More than 40,000 UK teenagers give birth every year, so it’s important that young mums know how to react if their baby suddenly becomes sick. And that’s why the Red Cross has launched a first aid for young parents project – so members of this vulnerable group can learn life-saving skills in a friendly, safe environment where they can relax among their peers.
‘I have learnt so much today’
©InfoThese first aid sessions – taking place at a children’s centre in Waterlooville, Portsmouth – are meant to be for parents and carers only, but as the teenagers filed into the room from the crèche next door, one had brought along her eight-month-old baby girl. “She’s upset,” she explained. “I have to keep her with me.”
Being flexible is what the project is all about, so Red Cross trainer Mary Shiels was happy to accommodate. As she put it: “It’s better they can be here with a slight distraction than not at all. That’s why it’s awareness training, not an assessed course.”
There were nine women at the session and, apart from one mother and daughter, they were all teens aged between 16 and 18 years old. At least three were obviously pregnant and the rest were already mums of babies aged four months or over. Only one attendee had previously taken part in a first aid course.
Tackling emergencies
©InfoMary opened the session by covering burns and bleeding injuries, and talked about common child illnesses such as meningitis and chicken pox. Next she handed out Baby Anne CPR manikins to the group and demonstrated how to deliver CPR and deal with choking scenarios. Each mum then took their turn practising the skills on the doll.
It turned out that one group member – 18-year-old mum-to-be Georgie – had already tackled a choking emergency. She told the group: “When I was shopping, I saw someone choke on a chocolate éclair. She couldn’t breathe. I flipped her over the clothes-rail and slapped her on the back and it flew out.
“I hit her two or three times before it came out, and felt bad about hitting her so hard, but it worked. I was so happy later that day that I’d been able to help.”
Throughout the session, the women practised their new skills, asked questions, and chatted with each other about their experiences of hospitals and of giving birth. There was also a lot of giggling and laughter, which was a good sign as it showed the group were relaxed and taking everything in. After the course, two young mums spoke about their views on the session.
Georgie (18), mum-to-be
©Info“My mum told me about this course and I wanted to come. I didn’t have a clue what I would have done if anything happened to my baby. I have learnt so much today. It was just the right amount of information without being too much.
“I think I learnt more because there were other people my age in the session and they asked questions about things I wanted to know too. And you can also talk to them about what you know and have been through. It’s great that we didn’t have to pay for it – that is what made me come along.”
Lisa-Marie (17), young mother
“I have a two-month-old little girl. She’s always choking on things so it’s really good to know what to do. I didn’t know about a lot of the stuff we were told here today, and it’s important.
“I’d encourage other young mums to come to a first aid course like this because then you’ll know what to do. Now I think if there was an emergency I would be able to help my baby, or at least try my best.”
Specialised training
©InfoThe project was created by 17-year-old first aid volunteer Fergus Carter-Brazier (17), who won a British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Award for his efforts.
He said: “To make sure the young parents can come along, we offer transport for the participants, a crèche for free child-care – and even a free infant first aid kit and manual so parents can revise their skills after the course.”
He added: “Things went really well and we got the message through. What these sessions show is that first aid training needs to be designed specifically for young mums to keep them engaged.”
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