Burns In Children
Burns are one of the most common causes of injury to children, yet there are many parents who are still unsure of what to do when their little one burns a finger. Here are some quick first aid tips on treating minor first-degree burns.
First of all, it is important to know the difference between first degree, second degree and third degree burns.

First Degree Burns
Fisrt degree burns are those that are limited to the outer layer of the skin, causing some redness and pain, but no blistering. A one-second light contact with a hot iron can cause such a burn.

Second Degree Burns
Second degree burns are more serious, as they are thicker, penetrate more layers of the skin, and also involves blistering of the skin. While a first degree burn is dry, a second degree burn is moist, and is more painful.

Third Degree Burns
Third degree burns are those burns in which all the layers of the skin have been penetrated. This is a very severe type of burn and requires hospitalisation. The skin is charred, feels leathery to the touch, and the burned area is usually white. The area may go numb if nerve endings have been destroyed, so your child may feel little or no pain.

Fourth Degree Burns
Fourth degree burns are those that extend down to muscle and/or bone. Fortunately, these burns are rare.

First Aid for burns
Cool the burn
Place the burned area under cool, running water. Alternatively, you could dip a cloth in chilled water, and place it on the burn. Do NOT apply ice to the burn, it only increases the pain of the wound and does not help much. Cool, running water is the best. Keep the burnt area under running water until the pain subsides.

Clothing
Remove any clothing from the burned area immediately. Cut the clothing if you have to. If the clothing is stuck to the skin, which may be the case in second or third degree burns, do NOT remove it. If the burn is caused by a chemical, make sure you don't spread the chemical around when removing the clothing. In addition, in case of a chemical burn, remove the clothing while the burn is under running water.

Blisters
Take care not to break any blisters which may have formed as a result of the burn.

Cover
After you have cooled the burn for about fifteen minutes, you may apply an ointment specific to burns, and then cover the burnt area with clean gauze.

Eyes
If your child's eyes get burnt, flush the eyes continuously with water, and call a doctor immediately. If your child is wearing contact lenses, remove them.

REMEMBER
The most important thing to remember is to cool the burn, to reduce damage to the skin and underlying tissue.

First Aid For Electric Shock
Children, especially toddlers, love sticking their little fingers anywhere and everywhere, especially into plug points and sockets. The human body is a good conductor of electricity, and contact with a live power source can cause significant burns, or may interfere with the heart's electrical system.

Everyone has received minor electric shocks sometime or the other, which are no cause for concern. But once in a while, a lose wire or a faulty household appliance can shock the life out of you - literally. Most of the fatal electric shocks happen at home.

Here's what you can do if it happens in your home.
The victim usually gets stuck to the source of the electricity, and it is important that you first separate him from the electrical source.
Turn off the power supply switch and disconnect the plug. It's best to simply turn off the main power supply or pull out the fuse. Often, simply turning off the switch may not stop the flow of electricity.
In certain circumstances it may be quicker to simply pull the victim away from the electrical source.
Do NOT touch the victim with your bare hands, or the electric current will pass through you as well.
If you are barefoot, stand of some clothes or any hand non-conductive material like wood or paper. Make sure you are not standing on anything that is wet.
Throw a blanket over the victim and try to separate him from the source. Maje sure you don't touch him though. You could also use dry, nonconductive material such as a wooden broom handle or a chair to separate the victim from the live current. whatever is handy.
Once the victim has been separated, check to see if he is breathing. If breathing has stopped or seems slow, administer CPR immediately.
Let his head be slightly lower than the rest of the body, and raise his legs.
Cover the victim with a blanket.
Move the victim as little as possible. He may have suffered injuries to his spine and neck.
If the victim has a burn, remove the clothing from the burned area (unless it's stuck to the skin) and rinse it in cool, running water. Cover the burn with a dressing.
Don't apply ice or any other ointment or cotton dressing to the burn.
Call for emergency medical attention as soon as possible.

First Aid For Fractures
Children are constantly bumping and bruising themselves. All it takes is one fall too hard, and your child just might end up with a broken bone. One out of five people has a fracture at some point of time in their lives, and the maximum of these fractures occur during childhood. Here are some first aid tips, which you should memorise, just to be on the safe side.

How can you tell if it's a fracture or a sprain?
The pain is less intensive in a sprain than in a fracture, but never make the mistake of underestimating your child's pain. It takes a doctor to differentiate between the two, which is why the same kind of first aid is administered in both cases.

What is a dislocation?
A dislocation is when the bone has come out from the socket. This also results in acute pain, swelling, an inability to carry any weight and an inability to move the injured limb. The first aid administered in case of a dislocation is also the same.

Fractures are of two kinds:
Hairline fracture
A hairline fracture is just when the bone gets a CRACK that goes through it. Such fracture still cause immense pain, but at least chances of an operation are less.

Compound fracture
A compound fracture is one in which the bone completely breaks apart pops out through the skin. Ouch! This is the worst kind, and it may result in loss of blood as well.

If your child has had a bad fall, and you feel it may be a fracture, you should call a doctor, preferably an orthopedic surgeon, immediately. Here's what you can do by way of administering first aid.
Do NOT move the injured limb
The first step to be taken is to immobilise the limb. It should not be moved at all. Use any handy material to immobilise the limb. You could use a magazine or newspaper for support, and make a sling with the help of some cloth, a rope or shoelaces.

Leg Fracture
If your child has fractured his leg, carefully straighten it out. Call for an ambulance and in the meantime, secure the leg so it doesn't move. Apply two splints, one on the inner leg from the foot to the inner thigh, and the other, on the outside, from the foot to the armpit. Secure the splints well. Do NOT move your child until his leg has been completely immobilised. You could even tie both legs together for added support.

Hand Fracture
The hand should be moved to a 90-degree angle and kept close to the chest. It should be immobilised in this position. Move the hand as gently as possible, and if the pain is too intense, do not move it at all.

Bleeding
If your child is bleeding, you should treat the bleeding first. Stop the bleeding by first cleaning it carefully with an antiseptic, and then by applying a sterile dressing. Do not bandage tightly over the injury site. Apply a clean dressing gently over the wound.

Remember
Keep RICE in mind, as a first aid treatment for all fractures, sprains and dislocations. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Rest
Give plenty of rest to the immobilsed limb. Move it as little as possible so that there is no strain.

Ice
Apply ice to the injured area. No heat treatment or massage should be given. Use an ice pack or wrap up some ice cubes in a damp towel and apply it to the injured area. You could also use anything frozen such as a packet of frozen peas.

Do not massage the injured area, and don't apply any ointments like Iodex.

Compression
Wrap up the injured area with a crepe bandage if possible, or use any clean, fresh cloth available. Wrap it as tight as is comfortable. However, ask the doctor before bandaging the area. This will relieve the pain somewhat.

Elevation
The injured limb should preferably be raised above the level of the heart. This could be done with the help of a pillow while sleeping.

First Aid For Snake Bites
If a snake bites your child, for goodness' sake, don't get inspired by Hindi movies and start sucking venom from the wound! There's a lot else you can do to prevent the poison from spreading and reaching the heart:

• Try and get a good look at the snake. This would help the doctor identify it, and treat the bite accordingly.
• Get your child away from the snake and try to calm her down.
• Make her lie down on a bed or mattress.
• She should move as little as possible. The more she moves, the quicker the venom will spread through the body.
• It is important to remember that most snakes are not poisonous, and it is likely that your child has been bitten by a non-poisonous snake. However, if fang marks are visible, the snake was probably of the poisonous variety.Keep the bitten limb below the level of the heart. This slows down the spread of the poison to the heart. So if your child has been bitten on the leg, she could lie down with her leg on a lower level than the mattress, perhaps on a stool.
• Some advise that you should wash the bite with soap and water, and then apply an antiseptic, while others advise that it is better not to wash the bite. The doctor will be able to treat your child much better if he has traces of the venom. It is a good idea to wipe the area clean with an antiseptic and retain the wipe for venom traces.
• Don't apply ice to the bite.
• Tie a band or cloth about two inches away from the wound. If there has been swelling, tie the band about two inches from the swelling.
• The band should be at least an inch thick, and it should be tied within 20 minutes of the bite, if it is to have any effect.
• The band should be firm and tight, but not so tight that it completely blocks blood flow. A good rule of thumb is that the bandage should be loose enough for a finger to slip through.
• Keep bandaging as much of the area as possible, depending on the amount of bandage you have. You could even bandage around the torso to prevent any poison which may have already started to move towards the heart.
• As far as possible, DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD WALK. Remember, the limb should be moved as little as possible.
• Get your child to a hospital as soon as possible.
• The most important points to remember in a snake bite is to immobilise the limb and keep it below the level of the heart before getting the child to a hospital.

If your child has been bitten by any other animal like a dog or spider, the first aid is relatively the same in either case. Wash the wound with soap and water and apply an antiseptic. Always contact a doctor, whether the bite is big or small, if swelling occurs, the wound gets worse or if your child develops fever. If your child gets bitten by a tick, don't squeeze the tick while removing it, as this causes the tick to secrete further bacteria.

Playing with Fire

Like moths to a flame
It's that time of the year again and Diwali is upon us. Diyas are lit in every house and the sky is lit up with firecrackers that explode in a shower of many-coloured lights. However, Diwali is more a festival of fire than a festival of lights. This is a time when parents have to make sure to watch their children like hawks to make sure that they don't get their fingers or other parts burnt. Children are drawn to fire like moths to a flame. Fire is a beautiful thing after all, fascinating even to adults. So how can you blame children if they feel the urge to play with fire?

It doesn't need a festival like Diwali to bring out this urge. Most children have played with matches by the time they hit puberty. Children find it difficult to take warnings against playing with fire seriously. After all, fire has so many positive associations in our daily lives. Fire keeps people warm; it appears in the form of candles on a birthday cake or as a symbol of romance at a candle-lit dinner for two; or at a sing-song around a bonfire; or, coming back full circle, to firecrackers at a festival like Diwali.

The first spark
Children strike that first match purely out of curiosity to see whether they too can create this fascinating thing called a fire. While the striking of a match maybe an innocuous act, there is a definite danger when it is done by a child, ignorant of its dangerous possibilities.

The mind of a child under the age of six has not developed sufficiently to make the connection between striking a match and starting a fire. Thus, he is likely to experiment indoors. When such a child sees the first flames, he will probably react with fear and walk away. He is also unlikely to tell anyone what he has done out of a fear of getting into trouble.

By the time a child is about eight or ten years old, he is well aware of the hazards of fire. So this time when he lights a match, he will do it keeping in mind the fact that it could be dangerous and that he should not get caught. At this age, a child does not play with fire out of curiosity, but expressly because it is forbidden. He will probably set fire to a newspaper somewhere outdoors where he can drop it in a hurry and stomp on it if things get out of hand. A ten-year-old does not plan to light a fire, but if the opportunity presents itself in the form of a matchbox when no one is looking, the temptation may be too much to resist.

Teaching children about fire
Parents need to instill a healthy respect for fire in their children. Thus, for instance, when lighting a firecracker in front of preschoolers, parents should appreciate the beauty of the exploding fireworks, but at the same time explain that fire can be dangerous and can hurt people. They must emphasize how important it is to handle fire carefully.

When children are a little older, parents should expressly forbid them to play with fire. They should explain to them that while it may seem easy and fun to light matches, it is dangerous and therefore not permitted under any circumstances.

With older children, parents should acknowledge the existence of peer pressure. They should tell their children that while their peers may think it very "cool" to play with fire, it is an extremely foolhardy and dangerous thing to do.

Tips for a safe and happy Diwali
Impress on children that firecrackers can be dangerous if adequate precautions are not taken.
Make sure there is a responsible adult present when children are bursting firecrackers.
Ensure that firecrackers are lit in an open space away from homes and cars.
Avoid wearing loose, flowing garments.
Warn your children against lighting crackers while holding them in their hands.
And last, but not least, remember that Diwali is a festival to be enjoyed by all. So celebrate in a way that does not cause inconvenience or harm to your neighbours. And that means no bombs or strings of exploding crackers.

Rescuing a Drowning Child
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children. It can occur in any body of water, including a lake, pool, bathtub, or even a large bucket of water. Like in all matters, prevention is better than cure. To protect your child from the danger of drowning, never leave him or her alone around water. Once children reach the age of 3 years, they should be taught the basic rules of safe swimming, and be told what to do if they get into trouble.

In order to rescue a drowning child, all you have to do is to remember the simple ABC's of saving a drowning person - Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

A: Airway
If you find a child in or near water who is unresponsive, immediately instruct someone to call for emergency help. Pull the child out of the water and place him face-up on a flat, firm surface. Tilt the child's head back slightly and lift his jaw in order to open the airway. Then look, listen and feel for breaths. Look to see if anything is obstructing the child's airway. Listen to hear if the child is breathing and using your hand, try to feel any movement of air coming out of his mouth.

B: Breathing
If you don't detect any breathing through the child's airway, you must attempt rescue breathing. Pinch the child's nose shut and then seal your lips around his mouth. (If the child is under 1 year of age there is no need to pinch the child's nose). Next breathe into the child's mouth twice gently and slowly. If your technique is working, you should be able to see the child's chest rise. If the chest does not rise, either the child's tongue may be blocking his airway or you may not have created a tight enough seal over the child's mouth. In this case, tilt the child's head once more and try again.

C: Circulation
Once you have given two breaths, check the child's pulse by placing your hand on the inside part of the child's upper arm, between the shoulder and elbow. If you feel a pulse, continue giving one breath every three seconds. Remove your mouth between each breath to allow the child to exhale. Continue this until help arrives and keep checking for a pulse once each minute. If you don't feel a pulse, begin CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation).

To begin CPR, use the heel of your hand to give 5 chest compressions between the child's nipples. Each compression should force the breast bone to drop 2-3 centimeters and should last less than one second. After five compressions give one slow breath and repeat the cycle, while checking for a pulse every two minutes. If the child is under the age of 1, use only two fingers to compress the breast bone straight down.