Bites, Cuts And Scratches – First Aid Guide For Kids by Dr. Chetan Ginigeri

Getting hurt with an injury is a part and of playing. A child involved in playing is not careful about most of the things he does and ends up injuring himself. The most common injuries in children are minor cuts scratches and bites. Some severe injuries are fracture, internal body part damage, loss of consciousness etc. such accidents need immediate medical help. The other small injuries can be looked after parents with the help of First aid and a careful attitude towards children and the way they play.
Here are some tips to deal with common injuries.

7 Most Common Tips for Parents to Deal with Bites

Children are mostly unaware about the dangers involved in playing with any animal. They cannot distinguish between breed of dogs and define pet dogs from the wild or stray ones. Mostly dogs are favourite pets of ours and with constant contact with an animal; a child may have neglected the fact that the animal he is playing with can harm him. Such negligence can cause injuries to your child while playing. Sometimes the animal, which has bitten your child, is new to him. Your child is also prone to mosquito bites or bites from other insects. All such issues must be addressed on priority.

1. If you feel that the bite is not dangerous and if it is a mosquito or insect bite, wash the area with warm tap water. After washing gently squeeze the wound to bleed which will flush out dirt and germs
2. If the wound is already bleeding, wash and clean it with an antiseptic and smear an antibacterial ointment after the bleeding has stopped
3. If the condition is severe or the animal is highly poisonous, seek for immediate medical help.
4. As a parent, you should inquire about the animal that has bitten your child, and take him to a health care specialist for administrating relevant medical procedures
5. Various kinds of animals are present in our surrounding that ranges from, monkeys, rats, dogs, snakes, cats etc. parents should educate their children about the threats associated with these animals and teach children to stay away from them as much as possible
6. The first aid measures required for bites should be practiced regularly. Guidance to younger children should be given for taking primary care in case of bites
7. Parents should avoid taking their child to places where animals are kept open and can be a threat to children. Also take proper measures to safeguard your child from insect bites

5 Most Common Tips for Parents to Deal with Cuts

Cuts are most common type of injuries children have to face while playing outdoors or indoors. A child’s sensitive skin can get cut from objects that do not seem dangerous or sharp to you. Your child can be injured from a hundred things. It is not possible to hide or keep away everything from children, as they master in the art of finding out where things are hidden, and end up injuring themselves in some way or the other. Dealing with cuts is not easy because if neglected infection or severe blood loss can cause harm to the child. To deal with cuts here are some tips for parents.

1. Apply the first aid necessary for cuts from your first aid kit. Inspect the wound and try to stop the bleeding with the steps mentioned above
2. Find out how your child had the cut. If it was from any metal piece or glasses make sure he gets the tetanus shots on time
3. If the cut is deep and long, take him to the hospital and let the doctor do his job
4. Help your child physically and emotionally as he might get scared of such injuries within no time and start crying. Educate him about sharp objects and dangers associated with them
5. If the cut has lead to stitches, teach your child to care for it properly any avoid playing with dirt or in water to stop infection and healing of wound quickly. Tell your child to be more careful with sharp things and not to use them if you are not there

5 Most Common Tips for Parents to Deal with Scratches

Scratches are the most common in kids when it comes to injuries. A bike-riding lesson, scoring a goal, throwing balls, the wall in front of your child, or ride to the market with dad, everything can give your child scratches. They just stumble at every point, get scratched from falling, followed by crying for hour. Dealing with a scratch is more about dealing with your child. Here are some tips you will find helpful against scratches.

1. Hush your child tell him it is not a big deal to get a scratch. Add he is a strong boy/girl. Tell him that you can make it all right and it will not hurt much
2. Wash off the scratched area to remove pieces of dust or any other materials apply antiseptics and do the needful first aid
3. Inspect the wound if you think it is caused by metal or falling on ground. Take him to doctor for shots of tetanus if required. The doctor will examine the wound from scratch and do what is required
4. Have supplies of bandages at your place, children get cuts, bruises, scratches easily if these cuts and scratches are not too serious go ahead and use those bandages. Make sure they are not expired or old
5. Keep the scratch moisturized otherwise the starching of skin will damage the scratch further. Apply coconut oil or petroleum jelly on the scratch thrice a day and ask your child to be more careful

In any of the above scenarios of bites, cuts or scratches, you child could have been frightened by dogs, cats or objects and he may appear clingy. You will need to reassure your child that everything is fine and also keep him away from pets etc for at;east a week. Though rare, sometimes a child can get post traumatic stress disorder, which will call for medical help.