Mini First Aid Milton Keynes & Northampton

31/03/2026

⚠️ Common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen are the main culprits.

Single centre studies estimate that around 2% of all childhood Emergency Department presentations relate to poisoning. Of these, around half involve medications, and two thirds of these cases are due to medication not intended for their own use, often either their parent’s or grandparent’s medications.*

We know medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen are common in most family homes, especially during cold and flu season. But accidental poisoning from medicines is one of the most common reasons young children are taken to hospital.

According to the NHS, even small amounts of certain medicines can be dangerous for children.

Paracetamol poisoning can happen if a child:

• Takes too much in one go
• Is given more than the recommended dose
• Is given doses too close together

Too much paracetamol can seriously damage the liver, and the early signs are not always obvious.

Ibuprofen can also be harmful in large amounts and may cause stomach pain, vomiting, drowsiness or, in more serious cases, breathing difficulties or low blood pressure.

What to do if you think your child has taken too much medicine:

• Stay calm
• Find out what they have taken and how much (if possible)
• Call 999 immediately if they are very unwell, unconscious, having difficulty breathing or having a seizure
• Otherwise, contact NHS 111 for urgent advice
• Do not wait for symptoms to develop
• Do not try to make them sick

If advised, go to A&E and take the medicine packaging with you so that the doctor or healthcare practitioner can see exactly what has been taken.

Prevention is, of course, key:

• Always keep medicines locked away and out of sight and reach
• Double-check doses carefully
• Use the measuring syringe or spoon provided
• Never describe medicine as “sweets”

Accidents can happen in seconds.

Stay vigilant and act quickly - this can make all the difference. Talk to your local Mini First Aid trainer about baby safety 💚

*Source: British Toxicology Society

29/03/2026

It is estimated that there are around 3,000 - 4,000 cases of Lyme Disease each year in the UK - would you know what symptoms to look for in yourself or your child?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which can be transmitted to humans from infected tick bites. Knowing how to spot the signs of Lyme disease and getting early treatment is important in mitigating severe complications such as nerve and heart problems and long-term post-infection fatigue.

Symptoms include:

- A round or oval bull’s eye like rash around the bite which can appear up to 3 months after an infected bite. The rash is usually flat or slightly raised, and pink, red or purple - on darker skin it may resemble a bruise. It may get bigger over several days or weeks, and can appear on different parts of the body.
-,A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery.
- A headache.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Tiredness and loss of energy.
- Neck stiffness.

If you suspect Lyme disease, see your GP as soon as possible. It’s much easier to treat if it is diagnosed early.

But first - prevention! Take steps to avoid tick bites in the first place and learn how to remove and treat tick bites in the event of finding one on you or your child.

As the weather improves and we finally get outdoors and enjoy those country walks, make sure you are prepared for ticks!

28/03/2026

You're never too young to learn first aid! 👶 😄 Pre-crawling babies are welcome at our parent classes, and our relaxed settings mean there's no problem if your baby fusses or needs fed or changed during the session.

Our two-hour Baby & Child first aid class has just been voted Best Pregnancy Product in the Mother & Baby Awards and could literally help you to save your baby’s life.

Classes cover first aid from birth to 18 years and will give you the confidence to deal with:

Choking
CPR
Burns
Breaks
Bleeding
Trips & Falls
Head Bumps
Febrile Seizures

We also provide Meningitis and Sepsis awareness training in this class.

Classes are perfect for expectant parents, parents, grandparents, carers, nannies, extended family members, or anyone who might look after your little one!

https://www.mk.minifirstaid.co.uk/classes/classes-for-parents-carers

Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting and looking after our little ones. You have it in you to save a life 💚

28/03/2026

26/03/2026

Watching a video tutorial or 30-second reel demonstrating how to perform chest thrusts on a choking baby is not going to give you the same learning experience as watching and practising the technique in person.

When you take an in-person first aid class with Mini First Aid, you'll see our expert trainers demonstrate the techniques in front of you on life-sized baby and child mannequins.

You'll get hands-on with the mannequins yourself, experiencing exactly where to position your hands and fingers, feel how deeply to properly compress during CPR and get immediate feedback on how you are managing, helping you make adjustments and get it right.

You'll have time with our expert trainer to ask questions and practise until the techniques become second nature.

And you don't get that from a minute-long video or TV programme! 😉

Come and learn with us, it's two hours of your time and costs from just £30 per person to really learn vital first aid techniques that could just save your child's life.

Head to our classes here:

https://www.mk.minifirstaid.co.uk/classes/classes-for-parents-carers

25/03/2026

When it comes to our little ones, knowing what to do before help arrives can make all the difference.

That’s where our Baby & Child first aid classes come in. Our classes are friendly, relaxed & practical & you have the opportunity for hands-on practice of techniques and skills you might need in the event of an emergency.
You will leave feeling confident and empowered!

💚 Suitable from pregnancy onwards (pre-crawling babies welcome to attend!)
💚 Covers first aid from birth to 18 years old
💚 Designed for parents, grandparents, carers, and anyone looking after children.

To book onto a class:

https://www.mk.minifirstaid.co.uk/classes/classes-for-parents-carers

23/03/2026

When breastfeeding is painful, it can feel not only physically sore, but emotionally harrowing too. Not all new mums find breastfeeding easy or that it comes naturally; it can take time and practice.

The most common cause of ni**le pain is poor positioning or a poor latch, but ongoing pain may also be a sign of something else, like thrush, tongue-tie or a bacterial infection, so please seek help from your midwife or GP if you are struggling.

Swipe through for NHS guidance on treating ni**le pain during breastfeeding and reach out for breastfeeding support if you are finding it tough - your health visitor should be able to point you to local support groups, and the NCT offers free drop-in sessions across the UK, see their website for information.

21/03/2026

Had the pleasure of meeting Sara Davies on day one of our Conference.

21/03/2026

Not everyone who gets meningitis develops a rash, and sometimes this can be one of the last symptoms to appear so please don’t wait for a rash before seeking help if you are worried about your child.

Meningitis can kill in hours so it’s critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.

If your child is unwell with ANY of these symptoms, go to a hospital or call for an ambulance immediately:

❗️Over 38°C in babies under three months

❗️Has a temperature and feels abnormally cold to touch/very cold hands and feet

❗️Very fast breathing, finding it much harder to breathe than normal, or noticeable pauses in breathing

❗️Grunting and/or noises with every breath

❗️Very lethargic / difficult to wake / not responding
Fitting / convulsion / seizures

❗️Weak, high pitched or continuous crying in a younger child
❗️Confusion or unusually irritable

❗️Soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging

❗️Stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down

❗️Unusually sleepy, stiff or floppy baby

❗️Pale, blotchy or mottled skin - this may be harder to see on brown or black skin

❗️A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass - the rash can be harder to see on brown or black skin. Check paler areas, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, roof of the mouth, tummy, whites of the eyes or the inside of the eyelids.

❗️Not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours or more

❗️Very thirsty and not able to keep fluids down

❗️Bloody or black ‘coffee ground’ sick

Some of these high-risk symptoms are not typical signs of meningitis but are still signs of severe illness, so, if your child is unwell and has these symptoms, get urgent medical help.

It can be harder to see a meningitis rash in black or brown skin, so check lighter areas such as the palms of hands, soles of feet or inside eyelids or the mouth.

Remember not to wait for a rash if your little one has many of the other symptoms of meningitis, seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

19/03/2026

In light of the tragic news about two university students who have died from meningitis, it’s a timely reminder to know the signs and symptoms. Awareness saves lives. 💚

Many people associate meningitis with a rash, but not everyone with meningitis will develop one.

If a rash does appear, check the entire body. On white skin it may look like small red or brown pin-prick marks that can develop into larger red or purple blotches or blood blisters.

On black or brown skin, a rash can be harder to see, so check thoroughly and carefully- remembering ANY rash that doesn’t fade, no matter how subtle is urgent. Also, check lighter areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, inside the eyelids or inside the mouth.

The tumbler (glass) test can sometimes help identify a rash that needs urgent medical attention.

🚨 But remember – don’t wait for a rash.

Early symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle pain
• Stomach cramps
• Fever with cold hands and feet

Other common signs and symptoms include:

• Drowsy or difficult to wake
• Confusion or irritability
• Severe muscle pain
• Pale, blotchy skin, spots or rash
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Dislike of bright lights
• Convulsions or seizures

⚠️ Meningitis and Sepsis can make someone very unwell very quickly. Keep checking them and seek medical help urgently if you are concerned.

💚 Knowing the signs could save a life.

For more information:-

16/03/2026

What if we told you that a high temperature could cause your child to have a seizure, and many parents have never even heard of it?

It’s called a febrile seizure, and more often than not, when parents come to our baby & child first aid classes, it’s the first time they learn that this can happen.

We never share information to frighten you. We share it because knowledge replaces panic with composure 💚

If your child ever experiences a febrile seizure and you’ve never heard of one before, it can be incredibly distressing. But when you understand what’s happening and what to do, you feel calmer, more confident and in control.

Forewarned really is forearmed when it comes to our little ones.

Swipe/Scroll for clear, simple information every parent should know 💚