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If you think your young child is the epitomy of grace and will never fall and scrape their knee, you need to think again. All children go through periods of clumsiness and even the most graceful of children can still trip and fall. With everyday cuts and scratches, bruises and burns, it is best to have a few basic treatments up your sleeve to aleviate your child’s pain.
Minor burns – Immerse the burned area in cool water or apply cool compresses. Don’t apply ice and don’t break blisters which may form. After the pain has subsided, pat the area dry and cover with a non-adhesive bandage or material. Anytime your child gets a burn on the face, hands, feet or genitals, or if your child is under one year of age, you should seek medical attention.
Sunburn – Apply cool compresses to the reddened areas several times a day until the redness subsides. Between compresses, moisturizing creams can be applied. To reduce the pain, acetaminophen or similar pain reliever can be administered.
Bruises or ‘Black-and-Blue Marks’ – Not much can be done for common bruises on the skin. If located on a toe or finger, as might occur when shut in a drawer or cabinet, soaking in ice water can reduce pain and swelling. Cold compresses or ice wrapped in a cloth can be applied to bruises on other areas of the body. Quiet play and rest should be encouraged to give the injured area time to heal.
If a bruise occurs along with a fever, excessive swelling or from a serious accident where the area looks ‘misshapen’, the child should be seen by a doctor.
Small cuts and scrapes – Simply wash the area with antibacterial soap and rinse with clear water. If dirt or other materials can be seen, continue holding the area under running water to clean it out. When necessary, cover with a sterile bandage. Most small cuts and scrapes heal quickly.
Large cuts – Larger cuts may require pressure to stop the bleeding. When a large cut happens, use sterile guaze, a clean towel, or your finger (after being washed with antibacterial soap) to apply pressure to the wound. After the bleeding has stopped, cover with a sterile bandage. Call the doctor if the bleeding doesn’t stop within 30 minutes or it appears deep.
Splinters – Wash the area around the splinter with antibacterial soap and then numb the area with an ice pack or cloth-covered ice cubes. Remove the splinter with tweezers if one end is visible above the skin. If not visible, you may have to work it loose with a sterilized needle or by soaking the area in warm, soapy water. After the splinter has been removed, wash the area again with antibacterial soap and then cover the area with a bandages if necessary. In rare instances, the splinter will not come out. This can lead to infection, so call your doctor.
When these common ‘boo-boos’ occur, lots of loving care and a treat can go a long way to making your child feel better.
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