It’s that time of the year when kids are out of school and campgrounds are fully booked. Most families look forward to cooking hotdogs and marshmallows over a fire pit. It’s a core childhood memory for many of us and something we look forward to sharing with our kids.

Every parent I know watches their kids like an hawk around the fire pit, these accidents are rarely from a lack of supervision. But when they do happen, the impulse is to cool these burns with ice or submersion in a lake, which can make things worse.

Here’s why, and what to do instead.

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The Impulse To Help

I completely understand the impulse to use the lake or an ice cooler. The water is cold and immediately available while you’re panicking. We do want cool water, just not over the entire body.

Have you heard that sudden cold can shock the system? That’s relatively true. Your skin has a very important job of helping to regulate body temperature. Burns can throw off this regulation and can make people more susceptible to hypothermia; Children are especially susceptible to this. So the combination of the injury and the cold water can easily make a child hypothermic, even on a warm summer day.

Have you heard that ice packs should be wrapped in a towel before being put on skin? That’s because extreme cold can damage skin, just like frostbite. This damage can still occur during a burn, which is also why we don’t want to apply ice directly to the skin.

First Aid

So what do we do instead?

We do need to cool the burn as the heat is causing pain and damage, and the cool water will slow and stop that process.

We want to submerge just the injury under cool water or tap water as soon as possible for 15 to 20 minutes (or longer if it feels better). Running water or clean water in a bowl are both acceptable.

You can use that cold drink from the ice cooler, but make sure it’s wrapped in a thin layer of fabric like a T-shirt or cloth first, and only on for 15 minutes. Remove it if it’s causing numbness or colour change.

If the skin blisters later, don’t pop it! It’s a myth that it will help. We want the skin intact to help prevent infection. Cover it with a bandaid, and seek medical attention if it’s bigger than the child’s palm.

Burns from a firepit may be uncommon, but they often require medical attention. Call emergency services or your family doctor as needed. Remember, first aid doesn’t need to be perfect, it’s about doing the best we can until professional help arrives.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful, hospital-free summer!

Keep In Touch!

You can find Tiny Triage on Instagram by clicking here. I typically post different content than my Substack.

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Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

References

St. John Ambulance Reference Guide

If you’re in the Canadian Prairies like me, you know what I mean.

June brought a deluge of water, and not just once. We had some record rainfall and some very prairie-esque storms (and an above average tornado year so far).

We’ve had so much rain that I didn’t even know what my sump pump sounded like until last month. The mosquitos have taken full advantage of the pooling water and I think everyone is looking forward to a -30C winter.

Bug spray is now like toilet paper during Covid.

We frisk the dogs like bouncers at a bar when they come in from the backyard.

Bites are inevitable and here’s what we’ve been doing for our family.

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Prevention First

We do the usual prevention methods as much as possible. After all, can’t just keep the kids cooped up indoors all summer.

• Long sleeves (weather dependant) to cover bare skin. I’m not convinced this helps with how bad they are but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

• Avoiding going outside during dawn and dusk which are peak mosquito times. Never thought I’d take advantage of the hottest time of the day.

• Avoiding grassy areas when we do go out. So far I’ve learned the concrete skateboard park is relatively safe, as is the strip mall.

• We’ve been using a mosquito repellant called Thermacell too. Seems to work pretty well so far. It’s just a small portable device and it’s safe for the kids.

• So. Much. Bug spray. Like, a lot. And so much laundry..

After A Bite

I want to preface that this isn’t medical advice, and you should always check with your family doctor or pharmacist before giving medicine to kids. Always follow the dosing instructions on medication labels unless directed otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Here’s what we do for bites, in order.

• Afterbite; a generous layer of the ointment as soon as we can. I often put a bandaid over bites for a few reasons. One, bandaids are magic. I don’t make the rules, they just are 🤷🏻‍♀️ Two, kids are visual and it reminds them I’ve put medicine on the itchy bump.

• Ice pack; Honestly my oldest hasn’t used it yet LOL. But I usually offer anyway. A wrapped ice pack can cool and soothe the swelling and pain after an initial bite. Apply for up to 20 minutes.

• Anti-itch cream; specifically a 1% hydrocortisone ointment when the AfterBite didn’t relieve the itch. I gently wash the skin, pat dry, and apply a thin layer with a Q-tip then cover with a ✨ magical bandaid ✨ Topical steroids can be really helpful for itching, but double check with your family Dr or pharmacist as they aren’t suitable for all ages.

• Anti-histamine; When I say the mosquitos are bad I mean bad. One itchy spot is bad enough, but after a few I picked up an allergy medicine. What might surprise you is that I didn’t reach for Benadryl, I picked up Children’s Claritin (Canadian brand name, generic is Loratadine) instead. I’m not completely against it, but the risk of sedation and agitation does not outweigh the benefit of a small bite for me. Second-generation anti-histamines are a much better alternative. Highly recommend chatting with your pharmacist if you want to learn more!

• Tylenol; This may surprise you, but as a Paramedic, making people more comfortable is my love language. I’ve given Tylenol once before bed after an especially bad bite on the foot. Have you ever noticed cuts or bruises on the feet are slow to heal? It’s basically because circulation is slow down there, and it can take a bit longer for the swelling and itching to clear. I definitely want my kiddo comfortable before bed so we can all get good quality sleep.

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Thanks for reading! Drop any questions in the comments, and let me know what you’re interested in reading about next!

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician or pharmacist

References

Slings

• The purpose of a sling is to prevent movement! Immobilization is an essential part of the healing process (just like a cast). Wrist and forearm injuries are painful, and unintentional movement makes it worse.

• Many of our daily movements are muscle memory and habits. Things like grabbing your device, opening a door, turning on lights, etc. It’s really common to make these movements hours after an injury, which hurts. Slings are a visual and physical reminder to stay still, especially for kids.

• Slings are also a perfect holder for an ice pack. You can add a wrapped ice pack for 15-20 minutes at a time, as long as it doesn’t make the injury feel worse.

Most people don’t know there are two types:

• One to immobilize the forearm and wrist, for injuries like broken wrists, sprained wrists, and elbow injuries. This is the type we’ll focus on today.

• And one to immobilize the shoulder, for injuries like shoulder dislocations and broken collarbones.

Here’s a previous article if you want a refresher on recognizing wrist injuries in kids.

Onto the first aid! Here’s my ‘textbook’ method of slings. Textbook meaning that it’s literally what you would find in textbooks.

As promised, here’s a second version that I find students have an easier time with. This is probably the one you’ll actually remember how to do during an emergency 😅 You can easily improvise with a sweater or wind breaker if a first aid kit isn’t available.

Thank you so much for joining me this week!

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Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

Have you noticed the recent boom in your area? It seems like nowadays I can’t leave the house without seeing kids and adolescents riding e-scooters.

I’m not a fan, if you couldn’t tell from the title. There aren’t many regulations in my area (and if there are, they aren’t advertised or enforced), so anyone can ride them without any training or safety requirements. Doesn’t seem like the best idea for something that is easily accessible to kids and can travel 20-40km/hr (15-25mph). Injuries aren’t just caused from falls; they occur from collisions with vehicles, sudden stops like hitting rocks, and collisions with pedestrians.

During paramedic school, we would eat sleep and breathe this concept of ‘mechanism of injury’. It basically means, based on what happened, what injuries could’ve happened to the patient. And a good paramedic will be able to anticipate, identify, and begin managing these injuries en route to hospital.

So when I see kids riding escooters open throttle, no helmets, weaving between pedestrians, here’s what goes through my mind.

*no graphic content ahead, I promise

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What I Think About As A Paramedic

Head & Face Injuries

• The umbrella term for significant brain injuries is Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI. These include concussions, bleeding between the brain and skull, and microscopic shearing of the brain tissue. These injuries happen from force like falls and collisions.

• Some injuries, like a mild concussion, may leave no permanent damage. Other more severe TBIs can leave significant, life-long damage, including deficits in cognition, memory, and emotion.

• If I had a soap box, I would use it to teach why kids need to wear properly fitted helmets. I have seen lives changed from head injuries, but I’ve also seen helmets prevent them.

• Injuries to the face can include broken noses, split lips, dental emergencies like knocked out or chipped teeth, and wounds that can leave permanent scarring on faces.

You can read my previous articles on recognizing head injuries here:

Spinal Injuries

• Spinal injuries occur when significant force is applied to the neck or back. They can cause permanent, life-altering injuries below the injury site, including paralysis.

• Spinal injuries are uncommon in children, but they can be difficult to identify. Because of this, great caution is taken compared to adults. These injuries need to be assessed at a high-level trauma centre, or one that specializes in pediatric emergencies.

Road Rash

• Every child gets road rash at some point during their life. But we’re talking about scrapes bigger than the child’s palm, and sometimes much bigger. These injuries may need to be managed at an urgent care to make sure they’re properly cleaned and dressed.

• Road rash is painful and slow to heal, especially when it’s on joints that kids are constantly bending. Bathing and sleeping will likely be painful for a week or two as the skin slowly heals. These are usually superficial wounds, but large or deep road rash often causes scarring.

Arm Injuries

• Falling with your arm stretched out can cause a sprained wrist, broken wrist, broken collarbone, and dislocated shoulders.

• Not only are these painful, but injuring your arm can make everyday tasks not possible for weeks. This includes using personal devices, doing schoolwork, sleeping comfortably, and cleaning after the bathroom.

• You may have heard when a ligament is sprained once it’s easier to sprain again, and that’s true. Same thing with a dislocation. These injuries may heal after several weeks, but they can have long term effects.

You can read my article on hard-to-recognize broken wrists here:

Leg & Ankle Injuries

• These include broken kneecaps (yup, that’s a bone), broken shin bones, broken toes, and sprained ankles. All are possible when getting tangled up falling off an e-scooter, or taking a hard fall/collision.

• Just like sprained wrists, sprained ankles are injuries that can linger for years afterwards. And just like broken wrists, broken legs and toes significantly impair mobility (obviously). It’s likely a child would need help going up and down stairs, commuting, and showering/bathing.

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Quick Statistics and Final Thoughts

The purpose of this article isnt to fear monger, I promise. There has been a dramatic uptick in significant injuries from e-scooters, and I think there is value in sharing that information with parents. After some digging online, I found my medical hunches weren’t too far off.

Canadian data from 500+ e-scooter injuries showed these body parts injured most often:

• 25% of injuries occurred to the head, face, mouth

• 18% of injuries occurred to wrists

• 15% of injuries occurred to the forearm

• 9% of injuries occurred to shoulder

• 9% of injuries occurred to the knee

These were the most common types of injuries listed:

• 37% included dislocations and fractures (that’s crazy high).

• 18% superficial (I’m assuming that means road rash).

• 13% soft-tissue injuries (think lacerations, splitting lips eyebrows, wounds needing stitches).

Lastly, the most shocking find:

The literature suggests that the majority of hospital admissions occurred following head injuries, severe injury complexes and infection caused as a result of a fall. Our study found that head injures represented the largest proportion of all injuries (25.2%)

Ages 13-15 might have had the sharpest increase in accidents, but younger ages are getting hurt too. Significant injuries are happening to kids that could be considered too young to have a cell phone, too young to stay home without an adult, and too young to sit in the front seat of a car. Kids are simply not developed enough to make quick decisions with a vehicle at those speeds.

My hope is to bring awareness to what we see in emergency healthcare, so families can make an educated decision.

Thanks so much for reading!

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Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

https://eridehero.com/electric-scooter-accident-report-2025/

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-10-2022/characteristics-outdoor-motorized-scooter-injuries-analysis-data-electronic-canadian-hospitals-injury-reporting-prevention-program-echirpp.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-children-increasingly-getting-injured-on-e-scooters-9.7236345

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/e-scooter-hospitalizations-1.7586991

In medicine, we love a good acronym. You know the type of falls that happen when you put your arm out to brace yourself? Like kids do at the skateboard park? We have a name for that.

FOOSH stands for Falling On an OutStretched Hand. FOOSH injuries include sprains, fractures, and dislocations to the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and collarbone. These types of injuries are common with children playing sports, falling at the playground, accidents in recreation vehicles, general roughhousing, and last but not least, tricks and jumps at the skateboard park.

It isn’t always easy to tell if a child has broken their wrist, so here’s what to watch for next time they fall hard on it.

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Is It Broken?

Sometimes broken bones are very obvious. Like, you don’t need an x-ray to know type of obvious.

Often times, especially in school-age kids, broken bones have more subtle symptoms. Have you heard before that kid’s bones are soft and harder to break? This is somewhat true. They certainly can break, but the way the bone fractures can be different than adults. Kid’s bones tend to buckle or crack on one side (greenstick fracture), whereas adult’s bones are more prone to snapping or shattering.

Here are some of the child-specific things to watch for if you’re worried the bone is broken:

• Swelling/bruising

  • Most people only know bones as old, dead skeletons. Very boring. But your bones are actually a very alive and vascular tissue. I could write an article on it, but I’ll spare you. The bones in your forearm have a lot of blood vessels, and if the bone breaks, the damaged vessels can cause some major swelling. Depending on what happened, you can also see some significant bruising develop several hours later.

• Loss of Use

  • As a paramedic, my biggest red flag for a suspected broken wrist is when someone says “I can’t use my hand”. They’re not able to hold their phone, use their gaming console, open a car door, or wipe after using the bathroom. Sometimes, it’s because their body physically can’t after the fracture, but it’s often because it’s too painful.

• Irregularity/deformity

  • When we think of those obvious fractures, you probably picture something very irregular looking. This can be more subtle with kids. My tip here is to compare the injured side to the uninjured side, and see how different it looks. That said, if manipulating the child’s wrist is too painful for them, stop and go to the ER.

• Pain

  • Here’s another one that’s surprisingly subtle with kids. It’s not uncommon for the parents to be more worried than the child is, especially if they’re not howling in pain. Broken wrists are painful, but it’s not the only metric we look at when assessing for a fracture.

• Shock

  • This is often a psychological shock, where the brain is physically responding to the injury. You know how people look before they faint? Like pale, sweaty, shaky, nauseous? That’s what we’re talking about here. It’s most often temporary, but major injuries can cause other types of shock which require immediate medical attention.

Use the acronym SLIPS to remember these signs.

First Aid

Let’s start with the obvious and that’s when to call an ambulance. If a bone is visibly broken or the child is inconsolable, call an ambulance. We do have pain medication that’s safe for children, and the sooner we can immobilize a suspected fracture, the better.

If you’ve called an ambulance, the best thing to do is to keep the child and the injury still. We will take care of the first aid, so your job is to focus on getting your child’s medical information for the hospital, do your best to keep everyone calm, and try to console your child. It’s ok if you throw up, it happens 😅

For the less obvious fractures, the only way to know for sure is to have an x-ray. We want to minimize movement of the injured area on our way to the hospital. This can be done with a splint from a first aid kit, a homemade splint, or a ‘self-splint’. That’s where you use your un-injured arm to keep the injured arm in a protected position. You can definitely put an ice pack on the area if they can tolerate the weight of one. Just make sure it’s wrapped in something and only stays on for 15-20 mins. Usually that’s about the time it takes to get to the hospital (ish).

Lastly, it’s actually really common that parents don’t bring their child to the ER until the next day. And that doesn’t make you a bad parent. It’s just that they’ve fallen at the skate park a hundred times, and these fractures often look way worse the next morning.

Thank you so much for reading! Do you have an experience with broken wrists? Skateboard park injuries? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

For such an important organ, your brain is surprisingly delicate. Its texture is similar to a bowl of jello, which is much softer and more injury-prone than what most people realize. Thankfully, your most important organ is protected by the skull and a thin layer of fluid (cerebrospinal fluid).

Unfortunately the brain is still prone to some injuries, especially if there’s a sudden stop or deceleration like a fall or impact. That’s because the brain will continue to travel until it hits the inside of the skull, and the resulting injury is what we call a concussion. You can think of it almost like a brain bruise. If you’ve heard of a contra-coup concussion, this is when there’s been enough force that the injury occurs on the opposite side of the impact, as the brain bounces off the other side of the skull.

In babies and toddlers, concussions are often from a fall. They start rolling out of nowhere, they’re learning how to move, and they aren’t great at protecting themselves yet. Accidents really do happen. In older children we see concussions occurring from a mix of falls and recreation/sports. That mix continues to increase on the sports side as they grow into teenagers. Other common causes include slips and falls, recreational vehicles, and falls from scooters, skateboards, and bikes. It is so important for kids (and adults) to wear properly sized helmets to help prevent this.

Next, let’s talk how to recognize a concussion, what to do, and when to call for an ambulance. There are dozens of potential signs and symptoms, so at the end of the article I have created a quick reference. Three actually! They are for infants, toddlers, and elementary school age. These are evidence-based and easy-to-understand cheat sheets with everything organized and summarized. Cause I know families are busy and injuries are stressful.

Recognizing a Concussion

Concussions have MANY signs and symptoms because your brain is responsible for so many functions. Here’s a list of some of the common ones:

Initial signs:

• Slow to get up

• Grabbing at head

• Looking dazed or confused

• Crying, in obvious pain

Mood/Social:

• Cranky or irritable (an unusual amount)

• Low threshold for tantrums

• More emotional than usual

• Clingy, comfort nursing, seeking comfort

Physical:

• Headache

• Difficulty balancing or coordinating

• More tired than usual, difficulty falling asleep

• Changes in eating and drinking

• Sensitivity to light and sound

• Bathroom accidents when potty trained

Cognitive:

• Slow to answer or unable to answer

• Difficulty concentrating or learning in school

• Easily distracted, difficulty reading

• Slurred or mixed speech

• Confusion

• Difficulty with recall or remembering

For those of you with pets, you’ve probably heard the vet say at some point: “if they stop playing, eating/drinking, and have changes in sleep, bring them back.”

This is a really useful analogy I teach parents to follow when they aren’t sure if their baby or toddler is super sick or not. I totally get it, you’re tired, stressed, google is confusing, and babies can’t talk 😅 if we see any changes in sleep, feeding, or play after a bonk on the head, the child needs medical attention.

First Aid

First aid for a concussion is to determine how urgently medical attention is needed, and to care for the child before you see the doctor. Often we can monitor symptoms at home and see a doctor in the next day or two. Calling a nurse’s line can help you with this decision.

At-home care for a suspected concussion is to take it easy for a few days! Let the child sleep as much as they want, their brain needs it (just like when they’re sick!). It’s a myth that you need to wake them every 30 minutes, so don’t worry about that unless you’re directed to do so by a doctor. We want to keep them comfortable, offer healthy food and drinks, minimize exposure to loud sounds and bright lights, avoid screens, and no physical activity.

Do keep an eye for more or worsening symptoms. Kids can often ease back into normal activities after a few days. Concussion information has really improved over the past 10-15 years, just in case any of this sounds different from what you’ve learned. Follow the doctor’s direction regarding sports, and book a follow up if symptoms aren’t improving after a couple weeks.

Lastly, here’s when urgent medical attention is needed.

When to Call EMS

If any of these are present, you should take your child to the ER or call for an ambulance:

• Inability to wake up the child

• Blood or fluid from the ears

• Vomiting, especially more than once

• Loss of consciousness (seeing stars or getting ‘knocked out’)

• Seizure - these can be full-body movements or a single repetitive motion

• Memory loss - can’t remember the event, or, can’t remember things afterwards

• Changes in speech like slurring or mixing up words

• Numbness/tingling in the extremities

These symptoms may indicate a more serious brain injury and the child needs to be assessed at the ER. When in doubt, it’s always best to have your child checked out! Even if it’s just peace of mind. I promise you are not a bad parent for taking your child to the ER, no need to feel guilty.

Lastly, here are three infographics for you to download. I’ve organized all the important information in this article by age into easy-to-use pictures to save you time if you ever need to use them. Feel free to save them to your phone or print them out for your first aid kit or fridge. I hope you find them useful, and thank you so much for reading this week!

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

https://www.concussionalliance.org/pediatric-babies-toddlers-children

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tp23364spec

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_concussion_ac_child

Those brand new teeth are just so cute, aren’t they? Especially with your first born, there’s just something about that adorable, toothy smile. It fills your heart with joy and draws parents (and siblings) into put their fingers into a toddler’s mouth. It’s like a siren calling a sailor.

So there you were, thinking that your sweet toddler would never bite you. Or maybe you knew the risk, but you wanted to check if their recent night time wake ups were from a tooth cutting.

And now here you are, practicing that box breathing you learned in your prenatal class while holding your finger 😅

I think most of us have been there at some point, maybe even a couple times. And if your kiddo has been bitten by another child at some point, I’m so sorry to hear. Unfortunately it’s a really common injury for both kids and parents.

Let’s talk about it.

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Animal Bites

Animal bites, human or not, are all treated similarly.

An actual animal bite should almost always receive medical attention, especially if it’s broken the skin. Medical attention does include calling your local nurse’s line to ensure immunizations are up to date, and assessing the risk of rabies.

Since we’re talking about minor bites, our biggest concerns are stopping the bleeding and watching for an infection over the next week. Risk of infections from human bites are low, but there’s still concern any time the skin is broken.

You may have heard the myth that dog’s mouths are cleaner than humans, but that’s not true. My dog has put some questionable things in his mouth, only to be outdone by my toddler 😆

Did you know you can get a tetanus infection from an animal bite? It’s not just those rusty nails that can cause the nasty infection.

Of special note, any type of reptile bite needs medical attention. Their mouths often contain bacteria that are dangerous to humans and need to be treated.

Lastly, rabies is often thought of when it comes to animal bites, but it isn’t normally a concern regarding pets. The risk does increase if it’s a wild animal and depending on the species.

First Aid

First aid for an animal bite begins with removing the child and yourself from the animal.

If the bite has broken the skin, we want to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. This is best done with a clean, absorbent dressing from a first aid kit. But you can certainly use a t-shirt or dishcloth if that’s what’s easiest to grab. Ideally, grab something clean and fabric, not paper towel.

If the bleeding is minor, you can briefly rinse the wound with warm soapy water. Depending on the age of the child you can totally omit the soap and just rinse the wound. This will help wash away some of the saliva and slightly reduce the risk of infection.

Once it’s somewhat clean, we want to keep it clean and covered and watch for signs of infection over the next several days.

The purpose of keeping a wound covered is to protect the area while the scab grows. So keep the bandaid on until the scab starts to form, but not long enough to inhibit growth or keep the wound excessively moist.

We can use the word SHARP to remember the signs of an infection on all skin tones.

Swelling around the area, Heat that lingers or develops days after, Aches that don’t improve or get worse, Redness around the wound, Pus coming out of the wound.

A wound showing signs of an infection needs medical attention.

First Aid Kit

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Here are the tools and supplies I would use from my first aid kit for a minor animal bite:

1. Sterile gauze to hold pressure and stop the bleeding.

2. Tap water and soap to rinse the wound.

3. If I wasn’t near running water, I would use a saline rinse instead. It’s sterile, isotonic water, and pain-free for kids. We use it on the ambulance and in hospitals to clean wounds. You can find the one I use here.

4. Your child’s favourite bandaid to keep the wound covered for the next day or two. I like to keep waterproof bandaids on hand for the tub.

5. Ice or a cold pack to reduce swelling if the bite didn’t break the skin.

Exciting News!

Tiny Triage has grown SO much faster than I anticipated! I’m so excited and grateful for everyone’s support, it means so much.

In June I will be turning on my ‘paid subscriptions’.

For my free subscribers, nothing will change! I will still be publishing regular articles for everyone to read. Stick around, I’m grateful to have you here.

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My goal is to provide easy-to-use and readily accessible resources for busy families. All referenced with current best-practice.

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Summary

• Animal bites are common among young children, and yes, this does include bites from other toddlers.

• The goal of our first aid is to keep the wound clean and covered. You can briefly rinse the wound to help clean it.

• Keep the wound covered for a day or two, unless directed otherwise. The goal of a bandage is to keep the wound protected while the scab forms, not the inhibit scab formation.

• Watch for signs of an infection using SHARP; Swelling, heat, aches, redness, pus

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic, and have taught 300+ public first aid classes and dozens of new instructors over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=anlbt

Snake bites have long been a popular topic on tv with survival and wilderness shows. They’ve recently returned to the spotlight with celebrities like Rob Rausch showcasing snakes on social media (yes, I love Love Island).

What I’ve learned teaching first aid is that many Canadians don’t know that there’s rattlesnakes in Canada or in the US. Snake bites are much less common here, but the US documents several thousand a year. Bites can be especially dangerous for kids due to their smaller size and faster metabolisms.

Let’s debunk some myths and cover the (very boring easy to remember) first aid.

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Rattlesnake Bites

Rattlesnake venom attacks blood, local tissue, or the nervous system. It can cause massive bleeding, tissue death, and can stop breathing. Effects can be localized, meaning at the bite site, or systemic, meaning throughout the entire body. Bites can produce symptoms in the span of a few minutes to a couple hours. Symptoms depend on the species but can include:

• Significant pain and swelling

• Bruising, numbness, tingling around the bite area

• Changes in breathing or heart rate

• Nausea/vomiting

• Lightheadedness/dizziness

• Metallic taste in mouth

I’ve heard a lot of first aid myths about snake bites over the years but let’s talk about some of the most common ones.

Many people still think you need to go back and look at the snake to help identify it. Not true! It did just bite, it’s probably still angry 😅 Thankfully anti-venom contains a mix of antibodies from several species of rattlesnakes, which are highly effective for treating most bites. Having an idea of the type of snake isn’t a bad thing, there’s just no need to with current anti-venoms.

On that note, no, you cannot suck out the venom. Not with your mouth, or with an external device. It doesn’t remove a meaningful amount of venom, and if you were able to suck it out, your mouth would just absorb venom in your mucous membranes. The extreme suction from an external device can worsen damage from a bite.

You should also definitely not cut the wound to bleed out the venom. Obviously this causes a bigger injury but it also exposes more tissue to the venom. It does not cause the venom to ‘bleed out’.

The most common myth is probably about applying a tourniquet to ‘trap the venom’, but let me explain why this makes it worse. When the venom is injected into the muscle underneath the skin, it takes time to diffuse into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream. This slow titration means damage and symptoms can be gradual instead of all at once. It gives the body time to compensate (try to stay normal) and for us to get to medical help. Placing a tourniquet does trap venom, but this isn’t good. It gives the venom lots of time to enter the bloodstream, and when it’s released, you now have a highly concentrated venom that’s ready to circulate. Think of it as a shock to the system. There are a couple more reasons why this is dangerous, but the gist of it is it causes more damage.

First Aid

This section is going to be fairly short, because the actual first aid is quite simple.

After a bite, we want to move away from the snake, call emergency services, and keep the person as still as possible. If a child is bitten we want to carry them and keep them calm. If it’s safe to do so and doesn’t waste time, you should remove jewelry from the area and can clean the wound with soap and water.

We want to minimize movement and keep the person calm because it will reduce the speed that the venom is released in the body. Remember when I said the body wants some time to compensate? Same thing applies here. The more adrenaline there is circulating through the body, the faster the effects will be.

Most rattlesnake bites are not fatal but they can have lasting damage. It’s important to educate kids on recognition and prevention.

Summary

• Rattlesnake live in both Canada and the US, with several thousand bites documented every year

• Most bites are not fatal and are treatable with appropriate medical attention

• First aid is to move away from the snake, call for help, keep the person as still and calm as possible

• There are many myths about snake bites but most of them make things worse! Stick to prevention methods and seek medical attention if bitten

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Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear from you if you enjoyed the article or if you have a topic you’d like me to cover in the future!

Leave a comment

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=th1394

https://www.poison.org/articles/rattlesnakes

You’re on vacation somewhere warm with your family. You’ve lucked out with the weather the first day; it’s beautiful and warm and perfect for the beach.

The kids are close by exploring the shoreline and you’re relaxing under some shade. By all means, you are ready to enjoy your vacation for the next 15 minutes.

But after only 5 minutes, you hear it: crying. You head over to the kids to see what’s wrong and notice a jellyfish washed up on shore.

Then you realize one of them touched the jellyfish and the now area is starting to look like a wasp sting. Red, angry, and painful.

So, now what? You don’t really need to pee on it, right? 😅

Let’s talk about it.

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Jellyfish

No, we don’t pee on jellyfish stings.

I’m so sorry to ruin that one episode of Friends for you.

I’ve taught hundreds of first aid classes and one of my favourite lessons is bites and stings. Not because I’m interested in hearing all the different ways parents have been bitten by their feral toddlers.

It’s because you wouldn’t believe how many people share with the entire class that they’ve been peed on after a jellyfish sting. And I just know that if there’s one or two people admitting it out loud, there’s several more who aren’t 😆

I, personally, have perfected my ‘I don’t judge’ face and facilitate a conversation.

“Can you tell me more about that?”

For education, of course.

Jokes aside, here’s what happens with a sting.

Jellyfish sting by releasing cells called nematocysts into the skin. These cells contain the venom that causes the burning and pain, and can sting even when the animal is dead.

The thought is that slightly alkaline urine will neutralize the venom and the sting will go away.

It’s wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

Here’s what to do instead.

First Aid

I’ve been told by many people that jellyfish stings are similar to how we think of wasp stings; painful and annoying.

That burning, stinging pain from the venom can typically be relieved from heat or a weak acid.

You know when you cook eggs and the egg white goes from translucent to white? That’s because the heat is causing the protein to ‘un-fold’ or denature, making it more visible.

Cool right?

We want to apply that concept here, using heat or a weak acid to break down the venom.

If possible, submerge the area in a warm bath or bucket. You can also hold the inside of a lemon or lime over the area, or submerge in vinegar.

Be careful not to rub the area. This can cause the stinging cells to rupture, releasing even more venom.

As always, consult a pharmacist or physician regarding any medicated treatments.

Lastly, have an idea of dangerous sea life before your vacation. Any additional symptoms require medical attention.

So there you have it. No peeing on jellyfish stings 😅

Summary

• Warn kids in advance not to touch sea life that washes up on the beach.

• Have a general idea of jellyfish before travelling. Most stings are painful but not life-threatening.

• Don’t rub the area!

• Use warm water, vinegar, or a lemon or lime on the affected area.

• Contact emergency services if other symptoms develop.

Thanks again for joining! Comment if there’s a future tip you’d like me to write about :)

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

It’s a warm, sunny morning and you’re enjoying the blue skies at the local splash park with the kids. They’re slathered in sunscreen, they actually ate their breakfast, and the park is quieter than expected.

The kids come over for some watermelon slices, and out of the corner of your eye you see a wasp.

Great. Hopefully the kids don’t notice and it’ll go away.

But of course, the kids notice and immediately start to scream and dart. You tell them to drop the watermelon and stay still but it’s too late, and one of them gets stung on the back of the hand.

Let’s talk about it.

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Wasp Stings

Wasp and bee stings hurt because they inject a venom into the area they sting. Bees may leave their stinger embedded in the skin, but wasps don’t, and can obviously sting more than once.

Other than pain, stings can cause local redness, swelling, and itching. It can be pretty upsetting for kids and it might be slightly traumatizing. For them and for you 😅

Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, is commonly caused by bee stings. We won’t talk about it today but we will in the near future.

For now, be aware that stings in the mouth or on the face and neck should get a call to the nurse’s line or doctor’s office. If there’s enough swelling in these areas it can affect kid’s airway or breathing.

Here are some of my tips to help with stings.

First Aid

First aid for any sting focuses on decreasing the pain and preventing a later infection. Yes, infections are possible, they’re just uncommon. Watch for redness, pain, swelling, or heat a few days after the sting.

We have a couple options for immediate pain relief. Did you know you can buy sting-relief wipes? I’m personally a big fan of these because they’re disposable and convenient. Especially if you have a toddler in the ‘I can do it’ phase. They’re perfect for a purse, diaper bag, or backpack. There’s also the more traditional products like roll-on After Bite. If you’re at home, some people find relief from a paste made of baking soda and water.

Ice packs or wrapped ice can really help with that initial pain too. Just make sure it’s wrapped, we don’t want ice directly on skin for long periods of time as it can cause frostbite-like damage. I completely understand how difficult it is to keep ice on a young child for more than 90 seconds. My tip here is to try finding one of those small gel ice packs at a dollar store. You know the ones with their favourite tv character on it? Keep it in the freezer so it’s ready. Having a special ice pack can help motivate kids to keep it in place when you need it.

If you want to give a medication like an anti-histamine, make sure you check with a doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you if it’s safe and give a dose based on your child’s weight. This may be more effective than the dose on the bottle as weight-based doses are most accurate. Totally worth calling for.

Lastly, make sure you get the stinger out if it’s embedded. It’ll keep ‘stinging’ as long as it’s in place. This can easily be done with tweezers, but you can use the edge of a credit card or a house key too. Gently brush again the stinger to help work it out.

Summary

• Keep anti-sting wipes or medicine on hand this summer, it’s always better to be prepared

• Here’s a link for AfterBite for Kids. (As an Amazon Affiliate I may receive a small commission from purchases)

• Remove an embedded stinger if you see it

• Utilize your pharmacist, nurses line, or doctors office if you’re worried about multiple stings, the location of the sting, or symptoms after a sting

• Sometimes stings swell a LOT. This can be normal, but always check if you’re unsure!

Wishing us all a sting-free summer 🐝

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

Image - https://thepestexpertsayrshire.co.uk/what-to-do-if-youre-stung-by-a-wasp/

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uh3298

It finally happened; your 3 year old found a way to lose their footing and knock their forehead on an edge of furniture. Hard. And of course it wasn’t on the parts that you taped the pool noodle to, nope. They found the single 10cm of unprotected furniture in your house, and bonked their forehead on it.

And now it’s bleeding. A LOT. They start to cry, you start to panic, and as soon as you see the cut you think: is this gonna need stitches?

Cue spiral.

Let’s talk about it.

Wound Care

Firstly, this is a very common scenario. Kids are still developing their balance and are experimenting with how their bodies move. They also aren’t great at protecting themselves when they fall.

Stitches are obviously used to close wounds, but they also reduce infection risk and can help stop bleeding. Stitches can be especially helpful in reducing scarring for injuries on the face, a big concern for most parents. Heads up, the physician might decide to glue the wound instead of stitch. Totally depends on the wound.

And no, you cannot glue, tape, cauterize, stitch it yourself. Yes, those are real questions I’ve been asked. No, I don’t have any further comments about it 😅

First Aid

To start, any time something is bleeding, our priority is to make it stop.

Grab something soft (preferably something clean) and use it to hold pressure over the area. Replace it with a clean dressing or pile of gauze as soon as you can. We want pressure and we want rest, so have your kiddo sit down or hold them in your lap. These injuries often happen around the eyes or eyebrows with kids, so be mindful that you’re not putting pressure on the actual eyeball. It’s a delicate organ.

If you’ve ever seen a cut to the eyebrow before, you’ve seen that small cuts on the face bleed A LOT. Might be alarming but it’s totally normal. There’s just a lot of blood vessels in the area.

Next, take a big breath! It’s ok, you’re ok, accidents happen. You are not a bad parent.

Now let’s try to determine if it could need stitches. If so, we’re probably just going to keep using gauze to hold pressure. There’s no point in wrestling a bandaid onto your toddler when the nurse at the hospital is going to take it off anyway. They’ll want to assess and clean the wound.

Here’s a comprehensive list of when stitches are likely needed:

• The wound is deep (you can see past the skin)

• The wound won’t stay closed on it’s own (think the opposite of a paper cut)

• Wounds over joints, especially if they bleed while being bent

• Wounds on the face (eyebrow, scalp, lip, etc.)

• The wound won’t stop bleeding after 15+ minutes of holding pressure

• Wounds on the hands

• Wounds bigger than a paper clip in width or length

It’s a lengthy list, I know. If you’re unsure it’s always better to make the trip to urgent care and have things assessed in-person. Best case scenario they can place some steri-strips and reassure you. Don’t forget they can also assess for further injuries (like a concussion).

Summary

• Cuts on the face can bleed a LOT. It might look worse than it is

• Prioritize stopping the bleed. Hold pressure with a clean dressing. Replace it if it soaks with blood

• Many types wounds can be candidates for stitches; it depends on the size, shape, depth, and location. Stitches minimize infection risk, close jagged wounds, and can reduce future scarring

• If you’re ever unsure, head to urgent care to be assessed. Try not to feel too guilty. Chances are you aren’t the first or last parent coming in for a similar accident that day

Have a question? Drop it in the comments! I’ll do my best to answer :)

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

Picture - https://littlespurspedi.com/blog/a-parents-guide-to-deciding-if-their-child-needs-stitches/

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=sid42906

Your kiddo has been counting down the days until soccer starts. This year they got their favourite jersey number, the practice field is closer than you thought it would be, and you found cleats on sale that fit. You are cautiously confident for this year’s soccer season.

It’s the first practice of the year and everything is going great until your kid gets the ball in the face. First nosebleed of the season. They seem unbothered, but, their nose is dripping blood and they’re running straight towards you for help. There’s enough blood to make you grimace and you notice other parents are looking at you, awkwardly waiting to see if you’ve got this. Let’s make sure you do.

Nosebleeds

As you may know, nosebleeds are very common in children. They happen when the tiny (but numerous) blood vessels in the nose break. This can be from trauma, like our soccer ball scenario, nose-picking, colds/allergies, or dry air. If nosebleeds are happening repeatedly, this is your sign to book with your family doctor and see if they can find a solution. Unless you want to keep washing stained sheets 😅

The bleeding can come from the front of the nose (anterior), or the back (posterior), which is more serious. How can we tell? You probably can’t, which is why it’s important to know when to go to the ER (see below!).

First Aid

First aid for a nosebleed is simple: pinch the soft part of the nostrils and have your child lean forward. Most people want to put some sort of tissue into the nostrils, which is fine, but be mindful of the tissue pulling a clot out when you remove it.

Why do we lean forwards? Isn’t it less mess for them to swallow some of the blood? Sure, but that can actually cause puking 😬 it’s also a bit of a choking hazard if they swallow a big clot, and the constant dripping slows the clotting process. And no, there’s no need for an ice pack to the back of the neck. It won’t hurt, but there’s no benefit to it.

Simple enough, so when do we go the hospital? And yes, you actually can take kids to the ER if it doesn’t stop! Best case scenario it stops on the way there, and if not, you’re going to the right place.

Plan for an ER trip if:

• It doesn’t stop bleeding after 20+ minutes

• Theres heavy, persistent bleeding, especially down the back of the throat

• There was an injury to their face, or seems like they may have had a head injury like a concussion

• It interferes with regular breathing or is causing lightheadedness

• You’re feeling freaked out cause it won’t stop! Seriously, that’s what the ER is for

Summary

• Nosebleeds are a common, often minor, injury for kids

• First aid is to pinch the soft portion of the nostrils and lean them forward. Swallowing too much blood can cause vomiting

• Most often they will stop on their own

• If not, don’t hesitate to go to the ER. That’s what it’s there for!

• You might freak out more than your kid if they have a nosebleed, but stay calm. You got this!

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!

*For education and entertainment purposes only. Not to be regarded as medical advice, or to replace the advice of your physician.

References

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=sig56332spec

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=te8195

So, What is That?

Anti-choking devices, like the LifeVac, have gained significant popularity in recent years. These devices are used during a choking emergency to dislodge the object. They have a mask that goes over a person’s mouth and nose, and a section like a plunger that creates suction when pulled on. The goal is to create enough suction for an object to be pulled out of someone’s airway.

These devices are intended for use if regular first aid fails, not as a replacement for it. LifeVac states on their website that they’ve saved over 5000 people from choking, an impressive number. Seems like a great idea, right?

The Nitty Gritty

In medicine, we utilize published guidelines by established regulatory bodies. So for this topic I rounded up statements from our heavy hitters: the American Heart Association (AHA), Heart & Stroke Canada, and the International Liaison Committee of Resuscitation (ILCOR).

These regulatory bodies all had similar statements, echoing that anti-choking devices are not recommended as first line treatment; back blows and then abdominal thrusts remain the gold standard in first aid for choking. That said, ILCOR has stated they are actively monitoring data about them, so it seems like these devices are here to stay.

Suction applied to the delicate tissues in the mouth does not come without risk, especially in children. This could cause swelling and bruising around the mouth and in the upper airway, which is potentially very dangerous for children with smaller airways. Is this better than becoming unresponsive from choking? Most likely. Is it better than relief from back blows? No.

In March of this year, the FDA also communicated that back blows and abdominal thrusts are still the only accepted methods of clearing an obstruction. They stated the devices may be used if these traditional methods fail, which is what the company LifeVac advertises as its intended use. I think we can translate this into meaning they are an acceptable last ditch attempt at a potentially life-threatening moment when emergency services are on their way.

Lastly I’ll add my anecdote. I have no experience with these devices but I am very familiar with the mask portion. For years I have taught how to use these as they are part of a device called a Bag Valve Mask. This tool is used to deliver artificial breaths when patients stop breathing. The most difficult part of the skill is always creating an effective seal with the mask, especially using one hand. If the seal isn’t tight then the tool doesn’t work. I would anticipate similar challenges for anti-choking devices that utilize the same style of mask.

At this moment we just don’t have the concrete evidence to prove these tools are better than traditional methods. That might change down the road with more high-quality evidence.

I keep mentioning first aid for choking so let’s take a look at the current recommendations:

1. Activate emergency services as soon as feasible

2. Deliver 5 hard back blows between the person’s shoulder blades. Kneel down to the height of the child, don’t pick them up

3. If the object is still blocking the airway, deliver 5 abdominal thrusts in an ‘in and up’ motion

4. Repeat until object is dislodged or the person becomes unresponsive

5. If they become unresponsive, begin CPR until emergency services arrive

My Recommendation

I’ve been asked dozens of times over the years what my thoughts are on these tools. I stand by the tried and true methods that our major regulatory bodies recommend.

Anti-choking devices continue to grow in popularity, and are well-marketed. If you choose to have one I think it’s important to understand the risks, know when they are supposed to be used, and be familiar with the tool before an emergency happens.

Choking is one of the scariest scenarios for us to imagine when it comes to kids. I think it’s completely understandable that parents want to be as prepared as possible for these emergencies, and I would never fault a family for trying to keep kids safe. Ultimately, each family will decide what feels right for them. I hope I’ve made the information accessible for you to feel confident in yours!

References

Note: LifeVac is a brand name. This article is for education only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the manufacturer.

https://lifevac.ca/product/lifevac/?srsltid=AfmBOoq-LzpKWMQndeRh-Wcf_VHAmI5D4CWyzuoz4tm6J4bCJ6h-j1Fy

https://cpr.heartandstroke.ca/s/article/2025-Guidelines?language=en_US

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001361

Spring is here and that means barbecue season! It’s a beautiful sunny day and the kids are getting some much needed outdoor time (ie burning energy). Everyone is eating and it’s finally your turn to enjoy your first grilled burger of the season. You feel the warm sun on your skin, you hear the kids laughing, and-wait a sec, is my kid coughing? Shouldn’t they have stopped by now? Are they choking?

What is Choking?

Choking occurs when your child’s airway becomes obstructed by a foreign object; there are two types. Mild choking, where the object is only partially blocking the airway. And severe choking, where the object is fully blocking the airway. Having trouble visualizing? Let’s use the moon to help. A full moon represents an open airway, a half or quarter moon represents mild choking, and a new moon (no moon) represents severe choking.

Air needs to travel through the vocal cords to make a sound, so we can conclude that if there’s sound, there’s some sort of breathing happening. That doesn’t mean it isn’t scary or feels like normal breathing though.

Signs of mild choking include:

• Coughing

• Talking

• Making noise

Signs of severe choking include:

• No coughing

• No talking

• No recognizable sound

• Grabbing at their throat

First Aid

Now that we can differentiate between mild and severe choking, we can determine what our first aid is.

The bottom line is that coughing is the best thing they can do to dislodge the object - the body knows what to do. When coughing stops we perform back blows and abdominal thrusts because it mimics a cough.

Mild Choking:

• Stay with the child, ask someone to have their phone ready. It’s never too early to activate emergency services

• Encourage coughing! Ideally they will dislodge it after a few strong coughs

Severe choking:

• Immediately perform five back blows; always come to their level, hit straight on with the palm of your hand directly between their shoulder blades

• If the child still isn’t coughing or crying, perform five abdominal thrusts; kneel behind them and use both hands to make a fist around their waist in line with their belly button. Pull inwards and upwards, like the shape of a ‘J’

• Keep alternating between the two until the object comes out. In general, you can increase your force if the first couple attempts don’t work. Remember, they can always be seen at the hospital later

I’ve heard choking stories from hundreds of parents and they almost always say the same two things: one, it’s very scary! Two, after a couple hard back blows or abdominal thrusts, it came out!

Why back blows first? Most people have heard of doing abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich) but there’s a couple reasons why we don’t start there:

• The back is often easily accessible while kids are sitting

• Back blows can be less invasive and have a lower risk of injury

Does this change your answer in our earlier scenario?

Summary

Choking occurs when an object blocks a child’s airway. This blockage could be partial (mild choking) or a full blockage (severe choking).

We can tell the difference between the two based on how much sound is coming from the child.

If it’s mild choking, stay with the child and encourage them to keep coughing. Cough hard! If they aren’t making any sound (or any recognizable sound), it’s time to step in. Perform five hard back blows, then, if they still aren’t coughing, perform five abdominal thrusts. Keep alternating until the object comes out. It takes more force than you might think, don’t be afraid to do these hard.

You can call for help at any time during a choking emergency. Always call activate emergency services if the child becomes unconscious. Seek medical attention after the object is dislodged.

Remember, most kids choke at some point, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent! They’re still developing their motor skills and are difficult to keep still. Doing our best with prevention and learning what to do during an emergency are both tools to keep our small loved ones safe.

Yup, I’m a real person!

Hi, I’m Stephanie, the mom behind Tiny Triage. I’m a licensed Paramedic and have taught 300+ public first aid classes over the past 10 years. Tiny Triage focuses on first aid education for childhood emergencies. My goal is to bring my experience and knowledge to your family in a meaningful way so you feel prepared to help the little ones in your life!