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Caring for a child is a big responsibility. When an injury or illness occurs, knowing the proper steps to take to administer first aid is important. You should be armed with the information of how to respond to the situation before it occurs in order to provide immediate and proper care to the child. Follow these first aid basics to ensure your child is as safe as possible!
Unknown Injury
If you find an injured child and you’re unsure exactly what happened, don’t move them. Moving a child with a potential neck or back injury could be deadly. Assess the situation, call for help, and try to keep the child calm until help arrives.
Insect Sting
If a child is stung by an insect you should remove the stinger right away. Do this with a downward scraping motion to ensure you remove the entire stinger. Then, assess the child to look for signs of swelling of the face or lips or trouble breathing. If these symptoms occur call 911 right away. Otherwise, apply an anti-itch cream to the area, use a cold compress to reduce swelling, and monitor the child.
Fever
If your child has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, they have a fever. Treat the fever by dressing the child in light, loose clothing, and giving them cool liquids. Tylenol can be used to help reduce the fever. If the fever continues to get worse or the child develops other symptoms, call their pediatrician right away.
Cuts and Scrapes
Minor cuts and scrapes can be treated at home. Run the area under cool water for 5 minutes to clean out any debris, then apply an antibiotic ointment. Finally, cover the cut or scrape with a bandage. If the cut is deep, won’t stop bleeding, or appears to be wide open, seek medical help immediately after rinsing the wound. Apply direct pressure to help stop the bleeding.
Fractures
If you believe a child has suffered from a bone fracture, medical attention is necessary. Try to keep the child from moving the affected area until it can be examined and treated by a physician. In some cases, you may mistake a sprain for a fracture, but it never hurts to double check with an x-ray and professional opinion!
It’s important to remember to stay calm in the event of any injury or illness in a child. The child is likely frightened and they’re looking to you for guidance as you handle the situation.
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