These notes were taken from a course on first aid and CPR run by Survival CPR and led by Sr Belinda Yu. This is a run through of exactly what to do when your child has a fever.
First of all, it’s a good idea to have a reliable measurement of temperature. Sr Belinda recommends that you have both the mercury and the electronic scanning one.
You can pick up if a child is not well if they aren’t being their normal self or they are cranky or sweating.
Normal body temperature is between 36.5 to 37.5 degrees C.
If the temperature is 38 degrees, continue with the steps listed below. If it is 39 or 40 then you need to go to hospital.
A febrile convulsion happens when the temperature rises too quickly for the hypothalamus. These most commonly occur between 18 months and four years. A febrile convulsion may also be caused by illness.
Things that you can do if you feel your child is hot is to take their clothes off and give them a luke warm bath.
Belinda gave us very specific instructions on what course of medication to follow. Bear in mind though, that babies, particularly those under three months, need a prescription and special care from a pediatrician.
- Empaped: a suppository which works really well. Rectum dosage is stronger so the intervals you administer are further apart.
- Check their temperature again four hours later. If still high proceed with:
- Ibuprofen: an anti inflammatory. Babies under one have 125mg and 1-2 years have 250mg.
- Check their temperature again four hours later (if suppository). If still high proceed with:
- Calpol.
- Check again an hour to half an hour later.
- If still high go to the hospital.
