While it goes without saying that creating a safe environment for your baby is the best way to prevent an accident, even the most vigilant parents can expect to face a trip to the doctor (or possibly the emergency room) after their child's injury. In fact, each year one in four children is hurt severely enough to need medical attention. One of the best ways that new parents, grandparents, and babysitters can prepare for the unexpected is to take classes in first aid and infant CPR. Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency will help you remain calm, think quickly, and take action with confidence. Here's how to handle the most common injuries and emergencies that affect children under a year of age.
Bites
Bug bites are uncomfortable, but are rarely cause for alarm. Animal or human bites, on the other hand, usually require more care.
Stings and bites If the insect has a stinger, remove it by scraping it with your fingernail or a credit card or using tweezers. Wash the site with soap and water, cover it to keep it clean, and then apply a cool compress to reduce pain and swelling. Contact a doctor if the area becomes infected. If your child shows signs of an allergic reaction (hives, vomiting, wheezing), call 911, as a severe allergic reaction can be life-threatening.
Animal or human bites Dog, cat, and other animal bites can cause infection, scarring, and the remote chance of rabies. Wash minor human and animal bites with soap and water, and apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage. For serious bites, apply pressure to control bleeding, and seek medical attention. Stitches, antibiotics, a dose of DTaP vaccine (which protects against tetanus), and rabies prevention shots may be required. If you think the animal might have rabies (if it acts strangely), call 911 and ask that animal control be dispatched.
Burns
A baby's skin is far more sensitive to heat than adult skin. Burns are classified by severity as first degree (redness), second degree (blistering), and third degree (charring of the skin). Follow these steps if your child is burned.
1. Remove the baby from danger and cool the burned area by flushing with cool water. Remove clothing unless it's stuck to the skin.
2. Loosely cover the burn with a clean, dry gauze dressing to reduce pain and prevent infection. Do not put any ointment on a significant burn, as it can seal in heat. Home remedies like butter or grease are worse and can cause infection.
3. For a serious burn, have someone call 911, as severe burns can cause loss of fluid from the body, impair temperature control, and cause breathing difficulty. If no one else is available, make the call yourself after providing care for one minute. All second-degree (blistering) burns in infants should be seen by a physician, especially those involving the hands, feet, face, or genitals. If the burn has affected a large portion of the body, wrap your baby in a clean sheet and cover her with a blanket (to keep her warm) after stopping the burn and cooling it with water.
4. For a chemical burn caused by contact with a household product such as paint remover, drain or oven cleaners, or household bleach, flush the area with large quantities of cool running water until emergency medical personnel arrive. If possible, remove clothes with any chemical on them.
5. Most electrical injuries in young children involve household currents, such as a child putting a metal object into an outlet or biting an electrical cord. If this happens, call 911, but don't cool the burn with water; just cover it with a dry, sterile bandage. Electrical burns may appear deceptively minor yet can cause severe harm.
