What to do in an emergency

Section4
Emergency Tips

Burns and Scalds
What to do

• if your child’s clothes are burning, push them to the ground, and smother the flames in a coat or blanket.
• cool the area down with cold water or hold it under a tap for at lest ten minutes

When to dial 999 or go to casualty

• any burn larger than your childs hand
• deep, heavily blistered or very painful burns
• if the skin turns black, white or is broken
• burns on the face

Important

• do not put butter, lotions or ointment on a burn
• never try to bust a blister caused by a burn
• never try to remove anything sticking to a burn

Cuts and bites
What to do

• try to stop the bleeding by pressing it with clean hands for a few minutes
• hold a cut arm or leg up high (as long as it isn’t broken)

When to dial 999 or go to casualty

• deep cuts where the edges can't be pulled together
• all animal bites
• wounds with something stuck in them
• if you cannot stop the bleeding

Important

• do not remove anything stuck in a wound

Head Injuries
What to do

• hold a damp, cold cloth on minor bumps and knocks for at least ten minutes
• if your child is unconscious move her into the recovery position and call an ambulance (see illustration below)

When to dial 999 or go to casualty

• if your child vomits
• if your child goes unconscious
• if your child appears confused, drowsy, or sleepy

Important

• do not move her if you think she has broken bones
• any head injury can be potentially serious – if you are unsure go to casualty

Rashes
What to do

• if your child is covered with a rash, look at the spots through the bottom of a glass pressed on to the skin (see illustration)

When to dial 999 or go to casualty

• if the spots do not disappear, this could be a sign of a serious illness – call your doctor or go to casualty immediately

If you have any more queries, or want further advice about helping your child, please contact your local branch of Action for Sick Children or contact us at our national office:

Action for Sick Children
300 Kingston Road, London, SW20 8LX.
FREEPHONE 0800 0744519
E-mail: action_for_sick_children_ed@msn.com
Fax: 020 8542 2424.
Website: www.actionforsickchildren.org

Affiliated offices:

SCOTLAND
Action for Sick Children (Scotland)
15 Smith’s Place,
Edinburgh
EH6 8NT
Tel: 0131 553 6553

WALES
A.W.C.H (Wales)
31 Penyrheol Drive,
Sketty,
Swansea
SA2 9JT
Tel: 01792 205227

ACTION FOR SICK CHILDREN
thanks its patrons for their continuing support:
Dr Miriam Stoppard, Raymond Briggs, Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack,
Professor Antony Clare, Helen Mirren and Joan Collins.