Oww! A scraped knee, a bad bruise, bug bite, splinter or other minor injury can send a child into hysterics. But moms can take quick action to stem the tears and reduce scarring by taking the right measures fast. For the inevitable cuts and scrapes, hold a clean cloth or gauze (not tissue, which can flake off into the wound and cause infection) over the wound and press gently to stanch bleeding. If that doesn't work, then raise the wounded area over the child's heart. If the cut is so deep that the bleeding doesn't stop quickly, then take the child to the emergency room or an urgent care facility. After stopping most of the bleeding, clean the wound with a gentle soap and water. Dry thoroughly, apply antibiotic ointment and keep bandaged until it heals - kids may be tempted to pick at scabs, which may cause scarring. After the wound heals, apply sunscreen to the affected area. Newly healed skin is more susceptible to sunburn and may scar more significantly as a result. For splinters, clean the area around the splinter with soap and water, then clean a pair of tweezers with alcohol.
Remove the splinter if you can. If not, then leave it for a day or so - it may work itself out. Check for bleeding, redness, warmth or pus around the area - that could mean an infection, for which you should see the doctor. Stings and bites are major ouchies - try removing the stinger if there is one by scraping it out gently with your fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Using tweezers can squeeze out more venom and cause more pain and irritation. Itching can be cured with calamine lotion or a 1% hydrocortisone cream. If you suspect a tick bite, then ask your doctor about testing for West Nile or Lyme disease. As you treat your child's wound, keep her distracted with stickers, a book, iPod or other activity, and enlist your partner to help if need be. Older children appreciate a preview of what you're going to do - let her know how you plan to treat it so there are no surprises.
