Kids First Aid
Instruction Manual
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
No matter how attentive
you are, it seems like
you can never fully
prevent your child from
getting cuts or scrapes
every now and then.
Don’t you just wish that
each of your little ones
came with a set of
instruction manuals?
Read on to find out what
are some important first
aid skills every parent
needs to know.
Situation #1: Cuts,
Scrapes and Stitches
What You Can Do
Most small cuts or
scrapes will stop
bleeding in a short
time. To stop the
bleeding:
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Apply firm but
gentle pressure on
the cut with a clean
cloth, tissue or
piece of gauze
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If the blood soaks
through the gauze
you're holding over
the cut, don't take
it off. Put
more gauze or
another cloth on top
of what you already
have in place and
apply more pressure
for 20 to 30 minutes
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If your child’s
wound is on an arm
or leg, raising it
above his heart will
also help slow the
bleeding
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“The best way to clean a
cut, scrape or puncture
wound is with cool
water. You can hold the
wound under running
water or pour cool water
from a cup over the
wound. Using a
stronger cleansing
solution may irritate
the wound and it is best
to use only when your
doctor recommends it,”
shares Dr Yong Chern
Chet, Family Physician
at the Emergency
Department of Raffles
Hospital.
After which, use soap
and a soft washcloth to
clean the skin around
the wound. Try to
keep soap out of the
wound itself as it may
cause irritation.
Dr Yong added that you
don’t have to cover the
wound if it is small and
isn't in an area that
will get dirty easily.
Leaving a wound
uncovered helps it stay
dry and heal faster.
If it's in an area that
will get dirty or be
irritated by clothing,
cover it with a plaster
or with sterile gauze
and adhesive tape.
Change the bandage each
day to keep the wound
clean and dry.
Call the doctor if
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The following signs are
present:
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The cut has dirt in
it that won't come
out
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The cut becomes
tender or inflamed
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The cut drains a
thick, creamy,
grayish fluid
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Heavy bleeding that
does not cease
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The area around the
wound feels numb
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A trip to the doctor is
also inevitable if the
wound is deep or if the
edges of the wound are
jagged. The doctor
may want to close your
child’s wound with
stitches or skin
adhesive to help reduce
the amount of scarring.
More parents are also
opting for plastic
surgeons to attend to
their children these
days.
Professor Walter Tan,
Specialist in Plastic
Surgery at Raffles
Surgery Centre, shares
that in such cases, the
injury is usually on the
most noticeable part of
the body - the face.
“Most laceration repair
cases come to plastic
surgeons via the
emergency room.
The whole idea of
getting a plastic
surgeon is to get better
results. All parents
want the best for their
child. A
specialist would use
finer instruments to fix
the wound. In
addition, we are also
talking about someone
who has been making
beautiful scars for many
years,” says Prof Tan.
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Situation #2: Sprains
and Strains
What You Can Do
First aid for sprains
and strains includes
Rest, Ice, Compression,
and Elevation (i.e.
RICE). Here are
the steps:
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Rest the injured
part of the body
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Apply ice packs or
cold compresses for
20 mins every two
hours for the first
two days
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Wear an elastic
compression bandage
for at least two
days to reduce
swelling
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Keep the injured
part elevated.
E.g. if it is the
ankles then elevate
them higher than the
hip and if it is the
wrist or hand then
elevate it above the
elbow
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Remember not to apply
heat for at least 24
hours as this may
increase swelling and
pain.
Call the doctor if
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The injury involves your
child's neck or back.
In such stances, do not
move him unless he is in
imminent danger.
“Movement can cause
serious nerve damage.
If your child must be
moved, keep his head,
neck, and back in
alignment and move your
child as a unit,” says
Dr Lim Yeow Wai,
Specialist in
Orthopaedic Surgery at
Raffles Orthopaedic
Centre.
It may be difficult to
tell the difference
between a sprain and a
broken bone. If in
doubt, take your child
to the nearest hospital
emergency department.
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Situation #3: Falls and
Traumas
What You Can Do
Falls are common for
children as they are
active and inquisitive.
“A head injury can be
serious as bleeding,
tearing of tissues and
brain swelling can occur
when the brain moves
inside the skull at the
time of an impact.
However, most childhood
head injuries are minor.
Should the head injury
be severe, immediate
medical attention is
required,” says
Dr Veronica Toh,
Specialist in Paediatric
Medicine at Raffles
Children’s Centre.
If the impact of the
fall does not look too
serious and there is no
loss of consciousness,
you should:
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Place an ice pack or
cold compress on any
bumps and bruises
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Let the child rest
for the next few
hours, if necessary
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Watch him closely
for the next 24
hours for any
unusual behaviours
or symptoms
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Call the doctor if
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Any of these symptoms
are present:
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Change in level of
consciousness
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Increasing or
persistent headache
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If you suspect the
injury to the head, neck
or back is serious,
immediately call for an
ambulance and do not
move your child before
the medic team arrives.
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Situation #4: Burns and
Scalds
What You Can Do
"All burns or scalds
should be treated
quickly to reduce the
thermal injury to the
affected area and
surrounding tissues",
says Dr Gabriel Cheong,
Senior Physician at the
Emergency Department of
Raffles Hospital.
For minor cases:
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Remove clothing from
the burnt area
immediately
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Run cool, not cold
water over the burnt
area or hold a
clean, cold compress
on the burn for
approximately three
to five minutes.
Do not use ice as it
may cause more
damage to the
injured skin
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Do not apply butter,
grease, powder, or
any other remedies
to the burn, as
these may increase
the risk of
infection
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You may apply aloe
vera gel or cream to
the affected area a
few times a day
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If the area affected
is small, keep it
clean by using a
sterile gauze pad or
bandage for the next
24 hours.
However, do not use
bandages on very
young kids as it can
be a potential
choking hazard.
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Do not break any of
the blisters which
may occur
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Call the doctor if
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The burnt area is
large (i.e. two to
three inches in
diameter).
Don't use wet
compresses or ice in
this instance
because if can cause
the child's body
temperature to drop.
Instead, cover the
area with a clean,
soft cloth or towel
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The burn comes from
a fire, an
electrical wire or
socket, or chemicals
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The burn is on the
face, scalp, hands,
joint surfaces, or
genitals
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The burn looks
infected (e.g.
swelling, pus,
increasing redness,
or red streaking of
the skin near the
wound)
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Dr Cheong stresses that
any child who has
sustained a burn or a
scald that looks worse
than just a normal
sunburn should be
attended to by a doctor
as children are more
prone to infection and
dehydration, which are
two of the main
complications of burns
and scalds.
It is important to note
that the pain from a
superficial burn may
still require pain
relief and management
even if it isn’t deep or
extensive.
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Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Dated: November 2011
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Raffles
Medical
Group is
a leading
medical
group and
the largest
private
group
practice in
Singapore.
As a fully
integrated
healthcare
organisation,
the Group
owns and
operates a
network of
family
medicine
clinics, a
tertiary
care private
hospital,
insurance
services and
a consumer
healthcare
division.
Patients of
the Group
enjoy a
continuum of
care, from
having their
most basic
healthcare
needs met
through the
Group’s
islandwide
network of
Raffles
Medical
clinics, to
specialist
and tertiary
care at
Raffles
Hospital. |
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