As children grow and eagerly explore their surroundings, they are especially vulnerable to accidents and injuries that can lead to serious harm.
"There’s no doubt that children are naturally curious,” says Julia Niño, RN, Director, South Texas Health System (STHS) ER Mission & STHS ER Ware Rd. “While essential for learning, that curiosity can also put them in situations where accidents happen in an instant.”
Each year, approximately 9 million children and adolescents in the United States visit emergency departments for unintentional injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases make up 25–40% of all pediatric emergency visits and lead to more than 225,000 hospitalizations annually.
Unintentional injuries are also the leading cause of death for children and youth ages 1–19 in the U.S., per the CDC, accounting for more than 7,400 deaths annually. That’s an average of nearly 20 fatalities every day.
“The reality is that children get hurt far more often than most people realize,” says Niño. “These accidents can happen in seconds and impact a child’s life forever if not swiftly addressed.”
Knowing first aid empowers parents to respond quickly and confidently when emergencies such as choking, burns or other injuries occur, potentially saving a child’s life and reducing the severity of harm before paramedics arrive. It also builds essential confidence, helping caregivers stay calm, focused and effective during high-stress situations, while enabling them to create safer environments for their children.
“Understanding even the most basic first aid steps, from checking for breathing to controlling bleeding, can make all the difference in an emergency,” says Niño. “When parents know what to do first, they turn fear into action and minutes into lifesaving moments.”
This spring, STHS’ freestanding emergency departments will launch the Calm in a Crisis: Family First Aid Academy at the Boys & Girls Clubs of McAllen’s Brand Center, located at 2620 W. Galveston in McAllen.
Open to Club parents, caregivers and the broader community, this three-part first aid education and training series will equip participants with essential emergency response skills and the confidence to act quickly and effectively during emergencies.
Additionally, representatives from various STHS facilities and departments, including STHS ER Mission and STHS ER Ware Rd., will be available to share important information about the programs and services that support the health and well-being of families across the Rio Grande Valley.
The topics, dates and times for the three family first aid education and training events are as follows:
Accidents Happen: Understanding the Basics of First Aid for Children with CPR Training for Children & Infants: Monday, February 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Save a Life: Recognizing & Responding to Choking & Airway Obstructions with Heimlich Maneuver & EpiPen Training: Monday, March 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Recognizing & Controlling Life-Threatening Bleeding with STOP THE BLEED Training: Monday, April 27, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
There’s no need to register for the events, which are free to attend. Food and beverages will be provided. For complete details on the Family First Aid Academy, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. For more first aid education, visit the STHS website at www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
