Emergency first aid for common household injuries: Important info for parents

Cuts or scrapes

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This one's pretty easy. The first thing you need to do would be to stop the bleeding. You can do this by getting a clean cloth, and pressing firmly against the wound until bleeding stop. Then, make sure to wash it with soap under lukewarm water. Once you're done, dry it with a clean cloth, and then apply some iodine or antiseptic to prevent any bacteria from infecting the wound. Cover it with a bandage afterwards.

For cuts that are pretty deep, or if the bleeding isn't stopping, it's best to take your child to a doctor. In some cases, if the wound is too deep, the wound might have to be stitched.

Burns

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When it comes to treating burns, put away the ice and the toothpaste! The first thing to do would be to place the burned area under cold running water, or apply a cold wet towel to the area. For small burns, you can simply cover it with loose gauze or bandages. You can also apply burn ointment to the affected area. Make sure to not pop any blisters that appear as popping them might cause infections.

For more severe burns, or if the skin seems dry or brown, it's best to take your child to a doctor so that they can get urgent care.

Nosebleeds

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For nosebleeds, ask your child to sit upright, but not tilt their head back. Make sure there's no tight clothing around their neck, then pinch the lower end of their nose, to block the nostrils, and then let them lean forward while you apply constant pressure for about 15 minutes. Make sure to not stop to check if their nose has stopped bleeding before the 15 minutes are up, since it could prolong the bleeding.

Insect bites or stings

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For insect bites or stings, the treatment depends on which insect stung your child. If it's a bee sting, make sure to remove the stinger if it's still embedded in your child's skin. You can use a tweezer, or scrape the skin with your nail or a credit card to remove it.

You can then apply a cold compress or calamine lotion to help reduce the itching and the burning sensation.

If your child suddenly has trouble breathing, coughing, or develops hoarseness in their voice, then they could possibly have an allergic reaction to the sting. So make sure to bring them to a doctor immediately if that happens.

Always have a first aid kit at home

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It's also very important to always have a first aid kit ready at home. It should have bandages, tape, antiseptic wash, calamine lotion, burn ointment, antihistamine, as well as any other types of medicine that you might need.

You should keep it in a place where the kids can't reach it, but you can access it easily. You also need to check the expiration date on the medicine to make sure that you're not using expired medication.

*This article is republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines.

Sources: webmd.com, parents.com

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