My kids and I are officially beginning our study of first aid this week since our science curriculum for the year is already done. The basic text we’re using is a Community First Aid & Safety manual from the American Red Cross that I picked up for free somewhere. We won’t be reading over each and every word in the text we’re using; instead I’ll be summarizing a lot of the material to make it applicable to my kids and their abilities.
Suggested Activities and Resources.
- Make a home first aid kit. Have your kids help you collect all the supplies to put a home first aid kit together. (Please note that the use of syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics). Here are some of the items you might consider including in your kit:
- bandages
- gauze squares
- adhesive tape
- thermometer
- ice pack
- hydrogen peroxide
- rubbing alcohol
- cotton balls
- scissors
- soap
- tweezers
- cotton balls
- disposable gloves
- elastic bandage
- paper cups
- calamine lotion
- activated charcoal
- first aid information (such as a reference card)
- Obtain a good first aid guide from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. You can probably find used copies of these at a large used book store like Half-Price Books. Use the guide as your “curriculum.”
- Check out your local libraryfor some good books on first aid and safety. The youth nonfiction section will likely have several good books about safety and first aid written at a child’s level. Although not an exhaustive list, here are some subjects that would be good to look up and study with your kids:
- fire safety
- bike safety
- water safety
- stranger safety
- gun safety
- first aid, especially with regard to the following emergencies:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Bleeding
- Choking
- Lack of breathing/heart attacks
- Have your kids attend a first aid class. Check with your local community center, hospital, or school to find out where such classes might be offered.
- Utilize the internet for some free safety and first aid information. Here are some sites with good information you might like to check out:
There are many areas of safety that you can teach to your kids but the teaching first aid can make them aware of dangers as well as how to safely handle injuries that may occur.
Do you have any suggestions for what to add to my list of first aid supplies?
It's a great idea to teach first aid. We can't fit it in now, but I'll have to make a note to try it in the summer. Then I'll be back here looking for tips.
Thank you.
Annie Kate
What a great idea. My girls are only 2 and 4 but when they get a little older, I'll definitely try to teach them about first aid.