9 Must-Know Steps in Giving First Aid To Skin Abrasions
Article by Steven Chang
As your child becomes physically lively at play, he is more prone to bodily accidents varying from skin bruises, grazes, minor cuts, deep lacerations, or even bone fractures and dislocations. Small children may get those injuries inadvertently during a fun-filled activity with neighbors and day care friends, while older children can get injuredthrough sporting activities.
The most typical injury acquired by young children is a skin graze or abrasion. The skin is the largest organ of the body that serves as the body’s first line of protection. It is soft and can be stretched to permit movement, but durable and resilient to resist breaking. As a result, it is made up of 2 layers: epidermis and dermis. The dermis is the innermost lining of the skin that consists of protein fibers, nerves, blood vessels, hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands. The epidermis, on the other hand, is the outermost coating of the skin which is made up of several layers of firmly bounded cells. This is the layer that is violated or broken in skin abrasions.
Skin abrasions are occasionally known as grazes, gravel rash, or carpet burns. It is also known as ‘scrape’ because the top layers of the skin are scraped off, like when the kid stumbled on his knees and hit a rough surface. Although bleeding is not typically severe, skin abrasions are very painful. It is advisable that all people, not only parents, who care for young children, must know how to do proper first aid management for this kind of skin injury.
1. Wash your hands just before starting to treat the wound to prevent the likelihood of transmitting any infecting microbes to the damaged skin. (Infecting the site can lead to delayed healing.)
2. If there is ongoing bleeding, simply apply pressure to the wound with a clean dressing, or a clean cloth, or a clean tissue paper.
3. Wash the injured area with clean water and soap. Clear away any dirt like small rocks and various foreign matter that is embedded in the wound by using sterile gauze to prevent infection. (If the dirt can not be removed, cover the wound with a sterile dressing and look for professional help.)
4. As soon as the wound is already cleaned, apply antiseptic solution, cream or lotion. (Do not use hydrogen peroxide or one made up of alcohol.)
5. Cover the wound with sterile non-adherent dressings. Dressings which stick to the wound should be prevented simply because getting them off is hard.
6. After several hours, a yellow-colored crust should form on the surface of the wound. Do not remove this as this should serve as a protective layer that could eventually harden. At this time, it is best to leave the wound open to the air and kept dry for faster healing. However, if the kid is most likely to have one more injury or most likely to pick on the crust, it is best to leave the dressing on.
7. Let the crust (or scab) fall off by themselves.
8. While the wound is healing, it becomes itchier. If the youngster could not resist scratching the sore, it is better to carry on protecting it with sterile gauze till the wound is totally healed.
9. No matter how small the wound is, it is important to evaluate your kid’s tetanus immunization status. Bring your child to the physician without delay if he has not had the full number of tetanus injection, or it’s been 5 years or longer since his last tetanus vaccination.
Remember, any breaks on the skin can be an entry site for any bacteria and other infecting germs. Suspect an infected wound if healing does not start in 2 days. Symptoms of wound infection involve increasing pain, heat, swelling, and redness around the wound, pus oozing out from the wound, enlarged and painful lymph nodes in the groin or armpit, and fever. In this case, you should have your little one see a medical doctor for appropriate evaluation and management.
If these basic first aid methods are followed, skin abrasions must heal quickly.
About the Author
They say your kid is a reflection of you. Visit Gagazine.com to learn how to raise a better child by raising a better parent (YOU) first with Gagazine’s pregnancy advice and parenting tips.
