Shockproof Shock Remedies

A basic hands-on knowledge of first-aid helps one tide over unexpected traumatic situations which many a times endanger our children’s life.

Many a times a harrowing injury is accompanied by severe bleeding and burns, violent& persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme pain or fear as the child lapses into a state of shock. Many times there may be symptoms of pale-coloured, cold, sticky skin; depressed or aggravated breathing with yawning and sighing; sickness and unconsciousness. If in doubt that child has suffered a shock, one needs to act on the spur and call for medical assistance immediately with the following must do’s to ensure the child’s safety before medical help arrives.

• One needs to lay down the child on a mattress with the head low and to one side to allow easy fluid drainage of any kind from the mouth. The legs need to be raised to a higher level to facilitate blood circulation in the centre part of the body, unless one suspects a broken bone.
• One needs to loosen any tight clothing and cover the child in case it is cold, avoiding hot water bottle or electric blanket.
• One needs to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and external chest compression, if the child becomes unconscious, stops breathing or heartbeat stops, avoiding giving anything to eat or drink at that time. If thirsty, just moisten the lips with water.
• Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can be given by tilting the child’s head back so that the airway passage is open; checking in the meanwhile that nothing is obstructing the throat.
• For children up to 12 months, seal the lips around the child’s nose and mouth and breathe into his lungs at the frequency of ten breaths in a minute. For children of one year and above, seal the mouth only and pinch the nose. One needs to check the child’s breathing after four inflations. One needs to administer gentle puffs into the lungs in the case of a baby. One needs to continue doing this till breathing is restored and then place in recovery position. One needs to immediately seek medical assistance thereafter.
• External chest compression is given when this above method is showing no effect. Though these both methods must be performed in conjunction with each other. For children under two years, one needs to place our index finger centrally between our baby’s nipples, placing the next two fingers just below the centre of the breastbone and press down sharply to a depth of 1 inch in three seconds. For children, lay the child on his back on a firm surface, placing the heel of one hand just below the centre of the breastbone. Using light compression at the frequency of 100 every minute to depths of one to one-and-half inches with 5 compressions to one ventilation.

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