SickKid.Net - A Parent's Guide to Minor Illnesses and Injuries, Page 4

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

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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

Minor Illnesses and Injuries (cont.)

Understanding Injuries

Broken bones and head trauma are common childhood injuries. Monitor your child's condition closely, and watch for any changes in your child's pain level or alertness.

Head Injuries: About 300,000 children visit doctor's offices or emergency departments each year because of head injuries, and although most of them don't require short-term or long-term treatment, they are still frightening events to both parents and children. If your child has had a head injury, observe his or her level of consciousness in the hours following the injury.

If your child shows signs of shock or has an injury to the neck or back, don't move your child; call 911 for emergency medical treatment.

Call your child's doctor or get immediate treatment if your child:

Is unconscious
Is not breathing
Is bleeding profusely
Has bruising around an eye or behind an ear
Has pupils of unequal size
Has bloody or clear discharge from ears or nose
Seems confused or lethargic
Vomits more than once
Has a speech difficulty, paralysis, memory loss, or convulsion

Broken Bones: A fracture, also known as a broken bone, often occurs when a child is playing or participating in sports. If you suspect your child has broken a bone, immobilize the injured and apply ice to reduce swelling. How can you tell the difference between a sprain or a fracture? Your best bet is to get medical treatment or an X-ray, but signs of a broken bone include:

Difficulty moving the limb or joint
Sensitivity, discoloration, or cold feeling
A bone that pierces the skin and is bleeding

If your child shows signs of shock or has an injury to the neck or back, don't move your child; call 911 for emergency medical treatment.

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

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