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Here - Health Promotion Agency

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Illness and accidents<br />

THINGS STUCK UP THE<br />

NOSE OR IN THE EARS<br />

If your child has something lodged<br />

firmly in his or her nose or ear, don’t<br />

attempt to remove it yourself (you<br />

may push it further in). Take your<br />

child to the nearest Accident and<br />

Emergency department. If the nose<br />

is blocked, explain to your child that<br />

he or she will have to breathe<br />

through the mouth.<br />

IF YOUR CHILD HAS A CUT<br />

•<br />

If there’s a lot of bleeding, press<br />

firmly on the wound, using a pad<br />

of clean cloth. If you don’t have a<br />

cloth, use your fingers. Keep<br />

pressing until the bleeding stops.<br />

This may take 10 minutes or more.<br />

• Don’t use a tourniquet or tie<br />

anything so tightly that it stops<br />

the circulation.<br />

•<br />

If possible, raise the injured limb.<br />

This helps to stop the bleeding.<br />

Don’t do this if you think the limb is<br />

broken.<br />

• Cover the wound with a clean<br />

dressing if you can find one. If<br />

blood soaks through the pad or<br />

dressing, do not remove it. Place<br />

another pad or dressing over the top.<br />

• Then call an ambulance or take<br />

your child to hospital.<br />

•<br />

Ask your GP about a tetanus<br />

injection if your child has not<br />

been immunised.<br />

IF YOUR CHILD HAS TAKEN<br />

A POISON<br />

Pills and medicines<br />

•<br />

If you’re not sure whether your child<br />

has swallowed something, spend<br />

a minute or two looking for the<br />

missing pills. Check they haven’t<br />

rolled under a chair, for example.<br />

• If you still think something has<br />

been swallowed, take your child<br />

straight away to your GP or to<br />

hospital, whichever is quickest.<br />

•<br />

Keep a close watch on your child<br />

and be prepared to follow the<br />

ABC of resuscitation if he or<br />

she becomes unconscious (see<br />

page 112).<br />

• If possible, take the container (or<br />

its label) with you and a sample of<br />

whatever you think your child has<br />

swallowed.<br />

•<br />

Don’t give salt and water or do<br />

anything else to make your child<br />

sick.<br />

WHEN TO TAKE YOUR<br />

CHILD TO HOSPITAL<br />

AFTER AN ACCIDENT<br />

• If your child is unconscious.<br />

•<br />

If your child is vomiting or<br />

drowsy.<br />

• If your child is bleeding<br />

from the ears.<br />

•<br />

If your child has stopped<br />

breathing at some stage.<br />

• If your child may have<br />

internal injuries.<br />

•<br />

If your child complains of<br />

severe pain anywhere.<br />

• If your child is having fits<br />

(see page 95).<br />

If you’re worried or uncertain<br />

about your child’s injuries,<br />

get a doctor’s advice. If you<br />

are unsure whether you<br />

should move your child,<br />

make him or her warm and<br />

call an ambulance. Go to the<br />

Accident and Emergency<br />

department of your nearest<br />

hospital or to a local doctor,<br />

whichever is quickest. Not all<br />

hospitals have an Accident<br />

and Emergency department,<br />

so check in advance where<br />

your nearest one is. Your<br />

health visitor will be able to<br />

tell you. (See inside the back<br />

cover for how to get help in<br />

an emergency.)<br />

117

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