British Red Cross: First Aid Advice for Vomiting and Diarrhoea

British Red Cross: First Aid Advice for Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Winter brings a seasonal shift for nurseries and child carers to celebrate the season. Along with new challenges, your setting may see a rise in sickness bugs during the colder months. Vomiting and diarrhoea can pose serious risks for the little ones in your setting, as tummy bugs may lead to dehydration, with the body lacking the fluids it needs to function effectively.

How to help:

Here’s how to help if a child in your setting has vomiting and/or diarrhoea: 

1. Reassure them. 

Drinking water helps to replace the fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. If they continue to vomit or have diarrhoea for a long time, give them a rehydration product. This will help replace the salts they lose. Small babies should only be given their normal milk. 

2. Help them to sit down and give them some water, rehydration solutions or other non-fizzy soft drinks. 

This can help to replace vital fluids and salts. Get them to sip drinks slowly and often.

3. Once the symptoms ease and they are hungry again, offer easily digested foods such as pasta or bread.

4. The child should be sent home at the earliest opportunity and shouldn't return to the setting until they have been clear of the symptoms for two days.

Paediatric first aid training

Looking after little ones comes with big responsibilities. Our two-day paediatric first aid course, fully EYFS compliant, is perfect for nursery staff, childminders, and anyone working with young children.

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Please note, the information in this article is provided by the British Red Cross and does not represent the views or opinions of Morton Michel.