First Aid, Cuts & Grazes
A young child is rarely seen without matching scrapes on both knees! In fact small cuts and grazes happen so often in the early years that it's easy to become complacent about yet another plaster. However the sight of a lot of blood can provoke tears in both your child and you! But don't panic - with a little water and a few essentials in your first aid kit your child will be back to playing in no time.
How to Treat Minor Wounds
Always wash your hands before and after administering first aid. For minor wounds-such as insect bites, cuts and abrasions-you can reduce the risk of infection by cleaning the wound, treating it with an antiseptic such as Dettol antiseptic cream, and covering with a clean dressing. The antiseptic will help reduce the number of germs present, while the dressing prevents more germs from entering the wound.
Tips for treating minor wounds:
- Be sympathetic - now is not the time to nag your child for running too fast or climbing too high. Save the lectures for later.
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Stop any bleeding by pressing against it firmly with a clean, preferably, sterile, pad. (If you're desperate a clean sanitary towel is perfect!)
- Clean the wound by rinsing under running water or bathing with an antiseptic wash.
- Gently dry the wound.
- If the surrounding skin is dirty, temporarily cover the wound with a sterile gauze. Then clean the surrounding skin with soap and water, taking care to keep dirt away from the wound.
- Pat the skin dry, treat the wound with an antiseptic cream and then cover with a plaster.
- Check when your child last had a tetanus injection - they may need a booster.
If the wound is deep deal with the bleeding while you are waiting for expert medical help. Stay with your child as the sight of blood may be frightening for her. Use gravity to slow bleeding by raising the cut above the level of the heart and press firmly with a pad. If the cut is deep and the edges can't be pulled together your child may need stitches.
What should I have in my first aid kit?
- Plasters (cartoon character ones tend to go down well!)
- Antiseptic Cream
- Antiseptic wash
- Cotton Wool
- Gauze dressing & tape
- A children's painkiller
- Crepe bandage
- Scissors
Click here for more information on Dettol
