World First Aid Day is a great opportunity to introduce young children to the basics of safety and first aid in an age-appropriate way.
Here are some activities that you can organize for early years settings:
Introduce What First Aid is: Start with a simple explanation of what first aid is – helping someone who is hurt while we wait for adults or professionals to arrive.
Role Play: Set up a role-play scenario with dolls or teddy bears where children can act out what they might do if someone gets a small injury, like a scrape or a bruise.
Introduce Emergency Services: Talk about who to call in an emergency (like the fire department, police, or paramedics) and how they help people.
Teach Simple First Aid Skills: Teach simple first aid skills, like washing a cut, applying a plaster/bandage, or the importance of telling an adult when someone is hurt.
Remember, it’s essential to keep all discussions and activities age-appropriate. Avoid any graphic or scary details. The goal is to empower children, not to frighten them. Make sure they understand that for serious situations, they need to seek help from an adult.