions are similar to epileptic fits. They occur mainly in children under the age of 7 years old. The convulsions are not caused by high body temperatures but the rapid increase in temperature. They can occur at even low temperatures of around 39 degrees. While fever convulsions appear serious they generally are not. The child will require protection from objects that could hurt him … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Fever Convulsions
When a person is having an epileptic fit allow him or her to move freely, do not restrain the person. This cannot be reiterated enough. Never restrain an epileptic from cramping. Do not burn material under the patients nose, as this leads to smoke inhalation and poisoning. Protect the person by removing all the objects which could cause harm and cushioning the head with pillows. Do not insert … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Epilepsy
All too often people completely misunderstand and irrationally fear epilepsy. Epilepsy is not a disease. It is a condition caused by a chemical and electrical imbalance in the brain. People have the ability to deal with a number of stimuli which trigger electric impulses to our brain, for example light, heat etc. In a nut shell each person cerebral stimuli threshold is unique and allow … Continue reading First Aid Basics: What is Epilepsy?
Poisoning via the skin may happen in a number of ways. It could happen as a result of corrosion, chemical contact, animal bites and stings, or the injection of drugs. When it is chemical, the first step is to check the patients vital signs, once these are established, you should try to clean the affected areas with as much running water as possible. The injuries … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to deal with poisoning via the skin
When a patient has been poisoned by gas or fumes it is imperative that you consider your own safety first and to carefully assess the scene before any rescue attempts are made. When the patient is removed from the danger zone, check their vital signs and the patient must be treated accordingly. Call rescue services immediately. For more great articles and tips, please subscribe to receive our latest articles or join … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Poisoning Via the Respiratory Tract
It is important to carefully assess both the patient and the scene of the accident. Searching for evidence, asking the patient for information and smelling the patients breath are just a few ways to get an indication of what was swallowed. There are 3 main types. 1. If it is a corrosive substance such as bleach, window cleaner or Domestos, etc the affected person should … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Deal with Poisoning via the Digestive Tract
An approximated 80% of all poisoning victims in South Africa are under the age of 3 years old. Annually more than 50 000 toddlers are poisoned. 15% are critical and sadly around 8% are fatal. There are 3 main types of poisoning, namely; Poisoning via the digestive tract where substances have been swallowed (click for more info). Poisoning via the respiratory tract when gases or fumes are inhaled(click for … Continue reading First Aid Basics: Different Types of Poisoning
A burn is one of the most serious and yet most common preventable accidents in today’s society. Of all the burn victims, 75% are young children. It is the second most common cause of death for children under three, and when you understand this, you understand just how important it is to teach children about dangerous areas of the home and to limit access to … Continue reading First Aid Basics: How to Treat Burns
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