How to Teach first aid to kids

One of my goals for teaching my kids anatomy is teaching first aid to them.  I want them to have at least a passing idea of what to do if someone they know is seriously hurt.  I have to admit part of this is because my kids are quite prone to BEING the one seriously hurt.

Supplies needed to teach first aid to kids

{affiliate links are used here}

red marker, clean Washcloths (I like to buy them in bulk and use them for spills), First Aid Kit , Band-Aid (anyone else buy these in bulk?), something to clean the “wound” (we used water for this time, but I showed what we usually use), a lot of patience for giggling and silliness

What I did to teach first aid to my kids

I figured I’d add in that “my kids” because Princess got a first aid lesson with American Heritage Girls that was still hands-on, but didn’t involve markers.

1.  Have your child draw a major wound somewhere on their body.  Batman of course immediately drew one on his head in the exact same place he has at least two scars.

2.  Let them seriously ham it up as they act horribly wounded.  If this was a video you would hear the cries of pain coming from your speakers.

3.  The person aiding them comes up and assesses the injury with a few questions.  Then starts to clean the wound.  Notice as you’re doing so the red marker is coming off, exxxxcelleeent, just as you wanted it to happen.  The kids won’t be running around all day covered in red.  Make sure to talk about the importance of wearing gloves in case the wounded person is infected and to help keep the wound more clean.  The kids then remember we have yarn gloves to wear….

4.  Apply pressure to the wound to slow bleeding, if possible elevate the wound to slow blood flow to the wound.

4b.  Tickle your patient as the dog tries to lick him to death.  I’m sure that’s part of all major treatment plans.

5.  Decide what treatment is needed.  Does the person need to go to the ER?  Do you need to give them medicine?  What type of bandage can you use?

*As a side note, if you ever have to go to the ER and decide to call your mother, make sure to sound properly panicked, otherwise, she might not believe you are taking your son to the ER, and tell you she doesn’t have time to get you food because she is working.  And yes I still tease my Mom about this to this day, 3 years later.  Because she NEEDS to be teased about this.  NEEDS, did you hear that?

6.  Apply the bandage to the wound.  For this particular activity, the kids all decided they needed plain old band-aids.  Mainly because they like putting them on, that’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it.

Other lessons on the Circulatory System

• Learning about Blood Types
• Make a model of Blood

Other lessons on First Aid

• Learning about broken bones
• Nursing during the Civil War