I've just attended a paediatric first aid course (level three 12 hour course) and was absolutely shocked at how bad it was. I work in childcare and have done many first aid courses over the years so I sort of know the basics and what is usually covered, but this one missed out lots of important stuff and gave wrong, and in my opinion, downright dangerous information and advice.
I would really appreciate some advice about a few points before I go back to the person who organised it with a view to making a complaint.
There were a lot of points I noted down but I've narrowed it down to what I feel were the most serious.
- Choking - felt like it was skimmed over in less than ten minutes, but he spent a lot of time telling us how great LifeVac devices were (the company he works for sells them). None of the courses I've been on before have ever recommended them and the last one I did advised against them, but I can't remember why.
- Asthma - "if a child is having an asthma attack, you don't want to waste time using a 'spacebar', just get the inhaler into them" this was the only info he have us about asthma, we've been told to research it at home. I have asthma and I know that, as an adult, but especially for a child, that a spacer is the most effective way of giving an aerosol inhaler.
- Poisoning - only mentioned bleach, toilet cleaner and diazepam (no mention of plants, carbon monoxide, alcohol). His advice was to give milk or water for bleach, only milk for toilet cleaner as water will make them fill up with foam and to make them sick with salty water for tablets. No info on what to do next.
- Allergies - he showed us an epipen and how to use it, told us we should use it if the child had puffy eyes and a red face. No information on anaphylaxis other than telling us that hay fever was an anaphylactic reaction. Told us that one jab usually clears up the reaction but if they still have symptoms after two pens you should give piriton. No mention at all of calling an ambulance or getting urgent medical help. Again we were told to research allergies for the next session.
- Heat stroke - asked us what we thought we could do to cool someone down, we came up with fans, get them in the shade, sponge them down, he then said that they were all good ideas but the best thing to do was to put lemon juice on the back of their neck, lemon juice stops heat stroke.
I really feel shocked at how bad the whole thing was, I've got enough experience to know that it was bad advice but there were younger nursery nurses there who were doing their first course and taking it all as gospel truth. The nursery manager said she will be ordering a LifeVac device first thing Monday.
I feel I need to make a complaint but I would really value some advice, that the above points are as bad as I think they are.
Thank you