Scary Emergencies and Your Children

I cannot imagine the horror a parent feels when a serious accident happens to their child that he or she could not prevent. There would be feeling of remorse and guilt from not being there to prevent it, fear of losing the child, and anger for such a hateful thing happening to a child so young. According to Clifford R. Anderson MD there are thing you can do to help you not feel too helpless in the care of your child. However, the hospital emergency room is the best solution, but in case they cannot come to your aid quick enough here are some remedies for serious problems.

The Child Is Not Breathing

The child should be laid on his her back on a firm surface like a table. You must put one of your hands under the neck and shoulders of the child, and the other under the hip. Proceed to bring the child's knees up to the chest then straighten the child to allow air to circulate. Repeat this twenty five to thirty times a minute. You can also put a rubber tube into the mouth of the child and blow gently to put air in the lungs of the child. A third option is to lay the child face down, and gently insert a clean middle finger into the child's mouth while holding the jaw forward. You should extend other fingers inside mouth and gently straight out your arm, and bring back to normal flex. The purpose of this is to make the abdominal organs working to bring some air back into the child's lungs. If you are not sure about the third option, the first and third should do well.

The Child's Heart Is Not Beating

A gentle yet firm hands should be placed on the sternum breast bone careful not to fracture. You should press 60 times a minute to help the heart start beating again, and the pulse to start. This is called a closed massage. It is best to get the paramedics there to help you, because it means that efficient blood is not forgetting to the heart.

Convulsions

This can usually happen when there is a high fever which is linked to an infection. This can occur when there is prolonged vomiting, a brain injury, temper tantrums and holding breath, jaundice, ear infections or a parasite in the bowel. Moreover, household chemicals can also cause convulsions in children.
Place a piece of rubber between jaws to protect the child from biting the tongue. make sure the child can still breath, keep chin upward with the head low to get oxygen to the child. If there is a fever use a sponge to rub rubbing alcohol on the child to warm, and expand the congested area. Use cool water compress or suppository on the child. Hospitalization is again the best method for serious emergencies.

Croup

This condition makes the passage way of the larynx and voice box inflamed. When the child coughs it sounds like a whistle like a conking sound.
You must let the child sit up if it is comfortable, use a humidifier to moisten the air to make breathing less painful. Make sure there is no cold air in the room to worsen the situation. Vick's vapor rub is also good as warming the area to allow better breathing, and less pain. Be sure to include you family doctor about the illness.

Severe Burns

In this case you should remove all clothing from the affected area, put petroleum and gauze over the burns careful not to irritate. If a large area, make a splint to restrict the area from movement. If it is over 10 percent of the body, you must take your child to the hospital covered in a clean sheet. Give the child sips of water to prevent dehydration.

Chemical Burns

Wash area with a lot of water for several minutes. Next, you should use a moist pack soaked in a weak solution with baking soda. If it is alkali use a little vinegar. If carbolic acid use a sponge with rubbing alcohol.

Steam or Dry Heat

You must undress child quickly and put Vaseline on the skin with gauze. You can also try a warm bath with the child's clothes on. Most importantly call 911 to get that child to the Emergency room as soon as possible.

Electrical Burns

Your child will need artificial respiration. The area must be cleaned and covered with petroleum. you must call your doctor immediately to avoid any mishaps.

There are many emergencies that can happen at any time, the best advice is to be calm enough to seek help as fast as you can.