Not Just a Bromley Mummy interview-Tracey at Daisy First Aid, for parents and carers

Before I became a mum, it had never really crossed my mind as to how important it was to know a little bit about first aid or if I came across an emergency how would I deal with it?

I remember in the early and very blurry eyed new-born stage, it used to terrify me to think if my daughter became really ill with a high fever or even I dread to say it stopped breathing, what would I actually be able to do? Also, I know a few mummies can relate to this, I would start to google everything from tiny red spots to rashes you would notice on them and end up frantically reading all the horror stories on everything until I drove myself sick with worry and thought she had every disease or symptom you came across on the net.

Enough was enough not only was it hard enough just looking after a baby and just about yourself I didn’t want to be worrying about how would I deal in an emergency not knowing anything. I mean let’s face it ladies at the early stage you’re still trying to keep your baby alive just by trying to get the breastfeeding right or the bottles sterilised and ready for each and every feed they need.

So, this is when I turned to google on a positive note and looked for my nearest first aid course that catered for babies and toddlers and this is where I found the lovely Tracey from ‘Daisy First Aid’. The course was brilliant, informative, relaxed and best of all she could come to my house if I had some other mummy friends who were interested to. It was also a great excuse for a mummy play date but with the importance of a course that we would all benefit from.

I spoke to Tracey afterwards about doing an interview with her so I could share my experience with all of you as mums who I know at the back of your minds do have that worrying thought if something was to ever happen. So here is my interview with Tracey on what her classes are all about and why it’s so important for mums, dads, grandparents and carers to know a little bit about first aid, with the added bonus of a few tips.

Hi Tracey lovely to meet you and thank you so much for showing me so many important things when dealing with a child emergency. Please do tell me a little bit about yourself and why you decided to become a first aid trainer:

My name is Tracey, I am a mum to a 6yr old girl and am a practising Paramedic with nearly 15 years’ experience in the ambulance service.

I am also a First aid trainer, owning and managing Daisy First Aid Bromley.

I decided to become a first aid trainer specifically teaching Paediatric First Aid as I think it’s very important that parents have some basic first aid knowledge allowing them to help their children when necessary.

1. Why is it important for mums to do a first aid course for their children?

It’s important that mums complete a first aid course so they are prepared for any eventuality and feel confident.

Facts and figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (2017):

More than two million children a year under the age of 15 experience accidents at home

Children under the age of five are most likely to have an accident at home

On average 13 children a day under the age of 4 experience a severe burn or scald.

2. What do your classes include and what would mum’s benefit from doing a course?

The 2 hr baby and child first aid classes are specifically designed for parents, parents to be, grandparents and carers. Content includes:

· Dealing with unconscious baby and child

· Getting help

· Recovery positions

· CPR

· Choking

· Head injuries

· Signs and symptoms of Meningitis and Sepsis

· Anaphylaxis

· Fevers and febrile convulsions

· Burns, bleeding and broken burns

· Poisons

They are fun, friendly and informal classes where parents and carers can learn and practice first aid skills. The classes give confidence enabling all those that attend to help their child if they become unwell or have an accident. The classes can be hosted at home; it’s a good idea to get family and/or friends together and book a class at a time convenient for everyone.

I also run classes at venues in Beckenham, Bromley, Coney Hall and Lee.

3. What would you say are the 3 most important things to remember around the home?

Keeping your child safe around the home; for me personally I would say the 3 most important things to remember around the home to keep children safe would be In relation to burns and scalds to not hold a hot drink when carrying/holding a child and keeping hot drinks out of reach of children.

Apparently falls account for 44 percent of children’s accidents in the home

according to the RoSPA”, so fitting stair gates at the top and bottom of stairs would be a high priority for me. Keep medicines and chemicals locked away and out of reach of children.

4. What would you say are the most common symptoms your child is seriously ill and what basic equipment should always be kept at home?

I think it’s important for parents to get to know what’s normal and not normal for their children when they are unwell, to trust their gut instincts and seek medical help if they think something is seriously wrong.

The NHS choices website gives some good advice with regards to looking out for signs and symptoms that indicate a baby or child may be seriously unwell. A high temperature with cold hands and feet, or doesn’t come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Difficult to rouse, listless, floppy are some signs to look out for with or without a temperature.

Rapid breathing, panting and grunting are all serious signs that a baby/child is having difficulty in breathing. The parent may also notice that the baby/child is sucking their stomach in under their ribs.

A basic first aid kit is something that is useful to keep at home and perhaps one for the car, as well.

Daisy First Aid have their own branded first aid kits that can be purchased at the end of the classes as well as first aid manuals and magnets. A thermometer is advisable to have at home also, I prefer and would recommend a digital thermometer that you place under the armpit.

5. What would you say is your most enjoyable and rewarding experience for you working as a first aid trainer?

I enjoy teaching the classes and find it especially rewarding when I receive emails and feedback where the parent has had to use their newly learnt first aid skills successfully. I received one of these emails recently:

Good morning,

You might remember that my family and I had some first aid

training with you last year when we were going to look after an

epileptic child. We live in ***** ****?

Yesterday, while we were eating a BBQ outside, *** - my

youngest choked. It was a bad one. The food was lodged right

in and the technique of whacking her on the back was not

working. ******, my wife stayed very calm and then

performed the Heimlich manoeuvre which you taught us.

To our great relief, this worked.

Without this knowledge, things would have been a lot different

and I wanted to thank you.

You can follow Tracey on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daisyfirstaidbromley/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/daisyfirstaidtc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DaisyFirstAidBromley/

The venue classes are £25 per person and the host at home classes are £25 per person and a minimum of 4 people. Please contact tracey@daisyfirstaid.com for more information.

Thank you and hope to see you soon at a class.

)

Notjustabromleymummy

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Fabulous tips,ideas and events and NOT to forget those little 'me time' moments throughout the day! for that busy Bromley mummy.

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