hk baby Wound management As infants grow they become increasingly active leading them to encounter an infinite number of potentially dangerous situations. All good infant first aid courses should teach parents skills in immediate wound care, compression and faster healing techniques as well as guidelines on how to monitor wounds for signs of infection.
Sudden illness Bringing a newborn home will undoubtedly present a plethora of new ailments for first time parents. Learning from an expert when to seek medical attention for serious conditions and how to monitor and treat minor illness at home is key. With Hong Kong’s warm and humid climate it is also helpful to know a bit about conditions such as dehydration, overheating, drowning and seizures. While of course there is no guarantee that any parent is ever able to fully protect their child from every potentially dangerous situation, this course places a huge emphasis on prevention rather than treatment of accidents which has certainly helped me feel a little more prepared during the first few weeks at home with our new addition.
Paramedic parent First-time parent Gemma Shaw explores the benefits of infant first aid training As a new mum, the thought of bringing home my baby girl, who was born prematurely at the end of April, was both overwhelmingly joyful and terrifying in equal parts. In the days leading up to the homecoming my sense of responsibility and unpreparedness grew. A friend suggested taking a first aid course tailored to treating infants and I jumped at the chance. The Family Zone offers a four-hour course which covers CPR theory and practice as well as how to respond in the most common paediatric emergencies faced in Hong Kong which include drowning, poisoning, head/spinal injuries and heat emergencies. The course provides a relaxed environment for first time parents in which questions are encouraged and
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real life examples are used throughout. Here are some aspects that really resonated with me.
Basic life support for infants Choking is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for infants in Hong Kong and it can quickly lead to an infant becoming unresponsive. Resuscitation techniques differ for adult, child and infant patients so it’s important for parents to know the specifics. All first aid courses should cover basic CPR skills with paediatric courses tailoring techniques towards children and babies. Having these skills can assist parents in being able to react quickly and help improve the health outcome of the child.
The Family Zone The Family Zone offers a four hour course in Paediatric First Aid & CPR for Parents ($980 per person). Classes are led by founder Yvonne Heavyside, a British-trained health visitor and registered nurse with more than 35 years experience. Yvonne has worked in Hong Kong since 1997, her work has included running the antenatal classes and first aid & CPR Courses at Matilda International Hospital. The Family Zone also offers courses in child safety specifically tailored towards helpers as well as pre and postnatal classes and consultations. thefamilyzone.hk
