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Kids seem to jump around every day with boundless energy. While you might wonder where all this energy comes from, you must also be concerned about possible injuries. Thousands of kids are injured each year, and many of these injuries aren’t properly treated. It’s important that you have some basic knowledge of common injuries your child might have throughout the years. Take a close look at these common kid injuries, and how to treat them as a parent or caregiver to prepare yourself for any future surprises.
Sprains and Strains
If your child is an avid sports player, you should be familiar with sprains and strains. A sprain occurs when a ligament is damaged. This tissue connects bone to bone, such as around the ankle. When a child twists an ankle, a sprain is usually the result. In contrast, a strain is simply a pulled tendon or muscle. Both of these injuries require the same treatment immediately after they occur.Follow the RICE strategy. Rest the area, use ice, compress the injury and elevate it. These steps will calm the damaged tissue while adults contact medical professionals. Although sprains and strains can be treated at home when the pain is only a minor inconvenience, you still want a medical professional to look over the entire area. There might be other issues that aren’t visible at this point. Your child’s development might hinge on proper treatment after an injury.
Dental Issues
Many sports teams require mouth guards to protect the players’ teeth, but dental injuries can happen outside of the field. Tripping down the stairs or falling off a curb could create a dental injury. Kids falling directly on their jaws or upper teeth can quickly knock them out of place. Caregivers should immediately hold a towel to the child’s mouth to stop the bleeding. A Salt Lake City dentist office recommends getting in to see your dentist immediately to assess damage and make a plan for healing.These professionals can X-ray the area in order to verify that no other damage is done to the gums and oral cavity.
Bump to the Head
Everyone strikes their head at some point in life. A child’s skull, however, is still developing. After the injury occurs, ask the child to sit down and use an ice compress on the injury. The cold sensation will bring down any swelling around the site. Ask the child simple questions, and pay attention to their responses. If they seem to have trouble with their speech, contact a medical professional right away. Most head bumps can be treated at home with the compress and some relaxing time, but severe strikes might indicate a concussion. Unusual behavior and slurred speech are hallmarks of a concussion that needs to be treated by a doctor.
Minor Burns
Accidentally touching a hot pan or the stove itself is a common, kid injury. Grab your ice compress and gently hold it against the wound. Avoid the use of ice as a direct way to apply cold. You don’t want to damage the tissue any further with cold burns. Apply and release the cold over the course of a few minutes to relieve the burning sensation. Cover minor burns with a bandage so that the tissue can begin its repairing cycle.In certain cases it’s important to get necessary permission from your doctor before allowing your child to return to a sport of physical activity. It’s better to keep the child out of an activity until they’re completely healed as reinjuring an area can be worse than the initial damage.