Don’t shake unconscious kids! Do this instead

Shaking or splashing water on an unconscious kid can do more harm than help. First aiders suggest putting the child in the recovery position instead.

The recovery position entails laying the child on his/her side, mouth facing downwards, but with chin up, and locking their arms and legs to keep them stable. This position helps to keep the airway open and drain it of fluid. The move may save the child from a hospital trip.

In a study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers interviewed 533 parents who admitted their unconscious child to the hospital. Researchers found that more than half the time, parents carried out techniques which are potentially dangerous to children like shaking, slapping, splashing water, or blowing on the face.

Around a third of children under the age of 12 months were shaken, and in 18 of these cases, this was judged to have been potentially dangerous. Shaking infants under the age of a year can lead to severe brain damage.

Only one in four parents put their child in the recovery position—which they learned from doctors or first aid courses. The dangerous maneuvers were imitated from the media.

Researchers conclude: “Our study showed that the [recovery position] may reduce the hospital admission rate of children [who have passed out], but often is not performed.

“Campaigns aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of adults to deliver safe, effective first aid to children, and specifically those highlighting the importance of using the [recovery position] should be promoted,” they write.

Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies