Baby S.O.S.: Dealing With Infant Injuries

ACCIDENTAL FALLS

Preventive measures:

• Always place pillows to border baby while sleeping.
• Avoid placing seemingly safe equipment on top of a table.

First aid tips:

• If there’s no external injury, observe baby for an hour. He’s fine if he cries immediately, is still eager to feed, is conscious, has not vomited, and has no behavioral changes.
• In case of a bump on any part of the body, apply cold compress on affected area. Consult your pediatrician if you think baby needs an X-ray.

CHOKING

Preventive measures:

• Keep small objects away from baby’s reach.
• Remove seeds in food you feed your baby.

First aid tips:

Administer baby CPR while awaiting medical help:

1. Hold baby face down and place him lengthwise on forearm, head pointed down, giving five firm back blows between the shoulder blades using other palm.
2. If nothing happens, lay him face up and give five chest thrusts by placing three fingers on baby’s chest.
3. Position middle finger on an imaginary line between nipples.
4. Raise middle finger and use other two fingers to deliver thrusts.

BURNS

Preventive measures:

• Keep hot food and beverages and electrical cords of appliances out of baby’s reach.
• Cover or install safety plugs on wall sockets.  

First aid tips:

1. Soak minor burns in cold water for 15 minutes. Do not apply ice or any ointments on the burnt areas or blisters.
2. Cover burnt area with sterile dressing and call your pediatrician for further instructions.
3. For electrical burns, turn off power source, breaking baby’s contact with a wooden stick while standing on paper or wood. Don’t touch the electrocuted person with bare hands—use a thick, dry towel instead.
4. Cool burns with cold water and rush to the E.R.

WOUNDS & CUTS

Preventive measures:

• Keep sharp objects such as scissors, pins, and knives locked in a drawer or cabinet.
• Remove tablecloths hanging along the side of tables.

First aid tips:

1. Wash hands before applying pressure on wound.
2. Once bleeding stops, check for foreign objects in the wound, flush them out with running water or lift them out with tweezers.
3. Wash wound with soap and water, then pat dry. Apply antibiotic ointment to reduce risk of infection.
4. Take baby to the E.R. if he needs stitches, if you can’t get embedded objects out, or if bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes.

INGESTION OF POISONS

Prevention:

• Keep household products or medicines in locked shelves and drawers.
• Keep lids of containers tightly closed.

First aid tips:

1. Determine substance ingested.If medicines, induce vomiting by giving plenty of water or milk to wash off substance.
2. Then bring him immediately to the E.R. or poison control center.
3. Take the container of the ingested substance to help doctors identify the composition and amount swallowed. But do not induce vomiting if baby swallowed household chemicals or if the child is unconscious or convulsed.

Photo from wikimedia.org

SOURCE:

• Carina Quimbo, M.D., pediatrician-neonatologist,Medical City, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and East Avenue Medical Center