Parenthood
Bumps & bruises cont.
It is strongly advised that you attend a Practical First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. Please visit www.firstaidforlife.org.uk [email protected] or tel 0208 675 4036 for more information about our courses. First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.
First Aid for Life is an Award Winning and fully regulated First Aid training provider and our trainers are highly experienced medical and emergency services professionals who will tailor the training to your needs.
Bruises
Bruises – are bleeding under the skin.
Apply a wrapped ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce bruising.
Bumped head
For bruised heads and head injuries it is important to look for signs of internal head injury and monitor them closely for the next 48 hours. Call an ambulance if they have, or develop, any of the following:
Nose bleeds
Small children frequently get nose bleeds as they have small blood vessels in their noses which dilate and burst when they get warm. Children often pick and poke their noses and are prone to running into things, all of which can result in bleeding noses.
If a child has a nose bleed:
• Sit them down.
• Grab something to catch the blood.
• Lean them forward pinching the bridge of the nose. Leaning the child forward whilst applying pressure to the nose will allow you to see when the bleeding has stopped and will avoid the blood trickling down the back of their throat which could make them sick. You should apply pressure and try to compress the leaking blood vessel against the inside of the nose to stop it bleeding.
• Keep changing your grip until you have got to a point where no blood is coming out.
• Keep applying pressure for at least 10 minutes.
• Release pressure slightly and if it starts to bleed again hold for another 10 minutes and then another.
If it really won’t stop bleeding you will need medical help.
Advise them not to pick, poke or blow their nose. If it starts again you will have to apply pressure once more.
• dizziness
• neck pain or stiffness
• fitting
• vomiting more than once - (it is not unusual for children to vomit immediately after an accident as a response to pain, so do not panic if the child is sick just once after a head injury – but they should be assessed by a medical professional anyway).
• unconsciousness
• abnormal breathing
• obvious serious wound or suspected skull fracture
• bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth
• disturbance of speech or vision
• pupils of unequal size
• weakness or paralysis