Tips for Managing Common Injuries and Illnesses

Most parents know the sinking feeling of watching their children take a tumble. It happens at home, school, playground or even in the bedroom. Kids will be kids and yes, they will fall and sometimes get hurt. There is really not much you, as a parent, can do about it.

While you can’t do anything to stop your kids from falling and hurting themselves, you can do to help them feel better by effectively managing these common injuries and illnesses at home.

Common Injuries and Illnesses Happen

Doctors at enTrust Urgent Care created these quick tips to managing common illnesses and injuries, to help you make your loved ones feel better. Below you will find tips on managing animal bites, broken bones, fixing cuts and scrapes.

We also show you how to manage dehydration, heat exhaustion, remove the embedded object and foreign bodies, heatstroke, knocked out tooth, and more.

Contact us or simply come to our walk-in clinic and urgent care center if you have any questions. Our experienced urgent care doctors and licensed nurses will take care of your loved ones quickly.

Animal Bite

1. Apply pressure with a clean, dry cloth to help stop bleeding
2. Don’t remove pressure; if bleeding continues, add more clean, dry cloths

Broken Bone

1. Stop any bleeding with a sterile bandage or clean cloth
2. Immobilize the injured area using a splint, if available
3. Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain
4. If the person appears to be in shock, have the person lie flat and elevate their legs

Cuts or Scrape

1. Apply pressure with a clean cloth or bandage to help stop the bleeding
2. Don’t remove pressure; if bleeding continues, add more clean cloths or bandages

Child with Fever

1. Don’t treat a child’s fever with aspirin
2. Use Tylenol® or Motrin® as prescribed based on the child’s weight
3. Apply a cold compress to the child’s forehead and dress the child in light, loose-fitting clothes

Dehydration

1. Sip small amounts of water
2. Drink carbohydrate/electrolyte-containing drinks. Good choices are sports drinks such as Gatorade® or prepared replacement solutions such as Pedialyte®
3. Suck on plain ice chips, or popsicles made from juices and/or sports drinks
4. Sip through a straw (works well for someone who is recovering from jaw surgery or mouth sores)

Heat Exhaustion

1. Rest in a cool, shaded area
2. Give cool fluids such as sports drinks that will replace lost salt. Salty snacks are appropriate, as tolerated
3. Loosen or remove clothing
4. Don’t use an alcohol rub
5. Don’t give any beverages containing alcohol or caffeine

Embedded Object / Foreign Body

1. Don’t try to remove the foreign object
2. Carefully wrap gauze or clean clothing around the area to prevent the object from moving
3. Apply pressure around the area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth to limit bleeding
4. Don’t remove pressure; if bleeding continues, add more clean cloths or bandages

Heat Stroke

Alert: Unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke is a medical emergency. You should call an ambulance immediately; do not attempt to treat a case of heat stroke on your own. You can help while waiting for medical assistance to arrive by doing the following:

1. Move the person to a cooler environment or place him/her in a cool bath of water (as long as he/she is conscious and can be attended continuously)
2. Alternatively, moisten the skin with lukewarm water and use a fan to blow cool air across the skin
3. Give cool beverages by mouth if he/she can tolerate them

Knocked-Out Tooth

1. Handle the tooth by the top only, avoiding the root, and rinse it in a bowl of tap water
2. Try to replace the tooth in the socket and bite gently on gauze to keep it in place
3. If it doesn’t stay, place it in a bowl of either whole milk, the person’s own saliva, or a warm, mild saltwater solution