Accident assistance

Damage to the integumentary system is one of the most common injuries in childhood.

Bruises. Such injuries are very common in children. A bruise is characterized by tissue damage without breaking the skin. In this case, small vessels are usually destroyed, resulting in hemorrhage into the soft tissues. Depending on the severity of the blow and the number of damaged vessels, the blood more or less strongly soaks the soft tissues, forming a bruise. Later, the bluish color acquires a yellow-green tint. When the skin or subcutaneous fat peels off and blood accumulates in this place, a hematoma is formed - a cavity filled with blood. The most characteristic symptom in this case will be rippling - a space filled with liquid will be felt under the skin. Palpation of the area of damage is always painful.

First aid and treatment of a bruise mainly consist of resting the affected part of the body. To reduce swelling and hemorrhage, an ice pack (cold in any form) is applied to the area of the bruise in the first two to three hours. If a joint is bruised, it is better to bandage it with a figure-of-eight bandage. In order for the swelling and hemorrhage to resolve faster, after two to three days, thermal procedures (baths, physiotherapy) are carried out, and hydrocortisone ointment is rubbed in.

Abrasions and scratches. Such damage to the superficial layers of the skin usually occurs as a result of a child falling or careless handling of various objects. Abrasions are often combined with bruises. Abrasions are the entry point for infection, they most often cause inflammation of the lymph nodes and suppuration. Abrasions contaminated with soil are especially dangerous in this regard, since they can lead to infection with the tetanus pathogen. Abrasions should be immediately cleaned of dirt, treated with hydrogen peroxide, lubricated with a solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green. Novikov's solution is effective. In case of extensive abrasions, a dry protective bandage can be applied. Dressings are done after 2-3 days. The crust formed at the site of the abrasion falls off on the 7th-9th day, after which a delicate scar remains, which subsequently becomes invisible.

Wounds. A wound is a traumatic disruption of the integrity of the skin or mucous membranes with damage to the underlying tissues. Wounds can be cut, punctured, chopped, bruised, crushed, gunshot, or bitten. Characteristic symptoms of a wound: gaping edges, pain, bleeding. However, the gaping of a puncture wound can be small and difficult to distinguish among blood clots. Dangerous bleeding occurs when large veins and arteries are damaged. With superficial wounds, bleeding quickly stops after applying a lightly pressing bandage. Children's blood vessels are very elastic and easily collapse, so life-threatening bleeding does not occur in small children with ordinary household injuries. It is always necessary to remember about possible complications with an injury. Thus, with puncture wounds, a foreign body (a splinter, glass, or nail) may remain in the soft tissues. With a small point wound, penetration into one of the body cavities (chest, abdominal) or into the cavity of the knee joint is possible.

Damage to soft tissues is sometimes combined with a bone fracture (open fracture), in this regard, any injury to a small child requires consulting a doctor. The main commandment when providing first aid to children is to do no harm. Do not pour iodine or alcohol on the wound - this will cause pain to the baby, cause a burn of the damaged tissue, and the wound will heal longer. Only the edges of the wound are treated. Do not apply an ointment bandage to the wound or sprinkle it with medicinal powder (you can infect the wound). In no case should you examine the wound with your finger or remove foreign bodies from it, as well as touch the surface of the sterile bandage that lies on the wound. If the bandage begins to get wet soon after application, do not remove it, but only bandage it from above. Following these rules will help you competently provide first aid and avoid additional trauma to damaged tissue. In case of arterial bleeding, a tourniquet should be applied above the wound. Certain rules must be observed. The tourniquet is applied to a soft pad so as not to pinch the skin. Then it is tightened until the pulse in the peripheral arteries of the injured arm or leg can no longer be felt. If the tourniquet does not compress the vessels sufficiently, bleeding continues. Since the tourniquet stops the blood supply to the constricted limb, it should not be kept on for more than one and a half to two hours in the summer and half an hour in the winter to avoid tissue necrosis. The child must be urgently taken to a medical facility with an exact indication of the time for applying the tourniquet. If there is no tourniquet at hand, stop the bleeding by squeezing the arterial vessel with your fingers above the site of injury before making one from improvised material. You need to press the artery with four fingers in places where the artery lies next to the bone to which it can be pressed. In case of bleeding on the leg, the artery is squeezed in the groin area, on the arm, on the inner surface of the middle third of the shoulder. This method is also used if the tourniquet has been in place for about two hours: by pressing the artery at the specified point, the tourniquet is loosened, allowing blood to flow to the bloodless limb through the auxiliary vessels.

Bite wounds. A feature of bite wounds is their contamination with animal saliva, which may contain the rabies pathogen. In addition to surgery, the victim also requires anti-rabies care (rabies vaccination).

Snake bites. Among poisonous snakes, the most common are the viper species (forest, steppe, sand). Viper venom acts mainly on the vascular walls and blood. At the site of the bite, two parallel notches are found - traces of teeth. Soon after the bite, the victim feels a burning pain that gradually intensifies. The limb begins to swell, pinpoint hemorrhages appear. The skin around the bite site first turns red, and then takes on a bluish tint. The swelling spreads quite quickly above the bite site, sometimes beyond the limb. Due to the absorption of venom into the blood, symptoms of general poisoning occur: malaise, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, increased heart rate. In severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding and paralysis are possible. Sometimes, a few hours after the bite, death occurs from respiratory paralysis and cardiac failure.

In case of a snake bite, it is very important to provide first aid to the victim, but its possibilities are very limited. The most effective means is to suck out the poison with the mouth. The poison can be sucked out by cupping. However, suction is advisable only in the first 10-20 minutes after the bite, since the poison is quickly absorbed. The victim should be given as much to drink as possible. Tightening the affected limb with a tourniquet to reduce the absorption of poison not only does not give the desired effect, but is also harmful, since it prevents the outflow of blood. With rapidly increasing swelling, this can lead to necrosis of the limb, and after removing the tourniquet, the poison will still enter the body. Excision of wounds, cauterization with hot iron and chemicals does not reduce the spread of poison in the body and only traumatizes the child. There is no time to waste after a snake bite. It is necessary to take the child to the hospital as soon as possible, where he will be injected with a specific polyvalent serum (anti-gyurzin, etc., depending on the type of snake that bit the child). If this is done in the first hours after the bite, the treatment is effective.

Insect bites. Mosquito and midge bites, although they cause itching, scratching, etc., as a rule, do not require special treatment. However, if the child's complaints are too strong, he can be given one of the antihistamines: diphenhydramine, suprastin, fenkarol. You can moisten the bite site with vinegar diluted with water.

A bee, wasp, bumblebee, or hornet sting causes sharp pain, followed by swelling around the sting site. Multiple wasp and hornet stings, and bee stings too, are especially dangerous - firstly, the amount of poison entering the child's body increases, and secondly, the risk of developing anaphylactic shock increases significantly. With these stings, the child complains of general malaise, headache, fever, shortness of breath, and blood pressure may drop. Given the possibility of developing anaphylactic shock, it is necessary to see a doctor without wasting time, and on the way give the child plenty to drink and apply a cold compress to the sting site.