Both my son and daughter love heading to our local playgrounds during the warmer months. I go with them, but they are old enough now to play without me constantly by their side. But I’m already bracing myself for the bruises and cuts that are sure to follow! What first aid should I be ready to provide for common playground accidents?
Odds are that the vast majority of the injuries a child will encounter during his young life will not send you rushing to the emergency room. Very minor scrapes and bumps may need no more than a mother’s kiss or a hug. But here are some basic first-aid tips for cuts and bruises that are a little more serious, but that don’t involve profuse bleeding or a suspected sprain or broken bones.
Bruises (contusions) result from sharp impact such as a fall onto hard pavement, bumping into a sharp object, or being pinched so hard that the blood vessels below the skin break and excess blood rushes to the area. A basic acronym for the care you should provide for a bruise is R.I.C.E: Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. Rest the bruised area; apply ice or a cold pack to reduce swelling (making sure that the ice does not directly touch the skin); compress the bruise by wrapping a bandage or piece of cloth around it firmly (though not so firmly that it hurts), and elevate the injured area if possible. Short-term use of over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — never aspirin in children under the age of 18 — may help address your child’s pain, as long as you follow the dosage recommendations for his age. If you follow these steps for up to 48 hours, and the swelling does not start to subside, or the pain does not go away or get worse, then it’s time to seek medical care.
Like care for a bruise, the sooner first aid is provided for a cut or scrape, the better. If the wound is still bleeding, step one is to make sure the bleeding stops, first by applying continuous pressure for up to 10 minutes, then checking and continuing for another 30 minutes if the bleeding has continued. Step two is to clean out the wound with clear water to remove any debris, using small tweezers to remove any that does not come out in the rinse. Next, clean the wound using soap, water, and a paper towel, napkin, or other type of clean cloth. Applying an antibiotic ointment, if available, will reduce the chances of infection (though it will not make the healing process go more quickly). Finally, cover the clean wound with a bandage or gauze, changing the dressing at least once a day, and after every time it gets wet or dirty.
Though the knowledge of proper care for a child’s scrapes and bruises is essential, equally essential is this rule: if, despite proper first-aid care, you believe your child’s injury requires professional medical attention or opinion, trust your instincts. You can call your child’s pediatrician, head to an urgent care clinic, or go to the emergency room.
