I started teaching my children early both because I think in Australia it is something important to be aware of and because children are naturally drawn to explore in the types of areas that also interest a snake.  A healthy respect for them is important.  On a few occasions my children have proven that they understand what to do if they see a snake, and in fact can do it better than me!  It is this time of the year that I double check that they have remembered all that they need to know.  Let me share it with you….

How do we avoid being bitten in the first place?

Be aware of the types of environments that snakes like so that you can approach with caution and be watchful for snakes (they are masters of camouflage).  Think wood piles, holes in rocks, places to sun themselves, area with water and a food source (e.g. chicken coop), long grass and many other random cosy places.

Approach “snakey” places by stamping or making lots of vibrations.  Snakes can’t hear as we do, instead they sense vibrations.  Mostly the types of snakes in 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ like to avoid humans and so if they know we are coming they will likely make a hasty exit.

Wear appropriate clothing when walking or working in areas that you may meet a snake.  Boots and long pants when hiking or working in high risk areas, gloves if gardening.

Don’t try to catch a snake they are more likely to bite if they feel threatened.  If you get bitten the snake identification is no longer needed to treat with antivenom (see below).

If you see a snake stay still (remember they feel your vibrations) and call for help.

What should you know about snake bites?

Always treat the bite as though you have been bitten by a venomous snake until proven otherwise in the hospital.

Interestingly, the venom of Australian snakes do not initially enter the blood stream.  Instead it travels in a different fluid called lymph which travels around our body in the lymphatic system.  To get around the body the lymph fluid is dependant on movement and muscle contractions (bending, walking, wriggling etc).  Eventually the lymph fluid (and the venom) will filter into the bloodstream and then spread everywhere.  So, to avoid the spread of venom, you need to stop the flow of lymph fluid in the bitten limb as soon as you can after the bite.  That means KEEP STILL and apply the pressure immobilisation technique which works to stop the venom moving towards the blood stream.

Here is what to do:

1. STAY STILL (did I say that already?) call 000 transport should come to the person
2. Apply a bandage over the top of any clothes (removing them will cause movement) right over the bite site about 10cm above and below
3. Apply another firm bandage (about the same compression as you would for a sprain) from fingers/toes (i.e. below the site) to armpit/groin (or as far up the limb as the bandage allows).  Remember you are not aiming to stop blood flow as the venom is in the lymph fluid,  so the fingers and toes should remain a normal colour
4. Splint the limb with whatever you have available to stop movement (or tie legs together, arm to body)
5. Keep them still

What if you don’t have enough bandage?Ěý Do the best you can to apply a firm bandage starting directly over the bite site and extending up the limb as far as you can go.Ěý No bandages (it’s best to be prepared)? Use clothing or anything else you have available.Ěý What if the bite is not on a limb?Ěý Stay still call 000 and apply direct pressure to the bite site.

Once in medical care it will be assessed whether you need antivenom (not all bites have venom injected).  This is usually based on whether you are showing symptoms of venomation (e.g. abnormal bleeding, pain, muscle paralysis).  Thanks to modern technology they don’t even need to test the site for what type of snake bite it was.  There is now 1 antivenom that neutralises the venom of the 5 snakes in Australia that can seriously harm us! 

There are around 3000 snake bites reported annually, 300-500 hospitalisations and 2-3 deaths a year from snake bites in Australia.  That tells us that first aid to stop the spread of venom saves lives!  So, remember keep them still and grab that bandage! 

The pressure immobilisation technique is practiced in an HLTADI003 Provide First Aid course, so if you do activities in “snakey areas” this is a great course for you so you are feeling confident.Ěý My next Public course delivered in Partnership and under the auspices of Allens Training RTO Pty LTD 90909 is on Oct 16 in Holdfast bay, book your spot

Or if a non-accredited Parent/Caregiver course is more for you, I have community courses available on 23 Sep and 16 Nov which can be booked

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Karyn is an 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ based, Registered Nurse and Trainer with 18+ years of experience dealing with the medical and first aid needs of both adults and children. She is also a Mother and has firsthand experience dealing with Asthma and Allergies/Anaphylaxis on a daily basis. These roles enable Karyn to both appreciate the first aid challenges that a Parent/Caregiver can face, and understand the importance of quality first aid training in the community. Visit her website at

Pollen spreads far and wide and is nearly impossible to avoid, but if your family suffers from hay fever here are my top non-pharmaceutical tips to prevent or reduce the symptoms of hayfever:

• Keep doors and windows shut on high pollen count days (or when the grass has been cut), or if it’s windy.  Don’t forget to use recirculated air in your car aircon on those days
• Where possible dry bedding (and even clothing) inside, especially on those high pollen count days
• Encourage the wearing of sunglasses to prevent pollen getting in the eyes
• Stay away from areas with freshly mown grass
• Smear a bit of Petroleum Jelly on the inside of each nostril to trap the pollen and stop it reaching the mucous membrane where it can cause inflammation
• Consider using a saline nasal spray to flush the pollens from the nostrils

If you have tried the above steps and the symptoms are interfering with life, it’s best to see a Pharmacist or Doctor to discuss the use of an appropriate anti-histamine (for symptom relief) and/or steroid nasal spray (for symptom prevention).

Happy Spring!

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Karyn is an 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ based, Registered Nurse and Trainer with 18+ years of experience dealing with the medical and first aid needs of both adults and children. She is also a Mother and has firsthand experience dealing with Asthma and Allergies/Anaphylaxis on a daily basis. These roles enable Karyn to both appreciate the first aid challenges that a Parent/Caregiver can face, and understand the importance of quality first aid training in the community. Visit her website at

Choking happens when an object enters the airway causing a blockage.  This blockage can be partial (they can still effectively cough) or full (no coughing or breathing, life-threatening).  Whilst choking can happen at any stage in life, children under 4 are most at risk.  They are still learning to safely eat and do not yet have their back teeth to grind food up.  Not to mention, pre-schoolers are always putting things in their mouth, it is part of how they explore the world around them.  Because all of these factors can increase the risk of choking, it is important to put some preventative steps in place to reduce the risk of choking, especially in those risky, early years.

So, what can you do to help prevent choking in your family?  Here are some simple steps: 

1: Start solids when your child is developmentally ready

Over the years the “right age” to start solids has changed and has caused confusion.  The current practice is now to start solids when you child is developmentally ready, around 4-6 months.  If you start earlier than this, their digestive system and swallowing skills may not be ready.  Your Child Youth Health Nurse or GP can help you decide if your baby ready, but the questions to ask yourself are:

• Do they have good neck control and can sit with some support?
• Do they have good tongue control?
• Are they interested in you eating (e.g. watching you eat, opening their mouth when you do, grabbing at food)?
• Do they still seem hungry after a breast/bottle feed?

2: Give age and developmentally appropriate foods and textures

There are some foods that are a higher choking risk than others.Ěý It is important to be aware of these foods and introduce them when your child is developmentally ready for them.Ěý The Child Youth Health website is a great resource when starting your child on solids and progressing to the next stage of feeding

It is also important to know how you can make foods safer for your child to eat.  Risky foods include:

• Round foods (e.g. grapes and cherry tomatoes) cut in half length way to reduce the diameter
• Food with skins (e.g. sausages, Frankfurt sausage), remove skins, avoid cutting into circles, cut into batons or into small pieces
• Hard fruit/veges (eg carrots, apples), cook, mash or cut
• Meat, remove fat, gristle and bone, mince, slow cook, chop into very small pieces
• Foods that are not safe until older as they cannot be made safe e.g. popcorn, corn chips, boiled hard lollies, nuts (give paste) and very hard crackers that do not dissolve easily

3: Always watch your child eat

A complete airway obstruction (choke) is quiet.  They cannot breathe/move air up and down as their airway is fully blocked.  This means they cannot cough effectively or make a noise.  If you are not watching them, you may not be aware they are choking.  If you cannot see your child, you should not be feeding them e.g., when they are facing away from you in their car seat.  Watching your child eat will also help you know what types of food they can safely eat.

4: Make sure you child sits to eat

This one is tricky, I get that!  But if a child is running or walking around and falls with food in their mouth it may choke them.  Try and establish a family rule that you sit to eat.  When they want to move, they hand you back the food.  Don’t worry if they don’t eat much at that time, they are likely to make up for it at the next meal, or even the next day.  It’s a good idea to think about what your pre-schooler eats over a few days or a week, rather than expecting a consistent amount each meal/day.

5: Don’t feed them if they are laughing or crying

We often make our children laugh during mealtimes to keep them still and entertained.  However, if your child is laughing or crying, stop feeding them.  You can’t safely chew, swallow, cry/laugh and breathe at the same time.  At some point they will need to breath and if they haven’t been able to swallow there is a big risk of breathing in (aspirating) the food that they had in their mouth which can block off their airway.

6: Avoid feeding when tired

This ties in with the above point.  If your child is overtired then they are more likely to cry, some children may even fall asleep while eating.  But when they are tired their swallow may also become unco-ordinated.  During a normal safe swallow when food leaves the mouth and enters the oesophagus (tube to the stomach) there are some “flaps” (vocal cords and epiglottis) that close off the airway, preventing food from entering.  When someone is tired, or even distracted this protective closing off may not occur fully, allowing food to enter the airway.  It is best in the early years to time meal and snack times for when your child is not tired and can focus on eating.

7: Allow your child to pace the meal and do not force feed

It is important to allow your child to swallow and clear their mouth before putting more food in their mouth.  This might mean meal time take a while!  Some children will also need to be encouraged and taught not to put too much in their mouth at once if they are feeding themselves.  They usually quickly learn as their protective gag reflex (which is ok and normal) helps them self-regulate by giving them a cue that they have put too much in their mouth.  It is also good to role model safe eating yourself and give them guidance as they eat by demonstrating.

8: Remove choking risks

This one is probably self-explanatory.  But remember that you child will go through a stage of putting EVERYTHING in their mouth, so make sure that you keep small, hard objects that can cause choking out of their reach.  This becomes tricky when you have other children, so make sure you take time to explain to your older children why they need to keep Lego (for example) in their room or up out of reach.

9: Educate yourself and anyone who looks after your child

Despite your best efforts, choking can still happen.  It did to me when my daughter was 6 years old… we were sitting eating dinner, it was sausages cut into small pieces, she knows how to chew and swallow…. But she has an older brother who made her cry and she couldn’t clear her airway before she breathed in.  We were lucky that I knew what to do and that the blockage was quickly cleared. 

It is important to be proactive and make sure you have all the information you need to confidently assess the situation and take the correct first aid action BEFORE one occurs.  The best way is to book into a course appropriate for your needs early.  Don’t wait until you have had a scare.  A course will ensure that you get hands-on practice which creates invaluable muscle memory to help you stay calm in a stressful situation.  It will also help you to be confident in recognising a normal gag, an incomplete/partial airway obstruction (effective coughing) and when there is a life-threatening complete/full airway obstruction and what to do at each stage.

Choking first aid can be  reviewed on page 2 of the link below

Taking a preventative and proactive approach to first aid is the best type of first aid that there is.  We can all choke at any stage in life.  But if you take some time in the early years to take steps to teach and protect your child as they develop the skills needed to safely explore food, tastes and textures then those skills will remain with them for life.  I encourage you to take 5 minutes today to think about whether there are any simple changes that you can make to make feeding your child safer.

My next Parent/Caregiver first aid courses are on Sunday 28 July in Holdfast Bay and Mon 5 August in Morphett Vale.Ěý I would love to see you there, you can book by following this link

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Karyn is an 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ based, Registered Nurse and Trainer with 18+ years of experience dealing with the medical and first aid needs of both adults and children. She is also a Mother and has firsthand experience dealing with Asthma and Allergies/Anaphylaxis on a daily basis. These roles enable Karyn to both appreciate the first aid challenges that a Parent/Caregiver can face, and understand the importance of quality first aid training in the community. Visit her website at

What to do

Let’s start with the what to do…  Obviously, some of this is age dependant.  I find with babies the Parents are understandably nervous and need more support, whereas toddlers and older children may be scared, nervous or angry and need to be supported individually.  The below list covers all bases.

If you are worried or nervous talk to the Nurse BEFORE your appointment to answer your questions and understand the what will happen

Babies and children pick up on their parent’s emotions.  The more prepared that you are, the more you will be able to focus on keeping calm for your child.  It will also mean that with an older child you can explain what will happen and not make any false promises that the Nurse cannot follow through on e.g. “it will be over in 1 second”

Take a support person

If you are feeling especially nervous or anxious then consider taking a support person to help you keep calm.  If you are worried about holding your child during vaccination, they could do this for you.

Hold your child securely

This is especially important as children get older and stronger (boy I have seen some strong kids!).  It is a natural response to move away from something that hurts or that they don’t want.  However, if they are not held securely and there is too much movement during the injection then there can be increased pain, a bruise or a bigger local reaction.  So, whilst we never like to restrain our children, in this instance it is for the greater good.  Because there is a needle involved It is also to ensure everyone’s safety.  Occasionally with a very strong child the Nurse may suggest getting help to hold them still.  Accept this help, they are experienced and it will mean that the process will generally be easier, quicker and safer for all.

Explain what will happen in age appropriate terms

Your child is best to hear that they need their vaccinations from you, their safe person.  You know your child the best so you can pick when the time for the chat might be best.  Whilst the Nurse will still explain to your child (if they are old enough) what will happen, expecting the nurse to be the first one to tell them means they are hearing it from someone not well known to them which can be scary.  Keep the explanation low-key and honest.  I used statements like

“You are getting so big now that it’s time to go and see the Dr and Nurse to see how you have been growing (we often do a height and weight) and to have your injections to keep you well.” 

“Injections are a sort of medicine, but it doesn’t go in your mouth, guess where it goes… in your arm, isn’t that crazy?” 

“It’s really important to keep your arm still and floppy, like a teddy bear’s arm, until the Nurse is finished, even if it stings a little.  I can help you keep it still too.” 

“It may sting a little but only for a few seconds and then it’s all over”

You get the idea, keep what you say low-key, but honest and remember not to make promises that Nurse may not be able to keep if it compromises safety or efficacy of the vaccine.

Take control of the situation

Sometimes even when you have done all of the above, your child might refuse to do what is asked of them out of fear.  I have seen this time and time again, and often the parent will try and negotiate and rationalise with their scared pre-schooler.  In my experience this rarely works.  Instead it delays the inevitable and escalates the problem as they build it up to something bigger than it is in their mind.  It suddenly turns into a stressful situation for all concerned.  Instead, as the parent, you need to either take control of the situation or let the Nurse take control.  Explain that you understand that they don’t want this to happen, but it has to.  Sometimes it is appropriate to give them an acceptable and safe choice such as “do you want to sit on Mum’s knee or Dad’s?” 

Whilst it may not seem it at the time, taking control is the best thing you can do for a scared and anxious child.  This happened to my son when he had his first Flu injection at age 6.  Previously he was not allowed a Flu injection due to his egg allergy, but it is now safe to give an Influenza immunisation to egg allergic people.  He was not scared of the injection, rather stressed because he knew he had previously not been able to have it and was worried something bad was going to happen.  Embarrassingly, he hid under a chair.  I have managed this situation many times as a Practice Nurse … but not as a Mum.  The Nurse and Dr both tried to tell him it was safe.  But I could see he beyond reasoning with, so I took control.  I calmly got him from under the chair, told him that I loved him and that he was safe, held him very firmly and told them to go ahead.  Within seconds after it was done, he was calm and eating a lolly snake.  What could have taken a very stressful 20 mins of reasoning with him took a quick.20 seconds.  We made a big deal of how brave he was and I talked to him afterwards, when he was rationale about how he was feeling and why I did what I did.  The following month he calmly sat for his second injection without a problem. 

What not to do

Not surprisingly the “what not to do” list is the opposite of the above list, in particular:

• Don’t expect the Nurse to be the first one to explain what they are visiting for
• Don’t try and negotiate with a child who is no longer rationale
• Don’t be afraid to hold your child firmly, it is for their own safety (and everyone else’s)

It is also worth mentioning the following things that happen on the odd occasion

Don’t tell your child that it is the (mean) Nurse that did it (not you)

There is a very good chance that the same Nurse who vaccinated your child will end up helping your child when they are hurt or sick.  Help them to create a good relationship with them where they aren’t afraid of the Nurse and visiting her.  I always tried to end the appointment with smiles and laughs by blowing bubbles (who doesn’t love bubbles!)?

Don’t put on numbing cream (Emla) and tell your child it won’t hurt, or expect the Nurse to put it exactly where the cream is

Vaccinations are different to blood tests.  They need to go in the correct anatomical position to make sure the uptake of the vaccination is as good as it can be.  Occasionally a parent will put the cream on an area that is too high or low and the Nurse can’t put the vaccination where the cream is.  The Emla cream also only numbs the superficial layers of the skin.  The most painful part of the vaccination is when the fluid absorbs into the muscle.  The emla won’t numb that deep and so some pain may still be felt.  Sometimes the dressing that you use to keep the cream in place causes distress when it comes off as well.  Check with your Practice Nurse before using to know where to apply and that it is ok to be used with the vaccination to save you making false promises.

I understand from both sides of the fence that attending a vaccination appointment can be stressful.  But with the right preparation, (and a deep breath) the appointment can be over before you know it.  Make sure you prepare yourself with the knowledge that you need to be calm, be open and honest with your child and keep in control of the situation.  The Nurse has done this 100s of times, so if you feel the control slipping, look to her and she can help you through.  You’ve got this!

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Karyn is an 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ based, Registered Nurse and Trainer with 18+ years of experience dealing with the medical and first aid needs of both adults and children. She is also a Mother and has firsthand experience dealing with Asthma and Allergies/Anaphylaxis on a daily basis. These roles enable Karyn to both appreciate the first aid challenges that a Parent/Caregiver can face, and understand the importance of quality first aid training in the community. Visit her website at

Knowledge is power and first aid knowledge is no different.  My children are now 8 and 10 and have lately become fascinated with Bondi Rescue.  We watch it together so I can filter content and ask questions/offer explanations as the program plays.  I was worried that seeing people struggling in the water or getting injured/sick on the beach would make them anxious about swimming at the beach or all the ways that you can be injured. Interestingly when we have talked about this, they have both said it has helped them understand why they need to swim in between the flags and how to gesture to a life guard if needed.  In short it has helped them to understand how to keep safe at a beach and how to get help if needed.  They both actually seem much more confident because they have a plan about what to do if something goes wrong.  Learning first aid in the right environment can work in a similar way. 

By teaching a child to both recognise a problem and put a simple plan into action they can feel more in control, calmer and empowered if faced with a first aid event.  By teaching basic and age appropriate first aid skills they realise that they CAN help which can make turn a scary situation into a manageable one.  I have definitely seen this be the case with my children.  One time my daughter was ”first on the scene” at an afterschool activity when one of her friends badly cut her head.  Afterwards when we talked about what had happened, she (at the age of 7) was able to explain how she told her friend to sit down and hold onto her head to stop it bleeding, how she told another friend who felt sick with blood to look away and how she went to get the teacher and me.  It blew me away that she was able to stay calm and prioritise what to do to help.  Having an understanding and a plan is empowering and often calming.  My son has also demonstrated similar skills from an early age.

From these events and from teaching other children, I have learnt how capable children can be in a first aid situation.  If taught correctly (and depending on age) they can:

• Recognise a problem
• Prioritise their response
• Know how and where to get help
• Provide basic first aid until help arrives to keep themselves and the casualty safe

This is vital in Australia where we love the water, sports, where things can bite us, where we love the outdoors, and where our children are lucky enough to be looked after by family and friend from an older generation.  First aid is a vital life skill to be built on as children grow.

If taught correctly using an interactive and fun approach with games and skills practise, first aid for children can be engaging, empowering and confidence boosting for the whole family.  Learning with your child/ren is a great way to ensure the messages that they have heard are consistent to the messages that you reinforce at home.  I am running a 2-hour holiday session on 17 Jan where children 8+ years can learn age appropriate first aid skills alongside their parent/caregiver.  I would love to see you there. 

for more information and to book online.

Alternatively, contact me to find out how I can personalise a course to the needs of your family.

Have a happy and safe summer holiday.

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Feel comfortable

Whilst a GP is a medical expert, you are the expert on your child.Ěý That means you need to work together.Ěý A great relationship with a GP and their Practice Team is like a fine wine, whilst it can be good at the start, when you let it develop it can become great!Ěý The same GP will not suit everyone (thankfully as you would never be able to see them!).Ěý Every GP has their own personality and consulting style.Ěý It is important to find one that you feel comfortable talking to because you are more likely to develop a trusting relationship with them.Ěý Remember that may not be the first GP that you see.Ěý This is no reflection on their skill level, we all communicate with different styles and perhaps their style did not resonate with you.Ěý A good tip when searching for a GP is to ask your friends if they have any recommendations.

Don’t forget that your GP does not work in isolation.Ěý Other vital parts of the team are the Administration and Nursing teams.Ěý Together they all create the culture and atmosphere of the Practice.Ěý Make sure it’s one that you feel comfortable with as a whole.

Consistency

Once you have found a GP that you feel comfortable with, wherever possible, commit to their Practice.Ěý Consistently using one practice develops a medical history at that Practice and a trusting relationship between the GP, you and your children.Ěý ĚýWhilst there are exceptions, visiting one Practice helps you and your child feel more comfortable in that environment which promotes both confidence and trust.Ěý Over the years I have seen many children excited by the thought of coming to see me and blow some bubbles… oh and maybe have an immunisation or a splinter removed…. But they remember the bubbles for next time.Ěý A sick or injured child is much more likely to let us examine them or treat something that hurts when they are in a familiar environment and know us.

Repeat visits also allows the GP not just treat the issue you have seen them for, but also discuss age preventative care with you that can pick up issues early enough to treat.Ěý Remember if you are unable to see your GP because it is an urgent appointment, seeing other GP’s within the Practice is a great option and will maintain the consistency.Ěý They will also have access to your medical history. It is important not to wait for “your” GP if your child is sick.

Ease of appointments and access

Before children, our need for appointments and the times that worked best for us were very different.Ěý Usually they were routine things like repeat prescription that could be planned, it usually suited us to have the appointments before or after work.Ěý Some of us even preferred GPs who don’t run an appointment system, but a “turn up and wait” system.

For the majority this is not ideal for a young family.Ěý I can tell you turning up and waiting with young children for immunisations IS NOT fun, neither is not being able to get an appointment with a GP or a practice that you trust when you have a sick child.

I changed surgeries when my son was just under a year old.Ěý My original practice did not have a system that allowed emergency or same day appointments when needed.Ěý Who plans being sick?Ěý I found myself using “stand in” clinics that had a come and wait system out of necessity.Ěý That meant all the different Dr’s that I saw took longer to piece together things like how often my son had had tonsillitis and all the individual allergy symptoms he was showing on different occasions.Ěý I had to piece together his medical history for them each time and the value of consistency was lost.

When I looked for a new Surgery to suit my new family, top of my priorities was a practice that had a system allowing them to offer Patients same day appointments for urgent issues.Ěý Often this was appointments saved for the day or a duty Dr who was dedicated to see the urgent same day problems.Ěý By booking an appointment time, rather than just turning up, my time waiting with small children was minimised as much as possible and medical history was maintained.Ěý With this change it was amazing how quickly my son was referred for a tonsillectomy and his allergies were diagnosed and managed and most importantly how my stress levels reduced!

Bonus points for:

• Access to the Practice Nurse: An experienced Practice Nurse has a wealth of health information. They are a great go to for health education and promotion.Ěý Make sure you can access their valuable input into the health of your family by appointment and (for urgent enquiries) over the phone.
• Location and parking: this is important for some, not for others.Ěý I think with small children and busy lives, whilst it isn’t the most important consideration, it does need to be thrown into the mix.Ěý If you are no longer working in town… a GP in town does not make a lot of sense.
• Having a high functioning Practice Team: This means exactly that… they work together as a team.Ěý They all have their own area of expertise that is respected and together this improves their input into your family’s health.

This is just one small topic I talk about in my but I believe it is an important one.Ěý

Once you have found “your Practice” you will know it.Ěý You will understand their system and can confidently call for an appointment.Ěý You will feel comfortable with the Dr and their team.Ěý You will come away feeling listened to.Ěý You will trust the advice and actions taken.Ěý When you feel comfortable you will communicate this comfort in many unconscious ways to your child, they will then feel comfortable.Ěý This will allow the Practice team to do their job to the best of their ability.Ěý Getting to this point may take a few visits, but it is well worth finding your practice with a young family.Ěý This hopefully will become a longstanding relationship that just gets better with time.Ěý I still think of “My GP” as the one I grew up with as a child.Ěý If you don’t feel you have found your family GP, it’s time to get talking to your friends and find them.

”This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.”

Karyn is an 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ based, Registered Nurse and Trainer with 18+ years of experience dealing with the medical and first aid needs of both adults and children. She is also a Mother and has firsthand experience dealing with Asthma and Allergies/Anaphylaxis on a daily basis. These roles enable Karyn to both appreciate the first aid challenges that a Parent/Caregiver can face, and understand the importance of quality first aid training in the community. Visit her website at

Before I go into what to put in a first aid kit, I want to talk about where to keep it.Ěý Over the years I have built up several first aid kits that are modified based on where I keep them e.g. a big one in the camper trailer, a basic one in the car, band aids and basics at home.Ěý However, if I just had one kit, I would keep it in my car.Ěý The majority of times that I have needed my first aid kit I have been out and about.Ěý The walk over the oval to the car on the way home seems to be particularly treacherous for my children’s friends!Ěý If anyone was to get injured at home and I didn’t have a home kit, no problem, my car is home with me.Ěý So, I think the car is a GREAT place to keep a first aid kit!

Now what to put in it…. Remember you can always buy a ready-made first aid kit.Ěý But it might surprise you that they don’t all have the below items.Ěý This list gives you the flexibility of cross-checking it with a store bought one, OR, making up your own kit.Ěý Making your own is surprisingly cost effective and allows you to buy good quality items of a size that are child-friendly.Ěý The below list is a great starting point for a basic kit.Ěý You can then build on it based on your lifestyle needs e.g. camping, hiking etc.

The MUST HAVE first aid items for every family include (in no particular order)

1. Container: I like being able to see all I have in my kit at one glance.Ěý It drives me crazy not being able to find what I need in the many compartments of a commercial kits.Ěý So, if you opt for a commercial kit please make sure you know where everything is before you need it!Ěý Otherwise a plastic food container works, or my fav a soft packing cell fits nicely under a seat or in a glove compartment.
2. Gauze: Used to stop bleeding and clean wounds and many other things.Ěý I have been surprised to find that some standard kits do not come with gauze!
3. µţ˛ą˛Ô»ĺ˛ą˛µ±đ˛ő:Ěý Ideally this should be a good quality bandage (a crepe at a minimum) in sizes appropriate for your family.Ěý Have several sizes.Ěý I love a multipurpose item and bandages can be used for compression to stop bleeding, to support a limb injury, to hold a dressing in place, for snake bites, to splint a limb or as a tourniquet.
4. Triangular bandage:Ěý Another multipurpose item, don’t be afraid of a triangular bandage/sling!Ěý They can be used in place of gauze to stop bleeding, to splint limbs together or as a sling.
5. °Ő˛ą±č±đ/±á˛â±č±đ°ů´Úľ±łć:Ěý Micropore/paper tape is fine short-term for holding bandages and a dressing in place.Ěý However, I prefer hyperfix which as the name suggests is a very sticky tape.Ěý It comes in various sizes and can be cut to size depending on the purpose.Ěý It is fantastic teamed with a non-stick dressing and if you are a dressmaker then you can cut a slit in it to make a dart allowing movements over joints.Ěý Hyperfix has to be one of my most used item.
6. Non-stick dressing/pads: To put on grazes and wounds and cover burns while you go to seek medical help.Ěý Remember wounds like to be kept covered so they can heal in a warm and moist environment.Ěý A variety of sizes works well.
7. Band aids: These always come in handy.Ěý However, if you ever run out or a band aid isn’t big enough for the job then your non-stick dressing and hyperfix does the same job!
8. Ice pack: A MUST have with children around!Ěý An instant icepack is great to start RICE treatment, for a bruise or a bite/sting.Ěý An ice-pack makes everything feel better my children say!
9. Gloves:Ěý The first rule of First Aid protect yourself first.Ěý It’s best to be prepared as you don’t know who may injure themselves around you.
10. CPR Mask/Shield:Ěý See above…. If you do not have a mask remember providing compression only CPR is better than doing nothing.Ěý I have a mask in my kit and on my keyring.
11. Scissors:Ěý To cut tape, dressings and bandages to size.
12. Tweezers:Ěý For splinters or even to remove stings.
13. Needle probe:Ěý For those deeper troublesome splinters.
14. Saline: To clean wounds and flush eyes.
15. Plastic bags: Great to help clean up used items.
16. A notepad and pen: To make notes or take down details of people if needed.

A first aid course rounds this off nicely to give you the confidence to use your kit.Ěý In my courses you also get a first aid manual which is great to keep with your kit.

I also keep a little box of basic medical items that stays in the house and comes with us on holiday or camping.Ěý Typically, the holidays that I have not taken it have been the one’s when a child develops a fever.Ěý This box has the few things I would need to get me through the night if a child was unwell, uncomfortable, or if I was worried a wound was infected until I could get to the nearest Dr.Ěý I have tailored it to the needs of MY family and I encourage you to do the same especially if your child has any medical conditions.

My medical box contains:

Child Paracetamol: choose a strength for your children’s age

Thermometer: The right thermometer is a blog in itself.Ěý Choose one that you feel confident using.

Antiseptic: My preferred short-term antiseptic for a wound is betadine but there are many options available.

A cream for mosquito bites: I like choose one that has a local anaesthetic and an antiseptic in it.

I also add in a child anti-histamine because my children suffer from hay fever.

I hope the lists above, help to demystify what is worth having nearby to deal with common injuries and illnesses when you have children.Ěý I hope you have found them helpful and put “getting a first aid kit” on your to do list.Ěý I would love to hear from you if you would like me to help you have the confidence to use your first aid kit by doing a course.Ěý In the meantime, I am off to restock my kit thanks to my son’s accident today!!

“this article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.”

But in all seriousness, it made me think of the patients that I have seen who have not applied appropriate first aid to a burn and then ended up with painful blistering and sometimes infection. ĚýIn contrast, I will always remember one Patient who DID apply the correct first aid to his large burn on his hand.Ěý We were worried that it would require specialised wound care and rehab because it was on his hand and due to wearing a coat the skin had prolonged contact with the boiling water.Ěý But at his dressing change the next day, we were relieved and amazed to see that he had minimal blistering and loss of skin.Ěý Whilst it still needed protecting and dressing, he did not need hospital care.Ěý This all came down to the first aid that he had applied in those first 20 minutes.

Even though the actions you take to treat a burn in the first 20 minutes are vital, I find most people don’t take the time to apply proper burn first aid.

The reasons for this are many… too busy, my child hates the cold water on them, it didn’t look too bad….Ěý However, I also believe it is because people don’t understand that unless you cool through all 3 layers of the skin, your burn can progress further.Ěý That is why you go to sleep with a red mark and end up with a blister.Ěý It is still “burning” in the deeper skin layers.Ěý I discussed the WHY of burn first aid a little more fully in this video (complete with really bad diagrams)

This blog however, is dedicated to the WHAT of burn first aid.Ěý What should burn first aid look like?

Firstly, it’s important to remember that different types of things that can burn…

• Thermal (hot and cold): Even a plastic slide can burn on a really hot day. ĚýI also once had an elderly Patient that fell on a very hot day and as she couldn’t get up quickly ended up with a burn on her hip!
• Chemicals
• Electricity: it is worth mentioning that electricity burns should always get assessed as they often are worse than they appear on the surface
• Bitumen: needs cooling first aid for 30 mins
• Radiation: this includes the good old sun… so don’t forget to slip, slop slap and slide into the shade!

The next step is to use your knowledge of what can cause a burn to actively try and prevent them.Ěý Prevention is another blog in itself but think of bath water temperature, where you place your hot drink, how you position your saucepan handles, where you keep your cleaning chemicals….Ěý More information can be found on burn prevention here

Even with the best attempts at prevention, burns can still happen and you will need to know what to do.Ěý The important steps of burn first aid is:

• Cool the area immediately with cool running water for at least 20 mins (30 mins if it is a bitumen burn).Ěý
• Elevate the area if possible (e.g. on a limb) to reduce swelling
• Cover the area with a non-stick dressing. A great temporary measure that will allow you to safely cover the area while waiting for medical assessment is good old gladwrap.Ěý Sealing the burn from air will help to reduce the pain as nerve endings will not be exposed.

In addition to the above…Ěý Remember ice can burn so cool running water NOT ice should be used to stop the burning process.Ěý Only use Hydrogels if water is NOT available.Ěý Remove tight clothing and jewellery as soon as you can before the area swells, DO NOT peel of stuck clothing.Ěý DO NOT pop blisters.

Another aspect of first aid is knowing when to seek help.Ěý The obvious time to seek help is if the burn is significant/severe or involves the airway then you need to call 000 and apply the above first aid whilst waiting for the ambulance. ĚýHowever, if the burn is not obviously significant or severe then a good way to decide if you need to seek medical help is to think of the following:

• Is it the size of a 20c piece or bigger? If so you need to seek medical help.
• Is it on a functional area (face, over a joint, hands or feet)? Then you need to seek medical help to minimise scarring and ensure the function of the area is not compromised.
• Is there a blister? If so then the right dressing by a Dr or nurse straight away will minimise the infection risk and ensure the area heals quickly.
• Is the person very young, old or ill? If so they will be more affected by the burn and should seek medical help.
• Remember if you are unsure about whether the burn needs to be assessed then it probably does, so follow your gut.

The initial first aid used for a burn can really change the outcome and the recovery time so please, take the time needed to properly cool a burn down and seek the appropriate medical help based on the severity, symptoms and location of the burn.Ěý Stay safe and remember that ironing is a dangerous pastime!

This article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.”

Summer is around the corner and last week my children had their first swim of the season in our pool (yay for “pool baths”)!ĚýĚý I know that water safety is always important, but at this time of the year is always a little bit more on my mind.Ěý The latest Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s national Drowning Report is out for 2016/2017 and the news is not great.Ěý Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in Australian children under 5 years of age.Ěý In the period 2016/17 toddle drowning increased by 32%, it’s no wonder water safety is on my mind!

In our family we have a rule that no children are allowed in the pool unless an adult is watching.Ěý My children have been known to challenge this if it means they need to wait for me to finish doing something.Ěý They are competent swimmers…. but competent or not, it’s a not negotiable rule.Ěý All it could take is for someone to bang their head as they jumped in or lose confidence and focus for a second…. We’ve all heard the stories.

Drowning can happen quickly, and unlike in the movies it’s not very loud.

In the 6 years that we have had a pool I have had to pull out 4 children (not to mention several dogs) sometimes jumping in fully clothed.Ěý That surprises most people but I succumb to the philosophy that prevention is the best first aid.Ěý So, let’s take a look at prevention when it comes to drowning….

Supervision and early identification of problems

It goes without saying that children should always be supervised around water, but what should that supervision look like?Ěý On the occasions that I pulled children out of our pool, they were not calling out, they were not making lots of splashing noises.Ěý Instead they were quiet and 100% focussed on staying afloat.Ěý It was by seeing the fear in their facial expressions and body language that I was able to pick up that there was a problem.Ěý As soon as I could tell they were in trouble I pulled them out.Ěý I wasn’t giving them a chance to go under and inhale water.Ěý So, I believe that the supervision needs to be ACTIVE and without distractions.Ěý I know that I wouldn’t have picked up on the early signs of drowning if I was further away and “supervising” while doing something else.Ěý It is also a good idea at a social gathering to nominate a “pool supervisor.”Ěý That way everyone won’t assume someone else is watching the pool.

Minimise the risk

29 Australian children 0-4 years drowned in 2016/2017 and 45% of these were in backyard pools.

Adequate pool fencing is a good way of minimising the risk associated with owning a pool.Ěý Ensuring the gate is always closed and that the gate and fence are well maintained are key responsibilities of a pool owner.Ěý However, is it not only pools that present drowning risks.Ěý Think fishponds, baths, buckets filled with water after a rain fall, paddling pools, streams, beaches (swim between the flags), rivers and the list goes on….Ěý The other day someone mentioned during a course how they were at a BBQ and saw a toddler that was playing with ice in an esky fall in headfirst and not be able to get out!!Ěý Being aware of where the potential risk of water is and taking action to minimise/remove it is key, both at and away from the home.

Promoting water safety awareness

One step on from being aware of and minimising the risk of water, is promoting water awareness to our children. Establishing family rules around water, swimming lessons and surf life-saving is a great start to promoting water safety awareness and it is never too early to start getting the message across.

Keeping your resuscitation skills up to date

Even with all of the above precautions in place, accidents can still happen.

81% of drownings in 0-4 year olds occur because of falls.

My Mum tells of the story when I was 9 months old and toddling around in a public paddling pool (I walked super early… sorry Mum!).Ěý I tripped, lost my footing and didn’t fight to regain it, just floated face down.Ěý Luckily mum was right there to grab me out.Ěý But accidents happen in the blink of an eye and so making sure you would know what to do is so important.Ěý Not only does a CPR/first aid course provide vital practice, it promotes confidence and ensures that you have the up to date information.Ěý An annual CPR update and a 3 yearly first aid update is important for everyone, but especially those that live life around water.Ěý The lead up to summer is a great time to book into a course to brush up on your CPR skills.

Please keep yourself and your family safe around water by ensuring you have done all that you can to prevent accidents in and around water.Ěý I know that simply by writing this blog I will be more mindful of the risks of water and will do all I can to keep myself, my family and friends safe.Ěý I hope that by reading it, you all will too!Ěý Happy and safe swimming!

“this article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.”

Over the years this question has caused debate and the current thinking is very different from the theories that many of our parents followed.

When I was growing up my Mum used to treat a temperature at its first sign, I was put to bed with paracetamol and a cold flannel on my head.Ěý When I started nursing (more years ago than I care to mention now) again we used to hand out paracetamol if any patients had a temperature.

HOWEVER, THE CURRENT THINKING HAS DONE AN ABOUT TURN……

This change has come about in part by our understanding that a temperature is part of the body’s natural inflammatory response to a virus or bacterial illness.Ěý It tells us that our immune system is fighting and doing its job.Ěý Some people seem to develop temperatures easier than others and some people cope better with temperatures than others; we are all individuals.Ěý There is a small percentage of children usually between the ages of 6 months to 6 years who develop temperature related seizures (febrile convulsions) in response to a rapid rise in temperature.

It is important to note that the following guidelines do not apply to them as they will have separate guidelines/action plans to follow from their doctors that acknowledging that they respond differently to temperatures.

SO, YOUR LITTLE ONE HAS A FEVER….

The normal temperature range is 36-38 degrees depending on the time of day and activity levels amongst other things.Ěý A fever is a temperature above 38 degrees.Ěý As mentioned running a higher than normal temperature, is a natural response when fighting an infection and a mild fever (up to 39) in fact may help the fight.Ěý With this in mind the current recommendations are to treat the symptoms and NOT the fever.Ěý Remember you know your child the best, it is very important to look at the whole child and not just the reading of the thermometer.Ěý This means that if you have a child who has a temperature of 38.3 degrees, but is happily playing, is drinking and eating and is not miserable you just need to follow the supportive comfort measures below rather than give paracetamol to treat the temperature.Ěý However, if your child has a temperature of 38.3 degrees, is clinging or miserable then paracetamol will make them more comfortable in conjunction with the below supportive measures.

Unlike when I was a child we no longer use a tepid bath or sponge down with tepid water, neither do we use fans.Ěý This can make the body shiver which can cause the temperature to rise.

So, what else can you do to support your little one?

SUPPORTIVE MEASURES

These simple things are the best way to help your child with a fever and should be used whenever you notice your child has a temperature:

• Fluids: Frequent small sips of clear fluids help your child to stay hydrated with a temperature. If your child is under 6 months old, offer extra breast/bottle feeds or cooled boiled water.
• Dress your child appropriately: in enough clothing so that they do not shiver which could cause their temperature to rise
• Don’t worry if they are not eating: fluids are the most important thing in the short-term. You could offer age appropriate “fluid filled snacks” such as jelly, fruit puree, ice blocks etc
• Monitor: keep a close eye on your child for signs that you child is getting worse

WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR

There will be times when your child has a temperature that you will need to take them to the Doctor.Ěý Perhaps the most important of these is when your “gut” tells you that something is not right with them.Ěý A parent should always trust their instincts and act on them as you know your child the best!Ěý The other times to see the Doctor include:

• If your child is 3 months or under and has a fever
• If they are lethargic, floppy or sleepy
• If they are drinking less than usual, especially if they have…
• Less wet nappies than usual
• An unexplained rash
• High pitched or unusual crying
• A bulging or sunken fontanelle
• Cold extremities with a high temperature

This is not an exhaustive list and I really encourage you to see the Doctor if you are worried.

The key messages to remember while the winter bugs are amongst us are…. If your child is happy there is no need to treat the temperature AND remember to trust your instincts and see a Doctor if you are worried or if your child has any of the symptoms above.

Good luck getting through the last of winter and its bugs!

Medical disclaimer: this article was written for information and education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.