It’s only a matter of time before your child scrapes a knee or is stung or bitten by an insect. Do you know what to do when your child gets injured or suffers a medical issue?

Patrick Cornell, a paramedic with Mon Health EMS, said parents who know basic first aid can help prevent their child from having further injuries or infections.

“With kids, accidents are bound to happen,” he said. “Knowing how to treat minor cuts and injuries along with knowing basic CPR can go a long way for a child.”

Cornell suggests parents have these first-aid skills in their pocket in case they’re needed.

Know CPR

No matter the age of your child, consider CPR certification. The American Red Cross offers training for both adult and pediatric CPR.

If you believe CPR is needed for your child, call 911, and dispatchers will walk you through providing CPR.

Caring for minor cuts

Use water to rinse smaller cuts until clean. Stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the cut with a clean cloth for 1-2 minutes. For shallow cuts, apply an antibiotic ointment and then cover the cut with a clean bandage.

For larger and deeper cuts and wounds, contact a physician or emergency care. If major bleeding occurs, call 911. For puncture wounds caused by objects like a knife or stick, do not remove the object from the wound and call 911.

Managing nosebleeds

When your child’s nose bleeds, keep him in a sitting position with his head tilted slightly forward. Using your thumb and index finger, apply pressure by squeezing between both nostrils. If bleeding continues after 5 minutes, seek a physician or emergency care.

Taking out splinters

Use tweezers to remove the splinter and wash the area until clean. For splinters that cannot be removed, call your physician.

Choking relief

If your child is coughing, crying or talking, this means her normal reflexes are working to clear the airway. If your child is unable to breathe, cough, cry or speak, she may be choking. Have someone call 911 and begin treatment.

To deliver first aid to a choking victim, the American Red Cross recommends a “five-to-five” approach. This includes alternating between back blows and abdominal thrusts.

To start, give 5 back blows between the child’s shoulder blades using the heel of the hand, then give 5 abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver.

For a child, performing abdominal thrusts may require kneeling behind the child rather than standing. Wrap your arms around the child but above the navel, making a fist with one hand. Use your other hand to grab the fist and press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust.

Curing stings and bites

Insect stings and bites can be painful for children. If stung, remove the stinger with a scraping motion using a firm item like a credit card. Place a cold compress on the bite or sting. If your child has trouble breathing, faints or swells, call 911.

If you find a tick on your child, remove it as soon as it’s found — either with tweezers or your finger. Grab the tick as close to the head as possible and pull the tick away from the skin quickly. If a fever or rash develops, call a physician.

Emily K. Gallagher
Multimedia Coordinator 
Marketing Department
Mon Health Medical Center
Morgantown, WV