Prudent First-Aid Pointers For Tots

Children who are always in the habit of rough play many a times land up with broken bones. Children are more susceptible to greenstick fractures, in which there is a bending in the bones rather than breakage with minimal damage to the skin. One can suspect some trouble if the free movement of the affected area is plagued with pain, bruising, swelling or deformity.

• One must avoid touching the wound or straightening any curved or bent limb. If there is visible jutting out of the bone through the skin, one needs to cover the area with sterile dressing.
• If there is no bone protrusion through the skin, to avert further aggravating the problem, it would be ideal to put the joints surrounding the affected area out of action by putting the affected arm in a sling or immobilizing the leg by tying together the knees and ankles and keeping the affected area in a raised up position.
• It is advisable not to offer any eatables or fluids in case the child might need to be administered general anaesthesia.
• If there is visible bone protrusion, immediately call for the ambulance or visit the closest casualty ward as soon as possible.

If one is in doubt that one’s child has ingested some toxic substance or poison, one needs to immediately get in touch with the doctor or closed hospital. In the meanwhile certain do’s and don’ts need to be followed.

• The child might show symptoms of severe stomach pains and accompanied violent vomiting. One needs to hold the child in such a way that there is no chance of him aspirating or inhaling or choking on any vomit.
• One must avoid attempting to induce vomiting in the child, as it could cause more harm if he has swallowed a corrosive substance like caustic soda, bleach, ammonia-based house cleaners, weed killers or paraffin.
• One needs to keep a track of signs of burns around the mouth that is a sure-shot indicator of chemical ingestion. If so, give the child water or milk to drink to soothe the burning sensation.
• If the child is in not conscious, place him in recovery position or if he is not showing signs of breathing, administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation being careful not to burn one’s own mouth.

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