Impetigo – School Sores
Head Injury
Bound to be bumps, bangs and knocks along the way. Remember if your baby/child has ANY loss of consciousness, they MUST be seen by a medical professional. If the child has a MILD head injury it is ok to let them sleep, remembering, ANY changes or concerns with your child, you will be straight off to the nearest medical centre or emergency department. Don’t be afraid to call 000 and seek their expert advice.
Fractures
Hard to escape when it comes to children… Snow trips, skate parks, play centres and endless curiosity and an abundance of no fear!
When in doubt, treat as a fracture. Immobilise and support the injured limb straight away. Elevate and get that little limb up, think outside the box and use whatever you can. Time to pull out the cold pack, this will assist with pain and swelling. Reach for your medicine cabinet and give pain relief. Hold off from giving your child any food or fluids at this stage, incase they require surgery. Off to the doctor, a X-ray is required.
Gastroenteritis
Unfortunately if your child is hit with this highly contagious bug, they are out of bounds from socialising until 48-hours free from vomiting or diarrhoea. With gastroenteritis, it is really important that you are on the look out for dehydration. Ensure your child has plenty of fluids and instead of reaching for the cordials and flat lemonade, reach for an oral rehydration solution. Hydralyte which is scientifically formulated and safe for bubs under 12-months, contains the correct balance of electrolytes and glucose required for rapid rehydration.
Seizure
Managing a seizure in a car seat, pram or stroller: It’s ok to leave the child seated in the device as long as they are secure and safely strapped in. You may need to gently support their head and as soon as the jerking stops, the unconscious child should be taken out of the device and placed in the recovery position. Do you know the Kidzaid DRSABCD 7-step action plan?
Poisons
Being in new surrounds and unfamiliar territory, poisons pose a big risk for curious little bodies. Please see our POISONS info guide. Treatment and management is ever changing, so it’s essential you familiarise yourself with the current recommendations from the Poisons Information Centre. Add this contact number now: 13 11 26.
Swallowed (ingested) foreign objects
If your child swallows a lithium battery or magnet this is a medical emergency and requires prompt intervention. Call 000.
1300 543 924
Bronchiolitis, Croup and Pneumonia
What you need to look out for and when to seek urgent medical assistance:
- Increased breathing rate, indicating your child is not getting enough oxygen.
- Colour changes, your child may appear to have a bluish tinge to their lips, mouth and fingernails, again indicative of lack of oxygen. The skin can also appear gray or pale.
- Noisy breathing – Grunting may be heard when your child exhales. It’s the body’s attempt to try and keep air in the lungs.
- Nasal-flaring – Nostrils flaring in paediatrics is indicating the child is working very hard at breathing.
- Retractions / recession – ribs ‘sucking in’ when they are breathing is another way of trying to bring more air into their lungs.
- Wheezing (whistling, musical sounds) – is indicating that your child’s air passages are becoming narrower and smaller.
- Tripod position – child will adopt this position to try and draw in as much air as possible to their lungs.
- Observing your child’s behaviour and the level of consciousness is important.
- Respiratory distress image – view here.
Related posts
