4 Common Injuries During Childhood and Tips to Help Parents Deal With Them Effectively

Children often run around and keep playing. Such physical activities help them stay sharp, alert and active. As a parent, caging your child in the name of protection can eventually hurdle their thinking abilities and socializing. It may block the path for the appropriate exposure they would need in growing up as a socially responsible individual. Children must play and stay happy. Certain common injuries during childhood can be treated at home, but some might require the attention of your child’s paediatrician. A parent or the caregiver needs to be proactive in such situations.

4 Common Injuries During Childhood and Tips to Deal With Them

For children, it is important to play and getting hurt is a part of the game for them. As a parent, it is important for you to understand and be prepared to deal with your child’s injuries. You must know which injuries can be taken care of at home and which need a visit to the doctor. Here we list four common such injuries and what you can do about them.

1. Fractures

$Child with fracture$

Fractures are one of the common injuries during childhood. Children run and play, and a sudden fall during such actions can cause a fracture. A broken bone or a cracked bone is called a fracture. If ignored, a fracture may lead to serious conditions. It takes utmost patience to deal with them, as the fractures can be extremely painful.

Possible Causes of Fracture in Children

A sudden fall during cycling or running.
Playing heavy sports.
Unexpected accidents like sudden falls from a certain altitude.

What to Do if Your Child Suffers a Fracture?

Check around the wound for any swelling and bring your child to rest without touching the wounded area.
Gently ask them if they can move the injured part. Unbearable pain that hurdles the movement can be a fracture.
Calm your child and pacify them. Don’t force them to explain the accident.
Call your child’s paediatrician immediately.
Rest your child in a comfortable place and apply an ice pack to the area of swelling.
Do not try to touch the affected area and do not press it.
Take them to the nearest hospital instead of waiting for help to arrive.
Prefer an ambulance to your private vehicle.

Fractures can be extremely painful to deal with. Be vigilant and watchful if your child is on a bike ride. Give them proper headgear, knee and elbow protection. It is on the part of the parent to be strong and calm during such overwhelming situations. Since a child’s body is flexible and with growing bones, healing will be faster. Your quick, confident, and proactive thoughts and actions can help your child feel reassured and safe.

[Read : Broken Bones And Fractures In Children]

2. Choking

Handling an active child can be highly challenging. Sometimes consuming food can also create certain uninvited situations like choking which happens mostly in children. Children always eat food in a hurry with their eyes and mind somewhere else. They may gulp in a big part to finish it. Improper chewing and swallowing can lead to choking in such situations. Choking can be serious if not treated properly. It can cause trouble breathing and talking.

Possible Causes For Choking in Children

Some causes for choking in children include

Eating Food Rapidly: Rapid eating leads the child to choke as the child might not chew the food properly.
Gulping Large Amounts of Food: Gulping large proportions of food can cause choking as it can block the food pipe.
Running and Playing Immediately After Eating: Immediate activities after snacking or eating may cause choking due to the reflux and may also lead to vomiting.
Talking While Eating: Talking while consuming food can cause choking, as the tiny grains may get stuck inside the windpipe.

What to Do if Your Child is Choking?

Here is what you can do to help your child who is choking.

Gently make your child stand and give a blow on their back. It can help in unblocking the airways if the choking is mild and allows them to breathe.
If the above trick is not useful. Try the Heimlich manoeuvre, which is a procedure where the caregiver stands behind the person who is choking, makes a fist, and gives abdominal thrusts.
Continue to use both techniques until the child feels better and able to breathe.
If the situation is not manageable and if your child’s condition bothers you, contact the doctor immediately for the next step.

Choking is a common problem in children, and it can be due to various reasons. Help your child understand the importance of proper chewing before they eat anything. Tell them that immediate heavy activities after food intake can lead to choking. Teaching them methodical things can help avoid certain unwanted health conditions.

[Read : What To Do When Your Child Is Choking]

3. Neck, Shoulder, And Back Injuries

Injuries in the neck, shoulder and back are some of the common injuries during childhood. Children continue to carry heavy school bags despite the rule that quotes the weight of the bag that a child carries should be only 10% of their body weight. Most educational institutions never bother about such rules and don’t abide by them. Carrying heavy loads can lead to serious neck, shoulder, and back injuries in children.

Sports that require stamina can also lead to such injuries sometimes. Your child may look and be fit, but sometimes a small mistake in following the technique can cause problems. Such injuries, if ignored, can be problematic for your child in their adulthood.

Possible Causes For Neck, Shoulder, And Back Injuries in Children

Some of the causes for neck, shoulder and back injuries in children include

Lifting heavy school bags (more than the ideal weight that a child should carry).
Participating in heavy sports.
Improper sitting or standing postures.
Sudden muscle strain.
Sudden fall or an accident

What is the First Aid Needed in Neck, Shoulder and Back Injuries in Children?

Do not ignore these injuries as may start with mild pain in the beginning but can cause problems later.

Consider your child’s complaint and always have an ice pack ready at home, especially if your kid is into sports.
Applying an ice pack helps reduce the pain and inflammation around the area.
Try to reduce the weight of the luggage they carry. This can give relief to some extent.
Dislodge them temporarily from sports that may cause such injuries. They can rejoin once they get rid of the pain.
Do not hesitate to consult your child’s paediatrician if you get the complaint of pain often.
If not immediately, these kinds of injuries can affect the quality of their lifestyle in the future. It is important to speak to your child’s paediatrician about such injuries.

Dealing with such neck, shoulder, and back complaints as early as possible can help your child stay fit and healthy.

4. Burns

Burns are the scariest injury anyone can get. It will be very difficult for a child to bear with the pain they cause. Be cautious and try to keep an eye on what your child is reaching for. It is important to keep things like hot vessels and food items away and unreachable to your child. Burns are not just due to hot food items, vessels, and stovetops, there are various types of burns that a child may come across.

Various Types of Burns That a Child Might Face

Radiation Burns occur due to the sun and heat.
Electrical Burns occur due to the electricity or short circuit.
Chemical Burns may occur from cleaning liquids that contain harmful and pungent chemicals.

Possible Causes of Burns in Children

Some possible causes for burns in children include

Hot vessels, hot water, steaming food items, stovetops that remain unattended.
Electrical wires and sockets that are switched on.
Overexposure to the sun may cause sunburns.
Cleaning products that contain harmful chemicals like acids may cause skin burns if touched accidentally.

What to Do if Your Child Has a Burn Injury?

Here is what you must do if your child has had a burn injury.

Pull your child immediately back if you notice the accident. This may avoid the burn reaching deep into the skin.
Place the burnt area under running water. Avoid cold or hot water.
Wrap a wet cloth around the area to ease the pain.
Do not use any ice packs and never apply a cold pack directly on the burn.
If the burn is not deep, check with your child’s paediatrician before applying any ointment.
If the burn is deep and painful, take your child to the doctor immediately.
Give a mild pain relief medication to ease the pain after speaking with the doctor.
It can take just a few seconds for the burn to turn intense; deeper burns like blisters and white rashes must be taken to the notice of the doctor immediately.
Ensure to disconnect all the wires and switch off the electrical sockets which are not in use.
Keep hot vessels and food items away from the reach of children.

Burns can be extremely painful. Your child’s skin is sensitive, and for this reason, it is always better to get the opinion of your child’s doctor before you proceed with any first aid. Administering a pain relief medication can help the child deal with the immense pain if the burn is more intense.

Getting injured is quite common for children. Some may need quick and immediate attention from a doctor as a parent or a caregiver may not be able to manage and deal with every injury at home. It is important to be proactive and calm while dealing with such situations.

Do not ignore and leave such common injuries during childhood to heal with time. Teach your child to be watchful while playing. Provide them with proper sports gear that can protect them from such sudden injuries. Avoid the possibilities of contracting burns as much as possible. We may not be able to protect them in all situations but being calm and composed during such situations can reassure your child about their recovery.

[Read : Burns in Babies]

FAQ’s

1. What Are the Most Common Injuries in Children?

It is common for a child to get injured. Reasons include sports and other activities at school and out of school. The four most common injuries that children come across are

Fractures
Choking
Nech, shoulder and back injuries
Burns

2. How to Deal With Common Injuries in Children?

It can be daunting for a parent to deal with injuries that a child gets. Calm down and reassure your child. Be aware of the first aid that is needed for the injury. Do not be in haste while dealing with certain burns and fractures. Those may be immensely painful for your child. Give pain relief medication to ease the pain. Apply ice packs on the inflamed area (Except for burns). Do not forget to call your child’s paediatrician after first aid. Ignoring or leaving the injury may lead to serious consequences.

3. How do I Know That My Child’s Injury is Serious?

For injuries like fractures, it is mandatory to call the doctor. Fractures can be painful, and the child may not be able to move the injured part even a bit. Call the doctor if you see your child coming home with symptoms like swelling and immense pain.
In case of injuries like burns, do not try to treat the burn at home if you see any blisters. Blisters are the indication of second-degree burns which demand the attention of the doctor.
For head injuries, observe the child for symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness. If your child feels uncomfortable breathing and swallowing food, or if you see the head swollen, it might be serious.
In cases of choking, choking, try to make your child breathe by using certain techniques like the Heimlich manoeuvre. In case of failed attempts, consult your doctor immediately as breathlessness is hard to manage.

4 Common Injuries During Childhood and Tips to Help Parents Deal With Them Effectively