Illness, First Aid & Immunisations

Illness

Children are incredibly resistant and bouts of illness usually pass quickly but parents are bound to worry about their child's health. The most important thing in the case of illness is to trust your instincts - no one knows your child better than you do. If you have any concerns about their wellbeing, contact your GP; even if there proves to be nothing wrong, you will feel reassured.

Try to be aware of signs such as vomiting, a high temperature, cough, runny nose or eyes and unusual behaviour such as excessive crying, irritability, loss of appetite, being listless or drowsy. If you have seen your GP and your baby doesn't seem any better, contact them again that same day.

If you are unable to speak to your GP or see them quickly enough, it is perfectly acceptable to take your baby to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital. If possible, make sure that hospital also has a children's ward.

First Aid

When you have young children, it can never hurt to learn a bit about basic and emergency first aid. There are many books on this subject or you can book a first aid course through several prviders, some also offer online courses as well as face to face,

Below are the key steps to follow if your baby becomes unresponsive or stops breathing:

If you think your baby is not breathing, you should carry out a primary survey using the DRABC approach (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation).

1. Danger: Ensure the area is safe for both you and the baby.
2. Response: Gently tap the foot or call their name; never shake a baby.
3. Airway: If there is no response, open the airway by gently tilting the head to a neutral position and lifting the chin.
4. Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
5. Circulation: If they are breathing normally, check for life-threatening bleeding

Calling for Help:
The timing of your call to 999 (or 112) depends on whether you have help:
With a helper: Ask them to call 999 immediately while you begin care.
Alone with a phone: Use your mobile on speakerphone to call 999 while you start CPR.
Alone without a phone: Perform one minute of CPR first, then call 999

Infant Under One Year Old

1. Check whether your baby is breathing normally. Look, listen and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing.

If someone is with you, ask them to call 999 or 112 for an ambulance immediately.

2. If you are alone, begin CPR straight away. Perform CPR for one minute, then take your baby with you and call 999 or 112
3. Carefully check the mouth and remove any visible obstruction only. Do not put your fingers into the back of your baby’s throat.
4. Open the airway by gently tilting your baby’s head back and lifting the chin. Seal your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and give 5 gentle rescue breaths. Watch for the chest to rise each time.
5. After the 5 rescue breaths, begin chest compressions. Using two fingers (or the two-thumb encircling technique recommended in new 2025 updates), press in the centre of the chest (on the breastbone).
6. Compress the chest to about one third of its depth at a rate of 100 - 120 compressions per minute. Give 30 compressions.
7. Alternate 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue, breaths continuing without stopping until help arrives or your baby starts breathing normally.
8. If your baby starts breathing normally, keep their airway open and place them on their side with their head supported, and continue to monitor their breathing until help arrives.

Child (1 year to puberty)

Following your primary survey, you have established that the child is not breathing normally.

1. If someone is with you, ask them to call 999 or 112 for an ambulance immediately.
2. If you are alone, begin CPR straight away. Perform CPR for one minute, then go to call emergency services, taking the child with you if necessary.
3. Check the child’s mouth and remove any visible obstruction only. Do not blindly sweep inside the mouth.
4. Open the airway by gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin.
5. Pinch the nose closed and seal your mouth over the child’s mouth.
6. Give 5 initial rescue breaths, blowing gently and watching for the chest to rise each time.
7. After the rescue breaths, begin chest compressions.
8. Place one hand (or two hands for a larger child) in the centre of the chest. Keep your arms straight and use the heel of your hand.
9. Press the chest down firmly to about one third of its depth at a rate of 100 - 120 compressions per minute. Give 30 compressions.
10. Alternate 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths, continuing without stopping until help arrives or the child begins to breathe normally.

CPR helps to circulate oxygen around the body and protect vital organs. It is essential to call for an ambulance as soon as possible, as trained professionals can provide advanced life support.

Please note, this guidance is not a substitute for formal first aid training. Recommendations may change, so it is important to keep your knowledge up to date./p>

Immunisation

Immunisation protects us from serious diseases, it works by exposing us to a small part of the virus or bacteria that cause an illness and our bodies react by creating antibodies that will fight the disease should we ever come into contact with the full-blown thing.

Your child should have their first immunisations at 8 weeks (6 in 1 vaccine (1st), Rotavirus & Men B(1st)), at 12 weeks (6 in 1 vaccine (2nd), Pneumococcal, Rotavirus) (2nd) and 16 weeks (6 in 1 vaccine (3rd), Med B (2nd). The 6 in 1 vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Polio, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Other immunisations are given at around 1 year, then at 3 years 4 months and later, as a teenager. With some immunisations, a booster (or top-up) dose is necessary to build up your child’s immunity.

The pneumococcal vaccine is part of the routine UK childhood immunisation schedule. The Pneumococcal infection can cause very serious illnesses such as meningitis and pneumonia as well as being one of the most common bacterial causes of ear infections. Your doctor's surgery or health centre is likely to run a special immunisation clinic and you will be sent an appointment card when it is time for your baby to be vaccinated.

Immunisations may be in the form of an injection in the thigh or upper arm. All vaccines used in the UK have gone through stringent testing procedures but you may have some concerns about the effects of immunisation on your child. We would advise that you discuss any concerns with your GP or health visitor immediately.

If you are pregnant, you will be offered a vaccine (for whooping cough) during pregnancy (typically around 16-32 weeks) to help protect your baby in their first weeks of life.

To find out more about your child's immunisation schedule, visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk.