Interviewing an expert: learning more about the most common first aid cases in children

So as to know and learn more about the most common cfirst aid cases in children, we contacted an expert nurse. The intervieweé, Ana Hoz,  is a graduate nurse who is currently working in the hospital of Donostia (Guipúzcoa).

We find it very interesting for everyone who has any question about the most common cases of first aid. Enjoy it!

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1. What are the most common reasons why children go to the emergency room?

The most children go to the emergency room because of the fever; the fever can be caused by different reasons:

            · Otitis.

           

            · Pharyngitis.

            · Gastroenteritis.

            · Viral diseases.

2. One of the most ostentatious accidents and which causes more alarm are burns in children. What should we do if a child / minor who is in our care is burned?

You have to wet the affected part of the body with water and cover it so as to prevent infections. The doctors often bandage the wound and prescribe ointments, in some cases, cures are necessary.

3. What lesions can we had as a result of a burn?

If you are burned, you will have a scar. The seriousness of the scar depends on its degree:

            · 1^st degree: epidermis.

            · 2^nd degree: epidermis and subcutaneous.

            · 3^rd degree: epidermis, subcutaneous, dermis and muscles.

The more high the degree is, more serious the lesion is (the tissue is more damaged).

The scars size depends on the deep of the burn. You have to hydrate them very well.

4. Although a small stomach pain is not a cause for alarm at first, it is one of the reasons why parents go with their children to the doctor. In the same way, most often a child complains of some kind of stomach pain at school. When should we worry? How can we know if we have a case of appendicitis?

Appendicitis: is an acute pain in the lower right area and it does not go down with anything. The appendicitis causes vomit and fever.

Tricks: 

· abdominal exploration (rebound tenderness)

· Jump on one leg resting on the right leg, if it hurts in the lower right abdomen area just when you fall, it may be a sign.

5.  Diarrhea and vomiting are often a concern for parents because of the danger of dehydration. What effective way could you recommend us so as to make them to stop? What can we use to avoid dehydration?

We must take a glass of water with sugar every 5 minutes (if the body tolerates it, if the body does not tolerate it, stop taking it). If you have nauseas, stop.

Signs of dehydration:

· Sunken eyes.

· Fever.

· Urinating little or dark color.

· Rashes.

· Dry mouth.

To prevent dehydration: if there is a very hot day you should take more liquid than normal, avoid prolonged sun exposure.

If you are vomiting or have diarrhea seek medical advice.

6. Although we all know that there are materials and medications that should be kept out of reach of children, sometimes children can get to access them, provoking fatal consequences. What should we do if a child gets to ingest any of the elements mentioned above?

Call immediately to the emergency phone. Carefully check what the child have eaten and the dose.

7. School canteens are careful when they have to feed children with diabetes and celiac in order to not provide the aliments that are out of their diet. How should we act if a child gets to eat something that is not suitable for her/his diet?

If a celiac or diabetic child ingests any aliments that they can, you have to call to the emergency service.

Celiac children usually start vomiting and with diarrhea. However, diabetic children need insulin and serum.

8. Nosebleeds often haven't got major complications, but may indicate a serious disease that has not yet come to light. Could you talk about what disease can be hidden behind a nosebleed?

If the child has an ear bleeding, call immediately to the doctor because it could be a sign of breakage of eardrum or skull fracture. When you pinch the soft part of the nose and keep pressure there the bleeding doesn’t stop, it could be a fractured nose.

Never lean back the child!

9. When the weather is good, it is very common to find children playing outdoors in the sun without paying much attention to hydration. How should we act if a child is suffering heat stroke? What can we do?

                                                                                 

You should put the child in the shade, cool her/his neck and forehead with water and give water to drink. Elevate his/her feet and call to the emergency service.

               

10. Children’s falls are part of the daily activities of the school. How we should disinfect wounds? How we can know if the wound needs stitches?

To disinfect wounds:

· Clean it with soap and water.
· Dry well.
· Cover the wound with gauze and tape it.

Stitches are needed when the cut has regular edges or it is deep.

If the child has fallen from a great height (3-5 meters), do not move him/her until the medical help arrives. Keep the child awake. Keep an eye on the child so as to not let her/him to move and to avoid the column’s rotations.