Head Injury

Head injuries are extremely common in young children. Signs of a concussion that follow a head injury are significant and severe crankiness above and beyond what the child normally displays, vomiting, slurred speech, and exhibiting a difference in the way he/she walks. These symptoms are causes of significant concern and need immediate medical attention.

If a child is less than two years of age and sustains a fall more than three feet, or if a child is over two years of age and has sustained a fall more than five feet, a trip to the Emergency Room is in order.

Other significant findings where you would want to go to the ER immediately is if a child has a soft spot on his head, called a fontanel, and it feels like it’s bulging. Other concerns are a slowed or undetectable pulse, multiple vomiting episodes, or any seizure-type activity. Those symptoms indicate there may be increased pressure in the brain, swelling of the brain, or actual bleeding in the brain.

Eye Injury

For an eye injury, look for a nosebleed in association with a black eye or bleeding within the whites of the eye. You should go to the ER if there are two black eyes resulting from a head injury, sudden vision changes that are persistent like seeing double or blurred vision, or if the child has difficulty moving their eyes. Ask the child to follow your finger. If one eye follows it and the other eye stays straight, or if there’s pain with the movement of the eye, there may be more significant trauma to the eye or there might be a brooding infection within the eye.

Mouth Injury

When children are still learning how to walk or run and coordinate that movement with their growing bodies, they often fall and injure their mouths and teeth.

If a primary tooth (also known as a baby tooth) falls out, it’s not an emergency, but a dentist should examine the child within 24 hours. An injury to permanent teeth is a dental emergency. If a permanent tooth comes out, gently rinse it off with saline (salt water) or warm milk. Always hold the tooth by the crown only, never by its roots because that can damage the nerves. Once the tooth has been rinsed off, you can re-implant it the best that you can, ensuring correct orientation. You want to do this within 5-20 minutes so the tooth doesn’t die and an adult should always hold the tooth in place with a moist napkin or paper towel. A child should not be in charge of this task as they may not hold the tooth still, or the tooth could become dislodged and the child could choke on it. If re-implanting the tooth is difficult, place it in saline or warm milk and then seek emergency treatment. Remember that all missing teeth should be accounted for, and always follow up with your child’s dentist to ensure there’s not an underlying injury.

Fractures

The most common injury amongst toddlers and infants is a fracture. Common locations where this happens are falling off beds, changing tables, sofas, coffee tables and even falling from a standing height. All it takes is the right angle and the right force for a fracture to be sustained. The most common fracture is the clavicle. Other common fractures are the elbow, wrist, legs, and fingers.

How do you know if your child has a fracture? Some indicators include immediate swelling at the site of the injury, deformity, and reluctance to use that body part (holding an arm close to the body or not putting weight on the leg).

Other signs that should prompt immediate action are:

• Pain (extreme discomfort and sensitivity)
• Pallor.
• Pulse (weak or not detectable).
• Paresthesia (numbness or tingling).
• Paralysis (inability to move the injured body part).

With a suspected fracture, always take your child to a facility that has a radiology center and someone there who can read the x-rays as soon as they are taken.

Remember, kids are very active and curious and injuries will occur, no matter how many safety precautions are put in place. That’s why it’s important to know what to do when something does happen.

If your child isn't vomiting, is conscious, does not have trouble breathing, or does not have a seizure then take some time and attempt the following care remedies:

• Place a cold compress or ice pack on any bumps or bruises.
• Comfort your child and look for any injuries.
• Watch your child closely for the next 24 hours for any unusual symptoms or behaviour.
• Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if your child is alert.
• Let your child rest, as needed, for the next few hours.

Prevention

• Never leave infants and young children on a bed or any other furniture unsupervised.
• Never put an infant in a baby seat on top of a counter or other high surface.
• Childproof against falls with gates and don't use walkers.
• Always strap young kids into high chairs, changing tables, shopping carts, and strollers.
• Make sure kids always wear helmets when biking, skating and using skateboards or scooters.