Need to talk? Call 1800 882 436.
It's a free call with a maternal child health nurse. *call charges may apply from your mobile

Is it an emergency? Dial 000
If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately.

beginning of content

First aid for babies and children

7-minute read

If it's an emergency, call triple zero (000) straight away and ask for an ambulance. The person on the line will help you provide first aid.

Key facts

  • It's important to learn first aid if you are a parent or carer, or if you work with children.
  • You should learn how to do first aid by attending a training course to learn the basic life support steps.
  • First aid kits contain many of the things needed to treat common injuries and are important to have around.

It's important for everyone to know some first aid. If you are a parent or carer, or if you work with children, knowing what to do when a child is in distress or when there is an emergency is very important.

What is first aid?

'First aid' means taking immediate action to help someone who:

  • is injured,
  • has been involved in an accident
  • has had a medical emergency

Whether it is a baby, a child, or an adult in need of care, the purpose of first aid is to:

  • keep someone breathing
  • reduce further harm
  • help them recover

When do you need to use first aid?

When you are caring for babies or children, of course you do everything possible to keep them safe. However, accidents can still happen. While an accident could happen anywhere, most injuries to young children happen at home.

First aid can be useful in a range of situations. You might need to help a child who:

  • has a simple injury like a cut finger
  • has a more serious problem like a broken arm
  • is unconscious and needs protection
  • is in a life-threatening situation, such as a severe asthma attack

First aid saves lives

In any emergency situation, like a sudden severe illness or a serious injury, you need to get medical help. Call triple zero (000) straight away and ask for an ambulance.

If you need to give first aid to keep a child alive until medical help arrives, you need to know the basic life support steps.

A simple way to remember the order of the steps you need to take with first aid is the letters DRS ABCD. These stand for:

  • Danger: Make sure you and others are safe.
  • Response: If they respond to you, make them comfortable and monitor them. If there is no response.
  • Send for help: Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
  • Airway: Open mouth. If there is something in their mouth place the child on their side and clear the airway with your fingers.
  • Breathing: Look, listen and feel for breathing. If they are breathing normally, place in the recovery position. If they are not breathing, start CPR.
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR: 30 chest compressions: 2 breaths. Continue doing CPR until help arrives.
  • Defibrillation: Apply a defibrillator if there is one available and follow the instructions.

Find out about basic life support and resuscitation.

Other first aid

Even if a baby's or child’s life is not immediately at risk, it's still very important to know what steps you can take to give them appropriate care when needed.

Some of the most common causes of injuries in young children include:

  • falls, such as tripping when running or falling from a bike or a bunk bed
  • burns, caused by hot water, fire, or exposure to sun
  • poisoning from touching, swallowing or breathing in harmful substances like medicines, glue or household chemicals
  • drowning

Knowing how to give first aid, and having a first aid kit available, will help you be prepared for these types of situations.

It's also a good idea to have phone numbers handy, such as the numbers for:

  • emergency services — call triple zero (000)
  • poisons information — call 13 11 26
  • your doctor

Where to learn first aid

You can learn how to do first aid by attending face-to-face training, or by doing an online course.

Several organisations run first aid courses. Examples include:

First aid kits

First aid kits contain many of the things needed to treat common injuries.

Basic first aid kits usually include:

  • materials like plastic strips, swabs, bandages, dressing pads and tape
  • instruments like scissors and tweezers
  • medicines like antiseptic, pain relievers, and bottles of saline eye wash solution
  • safety equipment like disposable gloves for you to wear to prevent infection
  • a thermal blanket to keep an injured or ill person warm

You can buy ready-made kits from organisations such as:

Once you have a kit, you can customise it to suit your needs. For example, if you have a baby, you might want to include a digital thermometer and pain relief medicine suitable for infants.

Make sure you keep your kit safe and dry and check it regularly to make sure the contents are in good condition and within the use-by date.

Resources and support

For more information about first aid for babies and children, St John Ambulance Australia has downloadable fact sheets, and you can call them on 1300 360 455.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: April 2023


Back To Top

Need more information?

Strangulation & suffocation prevention | Raising Children Network

Child suffocation and strangulation risks include clothing, baby equipment, cords, hanging mobiles and plastic bags. Simple precautions can reduce risk.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Resuscitation for babies and children

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — if your child is not breathing normally or their heart has stopped, knowing CPR could save their life.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Keeping baby safe

Babies are completely dependent on you for their safety. Here's what you can do to keep them safe.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Burns and scalds - children - Better Health Channel

Most hot tap water scald injuries to children happen in the bathroom.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Choking first aid for children and teens | Raising Children Network

If a baby is choking, phone 000. If a child or teen is choking, ask them to cough. If this doesn’t clear the blockage, phone 000. Read more choking first aid.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Choking first aid for babies: in pictures | Raising Children Network

See what to do if a baby is choking. Phone 000 for an ambulance. Lay baby down and start with back blows. Do chest thrusts if the blockage doesn’t clear.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Asthma first aid guide

Use this handy infographic to follow what steps to take if your child has an asthma attack.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Adrenaline auto-injectors

The most effective first aid treatment for anaphylaxis is adrenaline given using an auto injector (such as an EpiPen®) into the outer mid-thigh muscle.

Read more on WA Health website

Burns, scalds and hot water safety

Find out what to do if your child has a burn or scald, and read about hot water safety and other ways to help prevent burns and scalds.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Preschoolers safety | Raising Children Network

Concerned about preschooler safety? Here’s all you need on with articles, videos and resources on first aid, poisons, dangers, dogs, car seats and more.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.