Our Kids - Accident Prone?

Adapted from "Harrison's Alive" booklet

Children are accident prone - some more than other. Our busy streets pose a hazzard as well as backyard cricket, riding bikes, skate board riding and many other ways create opportunities for accidents resulting in breakages or wounds to their little bodies.

With a new wound, the most important thing is to clean and examine it closely as soon as possible. If it is a minor wound, you can provide the care yourself.
Medical attention is necessary when something more severe has happened.
Urgent medical attention should be sort if the would has exposed fatty layer, white tissue or muscle or any of the following:

If it causes severe pain or numbness below the wound.
If it is a puncture, whether the object is removed or still impaled.
If there is a gaping wound that may require stitches.
It has visible foreign materials; dirt, gravel etc.
It has blood spurting from it or the bleeding doesn't stop after applying direct pressure for five minutes.

One of the most common misconceptions is that wound needs to be left open to dry. This is not recommended as you would run the risk of further injuring the wound and bacterial infection. Modern wound dressings allow wounds to breathe and are designed to be left on for a few days. A dressing also protects the wound from further damage due to friction or infection. The maintenance of moist environment has been shown to encourage cell growth. However, if it is wet rather than moist, there is an increased risk of maceration.

A sign of infection is heat or soreness and medical attention should be sort. It is also a sign that the wound needs a new dressing, as well as if it leaks. If it becomes wet it should be changed to prevent contamination.

Always make sure hands are clean before bandaging and keep dressings untouched before use.

Mannatech products help children in their health and wellbeing.