First aid is something we know we have to think about but somehow it never seems to make it to the top of our to-do list.
We know that our kids can get sick or have accidents and we worry about whether we will be prepared. So, make 2015 the year you actually get your act together.
I recently read a newsletter from Alice Jungclaus who is a former North Shore resident now living in Switzerland. She is a PCI Certified Parent Coach and international educator. You can find Alice at globalwiseparenting.com.
Her topic was first aid and she has great tips for parents who want to be prepared. She notes that you can be prepared for family emergencies and accidents and further suggests that being ready will reduce your stress.
Her first tip is to take a first aid course. I spoke to the local Red Cross and they said they offer a full range of certification classes from CPR Level C, Emergency First Aid Childcare to Standard First Aid. These certification courses run from three to 16 hours in length and are taught by Red Cross or Lifesaving Society instructors. They also offer shorter and more flexible child/infant CPR seminars which are designed especially for busy parents: link2life.ca/our-courses/infantcpr.
Their infant CPR seminars are usually two hours in length, but private groups can request more content if they have more time or if they want to focus on different topics like first aid. They have two classes available monthly at their office in East Vancouver at 544 Victoria Dr. and they organize classes with parent groups and families all the time at private residences or businesses. In these special parent classes they focus on management and prevention of choking for infant and toddler patients and when they have extra time they cover basic hands-only CPR and playground first aid (cuts and scrapes, burns, bone and joint injuries, head injuries).
And to make this even more possible, readers of this column can receive a discount. Simply use the coupon code "lullaby" which brings the cost down from $35 to $30 for one person or from $60 to $50 for two people registering together.
Taking a first aid course will give you confidence that you can handle whatever accident could happen to your child The second tip is to create (or update) your first aid kits. It's a good idea to have one in a main part of the house and another in the car. That way you're always ready to handle cuts, insect stings or bites or scrapes from falls.
Next, systematize your document storage. The time when you will need all your important documents is likely to be a time of high stress and the last thing you need to be doing is looking through files, drawers and trunks to find all the papers you need.
Filing cabinets are common organizing tools for paper documents. Keeping files up to date and ready to work with at all times can be a tedious exercise. But it is worth it when you need the materials. Effective organized filing requires a consistent system that works anytime and all the time. If you already have a system that works for you and keeps your files tidy and highly organized yearround - congratulations! You're ready to instantly find documents that an organization or individual might require.
If you need a little support to get organized Jungclaus recommends The FreedomFiler filing system. She explains that it's a product created for those who want to focus more of their time and attention on other aspects of life but still want to have files organized and ready for effective use year-round. The time saved from reorganizing and shredding unnecessary documents with this tool can be worth a lot. You will feel ready to quickly and effectively deal with whatever documentation an unexpected family emergency may require.
Put basic information in wallets or purses. If your child is going to be on her own or with a sitter it's important that emergency personnel have access to the critical information needed to facilitate their care. You could have your child carry a wallet with information in a small pocket on their backpack or in a wallet if they are older. I don't think you should put your child's address or last name on an emergency wallet card. For many parents, simply noting the child's first name, emergency contact numbers and vital medical life-saving information is sufficient.
Some examples of what is important for emergency response personnel to know are: blood type, allergies, pre-existing medical conditions and medications taken.
Once you've thought through basic first aid needs and put systems in place you can relax and get on with your life.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Difference, Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. Sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
