Mini First Aid Milton Keynes & Northampton

21/11/2025

Road Safety Week is always a great time to share this reminder about your child's roadside visibility in these darker winter months.

This image shows the difference in visibility between a child wearing a dark coat (bottom image) and the same child wearing a bright coat (top image), waiting to cross a road in the evening light.

If your child wears a dark winter coat, bear in mind that car drivers may not see them as clearly if they were to step out onto the road.

Of course, the main focus needs to be on driver awareness and reducing car speed, particularly around schools, but it doesn't hurt to think about small changes we can make that can perhaps add extra protection for our children, such as buying bright clothing!

Please share for awareness 💚

20/11/2025

Sadly, road crashes remain one of the biggest causes of death and injury in children of all ages.

On average, six children are killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Britain every day – that’s equivalent to a whole class of children every single week.

Road Safety Week, 16th to 22nd November, is Brake's biggest road safety campaign, so what better time to get the essential road safety messages out there that all families need to know.

Taking place from 16-22 November 2025, Road Safety Week is Brake's biggest road safety campaign. The road safety charity aims to t...

20/11/2025

How to ensure your baby is safe in their car seat this winter👇🏻

🚗 Do not strap your child in while they are wearing a bulky coat or sleepsuit - the material of the coat and any air trapped in it will mean that the straps are not tight enough against the baby’s body to stop them being shifted around in an accident.

🚗 Do the “pinch test” - pull the harness straps to a snug tightness which means if you try to pinch the harness horizontally you cannot pinch the material together.

🚗 Make sure the car seat harness straps are not twisted, this may distribute the weight incorrectly and cause injury.

🚗 If your child is in a rear-facing car seat, the harness straps should be in the slots at or below your child’s shoulders.

🚗 If your child is in a forward-facing car seat, the harness straps should be in the slots at or above your child’s shoulders.

For lots more advice about the law around car seats and what type of seat is right for your child’s age/weight, please take a listen to episode 24 ofthe Family Health Podcast episode in which we chat with an expert from Graco UK about car seat safety 🎧 We’ll link to this in the comments.

18/11/2025

17/11/2025

Childhood Diabetes 👇

We’re lucky to be joined by two incredible experts for this blog: Michelle Dady, a former Mini First Aid trainer and paediatric diabetes specialist nurse, and Jackie Higgins, Senior Clinical Advisor and Youth Educator at Diabetes UK .

Jackie also worked as a Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse in the NHS for many years before joining Diabetes UK. Together, they’ve helped lots of families navigate diabetes with confidence.

So, pop the kettle on and let’s dive in...

https://www.minifirstaid.co.uk/blog/understanding-childhood-diabetes-what-every-parent-needs-to-know

At Mini First Aid, where we’re all about bringing you trusted health advice in a friendly, no-fuss way. It's World Diabetes Day on 14th...

11/11/2025

Are your child's Christmas gifts dangerous?

Mums and dads, you are probably already starting to think about, or pick up, Christmas presents and stocking fillers for your child, so this is your friendly reminder to think about potential choking and other hazards that may be present in your child's presents!

🎁 Button batteries - these little silver disc batteries are found in lots of toys and other gadgets around your house and are highly toxic. If swallowed, they can corrode your child's throat or stomach.

🎁 Lego and other small building bricks - these are not only painful to step on, but some pieces are small enough for a baby or child to swallow, and sharp edges make them easy to get stuck in a child's windpipe.

🎁 Magnet toys - these popular toys are small and easy to swallow. They can travel to the stomach and gather together, tearing internal tissue.

🎁 Balloons - balloons and other latex items are a choking hazard if swallowed or inhaled, which can happen easily if your child is blowing a balloon or playing with burst leftover material.

🎁 Buttons & detachable parts - toys or dolls with small parts like button eyes and wheels can be dangerous as items like this can fall off or be pulled off and swallowed.

🎁 Marbles - in the same way that grapes and round foods are a hazard, so are marbles that can easily lodge in your child's airway.

This list is by no means exhaustive. We don't want to be the toy/fun police, but please take a few minutes when choosing toys or gifts for your child to think about potential risks and don't leave your child to play with a new toy on their own - check it out yourself before you hand it to your child to play with.

09/11/2025

If your child has ever had to spend any length of time in hospital, you might have been lucky enough to experience the hospital Play Therapy team.

Play can help children cope with the trauma of hospital visits, recover faster, and even face frightening treatments with calm and confidence.

In this blog, our founder Kate is joined by Megan Holmes, a Health Play Specialist at Leeds Children’s Hospital, and parent Cheryl Duerden, whose son Seth has experienced the transformative power of play therapy firsthand.

Their conversation shines a light on the vital (but often overlooked) role of play therapy in paediatric healthcare.

When you hear the word hospital, “fun” and “play” are probably the last things that come to mind - especially when it comes to your...

08/11/2025

Wow! This 10-year-old girl saved her father’s life using CPR she learned at Cubs - yet more proof that teaching our kids these vital first aid skills can literally save lives, what an amazing little girl 💚

Our children's classes can be run in schools, sports clubs, and community youth groups - get in touch today!

A 10-year-old girl saved her father’s life using CPR she learned at Cubs. Ava MacVarish sprang into action when her dad Dominic, 51, suffered a cardiac arrest at their home in Sonning Common, Reading. She performed CPR while on the phone to paramedics until help arrived, keeping him alive. Dominic...

07/11/2025

RSV infections are very common. Almost all children get them at least once before they’re 2 years old.

They’re not usually serious, but babies under 6 months old have a higher risk of getting seriously ill as do young children who were born prematurely and babies and children with a weakened immune system, or long-term lung or heart conditions.

In babies, RSV is a common cause of bronchiolitis, a chest infection that can cause breathing problems and may need to be treated in hospital.

Symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of getting infected.

Most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as:

- runny or blocked nose
- cough
- sneezing
- tiredness
- high temperature

Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual.

If RSV leads to a more serious infection, such as bronchiolitis, it may also cause:

- a cough that gets worse
- shortness of breath
- faster breathing or long gaps between breaths
- difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite
- noisy breathing (wheezing)

Head up to our Stories today to find out more about RSV and bronchiolitis.

05/11/2025

If you are planning on heading to a bonfire night celebration this evening, check out our top tips for staying safe 🔥 💚

Are you celebrating Bonfire Night at home this year? If so, make sure you read this blog first – it is predicted that this year 500 c...

05/11/2025

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

That’s where our 🏅Award winning Baby & Child first aid classes come in.

Our classes are:
👋Friendly
💚Relaxed
💚Practical
👶🏽pre crawling babies are welcome

👍You will have the Opportunity for hands-on practice if you want too

💚You will leave feeling confident and empowered!

Spaces are limited to allow for a comfortable & personal experience.

💚 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 go to the link bellow, enter your postcode or scroll down to all our current classes.

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