At-Home Pediatric First Aid Guide 2025

A Parent’s Quick Reference Guide to Common Emergencies, First Aid

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This guide is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. In case of serious injury or emergency, call emergency services (911) immediately.

Emergency Contact Information

Fill in these important numbers:

• Pediatrician: _____________
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Emergency Services: 911
• Nearest Emergency Room: _____________
• Trusted Neighbor: _____________
• Family Emergency Contact: _____________

Basic First Aid Kit Checklist

Essential items for your home first aid kit:

• Digital thermometer
• Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
• Sterile gauze pads
• Medical tape
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• Children’s pain/fever reducer
• Oral rehydration solution
• Saline nasal drops
• Bulb syringe or nasal aspirator
• Cold pack
• Hot pack
• First aid manual
• List of emergency phone numbers

Fever Management

Temperature Guidelines:

• Rectal, ear, or temporal artery temperature: ≥100.4°F (38°C)
• Oral temperature: ≥100°F (37.8°C)
• Axillary (armpit) temperature: ≥99°F (37.2°C)

When to Call the Doctor:

• Age 0-3 months: Any fever
• Age 3-6 months: Over 102°F (39°C)
• Age 6+ months: Over 102°F (39°C) lasting more than 24 hours

Treatment Steps:

1. Keep child hydrated
2. Dress in light clothing
3. Maintain room temperature at 70-74°F
4. Give age-appropriate fever reducer if recommended by doctor

Choking Response

For Infants (Under 1 Year):

1. Give 5 back blows:
   • Hold infant face down on forearm
   • Support head and neck
   • Give firm blows between shoulder blades
2. Give 5 chest thrusts:
   • Turn infant face up
   • Place 2 fingers on center of breastbone
   • Give quick thrusts

For Children (Over 1 Year):

1. Give 5 back blows
2. Perform Heimlich maneuver:
   • Stand behind child
   • Make fist above navel
   • Give quick upward thrusts

Cuts and Scrapes

Treatment Steps:

1. Clean hands thoroughly
2. Rinse wound with clean water
3. Apply antibiotic ointment
4. Cover with sterile bandage

Seek Medical Care If:

• Cut is deep or gaping
• Bleeding doesn’t stop with pressure
• Signs of infection develop
• Cut is from rusty or dirty object
• Cut is on face or sensitive area

Burns

First Aid Steps:

1. Remove from heat source
2. Cool burn with cool (not cold) water for 10-20 minutes
3. Cover loosely with sterile gauze

Seek Emergency Care If:

• Burn is larger than child’s palm
• Burn is on face, hands, feet, or genitals
• Burn is from chemicals or electricity
• Skin is charred or white
• Multiple blisters form

Allergic Reactions

Watch For:

• Swelling of face, lips, tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Hives or rash
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Dizziness

Emergency Steps:

1. Call 911 if severe reaction
2. Use prescribed epinephrine if available
3. Keep child calm and lying down
4. Monitor breathing
5. Don’t give food or drink

Head Injuries

Watch For Red Flags:

• Loss of consciousness
• Severe headache
• Repeated vomiting
• Confusion or behavior changes
• Unequal pupils
• Seizures
• Clear fluid from nose/ears

Monitor For 24 Hours:

• Sleep patterns
• Behavior changes
• Physical symptoms
• Follow doctor’s “return to play” instructions

Poisoning

Immediate Steps:

1. Call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
2. Do not induce vomiting unless told to
3. Save container/substance for identification
4. Follow expert instructions precisely

CPR Quick Reference

Infant CPR (0-12 months):

1. Check responsiveness
2. Call 911
3. Give 30 chest compressions:
   • Use 2 fingers
   • Compress 1.5 inches deep
   • Rate: 100-120/minute
4. Give 2 breaths
5. Continue 30:2 ratio

Child CPR (1+ years):

1. Check responsiveness
2. Call 911
3. Give 30 chest compressions:
   • Use heel of one hand
   • Compress 2 inches deep
   • Rate: 100-120/minute
4. Give 2 breaths
5. Continue 30:2 ratio

When to Seek Emergency Care

Call 911 Immediately For:

• Difficulty breathing/stopped breathing
• Severe bleeding
• Signs of shock
• Unconsciousness
• Suspected poisoning
• Severe burns
• Head/neck injuries
• Possible broken bones
• Seizures

Prevention Tips

Home Safety:

• Install safety gates
• Secure furniture
• Cover outlets
• Lock medicines/chemicals
• Install window guards
• Keep emergency numbers visible
• Regular safety checks

Car Safety:

• Proper car seat use
• Regular car seat checks
• Never leave child alone in car
• Child locks activated

Monthly Safety Checklist

• Check first aid kit supplies
• Update emergency contact list
• Test smoke/CO detectors
• Review family emergency plan
• Check car seat installation
• Update medical information
• Practice emergency procedures

Disclaimer

This guide is not a substitute for professional medical training or advice. Always consult healthcare providers for serious medical concerns and keep emergency numbers readily available.

© 2024 JAJNP LLC For the most current version of this guide, visit JustAskJenNP.com

Another great resource is this https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/firstaid-safe/

Also to manage illnesses and other emergencies https://justaskjennp.com/pediatric-medical-emergencies/