Life-saving tips
Emergencies happen. It could be a fall from a bike... a sudden high fever or
seizure... a pot knocked from the stove. What if your child started choking
during dinner? What if she was stung by a bee and suddenly couldn't breathe?
Would you know what to do?
Learn tips for preventing injury and keeping kids safe during the summer (
video)
The first moments after an injury or onset of an illness are
often the most critical. The key is remaining calm, knowing what to do, and
making a decision to act. Take a look at the following list of potential
emergencies, and ask yourself if you'd know what to do or not to do to help your
child until emergency medical service personnel arrive:
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizure or convulsion
- Choking on food, drink, or object
- Serious fall
- Severe burn
- Firearm wound
- Suffocating
- Difficulty breathing
- Drowning
- Eating or drinking something poisonous
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Injury from a car or bike crash
- High fever
- Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 24 hours
If you're like most parents, you would feel comfortable handling some, but
not all, of these emergencies. That's why having a written plan is so important.
If and when emergencies happen, you'll know who to call, what information you
need, where to go, and what to ask.
After reading these pages, talk to your pediatrician or health care provider
to decide what's best for your family. Learn what resources are available in
your community. Your pediatrician or health care provider can help you customize
it to assure your family is well protected.
If your child has a serious health problem, you may want to use the American
Academy of Pediatrics' detailed Emergency Information Form at www.aap.org.