Mini First Aid Milton Keynes & Northampton

05/10/2026

Meningitis and sepsis can kill in hours, so it’s critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.

If your child is unwell with ANY of these symptoms, go to a hospital or call for an ambulance immediately:

❗️Over 38°C in babies under three months
❗️Has a temperature and feels abnormally cold to touch/very cold hands and feet
❗️Very fast breathing, finding it much harder to breathe than normal, or noticeable pauses in breathing
❗️ Grunting and/or noises with every breath
❗️Very lethargic / difficult to wake / not responding
❗️ Fitting / convulsion / seizures
❗️Weak, high-pitched or continuous crying in a younger child
❗️Confusion or unusually irritable
❗️Soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging
❗️Stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
❗️Unusually sleepy, stiff or floppy baby
❗️Pale, blotchy or mottled skin - this may be harder to see on brown or black skin
❗️A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass - the rash can be harder to see on brown or black skin. Check paler areas, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, roof of the mouth, tummy, whites of the eyes or the inside of the eyelids.
❗️Not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours or more
❗️Very thirsty and not able to keep fluids down
❗️Bloody or black ‘coffee ground’ sick

Some of these high-risk symptoms are not typical signs of meningitis or septicaemia (sepsis) but are still signs of severe illness, so, if your child is unwell and has any of these symptoms, get urgent medical help.

Source: Meningitis Research Foundation

04/10/2026

Symptoms of anaphylaxis usually happen rapidly and can be life-threatening. Anaphylaxis happens when your or your child's body has a serious reaction to something you or they are allergic to.

Any one or more of the following symptoms may be present - these are often referred to as the ABC symptoms.*

Airway - swelling in the throat, tongue or upper airways, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing

Breathing - sudden onset wheezing, breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, persistent cough

Circulation - dizziness, feeling faint, sudden sleepiness, confusion, pale clammy skin, loss of consciousness or collapse

Any of the ABC symptoms may lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal.

In extreme cases there could be a dramatic fall in blood pressure. The person may become weak and floppy and may have a sense of something terrible happening.

This Anaphylaxis Awareness Week, take a few minutes to check out all of the resources and advice at , particularly if your child suffers from severe allergies or if they have a friend or classmate who does.

If you work with children or young people, take a look at our Workplace first aid courses, including our two-hour auto-injector workshop if you would like to learn more about dealing with severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

You can also find information about our new Allergies & Anaphylaxis training for school professionals on our website in the awareness classes tab.

*Source:

03/10/2026

What happens when you bring together three top professionals who know babies best?

You get a podcast series packed with trusted advice, honest conversations and practical reassurance for expectant and new parents! 💚

Mini First Aid's Family Health podcast is BACK! And this time, we're bringing a special series dedicated to the prenatal and postnatal period, so perfect for you if you are trying for a baby, expecting a baby or are a new parent.

In this series, we are joined by three of the very best experts to cover all the topics you need to know about:

Lesley Bland, experienced midwife from My Expert Midwife
Ruth Watts, registered health visitor
Dr Lillie Parker, NHS paediatrician, Doctor Lils

Together they cover everything from birth plans and maternal mental health to newborn care, child development, weaning and neonatal intensive care.

When it comes to your baby's health, reliable advice matters, and that’s exactly what you’ll get in this new podcast series.

Don't miss an episode. Head to wherever you get your podcasts, search Family Health by Mini First Aid and subscribe now 🎧

03/10/2026

Everyone should be able to go to school, head to work, eat out, travel and enjoy everyday life without feeling excluded because of a serious allergy.

This Anaphylaxis Awareness Week, 1–7 October, Anaphylaxis UK is focusing on belonging and the importance of making sure people living with serious allergies feel safe, understood and included.

Throughout the week, they’ll be sharing stories, resources and podcasts designed to increase understanding of what it’s really like to live with serious allergies and to get more of us talking about how we can make a difference.

We can all play a part. Learn more. Start conversations. Share useful information with your colleagues, friends, family, pupils or wider community. Small changes in awareness and understanding can help make everyday spaces more inclusive.

You can also show your support by taking part in , wearing something bright to stand alongside friends, family members and colleagues affected by serious allergies.

At Mini First Aid, we’re proud to support Anaphylaxis Awareness Week and help spread the message that everyone deserves to feel safe, included and part of the conversation.

30/09/2026

We're a few weeks into the start of the new school year, and we can guarantee that some of you will already have had to deal with dreaded nits!

This week's blog is Charlotte's story of when her daughter came home with head lice and includes all the guidance on what to do to get rid of them!

The entire time my daughter was at nursery and primary school I dreaded the "case of head lice in your class" email or text message. But as...

27/09/2026

💚 Starting your baby's weaning journey? Choking is one of the subjects parents often tell us they were most worried about before attending a class.
In our friendly relaxed & practical Baby & Child First Aid classes, we look at how to recognise choking and practise what to do using baby and child manikins, giving parents, grandparents and carers practical skills and the confidence to know what to do if an emergency happens. Pre-crawling babies are welcome.
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🔗https://mk.minifirstaid.co.uk/classes/open/27673

24/09/2026

It's National Eye Health Week, so a great opportunity to talk about Conjunctivitis 👁️

Conjunctivitis is common in children under 5 years old. It's usually caused by infection or allergies and it can be contagious so it can easily spread around nurseries and school settings.

Swipe through the slides to take a look at some of the more common symptoms and advice on how to treat conjunctivitis.

Most instances of conjunctivitis will clear up without the need for medicine within a few weeks, but please see your GP if symptoms persist. If it's a bacterial infection, you might be prescribed antibiotics. But these will not work if it's caused by a virus (viral conjunctivitis) or an allergy.

Is this something your little one has had or is suffering with at the moment?

* All information sourced from NHS and Healthier Together

23/09/2026

Around 1 in 6 children aged 5–16 are likely to have a mental health problem, and half of all mental health issues start by age 14.

Worryingly, many young people struggle to access the support they need - only 34% of those referred to NHS services are accepted for treatment, and over two-thirds would prefer to get help without going through a GP.

All of this points to the fact that children’s mental health in the UK continues to be a growing concern.

In this blog, we focus on two key areas: coping with anxiety and building resilience, both vital for helping children feel secure, supported, and able to thrive.

Children’s mental health in the UK continues to be a growing concern. Around 1 in 6 children aged 5–16 are likely to have a mental healt...

22/09/2026

There is still spaces available on our relaxed & friendly Baby & Child First Aid Class at Saxon Hall in Raunds on 24th October. Pre -crawling babies are very welcome.

19/09/2026

Some foods need a little extra thought before they're offered to babies and young children.

While many of these foods aren't off limits forever, they can pose a choking risk if they're not prepared appropriately. Others, like honey, should be avoided altogether before your baby's first birthday because of the risk of infant botulism.

Foods to take extra care with include:

• Honey (avoid under 12 months)
• Popcorn
• Whole nuts
• Marshmallows
• Sausages and hot dogs
• Hard boiled sweets
• Grapes
• Whole cherry tomatoes
• Raw hard fruit and vegetables

Simple changes, such as cutting grapes, hot dogs and cherry tomatoes lengthways or into quarters, grating or cooking hard fruit and vegetables, and avoiding foods that are round, hard or potentially sticky (marshmallows), can make mealtimes much safer.

No matter how careful we are, choking can still happen. That's why knowing what to do in an emergency is one of the most important skills any parent, grandparent or carer can learn.

Our award-winning Baby & Child First Aid classes and baby safety classes cover choking prevention, safe weaning, how to recognise the signs of choking and exactly what to do if a baby or child is choking, giving you the confidence to act quickly if you ever need to.

Find your local class and book today at:

https://www.mk.minifirstaid.co.uk/classes/classes-for-parents-carers