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Here - Health Promotion Agency

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Illness and accidents<br />

at the knee and the arms remain<br />

in the position described above.<br />

3 Tilt the head back gently to<br />

maintain the open airway.<br />

4 If in the correct position, as<br />

shown, your child will not roll on<br />

to his or her tummy or back.<br />

5 Check breathing and signs of<br />

circulation. If either stops,<br />

follow the ABC of resuscitation<br />

(page 112).<br />

Don’t give your child<br />

anything to eat or drink after<br />

an accident. Wait until you<br />

get to the hospital. He or she<br />

may need an anaesthetic<br />

later.<br />

IF YOUR CHILD HAS<br />

A BROKEN BONE<br />

• Don’t move your child if you<br />

think his or her neck or spine<br />

may be injured. Get expert help.<br />

Unnecessary movement could<br />

cause paralysis.<br />

•<br />

A bone in your child’s leg or arm<br />

may be broken if he or she has<br />

pain and swelling, and the limb<br />

seems to be lying at a strange<br />

angle.<br />

• If you can’t easily move your<br />

child without causing pain, call<br />

an ambulance.<br />

•<br />

If you have to move your child be<br />

very gentle. Use both hands<br />

above and below the injury to<br />

steady and support it (using<br />

blankets or clothing if necessary).<br />

Comfort your child and take him<br />

or her to hospital.<br />

IF YOUR CHILD IS BURNT<br />

OR SCALDED<br />

•<br />

Immediately put the burn or<br />

scald under running cold water to<br />

reduce the heat in the skin.<br />

Do this for at least 10 minutes.<br />

If running water isn’t available,<br />

immerse the burn or scald in cold<br />

water, or any other cooling fluid,<br />

such as milk, or other cold drinks<br />

could be used.<br />

• Cover the burn or scald with a<br />

clean, non-fluffy cloth like a clean<br />

cotton pillow case or linen tea<br />

towel or cling film. This cuts<br />

down the danger of infection.<br />

•<br />

If clothes are stuck to the skin,<br />

don’t try to take them off.<br />

• Depending on the severity of the<br />

burn or scald, see your doctor or<br />

call an ambulance or take your<br />

child to hospital. You should seek<br />

medical help for anything other<br />

than a very small burn.<br />

•<br />

Don’t put butter, oil or ointment<br />

on a burn or scald. It only has to<br />

be cleaned off again before<br />

treatment can be given.<br />

• Don’t prick any blisters. You’ll<br />

delay healing and let in germs.<br />

•<br />

Be prepared to treat your child<br />

for shock (see page 118).<br />

MINOR ACCIDENTS<br />

Many general practices are<br />

equipped to deal with minor<br />

casualties such as cuts or<br />

items trapped in the nose or<br />

ear. In these sorts of cases,<br />

therefore, it may be more<br />

appropriate or convenient for<br />

you to seek advice from your<br />

local practice on where best<br />

to go before attending an<br />

Accident and Emergency<br />

department.<br />

115

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