| Feature
Story |
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If emergencies are handled
quickly, your child has a
better chance for a speedy
recovery.
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Parents try to
ensure their children’s safety
by “baby-proofing” homes,
visiting the doctor regularly, and
making sure kids use car seats and
bike helmets to prevent injury.
But even with all
these safeguards in place, children
can still get hurt or become sick.
About half of all deaths of children
ages 5 to 12 are caused by accidents
that could have been prevented by
following safety rules. And although
it’s rare, children can become
seriously ill with no warning.
Whether it’s
a 105-degree fever that won’t
come down or a bump on the head
that makes your child become disoriented,
it’s important to call your
pediatrician’s office for
help. If emergencies are handled
quickly, your child has a better
chance for a speedy recovery.
What Is a True
Emergency?
Call 911 or take
your child to the emergency room
immediately if he or she has any
of the following symptoms:
| • |
Change
in mental status (for example,
confusion, difficulty waking
up, garbled language) |
| • |
Sudden
dizziness, weakness, or change
in vision |
| • |
Blue,
purple, or gray skin or lips |
| • |
Seizures |
| • |
Unconsciousness |
| • |
Loose
or knocked-out teeth or other
major injuries to the mouth
or face |
| • |
Large or
deep cut or burn |
| • |
Unequal
pupil sizes or pupils that
do not get smaller in response
to light from a penlight or
that do not get larger when
the light is removed. |
Call your doctor
immediately if your child has one
of the following symptoms:
| • |
Chest
pain that lasts for two minutes
or more |
| • |
Uncontrolled
bleeding |
| • |
Sudden
or severe pain |
| • |
Coughing
or vomiting blood |
| • |
Difficulty
breathing or shortness of
breath |
| • |
Severe
or persistent vomiting or
diarrhea. |
You also should
immediately call your child's pediatrician
or your local poison control center
if you think your child has swallowed
a dangerous substance or medication
not meant for him or her. Don’t
wait for symptoms or signs. Call
immediately for help if you believe
your child’s life or welfare
may be in danger.
Be Prepared
Because pediatric
emergencies often occur suddenly,
talk with your child’s doctor
to develop a plan when an emergency
occurs. Don’t be afraid to
ask questions. Discuss with the
pediatrician when to call the office,
when to go to the emergency room,
and when to call 911. Keep this
information in a notebook near the
phone for quick reference.
| • |
Keep
emergency phone numbers nearby.
Most towns use 911 to
put you in touch with emergency
help, but not all communities
use this system. Find out
your area’s emergency
number and post it by the
phone. Teach your child the
number and how to dial it
in case of emergency. Even
a small child can be taught
this emergency procedure.
It’s also important
to post your work number,
your spouse’s work number,
the pediatrician’s number,
and your pharmacy’s
number by the phone. |
| • |
Learn
what to do until help arrives.
It’s a good idea to
take a course in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), choking
rescue procedures, and other
first-aid procedures, especially
if you have young children.
These courses, sponsored by
the Red Cross and American
Heart Association, are usually
offered in hospitals and community
centers. Caregivers also should
receive this training. By
knowing how to stop serious
bleeding, manage shock, handle
fractures, dislodge a foreign
object by using the Heimlich
maneuver, or restore breathing,
you’ll be able to stay
calm until emergency help
arrives. |
| • |
Do
not give your child syrup
of ipecac after he or she
has swallowed poison.
Although syrup of ipecac,
which causes children to vomit,
has been a traditional treatment
option for poisoning, the
American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends that parents
call their local poison control
center first. Research has
shown that syrup of ipecac
does not remove all of the
poison from the stomach and
makes other treatment more
difficult. The universal phone
number for poison control
is (800) 222-1222. If your
child is not breathing, has
lost consciousness, or is
having convulsions, the AAP
recommends that you call 911. |
| • |
Do not
move an injured child after
an accident. Never move
anyone who is unconscious,
has a head injury, or is injured
in a car crash—unless
it’s necessary for safety.
|
| • |
Do not
use ice, butter, or petroleum
jelly to treat burns. If
the burn blisters or is large
or deep, get immediate emergency
help. |
Preventing and
Preparing for Emergencies
Make sure that
your child’s checkups and
immunization are all up to date,
and ask the pediatrician what you
can do to reduce your child’s
risk for injury around the house.
| • |
Keep
a well-stocked first-aid kit
at home, at work, and in your
car’s glove compartment.
|
| • |
List
all your family’s medication,
dosage information, and allergies
in a booklet and keep it close
to the phone. |
| • |
Do
a house safety inventory.
Identify all safety hazards
in your home and take immediate
action to eliminate them.
Parents of toddlers should
crawl around each room to
be able to see potential dangers
at their child’s eye
level. |
| • |
Take a
first-aid class. |
| • |
Post emergency
numbers near the telephone. |
Be ready, willing,
and able to help someone until emergency
personnel arrive. Taking action
can involve anything from calling
paramedics, applying direct pressure
on a wound, performing CPR, or splinting
an injury. Never perform a medical
procedure if you don’t know
how to do it. Also, do not give
the victim anything to eat or drink.
| • |
Cover
the person. |
| • |
Apply
a clean cloth or sterile bandage
to a bleeding wound. If possible,
elevate the injured area and
apply direct pressure on the
wound. |
| • |
Begin
rescue breathing or CPR if
the person isn’t breathing
or is without a pulse. |
It’s also
important to stay calm and not to
panic. Your manner and tone of voice
will affect how your child responds
to an emergency. If you panic, your
child will probably follow your
lead and be less cooperative. An
uncooperative child is more difficult
to treat. You also must learn to
handle minor accidents calmly. By
doing so, you will be able to better
handle the situation when a true
emergency occurs.
References
1. “When
Your Child Needs Emergency Medical
Services,” AAP, 2003.
2. “What
to Do in a Medical Emergency,”
American College of Emergency Physicians
(ACEP), 2003.
3. “Seconds
Save Lives in Medical Emergencies,”
ACEP, 2003.
Writer:
Christine Norris
Clinical Reviewer: Deborah Malloy,
DO
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel
Date Written: 12/1/03
Date Last Revised: 12/24/03
Source of
Material: Rockhill Communications,
14 Rock Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd,
PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.rockhillcommunications.com
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