Keeping children safe does not stop when the screen is turned off. Parents have most likely built some rules around screen time, online contacts, applications, games, and passwords, but real-life emergencies can happen just as quickly and without any warning. 

The kid could choke, slip during play, be scalded, or ingest something he was not supposed to. The knowledge about what to do will help to cope with such emergency situations in a better way. 

For families in the Kawarthas, Coast2Coast CPR certification classes in Peterborough can provide practical training that adds another important layer to an already thoughtful family safety plan.

Why Does Offline Safety Belong in a Digital Safety Plan?

A good digital safety plan is really a mindset. You think ahead, you set up protections, and you teach your kids what to do if something feels wrong.

A physical safety plan is also similar. While you cannot foresee all the dangers that may happen to you, in the same way as you cannot control which websites your child visits, you can be prepared to react quickly.

Are Devices Themselves a Safety Risk?

In one surprising way, yes. Many gadgets in your home run on button batteries: remote controls, key fobs, kitchen scales, fitness trackers, light-up toys and some greeting cards.

Button batteries have a tendency to attract babies and can cause a choking hazard, so they must be handled with utmost care. In case your baby swallows a battery, rush him to the hospital without wasting any time, even if he looks well.

A few simple habits help:

• Keep devices with button batteries out of reach
• Check that battery compartments are secured with a screw
• Store spare batteries up high and out of sight
• Dispose of used batteries safely right away

Can Your Phone Help in an Emergency?

Yes, indeed. Your very own tool for controlling your child’s usage of the screen is also your best safety tool.

• Emergency calls: Most smartphones can call 911 from the lock screen, even without a passcode. Show your kids how it works on your phone.
• Emergency contacts and medical information: Many phones let you store medical details, allergies, and emergency contacts that first responders can see.
• Location sharing: The family location feature on phones can be useful in locating a missing child.
• Your address: Make sure your kids know their home address by heart. A 911 dispatcher needs it to send help.

By teaching your children these important survival skills, they will have something useful to do during an emergency event.

What Are the Most Common Emergencies at Home?

Injuries that occur during childhood are usually of a mild nature; however, there are some emergency situations that keep repeating themselves:

• Choking by food items, toys, or any other objects
• Falls from furniture, stairs or playground equipment
• Burns from hot drinks, stoves or bath water
• Allergic reactions to foods or insect stings
• Poisoning from medicines or cleaning products
• Water emergencies in bathtubs, pools and lakes

In a first aid and CPR training program, you will learn how to handle each of these.

Why Is CPR So Important for Parents?

CPR is the skill you hope you’ll never need. But when you need it, nothing else will do.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada estimates that about 60,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals in Canada each year. Only about 1 in 10 people survives. Survival rates can double when someone acts fast, performs CPR, and uses an AED.

CPR for children is not the same as CPR for adults. Compressions are lighter, and the method differs for infants. The ideal course is one that offers practice on infant, child, and adult manikins.

What Should a Family Safety Plan Include?

You undoubtedly have some rules regarding the screen time for your children. Consider creating some guidelines regarding real-life safety:

1. At least one trained adult in the home, and ideally two
2. A stocked first aid kit that everyone can find
3. Emergency numbers and your address posted near the fridge
4. Kids who know how to call 911 and what to say
5. A quick family talk about what to do if someone gets hurt

It will only take you an afternoon to organize all these things and increase the confidence of your family members.

How Do You Talk to Kids About Emergencies Without Scaring Them?

Keep it calm, simple, and practical. Kids handle safety talks best when they feel like a helper, not a worrier.

Frame it in the form of a task: “If anyone in our family gets injured, your job will be to call 911 and tell them our address.” Practice with a fake phone call. Younger children should be taught where the first aid kit is kept, while older children should be taught how to use it, as many courses are offered to young teens.

The goal isn’t to make them anxious. It’s to make sure they know they can do something useful if it ever happens.

How Can Busy Parents Fit Training In?

Blended learning makes it easier. You complete the theory online at your own pace, maybe after the kids are asleep. Next, you have a more compact in-class lesson, where you develop practical skills under the guidance of an instructor. Certificates are valid for three years, and that is quite a long period for early childhood.

Where Can Peterborough Families Find Training?

If you are in search of CPR and first aid classes around Rubidge Street, Aylmer Street North, downtown Peterborough, and the vicinity, then you might want to contact Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics at that location.

You can also look into CPR training for your family and pick a time that works around your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

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