The Dangers Awaiting Our Children In The Outdoor Environment
Outdoor Accidents
The most common falls, cuts, scrapes and bruises in the outdoor environment; bone fractures, sprains, crushes; cases of drowning; insect stings and bites and animal bites/scratches.
All dirt and foreign objects on the wound are cleaned in scrapes and bruises. The wound is washed with plenty of soapy water. It is cleaned with antiseptic solutions. If signs of inflammation such as swelling, inflammation, excessive swelling and redness develop in the wound area, a doctor should be consulted. In case of puncture and cut injuries, if there is a vascular incision and a large amount of bleeding develops, a tight bandage should be applied to single-boned areas such as the upper arm and thigh to stop the blood and go to the nearest health institution.
In case of suspected fractures, ice is applied to the injured area to reduce swelling. Joints above and below the bone should be immobilized by applying a splint. Cardboard boxes, pieces of wood, thick magazines and newspapers can be used as splints. If the suspected fractured limb is cold, bluish or numb; If the child has sweating, dizziness, the limb is unusually bent, the broken/suspicious limb cannot be used, a doctor should be consulted immediately. A broken bone can damage the nerves and vessels around it. Open fractures in which tissue integrity is impaired and bone ends are visible from the outside require urgent intervention.
In soft tissue traumas such as ankle sprain, the first application is to quickly apply cold to the sprained ankle and keep it above the heart level to prevent swelling. Keep the towel-wrapped ice on the ankle for at least 30 minutes. If there is visible swelling at the end of 30 minutes, continue to apply cold for 30 minutes, taking 15-minute breaks in the following hours. If after 24 hours the pain prevents the child from putting his weight on the injured foot, consult a doctor. Elastic bandage can be used during this time. Care should be taken not to make the bandage too tight. Within 10 days, the wrist is quite close to normal. Complete recovery may take 4-6 weeks.
The pool itself is an important risk factor. Children can be prevented from falling into the pool by building barriers around the pools. In the sea and in the pool, children should never swim alone and should never sail from the shore without an experienced adult accompanying them.
To avoid dog bites, children can be told not to make noise or scream near dogs. Since there are many stray dogs in our country, our children should be fed with love towards dogs, but they should also be taught the necessity of approaching them cautiously. Sudden movements next to the dog can sometimes be perceived by the dog as an invitation to play. Pressing the dog’s tail, touching its nose, ears, etc. It can make the animal restless. If your child has not been bitten by a pet, you should consult your doctor about the need for rabies vaccination. Your child may also need a tetanus vaccine according to the vaccination schedule. An animal whose vaccinations have been completed and has not expired is not likely to become rabid and transmit it. In case of bite, firstly the wound area is washed with plenty of soapy water and an antiseptic is applied. In case of bites of sensitive areas such as the face, hands or bleeding bites, the nearest health institution should be consulted. Suspected bites of rabies are not sutured. It is a notifiable disease.
Most insect bites are minor and usual cases. But bee etc. Some insect stings may produce local or systemic reactions. Systemic reactions, although rare, can have very serious consequences and require immediate treatment. If your child has a known allergy, you should always carry medication for adrenaline autoinjection and wear a bracelet or necklace that notifies you of the allergy. The biting insect is quickly removed from the body. Cold should be applied immediately over the bite. Thus, the absorption of the insect toxin, if any, is slowed down. Pain relievers containing paracetamol; antihistamines may be administered. If tissue reaction is evident, there is intense itching and swelling; If symptoms of respiratory distress, abdominal pain, and fainting are added, you should apply to the nearest emergency room. Never try to remove the tick yourself in suspected tick bites. If the body integrity of the tick is disturbed during the procedure, a possible carrier tick can be infected with the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever agent. Hospitals should go to the emergency department and tick removal should be done by specialists.