Minor wounds such as skin abrasions or small cuts are common in children and the bleeding stops by itself after a few minutes. They can air dry or are cleaned, disinfected, and possibly covered with a band-aid. In contrast, caution is advised for large wounds with heavy blood loss, because children have a lower overall blood volume. Severe general symptoms, including shock, are more common.
Stop bleeding by applying pressure
You know it yourself from drawing blood at the doctor’s office: direct pressure on the wound causes the bleeding to stop after some time. This is usually true even for large wounds. Therefore, one presses on the wound with a sterile or clean cloth and applies a bandage. The affected part of the body is elevated, if possible. If the bleeding cannot be stopped by these measures, another pressure bandage must be applied.
Here’s how:
- Old bandage not open, but put another tight pressure bandage over it.
- To increase the pressure, put a still wrapped bandage pack on the wound area and wrap tightly with the gauze bandage.
- If necessary, the feeding vein must be squeezed. All spurting bleeding is thereby squeezed in front of the bleeding site (towards the heart).
- In the case of a very large, open wound, the bleeding directly with a sterile compress in the wound area squeeze.
If this does not stop the bleeding, the emergency services must be notified. In any case, a doctor must be visited following the first aid measure, because the wound may need to be stitched or stapled.
Caution: Tying off the arms and legs is the last resort only in the case of amputation injuries or very large, unstoppable bleeding. The risk of causing damage to vessels and nerves is too great.
Shock is imminent in larger wounds
Depending on how much blood is lost, circulatory reactions such as a drop in blood pressure or an increase in heart rate, and even shock, may occur. This is an emergency and an emergency physician must be called immediately!
Signs of shock in a child:
- The child may be restless, confused, dazed or sleepy.
- Skin is pale gray, cool, and sweaty; lips may be blue.
- Pulse rate is elevated but only faintly felt.
- Breathing may be accelerated, the child gasps or gasps for air
- Possibly vomiting
- The child may become unconscious.
As an immediate measure, the child must be placed in shock position (legs are elevated). If the child does not breathe on its own, it must be ventilated.
First aid for nosebleeds
The most common cause of nosebleeds is the bursting of small vessels in the nasal mucosa. If this bleeding occurs in a child, he or she should stand or sit, but not put the head in the neck. This is because it increases the blood pressure in the head and tends to make the bleeding worse. Again, it helps to apply pressure to the wound. Therefore, the child’s nose is continuously squeezed tightly with the index finger and thumb for at least 10 minutes.
Another measure is the so-called nose tamponade. Normal toilet paper is suitable for this purpose. It is twisted into a 1.5-2 centimeter long, pencil-thick roll and greased with skin cream. The tampon is inserted into the front section of the bleeding nose, and again the nostrils are pressed tightly together. Maintain the pressure for at least 10 minutes. An ice pack on the back of the neck will help stop the bleeding.
