Summer break is over, and fall team sports are picking up, in and out of school. That increased activity comes with increased risk of injury and heat-related illness.
“Children, especially when they are small, fall a lot,” said Dr. Monica Barajas, primary care pediatrician at Nemours Children’s Health in Vero Beach, “I often see kids with minor injuries, abrasions, lacerations and contusions. I also regularly see patients that have foreign bodies in their skin such as thorns, splinters, glass and even fishing hooks. In school-age athletes, I see ankle and wrist sprains, contusions, concussions and occasional fractures.”
Knowing how to triage and treat some of these injuries can make life easier for you and your child when a mishap occurs. Providers at Nemours Children’s Health share tips to help parents and caregivers.
Most cuts and scrapes will heal without any medical care. Simply rinse the wound with mild soap and water, dry and cover with an adhesive bandage. You can also use a light antibiotic ointment under the bandage.
If the wound is bleeding, wash it off and apply a clean cloth over the wound. Raise the bleeding part above the child’s heart if possible and apply steady direct pressure with the palm of your hand. Do not apply a tourniquet. If the cut is deep and continues to bleed or was caused by an animal or human bite, burn, electrical injury or puncture wound, seek medical care.
Bug bites and stings are generally mild and will cause red bumps, itchiness, mild swelling and irritation. If your child was stung and you can see the insect’s stinger, remove it by scraping the skin horizontally with the edge of a credit card or your fingernail and wash the area with soap and water. Then apply ice wrapped in a towel to relieve the pain and swelling.
If there are signs of infection like increased redness, pain, warmth or pus, you should seek medical care.
If after a bite or sting, you notice swelling in your child’s face or mouth, trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, or dizziness or fainting, your child might be having an allergic reaction. These are potentially life-threatening symptoms that need quick medical treatment. If you have a physician prescribed epinephrine (EpiPen), give the shot right away and call 911. If you don’t have epinephrine and your child is conscious give diphenhydramine (Benadryl), then call 911.
Hot, summery weather can last into October in Florida, so always use insect repellent when outside. Choose a repellent with 10 percent to 30 percent of DEET on the label. Repellents used on children between 2 and 12 years of age should contain no more than 10 percent DEET and should be applied no more than once a day.
Heat and sun exposure can continue to be dangerous for children as school sports resume.
“It’s important to use the proper precaution to protect your children from the dangers of heat-related illness,” Dr. Barajas advised. “Staying hydrated, wearing lightweight breathable clothing [when possible] and watching for signs of heat illness are the best way to protect kids from high temperatures.”
Recognizing common heat-related illnesses and knowing how to treat them is important for every parent, coach and caregiver.
Heat rash presents as clusters of red bumps on or in the folds of skin often appearing on the upper chest, under the arms and neck. Moving the child to a cooler, less humid environment and keeping the affected area dry will most often clear up the outbreak.
Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms in the abdomen, arms or legs. Moving to a shady, cool area and drinking plenty of water or cool beverage will alleviate the cramps most of the time. Wait several hours before returning to any strenuous activity and seek medical attention if cramps don’t go away.
Heat exhaustion begins when your body can’t compensate for the heat you’re in. Symptoms include cool moist skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, weakness, thirst, irritability and rapid heartbeat. This is a potentially dangerous condition.
If it occurs, whether playing in the neighborhood or practicing on the football field, the child should lie down, drink plenty of water and cool drinks and cool down with ice packs or cool compresses. Do not take part in any more physical activities for the day. If the symptoms worsen or don’t improve after an hour, go to a walk-in clinic or ER for medical attention.
Heat stroke is the most serious condition resulting from heat exposure. The child may be confused, faint or have seizures. Excessive sweating and red, hot, dry skin coupled with a very high body temperature are warning signs. This is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately and move the child to a cool, shady area while waiting for EMS to arrive.
Remove outer clothing and loosen under clothing then fan the air and place cold packs in the arm pits. Wet the child with cool water, and apply ice and provide fluids as quickly as possible.
Children should drink about 1 cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes, not to exceed 6 cups per hour. Kids less than 100 pounds should drink about half their weight in ounces every day.
Most kids get much of their sun exposure and skin damage before the age of 18, so taking precautions to reduce the risk of skin cancer is of upmost importance.
Babies under the age of 6 months should be kept out of the sun whenever possible. Older children should wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen to their exposed skin 15 to 20 minutes before they go outside. Use a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or greater and has a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB). Reapply about every two hours or after swimming or excessive seating.
Common sense and adult supervision should come into play when children are participating in sporting activities.
“Good warm-up and cool-down routines are crucial to injury prevention,” Dr. Barajas said.
“It’s also important that young athletes wear the proper protective gear, including helmets, mouth guards and padding for their respective sport or activity.”
Kids will be kids and there will be accidents. Knowing how to deal with them is one of the most important jobs parents, teachers and coaches have.
Dr. Monica Barajas received her medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and served her internship residency in Pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Her office is located at 1155 35th Lane, Suite 201A, Vero Beach. Call 772-562-5662.