8 urgent facts that can affect your baby and how to act
Burns and scalds
Burns and scalds can be caused by contact with hot appliances, such as an iron, contact with hot water, in a bathtub, in a kettle or hot beverage, contact with cigarette or lighter or following a fire.
- If your baby has a burn or scald, you should water the affected area of the body with running water. Do not do this for more than ten minutes because the child will be too cold.
- If your child’s clothes are stuck to burned skin, do not try to remove them as this will make the situation worse and will be very painful for the child; wait for the medical staff to cut the clothes.
- Cover the burn with a clean pillowcase or cloth; Be careful not to put something that is fluffy or sticky on the wound as it may stick to the wound.
- Covering the wound will help reduce the risk of infection.
- Do not put balm, oil or ointment on the burn; we must first clean. If your child has a minor burn, take them to see your doctor.
- If your child’s wound begins to heal, try to stop them from touching; the skin will heal and the blisters will disappear.
Cut
The cuts are very frequent and all the children will have some during their first years. Most cuts heal very quickly without any treatment; however, some more severe cuts may require stitches or alcohol to stop the bleeding.
- If your child has a very deep cut and there is a lot of bleeding, take him to the nearest hospital; he will probably need stitches.
- If your child has a minor cut, clean the bleeding with a clean cloth or cloth; press the area until the bleeding stops (this can take up to 10 minutes), then cover with a clean bandage.
- If you think your child may have broken a bone, do not try to move his affected limb; take him to the emergency room, where he will be sent for an x-ray.
bruising
Bruises are usually caused by trips, falls and fringes; they may be painful at the time, but they heal very quickly and require no additional treatment.
Bruises are often much worse than they seem. You’ll notice that by healing, they start to change color and it may sound a little awful, but do not panic because it’s a sign of healing.
Applying ice to a wound can help reduce internal bleeding (which causes bruising), but be sure to wrap the ice in a cloth to prevent skin damage.
Broken bones
If you think your child has damaged the spine or neck, call for help immediately and do not move your child; this can cause other injuries. Try to keep your child conscious by talking with him and reassuring him.
If your child has broken a bone in his arm, you can drive them to the hospital yourself; try to support the arm by placing one hand over the wound and another underneath and reassure your child.
Poisoning
If you think that your child has swallowed something that could be dangerous, call the hospital and try to find the product packaging swallowed so that you can inform the doctors;
Do not give your child water and do not try to make him vomit if he has taken a pill.
If he has swallowed anything corrosive, such as a cleaning agent or detergent, give him some water or milk to sip and take him to the hospital.
Convulsions
Convulsions are quite common in young children; they are usually triggered by a very high temperature, but can also be caused by other factors.
To lower a high temperature, give your child Paracetamol;
If that does not work, make an appointment to see your GP; and if you notice other symptoms, such as aggressive screaming and pimples, seek emergency medical help, as these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious illness, such as meningitis.
If your child’s limbs start to contract, its may also be agitated, their eyes may be fixed and slightly blue; If this happens for more than 2-3 minutes, call the hospital and follow these steps:
- Try to stay as calm as possible and reassure your child;
- Place your child on one side to prevent choking; remove any object that might interfere with your airways;
- Remove tight clothes
If this is your child’s first convulsion, tell the doctors at the hospital.
Shock
Your child may be in shock if he has an accident; he may become pale and begin to feel generally sick.
If this is the case, try to encourage them to lie down and make sure they are warm, without being too hot. If they feel weak, encourage them to sit with their heads between their legs;
If he can not sit down independently, support them and help them sit down; This will increase the blood flow to the brain.
Electrocution
Electrocution is very rare, but it is possible; you can reduce the risk of electric shock by covering outlets with plug covers.
If your child has been electrocuted, try to keep it away from the power source and make sure to stop the meter as soon as possible. Try to wake him by shaking him gently and talking to him; if he has lost consciousness, call a hospital.
