First-Aid Guide For Parents
Many parents think they already know the best way to stop a nosebleed, remove a splinter, or lower a fever. But they may be wrong.
Dr. Sean Kenniff from the CBS station in Miami WFOR-TV talks to The Saturday Early Show about important information on the proper way to treat your child when it comes to first-aid.
The following is his advice:
Nosebleed
The first thing many parents do is have the child put his head back. This is wrong. Tilting the head back may cause the child to swallow blood, which can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Instead you should have the child sit down and lean forward slightly. You are then going to want to pinch the nostrils for about five to 10 minutes. If the bleeding continues you may want to consider placing a small roll of cloth or tissue into the nose being very careful not to get it impacted. You'll then resume the pinching and keep the cloth in the nose for about a half an hour.
If the bleeding is the result of an injury such as getting hit in the face with a ball or the blood is streaming out of the nose and down the back of the throat and doesn't stop within a half hour, you'll want to consider going to the emergency room.
Remove a Splinter
The first thing you'll want to do is moisten the area where the splinter is with luke-warm water. Then cleanse the area with rubbing alcohol. Next, grab a pair of sterile tweezers and grab the end of the splinter and slowly remove it. You may have to use a magnifying glass if it's hard to see.
If the splinter appears to be lodged in deeply, you'll want to have a doctor remove it because you could cause a serious infection.
Take a Child's Temperature
Many parents mistakenly use one of the old-fashioned mercury-filled glass thermometers. These aren't safe because mercury is a dangerous substance and the glass can break.
Instead use a digital thermometer. These types of thermometers can be used orally, rectally or under the armpit. It's very easy to operate, just keep it in place until the device beeps that usually only takes about 30 seconds.
Ear thermometers are an OK alternative, but you are going to get the best reading from a digital thermometer.
Contact your pediatrician if the fever is over 103 degrees.
Lower a Child's Fever
The last thing you want to give a child with a fever is aspirin. It's been linked to a rare but deadly condition known as Reyes Syndrome. I
Instead, use ibuprofen or acetaminophen and be sure to use a child's dosage. If your child is clearly uncomfortable you may consider rubbing her with a lukewarm cloth or placing her in a lukewarm bath. But don't use an ice-pack. Having a fever can dehydrate children so be sure to keep giving them plenty of liquids.
Clean a Child's Ear
You can use a cotton swab to clean a child's ear as long as you don't put it into the ear canal. Childrens' ear canals are obviously much smaller than adults and if you place the swab in the ear you can actually end up pushing ear wax further down the canal. If you think your child has a problem with excess ear wax, contact your physician who can offer up a solution.