Here - Health Promotion Agency
Here - Health Promotion Agency
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