If you don't, Jemma Walton met a woman who can help you learn.

FROM which nappies to buy to what school to send them to, a parent is constantly thinking about how they can help their little one to be healthy, happy and safe.

And yet a recent survey revealed that a shocking 90 per cent of 2,000 parents questioned did not have the basic skills required to save their child's life in the event of an accident.

Scary stuff – especially when you think that more than half a million toddlers are rushed to accident and emergency each year following accidents in the house – with an average of 76 under-fours dying as a result.

But parents needn't worry any longer: there is plenty they can do to learn the basic first aid steps that could save their child's life.

Mum-of-three Vicki Appleyard is running first aid courses to help parents get to grips with the essentials of safety in the home.

"I've got three kids under five, and I know all about the little scrapes they get themselves into," she said.

"Like when they're eating something happily, and the start to silently cough and turn blue.

"The key is not to panic, but to deal with accidents in the home confidently."

Vicki runs Safe-T-Solutions, in Langtoft, near Bourne, with her husband Richard. She holds a number of qualifications, including a First Aid Instructors Certificate, an IHCD First Responder certificate, and a standard first aid certificate.

The business trains people in all aspects of health and safety, from first aid training through to how to man a forklift truck.

Vicki (27) said: "I have trained about 30 parents so far, and in the two hours we talk about everything they need to know to run a safer home, from choking to burns and croup and epiglottitis, which is a mystery to lots of parents.

"Where croup is concerned, we talk about how to deal with an obstructed airway, how to keep them open – and also how to know when you need to call for medical help.

"But we talk through any questions parents have as well, if they have any particular concerns.

"We just want parents to be able to deal with any problems that their kids might get into."

As for the old myth that rough-n-tumble boys are more likely to have an accident than girls, Vicki isn't so sure.

"My little girl definitely has more accidents that my boys," she said. "Even though she's a dancer, she could fall over while standing still."

Courses run during daytimes, evenings and weekends, and cost £20 per head, including course manuals and attendance certificates.

For more information, call Vicki on 01778 561161.

Five first aid tips for parents

• Burns should be cooled for a minimum of 10 minutes – but not under a running tap. Rest a burned arm in a dish of water, or a leg in a bath full of cool water.


• The most important part of controlling bleeding is pressure and elevation.


• Only move a casualty if they are in danger, if you can treat them where they are, then do so.


• If you need to leave an unconscious casualty, place them in the recovery position.


• When approaching an accident scene, check whether there is further danger to yourself or others – you don't want another accident