More Safety Tips for Your Au Pair

Now that I have piqued your interest with my first installment on Safety and Your Au Pair, I will finish up with a few more topics of interest to families with kids.  You may also want to check out my advice on Prevention, too. If you have questions about hosting an au pair, contact me, Joan Lowell, your Go Au Pair LAR (Local Area Representative) in the Providence area; reach me at 401.309.1925 or jlowell@goaupair.com.

When you host an au pair, make sure you write down the very important stuff, like safety information. In addition to knowing what to do in the case of a real emergency or poisoning, you should also discuss with your au pair when to call the parents, when to call the pediatrician, and when to call 9-1-1. Be sure to keep your pediatrician's number handy too.

When it comes to food allergies, make sure your au pair is aware of the allergy and the typical foods your child needs to avoid. You should also be aware of any allergies which may affect your au pair. Teach your au pair signs of anaphylaxis, the serious allergic reaction that is rapid and may result in death, and educate yourself if your au pair has serious allergies. Common foods that may cause allergic reaction are peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, milk, eggs, fish and shellfish.  Bee stings can also cause serious allergic reaction and should be treated the same way. Common warning signs of a serious anaphylactic reaction are tingling or itching in the mouth, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of mouth or throat, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, paleness and loss of consciousness. If these symptoms are present, do not wait! Call 9-1-1, mention anaphylaxis and say you need someone who can administer epinephrine. This is also known as an Epi-pen; people with serious allergies may often carry this in case of emergency.

Fever is a sign that a body is fighting infection, and may vary slightly from person to person. For a child over 6 months, a fever is considered a body temperature of 100.4 degrees F, or 38 degrees C, and if the temp doesn't rise above 101 degrees F or 38.3 degrees C, you may just watch the child for signs of comfort. If the child is playing and seems to have a decent appetite, just be sure to provide ample liquids to prevent dehydration and dress the child in light clothing and avoid physical exertion. Over that threshold, you may choose to call the pediatrician to have the child's ears and throat checked for infection. Also, over-the-counter medications may be used to control the fever, but be sure to read all labels and follow all instructions. Call the pediatrician whenever you are not sure.

You should call the pediatrician RIGHT AWAY if the child has a fever and they look extremely ill or drowsy, they have been in a very hot place for a long time, they have additional symptoms such as stiffness, headache, rash, vomiting or diarrhea, they have an immune-deficiency issue, or if they have had a seizure of any length. Never treat a fever by piling blankets on the person or by giving an alcohol rub. Lukewarm water clothes may be used to cool the skin around the head and neck if a fever is very high, over 104 degrees F or 40 degrees C, or the person cannot keep down medication.

Seizures can be triggered by fever in some young children, and while they may be frightening, they are often harmless and do not have long-term impacts. The child may look strange, stiffen, shake, twitch or roll their eyes. Most important, do not panic. Place the child on the floor, away from hard or sharp objects, with their head to the side in case of vomiting. Do not attempt to put anything into a person's mouth when they are having a seizure. Time the length of the seizure so you can report this information and call the pediatrician right away.

Asthma is a breathing problem that is frequently treated with medication to open a person's airways that have become swollen due to some environmental trigger. In order to manage with a person with asthma, it might be wise to use non-toxic cleaners as a way to avoid extra contaminants in your household air. Be sure to teach your au pair signs of an asthma attack and how to administer any medications your child may need. If you would like copies of some great non-toxic cleaning recipes, contact me. I have the following: toilet cleaner, tub and sink cleaner, drain cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, oven cleaner, window and mirror cleaner, and souring powder, all with safe, non-toxic ingredients. Another tip most people may not consider: do the cleaning while the person with asthma is not home and allow the house to air out, if possible.

I hope you've enjoyed my safety and first aid tips, from a mom of 6 with lots of experience! I hope to hear from you soon. Your family deserves a cultural childcare experience in 2014!