From Lincoln Community Hospital
Kids will be kids and kids will get hurt, it’s a normal part of childhood. So when is an injury worthy of the Emergency Room?
Sometimes, it is. Sometimes, you can treat it at home. So how do you know?
First of all, let’s talk about the most common “musculoskeletal” (meaning muscles and bones) injuries that children get.
Fracture: A broken bone. It can be small or big, but they both hurt! Our bones are important so they have their own nerve
and blood supply. They are able to feel pain.
Contusion: A bruise. This involves “blunt force” trauma to tissue. This can affect any tissues--skin, bones, and muscles. Most
of the time, the skin isn’t broken, but the blood vessels are so there’s bleeding under the skin.
Sprain: A ligament (the structure that connects bones to bones) is stretched or torn.
Strain: When a muscle or tendon (the structure that connects muscles to bones) is stretched or torn.
When to call 911: If any of the following is going on, do not move your child or attempt to take them to the ER by yourself.
REMAIN CALM and call 911. Have people that are trained in emergency medicine come to help. DON’T MOVE your child, unless you have to, because they are in imminent danger.
Any injury involving the spine. Including the neck. Keep them calm, keep them immobilized.
If there is a broken bone sticking out of the skin. If you see a lot of bleeding, try to apply pressure above the break to stop
the bleeding until the ambulance comes. These breaks can be life threatening.
There is an obvious, severe deformity. Or a “joint” where there shouldn’t be. (Did anyone see the Olympic gymnast from
France break his leg on the vault? Yeah, there’s not a joint there.)
It is too painful to move them. This might not necessarily involve a fracture; it might be a soft tissue injury such as a sprain
or strain.
When to treat it at home: Basically it’s minor. Your child is basically “ok.” You know your kid, and you know the difference
between “Whoa, this needs a doctor!” and “You’re ok buddy, don’t cry. It will be fine!” Then do the following:
Stop the bleeding (minor bleeding) and gently wash the wound with soap and water.
Cover it with a bandage. If it is an open wound, you can put some antibiotic cream on it.
Do a little “RICE”- Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation for the first 24 to 48 hours depending on how bad it is. (Ice or cold
for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. Make them stop walking on or using the injured part, gently wrap it with an ACE
wrap if you have one, and elevate it so the swelling won’t be worse.)
NO HEAT! This makes inflammation worse.
If you’ve done all of this and it’s been 3 days with NO improvement, call your healthcare provider or LCH at (719) 743-2421.
We have nurses available for questions 24/7. Have a safe and happy summer!
Rebecca Elmshauser, RN/Certified Athletic Trainer
Flagler, Colorado
Lincoln Community Hospital
Care Center ◦ Clinics ◦ Home Health/
Hospice ◦ Assisted Living
111 6th street , Hugo, Co 80821
Check out our blog for Your Weekly Dose at: www.lincolncommunityhospital.com