POISONING

Although you might have your medicine and detergents safely stashed away, accidents do happen. If your child suddenly starts vomiting, clutching his stomach, cramping, or becomes delirious or unconscious, it is possible your child has been poisoned either by medicine, food or household products.

What to do

	Immediately call a poison control centre or emergency number (see box below) and follow their instructions while waiting for professional help to arrive. If you know what your child has taken, mention this to the person on the helpline.
	Check breathing frequently. If breathing has stopped, start CPR (below).
	Don't encourage vomiting unless advised to.
	Keep any tablets, medicine or food you think your child might have eaten for the professionals to identify the poison.
TIP:	Buy medication in child-resistant packaging. Lock up the medicine and household products out of children's reach. Have your Poison Control Centre number at every phone - it's a 24hr service.

SUNBURN

Signs of too much exposure to the sun include red, swollen, painful and sometimes blistered skin. Chills, fever, nausea and vomiting can occur if the sunburn is severe and affects a large area of your child's body.

What to do

	Move the child to a cool place indoors or in the shade and lie them down.
	Loosen clothing.
	Administer fluids such as cool or cold water. If available, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 250ml of water and encourage the child to sip, or offer sport drinks.
	Give salty food such as salty crackers, if tolerated.
	Cool the sunburned skin with cool water or cold compresses.
	If the symptoms are severe, go to the emergency unit at your nearest hospital.

DROWNING

Drowning is the fourth leading cause of accidental death. Each year, thousands of people drown and about one-third of them are children under 14 years of age. It takes very little water for a child to drown. In fact, as little as 10cm of water in a bathtub, sink, shower or bowl can kill a toddler or a small child if they fall into the water head first.

What to do

Call for professional emergency assistance or get someone to call for you while you perform the steps of CPR (see below).

ELECTRIC SHOCKS

Toddlers are at risk of getting shocks from putting their fingers in unguarded sockets or accidentally touching faulty electrical wiring.

What to do

	Check your child's airway to see if he is breathing. If your child is unconscious, call for help and start the steps of CPR.
	Switch off the electricity and make sure the scene is safe.
	Treat the wound as you would a normal burn.

BURNS

Burns from fire, chemicals or hot liquid lead to red, blistered, white leathery or blackened skin, which is often accompanied by pain and shock. Possibly breathing difficulties can occur. A hoarse voice and/or snoring sound will be present when inhalation burns occur.

What to do

	Cool the area with clean water if possible: - Up to 30 minutes for thermal or radiation burns - 30-60 minutes for chemical burns Ensure that the cooling process does not become excessive or cause shivering.
	Cover with a clean, non-adherent wet burn dressing.
	Don't remove burned clothing and objects such as jewellery.
	Call for an ambulance as soon as possible.
	Treat for shock if the burn is severe by putting the child in a lying-down position. Remember burns to the face inevitably have an effect on the patient's breathing. If the child is experiencing trouble breathing, place him in a semi-reclining position.
	Do not break blisters.
	A doctor should see infants and children who receive ANY burns.

CHOKING

If your child has an apparent obstruction and is coughing effectively, DO NOT slap them on the back - this may cause them to inhale the object and cause complete obstruction. Symptoms of serious choking include inability to speak or cough, grabbing the throat, turning blue and collapsing.

What to do

	Call for an ambulance while you position your child head down (adults laterally).
	Deliver five firm slaps between the shoulder blades.
	Check mouth and clear any obstructions.
	Reassess the child's attempts to breath.
	Repeat four back slaps between the shoulder blades if the child is still not able to breath.
	Alternate slaps and lateral chest thrusts. To administer lateral chest thrusts place your hands on the side of your child's chests below the armpits. Give four quick downward thrusts.
	If ineffective, start the steps of CPR immediately.
NOTE: To effectively master these techniques, it is useful to attend a first-aid course.
TIP:	Make sure the toys you give your toddler don't fit in a toilet roll - a great choking preventative measure.

FEVERS

High fevers are the most common cause of seizures in children aged six months to four years. A temperature higher than 39 degrees can set off a fever fit, which although generally harmless, is terrifying for parents.

When your child has a fever

	Dress child in lightweight clothing or remove as many clothes as possible.
	Don't use more than a top sheet or one blanket.
	Apply cold washclothes to their forehead and neck. Sponge the rest of their body with cold water.
	Continue trying to reduce the fever to 38 degrees or less.
	If your child has had a fever fit in the past, ask you doctor for suppositories that lower fever. Using one at the first sign of a fever may prevent a seizure.

SEIZURES

Symptoms of a convulsive seizure include crying out, falling down, losing consciousness, stiffening the entire body and uncontrollable jerking and twitching.

What to do

	Stay calm .
	Protect the child from injury. Cushion the head with a soft object such as a pillow, coat or blanket.
	Move sharp objects out of the way.
	Loosen tight clothes from around the neck.
	Place the child on their side.
	Clear the mouth of vomit if there is any.
	Do not try to hold the child down.
	Do not put a spoon or anything in the mouth.
	Do not give anything to eat or drink or any medication.
	Take note of how many minutes the seizure lasts and observe the symptoms so you can report these to the doctor.
	Seek medical attention.