| All of know that our children need to visit the doctor | | | | but accidents happen. You may not be sure if the |
| for regular checkups and when running a fever, but | | | | injury is bad enough to warrant calling for emergency |
| many parents do not know what to do in an | | | | help unless you see quite a bit of blood, or if your child |
| emergency type situation. | | | | is unconscious and this may lead to serious problems if |
| Every year in the US, fourteen million children will be | | | | you are not sure. |
| injured and have to seek medical attention. Would you | | | | Some of the signs to look for to let you know you |
| believe that every day 24,000 children under the age | | | | should call for help is if your child is acting withdrawn |
| of 15 need emergency medical care? | | | | and less alert, if he or she is acting different than |
| This is a staggering amount of injuries and for children | | | | normal, if they are having problems breathing, if the skin |
| between the ages of 5 to 14 this is a life threatening | | | | or lips begin to look blue or purple, body jerking, |
| number, as injuries are to blame for more than three | | | | knocked out teeth, severe or constant pain anywhere |
| times as many lives as the second leading cause of | | | | on the body, a severe headache or vomiting after |
| death. Injuries are the number one cause of death and | | | | hitting their head, and unresponsive. |
| with that type of lead over the second cause of | | | | You can also help in keeping your children safe by |
| death; parents need to know what to do. | | | | placing all kinds of fireworks, firearms, and harmful |
| The best thing for a parent to do in case of an | | | | chemicals out of their reach. This also includes such |
| accident is to call 9-1-1 first before moving the child. In | | | | items as gasoline for the lawn mower, matches, |
| some cases, moving the child can be very dangerous | | | | cigarette lighters, sharp kitchen knives, candles, and |
| and even life threatening. | | | | other items that could cause harm to a young child. |
| During the summer months, your children are out | | | | For outside play, ensure they wear helmets while riding |
| playing and are at risk of having all kinds of accidents | | | | bikes and skateboards. Teach them to ride safely and |
| from bike wrecks, firework injuries, burns, near | | | | to watch for cars. Prevention is of course the better |
| drowning, cuts, and broken bones. There is no way to | | | | way to go, however, when an accident does occur, |
| avoid injuries, you can teach your children to be safe | | | | stay calm and call for help. |