We are not experts in first aid, this is just a guide from us to assist you, if you want to learn more about First Aid for Children you should contact your local health service and find out what courses are available in your area.

Treatment

Broken Bones

Your child could receive anything from a scraped knee to broken limb or head injury from a fall. Be aware and remember that children can climb once they can crawl.

For scraped knee you will need water, clean cloth, antiseptic cream, plaster and lot's of love and cuddles.

Broken limbs, obviously keep as calm as possible. Reassure your child and try to immobilise them so they are not moved. If the injury involves your child's neck or back, do not move him unless the child is in imminent danger.

Phone for emergency medical help. If you must move your child keep the neck and back completely immobilized. Keeping your child's head, neck, and back in alignment, move the child as a unit.

If your child has an open break (bone protrudes through the skin) and there is severe bleeding, apply pressure on the bleeding area with a clean piece of clothing. Don't try to wash the wound or try to put any part of the bone back.

If you do have to move your child put splints around the injured part to prevent further injury. The arm, leg or broken part should be left in the position you found it. Ideas for splints are using boards, brooms, a stack of newspapers, cardboard, or anything firm, and you can pad the splint with pillows, shirts, towels, or anything soft. Make sure your splints extends beyond the joints above and below the fracture.

Place cold packs or a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area, and keep your child lying down until medical help arrives.

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