Know when to call the doctor in these common medical emergencies.

Fall or blow to head

Call 911 if you have these symptoms after a blow to the head or a fall

• Irregular breathing
• Seizures or convulsions
• Unconsciousness

What to do in the meantime

• Don’t move the baby until he’s is at risk of being hurt
• Perform CPR if the baby stops breathing
• If bleeding occurs, cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply pressure

Go to the emergency room or see your doctor right away if

• Child vomits more than once
• Child is unconscious even if the child looks fine
• Child is unusually sleepy
• Child is weak and confused or has problems with coordination, vision or verbal communication
• Child is bleeding from the ears
• Child is bleeding from the nose or mouth  that doesnt stop after 5 or 10 minutes of applying pressure

Broken Bones

Call 911 if

• The bone is sticking out . Don’t not touch it . Just cover it with a clean cloth.
• Child may have a skull , neck , back or pelvic fracture
• Child seems to be in severe pain and crying unconsolably

Call the doctor if your signs have the following signs

• Pain increases with movement
• Brusing , swelling, stiffness and tenderness in one area
• Limb seems bent out of position
• Child is not willing to use limb
• You heard a snapping sound when the trauma happened

Cuts and Scrapes

What to do

• Apply pressure using a clean towel or bandage until the bleeding stops
• Check the wound for debris and try to flush it out with cool , running water . You can also use tweezers to lift  out large debris
• Gently wash the wound well with soap and warm water . You can also soak the wounded area in the bathtub  and then pat dry
• Apply an antibiotic ointment
• Cover the wound with a bandage if it is in a spot that is likely to get dirty  or rub against clothing

Call 911

• If you can’t  stop the bleeding after  10 minutes  of applying firm pressure

Go to the emergency room if

• The cut looks deep and has jagged edges
• The wound has debris that you cant get out
• The wound is on your child’s face
• The wound is embedded with debris
• Your child has been bitten by an animal or another child and the skin is broken
• Your child has a deep puncture wound or cut caused by dirty object

Call your doctor if you see signs of swelling such as

• Redness, pus , oozing, swelling or if the area is warm to touch