Observing a child develop and acquire new skills is a joy; naturally, their curiosity grows alongside each new stage of development. They are like young scientists curious about the links between actions and outcomes, and this curiosity can get them into trouble and even lead to physical harm or injuries.

It’s heartbreaking to imagine a child in distress after suffering an injury. However, suppose the child is a toddler. In that case, it might be more challenging to determine what happened and where the pain is coming from because of the child’s limited verbal communication.

Regrettably, when you understand the type of child injury, what to do, and where to start, you can manage such circumstances properly. And for that, you’ll need to educate yourself on first aid for parents.

This article discusses childhood injuries, how to determine their severity and how you should help manage each situation.

Understanding various types of child injury

As a young person, you might expect the occasional scrape, bump, or bruise from playing outside, but more severe injuries can occur if your child takes a tumble.

The dilemma many parents have is determining whether or not their child’s twisted ankle is merely a sprain or whether or not it is a severe injury that warrants an immediate visit to the emergency department.

Here are some of the childhood injuries every parent must watch out for:

Sprains and strains

Muscle and tendon tears result from excessive stretching and are known as strains. The ligaments get stretched or torn a little bit, which leads to a sprain. Teenagers are more prone to sprains and strains than younger kids.

So, how do you know when your child is suffering from sprains?

Signs and symptoms of sprains:

  • Discomfort in the limbs or the muscles
  • Inflammation and bruises
  • Injury symptoms like redness and heat.
  • Difficulty in moving the damaged body part

What signs indicate a severe injury?

Your child needs immediate medical attention if they are experiencing the following:

  • More bruises
  • Tingling or numbness in the affected area
  • Misshaped or bent limb
  • Difficulty maintaining a healthy body weight
  • Excruciating discomfort with movement or contact

Fall and slips

Injuries in children are most commonly sustained through falls. As a matter of fact, the CDC reports that every day, about 8,000 children in the United States are treated in emergency departments due to injuries sustained in falls.

Baby and toddler falls are more common than any other type of harm in children. Younger individuals do not have the same motor control or balance compared to older children and adults. 

Image alt text: child injury. A picture of a child with a serious blast injury.

Author credit: By O'Brien PJ, Cox MW. Stents in tents: endovascular therapy on the battlefields of the global war on terror. J Surg Radiol. 2011 Jan 1;2(1). – http://www.surgisphere.com/SurgRad/issues/volume-2/1-january-2011-pages-1-112/155-original-article-stents-in-tents-endovascular-therapy-on-the-battlefields-of-the-global-war-on-terror.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25785504

There are various tried-and-true methods for keeping kids safe from harm in the case of a fall. Even yet, slips and falls are always a possibility.

Where does most fall child injury occur?

Sliding and monkey bars, in particular, are major risk factors for playground-related injuries. The following are some more sources of potential fall hazards:

  • Falling from stairs
  • Elevated landings
  • Cluttered or congested pathways

In most cases, children won’t need medical attention if they suffer minor injuries from falls, but they should take to see a doctor if their injuries prevent them from using an arm or leg.

But of course, if no evident trauma has occurred, and the symptoms aren’t preventing the person from returning to their routine, it might be challenging to determine whether it’s time to seek help. Unfortunately, some falls ad slips may result in injuries like head injuries.

Head injuries

Most kids will experience the occasional bump to the head. However, some head injuries are not life-threatening and can be treated with rest and rehabilitation. After a slight bump on the head, complications can arise quite rarely.

How can you assess the severity of head injuries?

Make an appointment with your child’s doctor if the bump on the head seems serious. The doctor would want to know when and how the injury occurred and how the child is feeling.

After a brain injury, your child may show symptoms of a concussion, such as unusually extreme irritability, nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking clearly, and a change in the child’s gait. These symptoms should be taken very seriously and treated quickly by a medical professional.

How do you know if the head injury is serious?

Watch out for the following signs and symptoms of severe head injuries

  • Disorientation or slurred speech
  • Weakness in the limbs
  • Weakness in the limbs
  • Constant or recurring dizziness
  • Irritating ear noise that won’t go away
  • Conflicting or distorted eyesight
  • More than two or three vomiting episodes
  • Persistent pain in one’s head, significantly if it’s worsening
  • Trouble waking up or feeling sleepy all the time
  • Abnormally high levels of agitation or agitation that does not seem to subside

What if the child loses consciousness?

In most cases, examinations and X-rays are unnecessary if the child is responsive and awake following a head injury.

Your youngster may cry for up to ten minutes due to pain or fear, but this is normal. Applying a cold pack for 20 minutes may help reduce swelling, but your child will still need constant supervision afterward.

Fractures

Fractures are the most typical type of injury for newborns and toddlers. Falls from standing height are also a common cause of injury, as falls from low surfaces like beds, coffee or changing tables, and sofas.

Your child can sustain a fracture just with an appropriate angle and force with the clavicle is the bone that usually breaks first during a fall. But, of course, children can twist their legs, wrists, or even fingers in the process.

So, how can you tell if your kid has a fracture? Signs include localized inflammation, deformity, and hesitancy to utilize the affected body part immediately after the injury. Your child may hesitate to walk just to avoid putting their weight on their legs.

The following are some other warning indicators that require a visit to the emergency room right away:

  • Pain (severe discomfort and sensitivity)
  • Inability to move the injured part
  • Tingling or numbness (paresthesia)

Choking

Chocking is one of the most common accidents children may experience. If the particles blocking the child’s airways are not removed in time, it could cut off their air supply leading to cardiac arrest or death.

So, how can you know your child is choking? A choked child could have a persistent hacking cough that won’t let up until the offending material is removed. You may also notice when the child cannot speak, cough, or breath.

What can you do to manage child injury?

Keep in mind that kids will still get hurt regardless of how many safety measures are taken since they are so busy and curious. Having a plan for when an emergency arises is crucial.

Here are some of the first aid skills and techniques that could turn you into a lifesaver when dealing with children:

Learn to properly clean and treat wounds

You will likely come across someone injured by a cut or a nasty case of bruises. However, you can alleviate your child’s suffering and slow blood loss if you understand how to treat cuts, scrapes, and other injuries that show signs of bleeding.

The first step in healing is acquiring the skills necessary to keep the wound clean and free of infection. That’s why knowing how to bandage, disinfect, and lacerate is essential. In addition, with the proper education, you’ll be able to create wounds free of contamination.

Learn the Heimlich Maneuver

Children, especially infants, are more vulnerable to choking. That doesn’t imply that choking isn’t a problem at any age.

A blockage in the throat can occur at any time and can prevent the intake of food or drinks. Furthermore, more people of all ages die from choking than drowning or shooting.

If you want to aid a choking child, you should know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver so you can clear their airway before it closes completely.

Master the techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Learning CPR has many essential benefits, including saving lives. Develop your competence in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation to help solve heart-related situations like sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack.

Stopping and preventing excessive blood loss

Extreme and uncontrollable bleeding may result from some injuries. Given that you can never be too prepared for an emergency, it’s essential to know how to stop bleeding. Because you might be the only thing separating someone’s life and death right now. They might make it if you act quickly and decisively.

Conclusion

Children are prone to fractures, sprains, strains, and head injuries. These could put their lives in danger, especially if they know how to perform the proper first aid. Therefore, learn the basic CPR, Heimlich maneuver, and wound dressing skills to help save your kid when emergencies strike.