Strain, sprain and broken bones

A sprain occurs when the ligaments are overstretched and partially torn. Although sprains and strains generally cause swelling and pain, most of them can be treated at home after a proper medical evaluation. You have to take into account that there can be bruises around the injured area.

                                 

If you see that your child heard or felt a bone snap, that he/she has difficulties moving the injured part or that the injured part moves in an unnatural way (or is very painful to the touch), suspect that it could be a broken bone.

                                        

These steps are the ones that you have to follow when you have to deal with a sprain, strain or broken bones:

· What to do: for a suspected broken bone

1. If the injury involves your child's neck or back, do not move him unless the child is in imminent danger because, movement can cause serious nerve damage. Call to the emergency medical help. If you must have to move your child, firstly, the neck and back must be completely immobilized. Keeping your child's head, necks, and back in alignment, move the child as a unit.
2. If your child has an open break and he is bleeding, apply pressure on the bleeding area with a gauze pad or a clean piece of clothing or other material. You should not wash the wound or try to push back any part of the bone that may be sticking out.
3. If you have to move your child, apply splints around the injured limb to prevent further injury (can be made by using boards, brooms, a stack of newspapers, cardboard, or anything firm, and can be padded with pillows, shirts, towels, or anything soft). You have to leave the limb in the position you find it and you have to apply them in that position. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture.
4. Place cold packs or a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area.
5. Keep your child lying down until medical help arrives.

· What to do: for a suspected sprain or strain.

1. If the injury involves your child's neck or back, do not move him unless the child is in imminent danger because, movement can cause serious nerve damage. Call to the emergency medical help. If you must have to move your child, firstly, the neck and back must be completely immobilized. Keeping your child's head, necks, and back in alignment, move the child as a unit.
2. It may be difficult to tell the difference between a sprain and a break. If there is any doubt, call to your doctor or take your child to the nearest hospital emergency department, because an X-ray can determine if the bone is broken or not.
3. First aid for sprains and strains includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as RICE).

· Rest:  the injured part of the body.

· Apply ice packs or cold compresses for up to 10 or 15 minutes at a time every few hours for the first 2 days to prevent swelling.

· Wearing an elastic compression bandage (for at least 2 days): will reduce swelling.

· Keep the injured part elevated above the level of the heart as much as possible to reduce swelling.

4. Do not apply heat in any form for at least 24 hours. Be careful because the heat increases swelling and pain.
5. Your doctor can recommend you an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Children First Aid: Broken Bone (British Red Cross video)

NOSEBLEEDS

Although they can be scary, nosebleeds are rarely cause of alarm. Even if they are quite common in children aged between 3 and 10 years old, nosebleeds are often harmless and  stop on their own.

MOST COMMON CAUSES

• DRY AIR

A dry climate or heated indoor air irritates and dries out nasal membranes.

• COLDS

They can irritate the lining of the nose and bleeding can occur after repeated nose-blowing.

• COLD + DRY WINTER HAIR

The perfect formula for nosebleeds.

• ALLERGIES

Doctors often prescribe medicines such as antihistamines or decongestants to control the discomfort produced by allergies. Nevertheless, this can dry out the nasal membranes and cause nosebleeds.

• INJURIES or BLOWS TO THE NOSE

WHAT TO DO

• First of all, keep calm and rassure the child.
• Tilt his or her head slightly forward with the child upright in a chair.
• Gently pinch the soft part of the nose with a tissue or clean washcloth.
• Keep pressure on the nose for about 10 minutes. Bear in mind that if you stop too soon, bleeding might start again.
• Do NOT have the child lean back. This may cause gagging, coughing or vomiting.
• Let the child relax for a while after a nosebleed. Avoid nose-blowing, picking or any rough play.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF THE CHILD...

• has frequent nosebleeds
• may have put something in his or her nose
• tends to bruise easily
• recently started taking new medicine

SEEK EMERGENCY CARE or CALL THE DOCTOR URGENTLY IF BLEEDING...

• is heavy or accompanied by dizziness or weakness
• is the result of a fall or blow to the head
• it continues after two attempts of applying pressure for 10 minutes each

You will find more useful information in the following videos:

• Dr. Albright from the Kids Doctors explaining what you should do if a child has a nosebleed.

• Dr. Pamela Reber-Beach explaining what you should and should not being doing to treat a bloody nose in an easy, simple and funny way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0DlNxC_jCw

Put your knowledge into practice!

A very useful game to put into practice all your knowledge (In Spanish)

Rescue Run game (so as to practice First Aid)

Interactive Activity - Ambulance Victoria (Game)

BURNS

Half of the injuries are in children under the age of 4 years. Although children are often burned by contact with hot liquids, household appliances, sun exposure, etc, scalding burns are the most common burn injury in younger children. 

There are four types of burns:

· First-degree burn:  burns that affect only the outer layer of the skin, causing it to be dry, red and painful, but without blistering. A mild or moderate sunburn is an example of a first degree burn.

· Second-degree burn: when damage penetrates into some of the underlying layers. Is more serious, and involves blistering of the skin. This type of burn is also painful, but unlike a first degree burn, the affected skin will likely appear to be moist.

· Third-degree burn:  all of the skin layers have been penetrated and the burned area will be white, charred, firm and leathery. A third degree burn also destroys nerve endings, so your child may not feel pain in the burned area.

· Fourth-degree burn: extend down to muscle and/or bone, but fortunately, these are rare. 

The treatment required depends on the severity of the burn. Superficial or minor burns may be managed with little more that simple pain relievers. Major burns, may require prolonged treatment in specialized burn centers.

MINOR BURNS

What you SHOULD do:

· Move the burned away from the heat source.

· Cool the burn with water, for about fifteen minutes. Or cover the area with a cold, wet towel.

· Cover the burn with clean compresses.

· Call to the healthcare team.


What you SHOULDN'T do:

· Pull off the skin of the blisters.

· Use ice, oils or ointments.

To take into account: all burns that are upper to the palm of the hand should

 be treated in a hospital.

MAJOR BURNS

 What you SHOULD do:


·  Extinguish the flames with whatever you can.

· Wash the affected area with fresh water for two or three minutues.

· Cover the burn well with a clean cloth. 

· Call to the hospital.


What you SHOULDN'T do:

· Take off the clothes (you can damage the skin).

· Wash the burn with anything that it isn't water. Use the water.

· Use ice or ointments.

· Delay going to the hospital. Go quickly!