Child safety at home
What to do if your child has an accident
It's good to be familiar with what to do in some common accidents that could happen at home, when to call for help and who best to call.
If you're worried about your child and are not sure if they need medical help, call 111.
In an emergency always call 999.
Baby and child first aid
St John Ambulance has a range of videos to help you know what to do when an accident or emergency happens. Below are a few of these for you. For more information and advice on paediatric first aid visit the St John Ambulance page.
Baby CPR (Under one year old)
CPR on a child
For more information on both visit the relevant St John Ambulance page:
When a baby is choking
If a baby is choking they may:
- be unable to breathe, cry or cough
- show signs of distress
If your baby is under the age of 1, the below advice will help you know what to do if they are choking.
For more information or a written step-by-step guide take a look at the St John Ambulance instructions.
When a child is choking
If you think a child is choking you should ask them 'Are you choking?'. If they cannot respond/speak, breathe or cough then they may need your help straight away.
What to do if your baby/child has a head injury
See head injuries in babies and children for more information and what to do with minor and major head injuries.
Button batteries can be very dangerous if a child has swallowed one and it gets stuck in their food pipe.
You should act fast if your child swallows a button battery, even if they are showing no signs or symptoms.
Visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website for what to do if your child swallows a button battery.
Further information
The NHS has lots of information on what to do if your child has an accident. This includes:
- Knowing when to call an ambulance or go to A&E
- Objects in ears/nose
- Cuts
- Burns
- Feeling faint or unwell after an accident
- Electrocution
- Broken bones