First steps
- Call 119 for: unresponsiveness, not breathing, blue lips, heavy bleeding, a seizure over 5 minutes, or swallowing a toxic substance
- Put the phone on speaker and stay next to your child so you can follow instructions.
- Give the address (building and unit number), your child's age, and what happened and when.
- In Korea, 1339 (KDCA call center) is for infectious disease and health questions. Emergencies go to 119.
Choking (blocked airway)
If your child can cough hard or cry, the airway is only partly blocked. Let them keep coughing and watch closely. Don't sweep inside the mouth blindly with a finger — you may push the object deeper.
If your child cannot make a sound, cannot breathe, or is turning blue, the airway is fully blocked. Have someone call 119 and act at once.
- Under 1 year: lay the baby face down along your forearm, supporting the jaw, head lower than the body. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Turn the baby over and give 5 chest thrusts with two fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line. Repeat until the object comes out or the baby becomes unresponsive.
- Age 1 and over: stand behind the child, wrap your arms around the waist, place a fist just above the navel, grasp it with your other hand and give quick inward-and-upward thrusts (abdominal thrusts, the Heimlich maneuver).
- Do not give abdominal thrusts to babies under 1 year.
- If your child becomes unresponsive, lay them on the floor and start CPR as the 119 dispatcher directs. Remove an object from the mouth only if you can see it.
Burns
- Cool the burn under cool running tap water for 10–20 minutes. Do not use ice or ice water.
- Remove clothing, rings or diapers that aren't stuck, before swelling starts. Don't pull off anything stuck to the skin.
- Don't pop blisters. Home remedies such as soybean paste, toothpaste or oil invite infection.
- After cooling, cover loosely with clean gauze or plastic wrap.
- Keep the rest of your child warm while cooling the burn.
Falls and head injuries
Falls from beds, sofas and strollers are common. If your child cries right away and soon plays normally, they are usually fine, but watch for changes for 24 hours. They may sleep; check that you can wake them as usual.
- Loss of consciousness, or dazed and slow to respond
- Vomiting two or more times, a worsening headache, or crying that can't be soothed
- Unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking
- A seizure, unsteady walking, or weakness on one side
- Clear fluid or blood from the ears or nose, bruising around the eyes or behind the ears
- In a baby under 1, a large bump on the head or a bulging soft spot (fontanelle)
Swallowing and poisoning
- If your child swallowed (or may have swallowed) medicine, detergent, cosmetics or tobacco, call 119.
- Do not make your child vomit. It can injure the esophagus again or send material into the lungs.
- Wipe out what is left in the mouth, and bring the container or packaging.
- For eyes, rinse with running water for at least 15 minutes; for skin, remove clothing and wash it off.
Seizures
- Lay your child on their side in a safe place such as the floor, and clear away hard objects.
- Put nothing in their mouth and don't hold them down.
- Note the start time. Record a video if you can.
- After it stops, keep them on their side and check their breathing.
FAQ
My baby may have swallowed something but seems fine.
It depends on what it was. For button batteries, magnets, medicine or detergent, call 119 or go to the emergency room even without symptoms. For a small toy piece, watch for coughing, wheezing, drooling or vomiting and ask a doctor whether to be seen.
Why not put ice on a burn?
Ice narrows blood vessels in the skin and can deepen the damage. Cooling under cool running tap water for 10–20 minutes is standard first aid.
Can my child sleep after a head bump?
If there are no warning signs, yes. That day, check that you can wake them as usual and that they respond normally. If they are hard to wake or act oddly, go to the emergency room.
Where can I learn CPR?
In Korea, the Korean Red Cross, local fire stations and public health centers run infant and child CPR courses. Courses with hands-on manikin practice help most.
Sources
- Korean Red Cross first aid training materials
- National Fire Agency (Korea) 119 first aid guidance
- AAP HealthyChildren.org first aid
- KDCA National Health Information Portal
Medical information is for reference only. This is general information and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your child's doctor. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.
Related
Most childhood injuries happen at home, in the moment a caregiver looks away. Look around your home from your child's eye level and stay one step ahead of each stage.
When Your Child Has a FeverFever is a sign the body is fighting infection, and how your child is doing matters more than the number. The exception: a baby under 3 months with 38°C or higher needs a doctor right away, however well they seem.
Car Seats and Vehicle SafetyA car seat is needed from your child's very first ride. Don't rush to the next stage; using each seat until its height and weight limits is the safest choice.
7–9 mo7–9 monthsBabies sit on their own, crawl, and become wary of strangers. As they explore, hazards at home multiply quickly, so safety checks matter most.
13–18 mo13–18 monthsAs toddlers start walking, there is more they want to do and more they are not allowed to do. Help them express feelings with words and gestures, and let them explore freely within safe limits.