Accidents and injury happens to everyone at some point in their life. If you have a small child, you most likely watch them very closely to keep them safe from accident or injury. Sometimes, injury is unavoidable and will need to be addressed right away. Here are some of the more common injuries that are sustained by small children, and a guideline to use to know when you should bring the child to urgent care.

Scrapes Or Cuts

Small children that are learning how to walk will often fall down in the process. An occasional scrape is to be expected. In most instances, you will be able to clean the affected area with soap and water. Press a compress against the area to help stop the bleeding. Afterwards you should to apply an antibacterial ointment to help ward off any infection. A bandage can be used to cover the area so that it does not become dirty or reopen. If you are unable to stop bleeding, however, you will need to bring your child to urgent care right away.

Bumps And Bruises

Since small children will be getting used to walking without falls, there may be several bruising incidents along the way. Most of these will be mild and unnoticeable. Head bumps can lead to dark-colored bruises. Use an ice pack wrapped inside a towel to relieve any inflammation that will occur. If your child bumps their head, you will want to monitor their activity to make sure that they are not overly sleepy afterwards. A concussion can occur with bumping so it is very important to keep a close watch to make sure that the child does not display symptoms.

Burning

If your child accidentally touches a stove or another surface that can cause a burn, or if the child has contracted a sunburn from being out in the elements for too long, you will want to place the affected area in cool water to alleviate the pain. Do not use ice-cold water as this can shock the skin. Cover the affected area with a loose piece of dressing so that it does not aggravate the area that was burned. You can apply aloe to help relieve the pain from the infliction. Keep a watch on the area for any blistering. If the burn causes several layers of skin to be removed, you will need to get to urgent care immediately.

For more information, don't hesitate to contact a local urgent care facility, such as Urgent Care of Stafford.