SickKid.Net - A Parent's Guide to First Aid Facts, Page 4

SickKid.net is your health information network with resources and directories. Our pediatric boy�s, girl�s height weight growth charts and articles on minor illnesses, first aid and nutrition help you with your sick childcare needs, when you need it most.

If this is a possible life-threatening illness or injury, call 911 immediately.

Page 4

SickKid Home

Article Index

Download the
entire article

Resources

Care for an Injury with R.I.C.E.!

If your child has a minor strain or sprain, it can be painful, but you may not need to head to the emergency department immediately. Instead, try R.I.C.E.

Rest - As soon as your child complains of pain, make sure he or she rests the injured joint or muscle.

Ice - To avoid swelling, apply ice (wrapped in a towel to avoid frostbite) to the injured area in 20-minute sessions every 3 to 4 hours for the first 24 hours.

Compression - Wrap the injured area firmly with an elastic compression bandage, found at your local drugstore.

Elevation - Raise the injured area on pillows or cushions to prevent swelling.

A Parent's Guide to

First Aid Facts (cont.)

Preventing Poisoning

Over two million children are poisoned each year, and children under 6 years old are most at risk. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, you should take the following steps if your child is poisoned:

Stay calm.
Immediately call your poison control center and have the following information ready: child's condition, age, and weight; product containers or bottles; time that the poisoning occurred; and name and telephone number.
Follow the instructions that the center gives you.

What substances could be poisonous to your child? Here are just a few:

Medicines (prescription and nonprescription)
Automobile fluids (such as antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid)
Pesticides
Cleaning products (such as furniture polish, bleach, drain opener, toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner, rust remover)
Beauty products (such as nail polish remover and liquid hair spray)
Kerosene, gasoline, turpentine, and paint thinner
Plants

Prevention is the key to preventing poisoning. Keep all poisonous items in locked cabinets or out of reach of your child, and make sure to store them properly immediately after use. Keep the number for poison control prominently displayed by each phone in your home.

Ronald A. Christensen, M.D., Medical Advisor

Please address all technical questions and concerns to webmaster@sickkid.net. Copyright ©2000-2001, SickKid.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.
SickKid Home
The inclusion on this site of hospitals or health care facilities does not indicate that they endorse the advertisers, products, services, or information on SickKid.Net.