Children while playing are prone to injuries. If they get injured while playing then immediate first aid should be given depending on the extent of the injury. Here are ways to deal with minor accidents and injuries like finger caught in the door and sprains.Children are always exposed to minor accidents and injuries due to their mischievous nature. These minor injuries are a part of growing-up and cannot be avoided completely. So, parents should always be prepared to handle these types of injuries. A first-aid box should always be easily accessible in a house with small children. Here we have discussed about minor
accidents and injuries that small children may cope with and some tips for parents to handle them.
Minor Injury
In an immunised person, just wash the minor injury with soap and water; nothing else needs to be done. There is no need for tetanus toxoid, mercurochrome ("red" medicine), tincture iodine or band-aid.
Fingers Caught in the Door
If the skin is broken and the finger is bleeding profusely, place your thumb and forefinger on either side of the finger at the joint where the finger starts. This will stop the blood from flowing to the end of the finger. If the pain and swelling does not subside within a day, put your child's arm in a sling. Make her move her elbow around to prevent it from stiffening.
Sprains
It is very likely that your child will sprain her hands or ankles while playing. If she has torn a ligament, there might be some swelling. She may find it painful to move and will hesitate to put pressure on the joint. Rest is the best medicine for a sprain. You can also apply a poultice to the affected area. You can make a poultice wringing out a pad of gauze or linen in a saturated solution of magnesium sulphate, soda bicarbonate or salt. Then bandage the poultice to the bruised area. Apply the poultice at intervals of one or two hours, until your child is comfortable enough to wear a crepe bandage.
Head Bump
Your child is always running here and there, jumping on the
couch etc; and is likely to get a head bump, a blow or a knock on the head while she is moving around swiftly. When a child gets a head bump due to an accidental head injury, you must press a cold compress on it immediately. Cold compress is very beneficial for the head bump to settle down quickly as well as it also helps the pain to regress. You can make a cold compress by tying ice cubes in a cloth. Make sure that your child is comfortable and offer some water to her.
Blows on Other Body Parts
Apart from the head bump, your child may also get hurt on other parts of body like hands, legs, back etc; while playing. If your child has got blow on any of her body parts without any bruises, cold compress or cold pack can be applied on it to provide immediate relief. If there are no bruises applying pain balm prescribed by your
child’s doctor can also help to relive the pain.
Minor Burns
Skin of children is very delicate and they may get minor burns on touching a hot vessel accidently or by touching some other hot object like iron etc. If your child gets a minor burn, you can ask your child to keep the affected area in water for some time. You can then dab the affected area with a clean cloth to soak the water. After that you can apply Aloe Vera gel or an ointment which is prescribed by your doctor.
Parents need to be always prepared to deal with children when they have minor injuries. There is no need to panic. Parents also need to judge the right way if the child needs to be taken to the doctor or just basic first aid is enough. If the situation is out of control even after giving basic first aid, parents must take the child to the nearest doctor or hospital immediately.
