Minor Injuries Overview
Children's days are filled with
running, jumping, bicycling, sports, and other fun activities that keep them active and
on-the-go from morning until night. Along with the fun comes an occasional cut, bruise, or
tumble. Luckily, most of these injuries are not serious. They can be handled with some
simple first-aid treatment at home. However, there are times when a healthcare provider's
care is needed.
Specific treatment for skin wounds and injuries will be determined by your child's healthcare provider. In general, call your child's healthcare provider for skin injuries that are:
-
Bleeding heavily and do not stop
after 5 to 10 minutes of direct pressure
-
Deep, or longer than 1/2
inch
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Located close to the eye
-
Large cuts on the face
-
Caused by a puncture wound or
dirty or rusty object
-
Embedded with debris such as
dirt, stones, or gravel
-
Ragged or have separated
edges
-
Caused by an animal or human
bite
-
Extremely painful
-
Cause numbness of the skin, or inability to move a body part such
as a finger and or toe
-
Showing signs of infection, such
as fever, warmth, redness, swelling, or fluid leaking
Also call your child's healthcare provider if:
-
Your child has not had a tetanus
vaccine within the past 5 years, or if you are unsure when your child's last tetanus
shot was given.
-
You are concerned about the wound or have any questions.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN CCRC
Online Medical Reviewer:
Eric Perez MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Rita Sather RN
Date Last Reviewed:
6/1/2016
© 2000-2019 The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.