Children tend to have more health-related emergencies than adults. Even then, most of the hospitals do not have specialized pediatric trauma centers. Dealing with pediatric emergencies is a very challenging and stressful situation but you need to keep your calm and stay focused on the situation. It has been estimated that on average, children between the age of 3 to 7 visit emergency rooms at least 25 times. Commonly reported cases of emergency include broken bones, cuts, fever, etc.
According to St. Michael’s Elite Hospital, the things to do in case of paediatric emergency are:
- Assess and analyze the situation: The first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind is that you must get your child away from the location where the accident occurred and ensure that the child feels safe.
- Call for emergency help: If you feel that the situation is out of control and it may be life-threatening, immediately call for emergency services and seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
- Maintain your composure and reassure the child: The emergency may not only scare the child but may also disturb you from within. Hence, you might not be able to make proper decisions if you are not emotionally stable. Therefore, you must try to keep patience and not lose your cool. At the same time, keep giving your reassuring words to the child.
- Provide first aid: In case, the child is bleeding or is not able to breathe properly, you must provide basic first aid while waiting for medical help. Basic first aid may include CPR, bandage on the wound, stopping the bleeding, etc. However, if you are not sure what help to provide then it’s better to wait for professional help.
- Keep in touch with emergency services: When you have called for emergency help, do not disconnect the call and wait for them. Instead, keep in touch with the team and keep giving reports regarding the situation so that they can assist you as per need.
- Keep in mind the medical history: If the child is conscious and his parents are around, ask for the medical history of the child and provide treatment according to that. This information will also be useful when the medical team arrives.
- Stay with the child: You need to make sure that under no circumstances the child is left alone. Stay with them till the medical help arrives and whenever possible, try to give company to the child even in the hospital.
