Kids are curious by nature and at times a little too curious for their own good. Add play time to the curiosity with the vast number of toys available to keep the little highness happy and busy. Voila! now you know why you need a first aid kit handy always if you are a parent. Here are some handy first aid tips for kids that will ease your anxiety knowing that the child can take care of him/ herself in case of minor injuries.
1. Minor cuts and wounds: Always wash hands with soap and water before attending any kind of wounds especially if they involve body fluids. Wearing gloves is always advisable especially when dealing with body fluids. For most wounds elevating the wound and applying gentle pressure with a sterilized gauge piece or a clean piece of cloth is enough to stop the bleeding. Clean the wound and rinse away the debris before using an antiseptic and antibiotic cream on the wound. Change bandages once a day or as and when required in case of soiled bandages. Minor superficial wounds don't usually require a bandage and can be left open.
2. Nose bleed: Use a paper towel or a clean cloth to pinch the nose with the thumb and index finger for 5 to 10 minutes to allow clotting. Ask the child to breathe from the mouth whilst sitting straight leaning forward. in case the bleeding doesn't stop after 10-15 minutes of keeping the nose pinched, its best to have a trip to the doctor. Do not let the child sneeze or blow their nose immediately after a nose bleed.
3. Fractures and sprains: Broken bones can cause tremendous pain and require that the patient not be moved and be taken to the doctor immediately for assessing the damage and treating it. Fractures need to be confirmed with an x-ray before treatment. No food or water should be given to the child before being assessed by the doctor. For sprains the RICE method should be used. REST- the sprained part should immediately be rested. ICE or and ice pack should immediately be applied to the sprained part for 20 mins at a time and then repeated 4-8 times a day for no less than 48 hours. COMPRESS- the injury should be compressed with a bandage. ELEVATE the injury above heart level for as long as possible to bring down the swelling.
4. Burns: Immediately douse the burn in water under a running tap. After that gently dry the burn with a towel. Once dried you can use creams like burnup to soothe and heal the burns. minor burns don't usually required bandages. Regular use of ointments is enough. In case of slightly severe burns, its important to use an antibiotic ointment, bandage it with a gauge piece and change the dressing on a regular basis. In case of severe burns its best to consult a doctor and follow the prescribed treatment.
Minor injuries are a part and parcel of a parent's life, the easier way to deal with it is to know your first aid and teach it to the kids too.
