Basic First Aid for Parents

All parents should know basic first aid. There is no substitute for a first-aid class and CPR training. These guidelines, however, will help you prevent or treat the most common injuries.

R-I-C-E for Minor Injuries
If a child or adult suffers a minor injury while exercising or playing a sport, remember the "R-I-C-E" treatment: Rest the injured area for 24 to 72 hours after the incident.

Ice should be applied as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Ice the injured area for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day for the first 48 hours.

Compression with an elastic bandage should be maintained continuously for two to three days after the injury occurs.

Elevate the injured part of the body.

Sprains

• Follow the R-I-C-E treatment.
• Get the sprained area moving as much as can be tolerated on the first day. Motion brings more blood to the area and speeds the healing process.
• See a doctor and get an x-ray if there is any swelling, the child is unable to move or pain persists after an hour. An injury that causes only unpleasant throbbing and is perceived as a sprain could actually be a serious fracture or bone chip.

Bone Breaks
Fractures are usually caused by falls. The majority of breaks that occur during softball or baseball games are caused as children slide into fixed bases.

• Look for any obvious deformity of any bone.
• Check for proper blood flow to the area by pressing on the skin with your thumb. If the depressed area does not return to its original color in two to three seconds, blood circulation may be inhibited.
• If color is not immediately restored or there is any deformity, take the child to a hospital immediately.

Cuts
Cuts range from superficial skin abrasions to lacerations requiring stitches.

• Wash the wound with peroxide to dissolve any dried blood.
• Wash the open wound with soap and water, and apply an anti-bacterial ointment.
• A cut needs to be treated by a doctor if the bleeding does not stop or if fat nodules are visible under the skin of the wound.
• If required, stitches should be done within eight hours to reduce the risk of infection, reduce scarring and speed healing.

Minor Burns

• Apply cool running water for five to 10 minutes.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment and light, non-stick bandage.

Animal Bites & Scratches

• Wash the wound thoroughly.
• Stop bleeding with direct pressure.
• Find out if the animal is a stray or a pet and has had rabies shots.
• Contact your pediatrician.

Poisoning
It only takes a few seconds for poisoning to occur. Each year, thousands of Massachusetts children under age 5 are poisoned in their homes when common household items are not stored out of sight and out of reach.

The list of substances that most frequently cause poisoning in children include, aspirin and other medicines, insect and rat poisons, kerosene, gasoline and cleaning fluids. In suspected cases of poisoning:

• Stay calm and keep the child calm.
• Look in the child's mouth and remove any remnants of what was ingested.
• Take the child and the suspected poison to a telephone and call the Poison Control Center. Be prepared to give the child's age, weight, the product name and the amount swallowed (if known).
• Keep syrup of Ipecac handy to induce vomiting. It is available in most drugstores. Caution: Do not give a child Ipecac without talking to a doctor or poison control center first, because, in some cases, inducing vomiting can cause more harm. For more information or in case of an emergency, call the Poison Control Center.

In addition to the dangerous items that children may actively ingest, substances such as carbon monoxide and lead paint can pose a hidden poisoning hazard.

© Parenthood.com, used with permission.