Cuts & Bleeding --- How to treat your child's scrapes, bruises and hosebleeds and when you get emergency help.
Skin Traumas
1. Abrasion
description: The top layer of skin is scraped off, and there's light bleeding.
treatment tips: If your child scrapes his knee or elbow, gently wash the area with water and mild antiseptic soap to remove dirt and debris. ( Don't use alcohol or peroxide, which can sting. ) Apply an antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage. Call a doctor if you can't rinse the area clean after serveral minutes, if bleeding ontinues or if you see signs of infection ( redness, swelling or pus . )
2. Laceration
description: A bleeding cut or gash in the skin.
treatment tips: To stop the bleeding, apply direct pressure to the cut with a sterile cloth, and then clean the area with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover the area with a bandage. Think your child might need stitches? Call your pediatrician
3. Embedded object
description: Shards of wood, glass splinters, dirt, or other debris are stuck in the skin.
treatment tips: Remove small splinters ( such as a silver of wood or glass stuck beneath the skin's surface ) with a sterile tweezers. Clean the area with water, and apply an antibiotic ointment. If dirt is in the cut, gently rinse it out with water. Call your pediatrician if you can't remove the splinter. NEVER try to remove large objects ( like a stick or nail ) and don't apply direct pressure to these wounds.
4. Puncture Wound
description: A small, deep hole in the skin. May bleed lightly, if at all.
treatment tips: If your child steps on a nail, stick, wash the area with soap and lukewarm water immediately. This type of injury is more prone to infection because it's deep and usually doesn't bleed much ( bleeding helps flush out bacteria ). Call your pediatrician.
5. Bruise
description: Disoloration of the skin caused by bleeding underneath it. A lump may also form.
treatment tips: A bruise will usually heal on it's own, but you can reduce the pain and swelling by applying an ice pack to the area for 15 minute intervals during the first 24 hours. The pediatrician may remommend acetaminophen if your child has extensive bruising or persistent pain.
Nosebleed Know-How Important note for parents:
Did you know that many parents treat bloody noses the wrong way? NEVER have your child tilt his head back during a nosebleed. If the blood flows back into his throat and your child swallows it, he could vomit. Instead have him tilt his head slightly forward while he ( or you ) pinches the lower half of his nose with a tissue for ten minutes.
EMERGENCY!
Most cuts will stop bleeding after five to ten minutes of direct pressure. But if your child is bleeding profusely, call 911 immediately ( especially if you think he/she has a broken bone ). Here's what to do until help arrives.
1. EXAMINE THE INJURY. Keep your child calm while you gently remove any clothing that over her/his wound so you can properly treat it.
2. SLOW THE BLEEDING. Apply direct pressure over the cut with a clean cloth or bandage. If an object is embedded in her/his skin and the wound is bleeding heavily, press down to the left and right to the object but not directly over it.
3. GET YOUR CHILD TO LIE DOWN. If it's an arm or a leg injury, raise the limb above her/his heart ( unless you suspect a fracture ) and keep pressure on the wound.
4. DON'T REMOVE THE BANDAGE. If blood soaks through the cloth or covering, just add another one on top until help arrives.
TREATMENT DECODER
If your child's injuries look serious, they could require a trip to E.R. Here's how to tell when your child might need.....
STITCHES-- If your child cut is longer than half an inch, appears to go down to the bone, is jagged, gaping, on the face or across a joint or continues to bleed after five to ten minutes of applied pressure.
TETANUS SHOT -- If your child skin was punctured by a contaminated object, like a rusty nail, or by an animal bite and your child is not up-to-date on her/his series of DTaP shots ( disphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) or has not had a tetanus booster in the last fixe years. Consult your doctor.
CPR AND IMMEDIATE MEDICAL TREATMENT-- If your child shows signs of shock ( a week or rapid pulse, pale and clammy skin, confusion, nausea, thirst, chills, or rapid breathing, or if your child is stuggling to breathe ).
First-AID Essentials-- Be prepared for your child's stumbles, slips and trips with a well-stocked first-aid kit. You'll need these supplies for treating skin injuries.
* Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape.
* Adhesive bandages in different sizes and shapes
*A roll of stretchable gauze to hold dressing in place.
* Antibiotic ointment
* Antiseptic wipes or solution.
* Cotton swabs
* A large sterile bandage ( for applying pressure. )
* Blunt-tipped scissors for cutting banages.
* Sterile tweezers or needle for removing splinters.
Sources: Parents
Skin Traumas
1. Abrasion
description: The top layer of skin is scraped off, and there's light bleeding.
treatment tips: If your child scrapes his knee or elbow, gently wash the area with water and mild antiseptic soap to remove dirt and debris. ( Don't use alcohol or peroxide, which can sting. ) Apply an antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage. Call a doctor if you can't rinse the area clean after serveral minutes, if bleeding ontinues or if you see signs of infection ( redness, swelling or pus . )
2. Laceration
description: A bleeding cut or gash in the skin.
treatment tips: To stop the bleeding, apply direct pressure to the cut with a sterile cloth, and then clean the area with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover the area with a bandage. Think your child might need stitches? Call your pediatrician
3. Embedded object
description: Shards of wood, glass splinters, dirt, or other debris are stuck in the skin.
treatment tips: Remove small splinters ( such as a silver of wood or glass stuck beneath the skin's surface ) with a sterile tweezers. Clean the area with water, and apply an antibiotic ointment. If dirt is in the cut, gently rinse it out with water. Call your pediatrician if you can't remove the splinter. NEVER try to remove large objects ( like a stick or nail ) and don't apply direct pressure to these wounds.
4. Puncture Wound
description: A small, deep hole in the skin. May bleed lightly, if at all.
treatment tips: If your child steps on a nail, stick, wash the area with soap and lukewarm water immediately. This type of injury is more prone to infection because it's deep and usually doesn't bleed much ( bleeding helps flush out bacteria ). Call your pediatrician.
5. Bruise
description: Disoloration of the skin caused by bleeding underneath it. A lump may also form.
treatment tips: A bruise will usually heal on it's own, but you can reduce the pain and swelling by applying an ice pack to the area for 15 minute intervals during the first 24 hours. The pediatrician may remommend acetaminophen if your child has extensive bruising or persistent pain.
Nosebleed Know-How Important note for parents:
Did you know that many parents treat bloody noses the wrong way? NEVER have your child tilt his head back during a nosebleed. If the blood flows back into his throat and your child swallows it, he could vomit. Instead have him tilt his head slightly forward while he ( or you ) pinches the lower half of his nose with a tissue for ten minutes.
EMERGENCY!
Most cuts will stop bleeding after five to ten minutes of direct pressure. But if your child is bleeding profusely, call 911 immediately ( especially if you think he/she has a broken bone ). Here's what to do until help arrives.
1. EXAMINE THE INJURY. Keep your child calm while you gently remove any clothing that over her/his wound so you can properly treat it.
2. SLOW THE BLEEDING. Apply direct pressure over the cut with a clean cloth or bandage. If an object is embedded in her/his skin and the wound is bleeding heavily, press down to the left and right to the object but not directly over it.
3. GET YOUR CHILD TO LIE DOWN. If it's an arm or a leg injury, raise the limb above her/his heart ( unless you suspect a fracture ) and keep pressure on the wound.
4. DON'T REMOVE THE BANDAGE. If blood soaks through the cloth or covering, just add another one on top until help arrives.
TREATMENT DECODER
If your child's injuries look serious, they could require a trip to E.R. Here's how to tell when your child might need.....
STITCHES-- If your child cut is longer than half an inch, appears to go down to the bone, is jagged, gaping, on the face or across a joint or continues to bleed after five to ten minutes of applied pressure.
TETANUS SHOT -- If your child skin was punctured by a contaminated object, like a rusty nail, or by an animal bite and your child is not up-to-date on her/his series of DTaP shots ( disphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) or has not had a tetanus booster in the last fixe years. Consult your doctor.
CPR AND IMMEDIATE MEDICAL TREATMENT-- If your child shows signs of shock ( a week or rapid pulse, pale and clammy skin, confusion, nausea, thirst, chills, or rapid breathing, or if your child is stuggling to breathe ).
First-AID Essentials-- Be prepared for your child's stumbles, slips and trips with a well-stocked first-aid kit. You'll need these supplies for treating skin injuries.
* Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape.
* Adhesive bandages in different sizes and shapes
*A roll of stretchable gauze to hold dressing in place.
* Antibiotic ointment
* Antiseptic wipes or solution.
* Cotton swabs
* A large sterile bandage ( for applying pressure. )
* Blunt-tipped scissors for cutting banages.
* Sterile tweezers or needle for removing splinters.
Sources: Parents
*thinking I shouldn't gave ^Angel^ the parent link since now she is ignoring me in msn* (looking at my own clock It has been over an hour now) 
