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 | | | | acting withdrawn and less alert, if he or she |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