Child in distress? Follow the ABC method

If something happens to your child, there's a good chance you'll panic. Understandably so, but if you panic, it affects your child, and that's why it's important for you as a parent to remain calm. This panic is often caused by not knowing what to do, especially in a life-threatening situation. The ABC method provides guidance in such a situation.

What is the ABC method?
The ABC method is a handy mnemonic to quickly check vital functions in the event of a very serious accident. Vital functions are essential for staying alive. If one of these functions fails, the others will also fail.

Don't know what to do if your child has just had a serious accident? Then follow the three steps of the ABC method. This greatly reduces the chance of missing serious injuries. The principle of the ABC method is based on the "treat first what kills first" principle: check the Airway, Breathing, and Circulation to prevent further damage. Learn how to do this in practice by taking an at-home first aid course for babies and children.

A stands for Airway
Oxygen is a must to stay alive. Therefore, first check your child's breathing. Listen near your child's mouth and see if the abdomen and chest are moving. Do this for 10 seconds. An adult breathes about 12 to 16 times per minute, while a child's breathing rate is slightly higher. For babies, the breathing rate is even much higher.

B stands for Breathing
Does your child respond to your presence or not? Check consciousness by speaking to your child. There are two types of consciousness: normal consciousness and (reduced) impaired consciousness. If there is no response when you speak to your child, place your hands on their shoulders and gently shake them. This indicates a (reduced) impaired consciousness.

C stands for Circulation
Finally, circulation (blood flow) is of great importance. A child has 800cc of blood in their body. For adults, this is about 5 liters, much more. The heart pumps this blood throughout the body (circulation). If circulation stops, consciousness is lost. The amount of blood a child loses before losing consciousness is much smaller than for an adult.

Be sure of yourself and take a first aid course for babies and children.
Trust your instincts. You can best assess the situation. However, it is, of course, helpful if you know what to do in an accident involving your little one. Because what do you do if your child is choking or even suffocating? In a first aid course for babies and children, you learn what to do in such an emergency.Here you will find more information.

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Illustration: Curly Sketches