Going to grandma’s house is usually a time filled with snuggly hugs and warm chocolate chip cookies baked with love. But, sometimes the caretaking tables turn and kids have to step up to the plate in a medical emergency. Whether it’s a typical visit to a relative’s home or your child is with any caregiver, your child may have to handle a situation that’s usually handled by an adult. Would they know what to do?

Anytime is a good time for us to educate children about potential health risks in parents and grandparents, and to provide a roadmap for how to handle them. Adults who are sick can be a scary prospect for children, so serious incidents such as a heart attack or stroke can be extremely frightening. With a little education and preparation, kids will be able to respond more quickly and confidently to potential warning signs.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 787,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in 2010. That’s about one of every three deaths in America. If you or a loved one has any of the risk factors for heart attack or stroke, such as irregular heartbeat, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, let your older children know about them and teach them to recognize the symptoms.

Recognizing heart attack or stroke

In adults, the symptoms of a possible heart attack include chest pain or feelings of tightness or pressure. Women may also experience shortness of breath, nausea, back or jaw pain. Kids need to know that if adults aren’t responding when they are tapped on a shoulder or asked whether they are okay, the person may be experiencing a heart attack.

The AHA offers the acronym FAST to recognize signs of a stroke. “F” is for face drooping. Ask the person to smile; does it appear uneven? “A” is for arm weakness. Does the person have weakness in one of their arms? Are they able to raise both arms up or does one of them seem to stay down? “S” is for speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech slurred? Are they difficult to understand? Finally, “T” stands for time to call 9-1-1. If a person demonstrates any of these symptoms (even temporarily,) they need to go to the hospital immediately. Make sure to note when the symptoms started to tell health care professionals. This may impact their treatment once in the hospital.

Nitroglycerin or aspirin

A prescription medication that can be used to stop chest pain is nitroglycerin. It comes in a tablet or spray. The amber bottle protects it from light and it is not kept in a childproof bottle, so keep it away from younger children. Pharmacists recommend that patients sit down before using it. They can take a dose of nitroglycerin by placing one tablet under the tongue or spraying it under the tongue. Most people will get a headache after taking it. Five minutes after taking it, if the chest pain has not gone away or pressure is still present, then repeat the dose and wait another five minutes. This can be repeated up to three times. After that, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital.

If an adult appears to be suffering a heart attack or stroke, he or she can chew 162-325 milligrams of aspirin (they need to chew even if the tablet is not the chewable kind). Taking aspirin once daily after a heart attack or stroke can help prevent future attacks. Aspirin should be kept away from children, especially if they are adolescents who have recently had chickenpox or symptoms of the flu. There is an association with use of aspirin and Reye’s Syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes the liver and brain to swell. Reye’s Syndrome often presents with seizures, confusion and loss of consciousness.

911 know how

Don’t assume your tween knows how to handle an emergency call.  Even adults get rattled when a loved one’s health or safety is in peril.  Role playing is a great way to address various emergency scenarios to give your kids confidence.  It’s important for them to know what truly warrants calling 911, like a fire, an intrudor, or an unconscious family member.  Calling 911 is not a joke.  Make sure your kids know the street address and phone number where the emergency is happening.  It’s appropriate for them to share this information with the operator.  Let your children know to expect questions about the type of emergency it is, who needs help, and if that person is awake and breathing.  They may be given first-aid instructions.  It’s important for them to stay calm, speak slowly and clearly, and to not hang up until the operator says it’s okay.

With a little information, children can be better prepared in case of an emergency. For more extensive information about heart attack or stroke, talk to your physician or pharmacist or go to Heart.org.

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Aubrey Harton is a local mom, pharmacist and member of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association.