1. Clean the cut wound with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can damage the skin and is not conducive to wound healing. The correct method is to rinse the wound with flowing water to expel any dirt, debris, bacteria, etc. inside; Then, apply antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ointment, and finally wrap with wound protection tape. Be careful not to soak the wound, as rubbing the wound will further damage the skin tissue.
If the wound is on the face (easily leaving scars), or very deep, larger than 1 centimeter; Parents should immediately take their child to the hospital if the wound is open and the edges are not neat (which may require suturing).
2. Apply ice to the lump
Ice can frostbite the skin. A child’s skin is very delicate, and placing ice cubes directly on top can easily cause skin frostbite. Wrap the ice cubes in a towel and apply it to the lump every few hours for 10 to 15 minutes. During this period, you will find that the lump does not appear to have improved, but rather worsens, but there is no need to panic. This is because after a few hours, the increased pressure and swelling cause the blood vessels to break and bleed again, resulting in the lump becoming larger. Due to the presence of many blood vessels in the head, lumps on the scalp and face can appear even more terrifying.
The following situations should be taken seriously by parents and their children should be taken to the hospital for examination:
1) After a head injury, the child continuously vomited, had abnormal sleep, or developed a high fever (any of which could be a sign of severe head injury);
2) The child lost consciousness after suffering a head injury;
3) When you think something is wrong. Sometimes you need to trust your own intuition, and when you think your child is different from usual, you should insist on taking him to see a doctor.
3. Using ice to cool burns and burns
In burns and burns, the inner layer of skin is exposed to the outside. Ice only exacerbates damage to the skin, causing deeper damage to the skin tissue. In the past, some methods used to apply white degreasing to the burn area, but this could cause wound infection. The correct way to deal with burns is to immediately apply a clean gauze soaked in cold water to the injured area, and then rinse with cool running water for at least one minute. Water can cool the injured area and prevent residual heat from continuing to burn the inner skin tissue. Additionally, any clothing that may have been contaminated with hot water or oil should be removed to prevent further skin burns.
After cooling down, apply a suitable ointment such as sulfur ointment (which is very effective for burn healing, but should not be applied to the face as it will leave scars), and finally wrap with wound protection tape. If there are blisters on the skin at the burn site, do not break it. Bubbles are actually protective layers that protect injured skin from foreign infections and will self resolve.
However, the following situations should be taken seriously by parents and their children should be taken to the hospital for examination:
1) Burn area or blistering burn area exceeding 6.5 square centimeters;
2) Burns on hands, feet, face, or genitals, regardless of their size;
3) Infants and young children under 2 years old may experience any burns.
4. Store the knocked teeth in water
The earlier a knocked tooth is reinserted into the jawbone, the more likely it is to reattach to the gum and continue to grow. If the teeth are returned to the alveolar cavity within 30 minutes, there is a 70% chance of successful growth again. If the time is extended to 30 to 90 minutes, the probability will decrease to 40%. When a child has their teeth knocked out, the most important thing before going to the hospital is to keep their teeth moist, but do not immerse them in water during medical treatment. Water can suck out nutrients and calcium from teeth, making tooth replantation more difficult. If possible, it is best to immerse your teeth in milk before going to the hospital to see a dentist. The calcium in milk will keep the various components of your teeth intact and not damaged. What if there is no milk? Let the child spit saliva into the cup to preserve their teeth. If it’s a big child, there’s no need to worry about him swallowing his teeth. Before seeing a doctor, you can ask him to hide the fallen teeth in the depression between his lower lip and gums.
5. Feeding antidiarrheal medication
Diarrhea is not a big problem for children, it is best not to let them take antidiarrheal medication. Because if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, it is a protective measure taken by the body itself to eliminate bacteria; Taking antidiarrheal medication, bacteria still remain in the body, which can lead to illness. At this point, it is important to not let the child become dehydrated and to provide them with sufficient hydration.
6. Pat the child’s back when he chokes
When a child chokes, patting the back actually forces foreign objects deeper into the throat, making the situation worse. As long as the child is still coughing or talking, it indicates that they can still breathe. At this time, it is best for them to spit out choking material themselves. A strong cough is more effective than any external help. To avoid blindly taking choking material from a child’s throat, it is very likely to accidentally push it deeper. You should observe carefully first, and if you can see it, then take measures.
If a child cannot breathe, they should use their hands to push and squeeze their abdomen to stimulate them and allow them to cough and spit out objects on their own. For children aged 1-8, you can stand behind the child, hold a round fist, and quickly push upwards and inwards at the upper part of the stomach. If it is a baby under 1 year old, have the child lie face down on your forearm, with their head lower than other parts of the body, and pat the heel of your palm four times between their shoulder blades. Then, turn the child around to face you, place two fingers on his lower sternum, and perform four thrusts on the chest to encourage the foreign object to come out. However, in critical situations, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
7. Feeding emetic syrup when poisoned
When a child experiences any poisoning, if you want them to vomit toxins from their stomach by drinking a certain liquid, you must be cautious and it is best to consult a doctor first. Some acidic substances (such as acids, cleaning agents, and brighteners) are very harmful to the human body. It is recommended to take your child to the hospital for treatment immediately.