Giving First Aid to An Adolescent Child: 

🚑Things to Remember 🚑

In little children, injuries and illnesses, both major and minor, can produce crying and the need for an adult's immediate care and comforting. In older children, physical suffering may be endured more calmly. As the publication Growing Up With Us notes, "Much self-control is usually evident" in this age group (Growing Up With Us, 2006, p.2). However, when a teenager is in a lot of pain from an injury or illness, tears can still be the natural emotional response. This can happen in both girls and boys, depending on each individual.  

Hurt or sick youngsters need an adult's calm and comforting presence with an emphasis on respect, just as little ones do. Adults giving first aid should ask a conscious young person's permission before assessing his or her condition. For example, ask, "Do you mind if I check your pulse?" and "Is it alright with you if I remove your necklace?" 

Teenagers' physical privacy should always be deeply respected. An adult should also tell the teen exactly what they are going to do and show the youngster any instruments (Handal, 1992, p. 23). Talking with them in a calm, reasonable, and respectful manner can be helpful. The youngster should be notified if a procedure is going to hurt. Sometimes during incidents and accidents, other people gather around and stare. This can make a suffering teenager uncomfortable; therefore, let bystanders know to give the youngster space.  

Try to help the young person not to focus on the pain while waiting for the ambulance or for parents to arrive. Talking gently and sitting quietly with the youngster can be helpful. One can show the teen an object of interest, such as pictures, a video, or a game on a phone in order to help him or her to relax. Do not leave the teen alone. Listen respectfully if the teen wants to talk in order to distract himself. 

If the teen is mostly silent, do not urge them to talk. Do not ridicule a teen's emotional reaction to pain; understand that children who are suffering acutely and are frightened may not act their age (Pediatric Nurse Care, p. 3). Teens can be fearful of the severity of injuries and illnesses and of medical procedures just like young children, especially now that they are capable of a fuller understanding. Parents and caregivers need to give consoling responses and gentleness.  

When an accident or illness occurs away from home, a responsible adult should try to contact the youngster's parents as soon as possible. Doing so increases the likelihood that parents will be able to accompany their child to the hospital or meet him or her there. At the hospital, teens should be allowed to have a choice regarding medical options and treatments just as adults do.  

Final note:  Teenagers themselves can take first aid courses so that  they will know how to act when someone else needs help!  First aid training is often available through the Red Cross. There are often special courses held just for teens.  

References

Growing Up With Us. (2006). Grown up: Adolescents' reactions to hospitalization. Grown Up,11(5). Retrieved from http://www.msha.com/teds/learnings/growingup/adolescentsadults/may06course.pdf 

Handal, K. (1992). The American Red Cross first aid and safety handbook. American Red Cross.

Pediatric Nurse Care.  file:///D:/Pediatric%20Nurse_Care%20info.pdf