Child Matters

30/07/2025

Why does it matter?
It matters because when someone says on a course 'but when I saw it on tv they did it like this!' They have learnt it wrong from the TV 😞

If you’ve ever watched a dramatic resuscitation scene on TV, you’ll know the setup. Someone collapses, the hero jumps into action, a few firm chest compressions, maybe a dramatic shout of "Don’t you die on me!", and moments later, they’re sitting up, gasping for air, saved just in time.

09/07/2025

6 dangerous products to avoid this summer

We tend to think ‘If I can buy it for my child, it must be safe’. But sadly, that isn’t always true.

1. Some reusable water balloons contain high-strength magnets which can pop out easily. High-strength magnets like these can rip through a child’s gut if swallowed, causing very serious and even life-threatening injuries. Stop using these products straight away.

2. Neck floats are inflatables that sit around a baby’s neck. They’re intended to allow babies to float freely in the water but can be a serious risk of drowning and suffocation. As well as strain and injury to a baby’s neck. These products should be avoided.

3. Mermaid tails and monofins have often been removed from sale due to the high risk of drowning and preventing a child from being unable to swim. Many of these products are aimed at small children but do not carry any hazard warnings about the risks.

4. Many swim vests and buoyancy aids sold on online marketplaces come from abroad and haven’t been safety tested to our standards. This makes them a serious drowning risk so always buy well-known tested brands.

5. Toys with easy-access button batteries are a no no. Many of the light up flashing toys do and can kill if swallowed. For example, light-up unicorn wands and flashing rings were both recalled. Check the battery compartment is secured with a screw to prevent children gaining access and when not in use keep out of reach.

6. Water beads are especially appealing to young children. But they can be really dangerous if swallowed. As they bathe in stomach fluids, they can expand to many times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child’s bowel.

Visit gov.uk for a list of recalled products and take care buying from online marketplaces. Visit capt.org.uk for more information.

02/07/2025

Well done to Harry Wragg for designing a life-saving CPR device and raising awareness among members of the public of how important it is to step in and help save a life.

As with our own CPR training devices and manikins, the more you practise by using the right training equipment, the more confident you'll become.

Everyone should learn first aid and CPR and Harry has made more possible with his invention.

Harry Wragg, a 21-year-old De Montfort University student, has won a design award for his potentially life-saving invention.

30/06/2025

With high temperatures this week it's more important than ever to keep babies, toddlers and children hydrated. Children are busy bees and get easily distracted running around without remembering to stop and drink. Have you noticed if your child becomes more irritable, tired, naughty or just not acting themselves in the heat?

Could it be dehydration? Your child might not be able to explain how they are feeling so keep a check on their symptoms to look out for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Are they?:
• Feeling thirsty
• Dark yellow and strong smelling p*e
• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded
• Feeling tired or irritable
• Dry mouth, lips and eyes
• Peeing little, and fewer than 4 times a day or nappies drier than usual

If your child shows any of these symptoms of dehydration here are some 5 top tips to quench their thirst and help keep them safe:

• Give regular small sips and allow them to gradually drink more if they can - you can use a spoon or syringe.
• Remember, breastfed babies will want more feeds than usual and this includes night feeds too.
• Did you know that milk is also one of the best choices for keeping hydrated?
• Offer ice-lollies, fresh fruit or even allow juice, when you might ordinarily say no.
• At night time, it’s a good idea to always leave a sippy cup of water next to the bed.

30/06/2025

*Increased hayfever symptoms reported in school children- tips to manage*

The schools we teach are reporting an increased number of children with hayfever symptoms. These are getting gradually worse throughout the day, especially after break times and games lessons when the pupils have been outside. In turn this is disrupting their learning.

Many pupils would benefit from receiving preventative medication before school to prevent these symptoms. Think of it like sunscreen, treatment is more effective being applied before you're in the sun!

Please ensure children, with known hayfever, allergies and asthma have been given their prescribed or recommended medication before school.

If you suspect your child has hayfever, they are displaying any of the symptoms below, please try an over the counter treatment.

Symptoms of hay fever include:

🤧sneezing and coughing
🤧a runny or blocked nose
🤧itchy, red or watery eyes
🤧itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
🤧loss of smell
🤧pain around the sides of your head and your forehead
🤧headache
🤧feeling tired

A pharmacist can help with hay fever. They can give you advice and suggest the best treatments to help with symptoms, such as:

Antihistamine drops, Tablets, Nasal sprays, Steroid nasal sprays

Some antihistamines can make you very sleepy, so speak to your pharmacist about non-drowsy antihistamines to prevent sleeping in class!

Additional methods to prevent symptoms are:

🤧Put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around nostrils to trap pollen
🤧Wear wraparound sunglasses, to stop pollen getting into your eyes
🤧Avoid drying washing on a clothes line outdoors

26/06/2025

👀Interesting new changes to the UK vaccination program from 1st July 2025:

1. MenB – Responsible for meningococcal. The peak age for this disease has now shifted to 1-3 months of age – so by moving the vaccine to 12 weeks it will cover this peak and ensure protection, rather than waiting until 16 weeks as was the previous schedule.

2. MenC – Is no longer required in the childhood schedule. This is due to the success of MenC vaccine programs and the decline of MenC diseases since 1999.

3. MMR – A new 18 month vaccine appointment provides new an opportunity to bring a second dose forward. This will improve coverage and reduce the likelihood of measles outbreaks.

25/06/2025

Last shout out for Paediatric First Aid summer courses before schools break up. September is a busy time for us with first aid courses being held on inset days in school settings and back to school preparation means teachers and nursery workers refreshing their lifesaving and medical skills before the new term.

So, don't miss out as there are still a few public courses running in Marlow, St Albans and Yarnton with space remaining.

To search and book visit child-matters.co.uk/events or get in touch at contact@childmatters.info

25/06/2025

*Free face shield keyring when you leave a google review*

Did you enjoy your first aid training course with us? Would you like to share your feedback with others? Then please leave us a google review and you'll receive a free face shield keyring in the post.

Face shields are:-
😷Used during CPR resuscitation
😷Specially shaped valve fits securely over the casualty’s mouth
😷One way valve reduces the risk of infection
😷Instructions for use printed on face shield itself
😷Supplied in a compact plastic heart shaped red or blue pod with keychain
😷Easy to attach to your backpack, purse or clothing.

Let us know it's from you. Please email us to let us know that you've left your review including your full postal address details.

Thank you.

Click link here to leave your review:-
https://g.page/r/CcTlKjPw3bnBEAI/review

24/06/2025

Love a good review but don't often get called F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. Almost blushing. Lovely comments from our students during June's paediatric first aid classes.

If your school, nursery or childcare setting would like to experience our 5 star training, get in touch at contact@childmatters.info or take a look at our next summer courses at child-matters.co.uk/events

20/06/2025

Remind your children and teens this hot weekend about water safety and the dangers of swimming in rivers and lakes. You never know what debris, reeds or strong currents lie beneath the water. And then there is always the danger of cold water shock. Even if the day is sunny and warm, even if you are a great swimmer, the water temperature can still be cold enough to cause the body to go into shock.

What to do if you see someone drowning:-

1. If you see someone in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
2. If there is something that floats to hand, throw it to them but don’t enter the water yourself.
3. As soon as the casualty has been rescued from the water, check if they’re breathing.
4. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, give them five initial rescue breaths before starting CPR.
5. Once you’ve done this, start CPR: 30 chest compressions, then two rescue breaths. Keep giving CPR until help arrives, the casualty regains responsiveness, or you’re too exhausted to keep going.
6. If they start breathing again at any time, treat them for hypothermia by covering them with warm clothes and blankets. If they recover completely, replace their wet clothes with dry ones.
7. Keep checking breathing, pulse and level of response until help arrives.
8. Even if they do recover quickly, get them checked out by a medical professional as they can suffer from secondary drowning.

19/06/2025

Before heat stroke symptoms appear, kids often show signs and symptoms of milder heat illnesses such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. They are such busy bees so running around or playing in the heat means they can loose excessive fluids and salt from sweating.

Whereas, heat stroke is a severe type of heat illness that occurs when a child's body creates more heat than it can release. This results in a rapid increase in core body temperature, leading to brain damage or death if not promptly treated.
Heat exhaustion? Look for:

• Cramps in the arms, legs or stomach
• A high temperature
• Excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy
• Fast breathing or heartbeat
• Weakness
• Feeling sick or being sick.

If your child has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

1. Move them to a cool place.
2. Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
3. Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.
4. Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.

Stay with them until they're better.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.
If dehydration becomes a serious issue and turns quickly from heat exhaustion to heat stroke get medical help immediately. That’s when nausea, high temperature and headache don’t resolve with rehydration within 30 minutes. A child will appear flushed and red, may be hot to touch but remain dry ie. doesn’t have sweat or tears and can be unconscious and floppy. They are at risk of a seizure so should be seen straight away so dial 999 if this happens.