The most common burns in children under six years old are usually caused by scalds—burns from boiling liquids—or electrocution, and they can vary in severity. The mildest, first-degree burns, present with redness and dryness. Second-degree burns are accompanied by blisters. Third-degree burns also involve a significant wound and swelling. In any of these cases, the first step is to remove all clothing—to prevent fibers from sticking to the surface of the wound—and any accessories that may constrict the child’s skin. After that, it’s recommended to cool the burn under lukewarm water for approximately fifteen minutes, and then cover the wound with gauze. Under no circumstances should you apply “home remedies” such as oil or toothpaste, as their effectiveness is unproven and they can be counterproductive.

At this point, in the case of first-degree burns, it’s advisable to stop by the pharmacy so the pharmacist can examine the burn and recommend a specific cream for redness and dryness. For second- and third-degree burns, it’s recommended to call 112 or go to a pediatric emergency service for a more thorough assessment and treatment.

As mentioned, once children start standing up and reaching objects that were previously out of reach, the risks increase. One of these risks is poisoning from ingesting medications or cleaning products. It goes without saying that it’s always best to keep these products securely stored and out of children’s reach. Still, it’s also true that no one is immune to a slip-up—and even less so to that slip-up ending in a scare.

If you believe your child may have ingested a household cleaning product or chemical substance, or if you also notice symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, seizures, eye irritation, or loss of consciousness, among others), the first thing you should do is call emergency services (112 in Spain) and, if possible, also contact the toxicology information service (915620420).

While emergency personnel are on their way, stay calm, follow the advice you’re given over the phone, and keep the product or medication you believe your little adventurer may have ingested in a safe place. This will be very helpful for doctors later when determining the most appropriate treatment.

If there’s one thing you won’t be able to avoid, it’s your baby’s falls. Falling and getting back up is part of learning, and children fall a lot—from the moment they start learning to roll over in bed and, especially, from the moment they begin to walk and run. You learn to live with it and remember that, as the saying goes, children are made of rubber, and most falls won’t be serious.

When should you worry? If you see a significant bump, if after the fall they can’t move a limb normally, or if they hit their head and start showing symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, or headache, which may be signs of a concussion.

When should you go to the emergency room or call 112? You should ALWAYS do so if you suspect a bone fracture; if they have hit their head and your baby is under six months old (even if they seem fine and the fall hasn’t caused bruises or wounds); or if they are over six months old and the blow to the head has caused swelling or a hematoma, or if they show any of the concussion symptoms mentioned above.

It’s well known that babies, especially when their first teeth start to come in, tend to put everything they can reach into their mouths. So it’s no surprise that choking is one of the most common accidents.

In the event of partial choking, when the child can still speak and cough, it’s essential to stay calm. The best approach is to place your little adventurer in a sitting position and encourage them to cough so they can expel the foreign object on their own. Under no circumstances should you hit them on the back—which many people do by copying what they’ve seen—because that blow can cause the object to shift and lead to a complete airway obstruction.

In the case of complete airway obstruction, the first step is to call 112. While waiting for medical assistance, you should check the baby’s mouth to see whether the object causing the choking is visible. If it is visible and accessible, try to remove it with your fingers. If it isn’t, do not insert your fingers blindly; instead, proceed with first aid maneuvers for children to clear the airway. These maneuvers vary depending on the child’s age:

For children under one year old, the recommendation is to place them face down and give 5 taps between the shoulder blades. If the object is expelled, remove it from their mouth. If not, turn them over and give 5 chest compressions, pressing with the index and middle fingers between both nipples.

For children over one year old, if back blows don’t work, you can perform the Heimlich maneuver. To do this, place the child in an upright position, stand behind them, and wrap your arms around their waist. Next, make a fist and place the thumb side between the navel and the upper abdomen. With the other hand, grasp the fist and apply firm pressure inward and upward to try to dislodge the object.

If you can’t get your little adventurer to expel the object, they may lose consciousness and could even go into cardiac arrest. In that case, if emergency services have not yet arrived, don’t hesitate to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, following the advice we’ll share below.

Intolerances and allergies are becoming increasingly common, including food-related allergies. Sometimes symptoms are mild (such as skin rashes after eating a certain food that disappear shortly after), but other times they can become severe enough to cause anaphylactic shock. Symptoms can appear within minutes and escalate rapidly. These include the skin reactions mentioned above, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and mental confusion, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms are caused by several vital organs failing at once and can lead to a very serious situation.

In the event of anaphylactic shock, the first thing, as always, is to stay calm and call emergency services. While you wait, try to soothe the child, clear the area to avoid crowds of curious onlookers who might overwhelm them, and place your little adventurer in the Trendelenburg position (face up, with the head tilted to prevent choking in case of vomiting and with the legs elevated above heart level, to promote blood flow). If you already know the baby is allergic and you have an intramuscular adrenaline injection available (or a pharmacy nearby), the most recommended action is to administer the injection, as it is the only treatment capable of reversing the symptoms of shock.

If your baby stops breathing or shows no signs of life due to any of the accidents mentioned—or any other circumstance—you must urgently perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR):

The first step is ventilation, meaning blowing air into your little adventurer. To do this, lay the child on their back on a hard surface so their chin is facing upward and their airway is clear. Place your lips around the child’s mouth and nose (only the mouth, while covering the nose with one hand, in the case of older children) and give five steady rescue breaths. Then remove your mouth to take a breath, and repeat the same routine several times, checking whether there is any response from your little one in the form of movement, breathing, or coughing.

If you notice any of these signs of life, continue with mouth-to-mouth ventilation at a rate of about 20 breaths per minute until emergency services arrive. If there are no signs of life, you’ll need to start chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand on your little adventurer’s sternum, just below the nipples (use 2 fingers for children under one year old and both hands for children over eight). Using your fingers, one hand, or both hands, press down on the child’s chest with quick, strong compressions without pausing. After every 30 chest compressions, alternate with two breaths.

Don’t forget that CPR can save your little one’s life. In an emergency, don’t be afraid to act. Any attempt at resuscitation while you wait for emergency services is better than doing nothing.