Wounds, cuts to the skin and other injuries most often occur during the holidays. It is rare for a child to develop a tumor during this period, to have a splinter or abrasive knees. How to provide first aid so that injuries do not have serious consequences?

Skin lesions uchildrenare usually not dangerous, but even minor wounds need to be decontaminated and covered with a bandage. You cannot ignore sprains or blisters, although such injuries do not require professional medical intervention.

First aid: bumps and bruises

Lumps and bruises occur when small blood vessels are damaged by a fall or impact. The skin turns dark red, then blue and greenish yellow.

Sometimes a hematoma forms, which appears as a lump that can be painful to the touch. The best treatment fortumorsandbruisesis a cold compress as it reduces swelling and bleeding under the skin.

After a day, a warm, moist compress is applied to the tumor or bruise, because at higher temperatures the blood vessels dilate, which promotes healing. In the case of extensive contusions, it is better to consult a doctor, because a bone fracture may have occurred.

Having bruises much easier while on vacation. Nice weather encourages active recreation. It is enough to not forcing a bicycle or rollerblades to appear bruises.

First aid: blow to the head

Apply cold compresses often to the bruised area. In the case of a cut head wound, try to stop the haemorrhage, then put on a sterile dressing and see a doctor as soon as possible. If blood is leaking from the nose, mouth or ear after an injury, call an ambulance or take the patient to the hospital. The same should be done if the pupils are uneven, there are problems with breathing, disturbances of consciousness and speech, vomiting or pulse fluctuations.

Important

Warning: tetanus!

Any wound that does not begin to heal within 48 hours should be considered infected with tetanus. It is imperative to see a doctor as this is a serious infection. Germs are airborne or found in soil. When they enter the bloodstream, they release toxins that cause muscle paralysis. Children are protected against tetanus by a vaccine. Adults should get vaccinated every 8 years (especiallygardeners, people who have animals and work outside).

First aid: wounds and cuts

Even minor scratches or stings on the skin can become infected. The wound must therefore be carefully cleaned of the remnants of soil (preferably by sprinkling it with a not too strong stream of water), disinfected and secured with a plaster with a dressing or a sterile gauze and bandage. When treating skin damage, you can also use modern preparations, such as Balsam Lifeguard or Curiosin gel, which help in healing. If the abrasion is minor, it can be left without dressing after cleaning. Particular attention should be paid to cuts or scratches caused by playing with a dog or cat. Such wounds can be dangerous because they become infected easily. People who have not been vaccinated against tetanus should immediately see a doctor. A wound after a stab in a hand or foot (e.g. with a wire) must be washed with hydrogen peroxide and secured with a plaster bandage. If the pain does not go away after two days, we take the child to the doctor. You may have developed a local infection called a brace. It is a painful condition. The surgeon's help is necessary - he has to cut the skin to remove the accumulated pus.

First aid: blisters on the feet

Bubbles happen when the child walks in inappropriate shoes and socks. Bubbles are caused by friction or chafing. When bubbles appear, immediately after returning home, you need to soak your feet in lukewarm water with the addition of table s alt. This will reduce the swelling and blisters. Then gently dry the feet, taking care not to tear the skin. If the blisters are very large and make walking difficult, we can prick them with a sterilized needle and remove the liquid by putting a sterile gauze to the bladder. Press the skin to the foot and cover it with a band-aid. We forbid the child to walk in full shoes for several hours. At night, we take off the dressing so that the skin can breathe.

First aid: sprains

Excessive stretching of the articular ligaments hurts, but not dangerous. If we twist an ankle or wrist, the pain increases when we try to move the limb and touch it. The joint is slightly swollen, and a bruise appears after a few days. In this case, it is best to apply a cold compress for at least an hour. To reduce the swelling, the joint should be cooled down systematically for 24 hours. If the leg hurts, it is a good idea to put on an elastic bandage. In the event of an ankle sprain, you can use a tourniquet or a special stabilizer. The dressing must not be too tight. In order for the leg to heal, you need to restrict your walking a lot. A dislocated arm should be worn in a sling.

First aid:splinter

A splinter is a tiny piece of wood that sticks under the skin of your hands and feet. If the splinter is large, it is better not to remove it yourself, or you may bleed. If the splinter is small - it can be removed with forceps (sterilized, e.g. over a fire). Plucking out the splinter with a needle is a last resort, unless it is right under the skin. After such treatment, the diseased area should be rinsed with hydrogen peroxide or with an antiseptic liquid and covered with a plaster with a dressing.

You must do it

If you notice these symptoms, take your child to the doctor:

  1. The wound hurts more and more, swells, turns red and hot.
  2. There is a whitish, cheesy discharge from the wound - this is pus.
  3. Reddish stripes extend from the wound towards the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin are tender to touch.
  4. Sweats, chills, thirst appear.

First aid: foreign body in the eye

A speck of dust is enough for a sharp pain and strong tearing to appear. What to do then? First of all, you must not rub your eye. Instead, you have to blink. This will increase the secretion of tears that will wash out the insect or sand by themselves. If this does not help, rinse the eye with clean water or saline. It is worth getting a special device for rinsing the eye (costs about PLN 3). You can also use a regular glass. If rinsing did not work, try removing the fine with a dampened ear stick or a tissue.

First Aid: How To Stop Bleeding

If the wound is bleeding a lot, apply a compress (preferably sterile gauze, but you can also use a clean towel, T-shirt) so that the material covers the entire wound, and press the dressing with your hand. In critical situations, you can put pressure on the wound with a clean hand or fingers. Keep your hand on the dressing without reducing the pressure applied. Do not remove the clots that form on the dressing - this is an additional wound seal. If blood seeps through the dressing, do not remove it, but apply the next one and continue to apply pressure. The injured limb should be positioned above the heart. When the bleeding has significantly decreased or has stopped, fix the dressing with a bandage (or tie) so that it does not move. The bandage knot is to be placed over the wound - it will also stop the bleeding. The bandage should not be too tight - it must not obstruct the blood flow. The pulse must be felt below the dressing.

First aid: hook in the finger

Vacation fishing can end unpleasantly when a child hooks its own finger instead of a fish. When only the tip of the arrowhead is hammered in, take it out and the fingerwash with hydrogen peroxide. If you get the hook all the way, it's a bit more difficult. First you need to cut off the hook from the fishing rod and cut the flattened end with pliers. Then, with a quick movement, we push the hook so that the tip pierces the finger in the second place and leaves. You can do the operation yourself without any problems. However, if we are afraid to do this, let's go to the doctor.

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