As parents, it falls to us to protect our children from any harm that may befall them throughout their younger years. However, even with the best intentions, it’s almost impossible to keep them safe all the time, and unless you choose to be some kind of helicopter parent who denies your child the chance of living independently, they will injure themselves at some point in their lives. But it’s what we do after the fact that separates the negligent from the competent, as the actions we take can mean the difference between a full and proper recovery or one that is delayed and prone to complications. In this post, we’re looking specifically at six things (in no particular order) that all parents can do to ensure their child reviews as they should and possibly seek compensation if the circumstances permit.
Know When To Seek Help
No matter how much you might like to believe that you’re able to solve all problems by yourself and fix any wounds that might appear, the reality is that you are as human as the next person and, as such, have a finite amount of knowledge. This means you need to know when you should call in the professionals and when you might be able to remedy the situation alone. This manifests in numerous ways and can range from calling in the paramedics if you deem the injury warrants professional attention to seeing if your child’s injury was due to the negligence of others. If it’s the latter, you will need to hire a compassionate personal injury attorney with the required experience not just in handling personal injury cases but also those involving young children, as this can differ from how it works with adults. When it comes to the former (calling an ambulance), it’s generally best to err on the side of caution as some injuries might not appear obvious at first, and only via thought inspection can you discover something more serious. If you can recognize when to seek assistance versus when an incident only needs minor first-aid, you can ensure the outcome meets your expectations and, most crucially, that your child recovers adequately.
Assess The Injury
To follow on from the previous point, assessing the injury can make a massive difference in outcomes. By remaining calm and evaluating what has happened and what sort of injury has occurred, you will be better positioned to come up with a solution that fits the situation. When a child is injured, it’s easy to default to panic and assume the worst, especially when there is a lot of blood involved. However, falling into this trap will only serve to make you make incorrect and possibly more dangerous decisions. While nobody is expecting you to know everything, a quick look over an injury can usually tell you quite a lot. It’s also worth noting that while lots of blood isn’t always cause for concern, you should never hesitate to call in the pros if you think things might be worse than you think. Nevertheless, if it looks like a scrape that has occurred due to them falling off their bicycle, it probably is and might only need a bit of antiseptic cream, a band-aid, and a kiss to solve!
Stay Calm In Order To Comfort Your Child
As we mentioned previously, it’s all too easy to fall into a state of panic when you hear or see your kid in an injured state. But telegraphing this worry won’t serve any practical purpose and cause your child to panic more than they might already be. Remaining calm is crucial; even if your child is seriously injured, staying collected is the best way forward. When you’re calm, you are better able to discuss the incident with the emergency services, making it easier for them to ascertain what steps they will need to take when they arrive. It also allows you to inform them of any medications your child is taking so that they can initiate immediate care as soon as they arrive on the scene. And, in many, many situations, the time it takes to arrive, stabilize, and treat someone can make a huge difference (sometimes even between life and death).
Clean The Wound Properly
If you believe it’s possible to avoid having to take a trip to your local clinic, and you want to treat them at home, you must take measures to clean the wound correctly. As we will discuss later on, infection is usually the primary culprit of delayed healing, and if not treated, could result in more serious wounds later. So, how do you clean a wound properly?
- Wash your hands: The first step in any hygienic treatment of an open injury of some sort is to wash your hands. Obviously, this might not be possible in all cases, but it should be adhered to when possible.
- Stop the bleeding: For minor cuts, apply gentle pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or gauze before taking other steps. If the wound isn’t stopping bleeding, then you ought to call an ambulance.
- Clean the wound: Debris can slow the healing process and cause issues, so taking some time to clean the wound using clean running water is vital.
- Apply antibiotic ointment: If you have access to some kind of antiseptic/ antibiotic cream, you can apply it now.
Image source: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/12/30/10/32/gauze-3902918_1280.jpg
Apply Appropriate Dressings And Bandages
Once the wound is clean and prepped, the next step is to cover it. The coverage you use will vary based on the size and location of the problem but will usually include something like a band-aid or bandage. These must be cleaned and applied as cleanly as possible to avoid contamination after prepping the area.
Monitor For Signs Of Infection
Once you have administered first-aid, or your child has been treated in a clinic or hospital, you can probably take them home to relax and recover. During this time, you must monitor their injury for any signs of infection. If you see anything untoward, contact the healthcare worker who treated them and give you some advice on what steps you need to take. This could be cleaning and replying to coverage yourself or bringing them back into the hospital for a nurse to perform treatment.
Whether it’s a bruise from falling off a bike or something more serious, it’s never easy to see your children harmed. By remaining calm, knowing some first-aid, or seeking help when you think the problem is worse than it seems, you can ensure they recover appropriately.
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