Baby First Aid Guide

This exclusive Baby First Aid Guide, is proudly provided by our partner St John Ambulance—the UK’s leading first aid charity. This comprehensive resource is designed to empower parents and caregivers with essential knowledge, covering critical first aid techniques to help you confidently manage common emergencies involving infants.

1. Slap it out

• Lay your baby face down on your thigh and support their head
• Give up to five back blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand

2. Check their mouth

• Lay your baby on your thigh face up
• Carefully pick out any obvious objects with your fingertips

3. Squeeze it out

• Using two fingers, give up to five downward chest thrusts
• Check the mouth. If the obstruction hasn’t cleared call 999/112 for emergency help

4. Call 999/112

• Take your baby with you and call 999/112.
• Repeat the above steps 1 to 3 until help arrives.

1. Clear objects that may cause your baby injury

2. Don’t try to restrain them

• Put soft padding around them

3. Cool them

• Remove a layer of clothing

4. Call 999/112 for emergency help

• When the seizure has stopped, put them in the recovery position while you wait.

1. Cool the burn

• Move them away from the heat source
• Hold the burn under cold running water for at least 10 minutes
• Don’t use ice, creams or gels

2. Protect

• Remove your baby’s clothing from the injured area unless it’s stuck to the burn
• Cover the burn loosely, lengthways with cling film or a clean plastic bag for hand or foot

3. Seek help

• Call 999/112 or seek medical advice.

1. Check for a response

• Tap their foot and call their name
• If no response, shout for help

2. Open their airway

• Gently tilt their head back

3. Check for breathing

• Look, listen and feel for no longer than 10 seconds

4. If they are breathing

• Hold them in the recovery position
• Call 999/112 for help

If they are not breathing

• Call 999/112
• Give CPR until help arrives

If your baby is not responding to you and they are not
breathing, follow these steps to perform CPR.

1. Call 999/112 for emergency help

• If you’re alone, give one minute of CPR before calling on a
  speaker phone

2. Give 5 initial puffs

• Open airway
• Put your lips around their mouth and nose and blow steadily for up to one second

3. 30 chest pumps

• Using two fingers in the centre of the chest, give 30 pumps at a rate of 100-120 pumps per minute

4. Repeat

• Give two puffs followed by 30 pumps
• Continue CPR until help arrives or they become responsive.

If your baby is not responding to you but is
breathing, you will need to hold them in the
recovery position until help arrives.

1. Cradle them in your arms, with their head tilted downwards

2. Call 999/112 for emergency help

3. Monitor their breathing, pulse and level of response.

1. Take their temperature

• If it’s over 37 °C they have a fever.

2. Keep them cool and comfortable

3. Give them lots of cool drinks

• If you are breast feeding do this regularly to help replace fluid loss
• If they are unwell give them the recommended dose of paracetamol

4. Check their temperature, breathing and level of response

• If their temperature is over 38°C seek medical advice or if they are getting worse call 999/112 for emergency help.