Every soon-to-be parent should learn first aid before their baby arrives, Victoria’s leading course provider says, as alarming data reveals a quarter of Australians with children have never undertaken training.
While the St John Ambulance survey also shows a higher proportion of parents are confident performing first aid (57 per cent) than Aussies without kids (40 per cent), the organisation’s Victorian branch says boosting knowledge among parents is “vital in saving lives and reducing long-term complications for the next generation”.
About 500 children aged 0-14 are tragically dying from injuries each year, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show, while more than 62,000 are hospitalised.
First aid training should be viewed as an essential part of preparing for birth in the same way as antenatal classes, said St John Ambulance Victoria training team leader Katie Pai, who also recently became a mum.
“There are so many things for new parents to learn that often, first aid is put to the side,” she said.
“A lot of parents also aren’t aware of the dangers to children until they have the baby, but then they’re so inundated with change that they don’t have the time or capacity (to do the training). So every new parent should have first aid training prior to having their baby.
“You can do face-to-face, or there are eLearning courses. A few hours’ of your time online could literally save the most precious person to you, your baby’s life.”
Ms Pai said all mums and dads should know the DRSABCD action plan – in particular, how to clear airway obstructions, place a child in the recovery position and perform CPR.
They should also be aware of the biggest hazards to their babies: choking and suffocation, drowning, cuts, burns, falls and poisoning.
“People don’t want to think about these things, but the dangers are so real,” she said.
“People who have done first aid training before having a baby are more confident, more mentally equipped to deal with them. They’re aware of the dangers, so there’s an awareness of how to prevent them too (and) prevent them.”
When Danielle Savoia’s then-14-month-old daughter, Milana, choked on a piece of toast earlier this year, the training the Ringwood mum had received from a SJAV course at Eastland Shopping Centre kicked in.
Despite being terrified as Milana’s lips turned blue and “she pretty much passed out in my arms”, Ms Savoia knew to place her daughter over her arm and deliver back blows until the toast was dislodged.
“If I hadn’t done the course, I probably would have tried to stick my fingers down her throat – that’s the first thing most people try, but you could lodge the food down further,” she said. “It was scary, but I was so glad I’d done the training. When (the back blows) didn’t work initially, I knew to do it again. It’s that reassurance.”
Ms Savoia has since signed husband Mark up for training at Eastland, which began hosting SJAV sessions this year to make them more accessible to residents in the area. Participants pay for the courses, but receive a free first aid kit.
SJAV offers two courses tailored to caring for kids aged 0-7: a four-hour option you can undertake in a physical or virtual classroom, or a more affordable three-hour, on-demand eLearning course.
Originally published as St John Ambulance Victoria urges all soon-to-be parents to learn first aid