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For Dad, Handling Emergencies Comes down to the three C's:
Calm, Cool and Cautious
By Michael A. Casano
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Welcome to Dad’s Corner. Each of my columns focuses on particular “fatherhood” issues, as well as suggestions on how to address them. I’ll also provide links to other sites for further reference, where possible. I definitely welcome your own comments and advice as well. Together as fathers, we’ll share our thoughts on how best to guide our children, nurture them and support them along the way.
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For dads, there is no more stressful moment than seeing your child suffer a traumatic injury. However, there are two important things to keep in mind when it happens: stay calm and cool, and err on the side of caution, even if you immediately dialing 9-1-1 or take your son or daughter to the emergency room.
Dr. Jahn Avarello knows how important it is for dads to keep it together during an emergency. The Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Huntington Hospital’s Clark Gillies Children’s Emergency Care Center, Dr. Avarello has seen from experience how a parent's behavior directly influences how a child handles the incident.
“If a child sees fear in your face, he or she is going to make it 10 times worse,” Dr. Avarello says. "That's why this is a perfect time for dads to get 'silly.' The more you can act goofy and direct your child’s attention away from the injury, the less likely he or she will cry for an extended period of time or even be in pain."
While staying calm is important, it's just as crucial for dads not to dismiss the severity of an injury, such as an undiagnosed concussion or fracture during a sporting event. Children may want to get back in the game quickly. But if there's any sign of a headache, loss of consciousness or vomiting after even a small hit to head, or tenderness putting weight on any limb, dads should follow the simple guideline of “when in doubt, sit him or her out.”
In all cases, Dr. Avarello reminds dads to take advantage of emergency care if there's any doubt of being able to treat the situation on their own, or if there are any underlying symptoms that make you think that cut or bruise can be masking hidden internal injuries.
Dr. Avarello adds, "When in doubt, call 9-1-1. It’s better to have them and not need them than it is to need them and not have them."
Michael A. Casano is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in numerous print and online publications. Prior to writing "Dads Corner" for Long Island Parent Online, he wrote a column on "Raising Multiples" for Newsday's Parents & Children magazine. In addition, Michael is a playwright, with a number of his plays performed throughout the country - including here on Long Island. He also developed material for Sesame Street as a freelance writer for the Children’s Television Workshop. Michael lives in Greenlawn with his wife, Donna, and their children, Ryan and Katie.
HOW TO TREAT CERTAIN EMERGENCIES
Dr. Avarello advises dads to take the following steps when treating the following situations:
SEVERE LACERATIONS:
Clean the cut with room temperature water and then cover it with a wet cloth. Then head to your closest emergency room. Keep in mind, there will be some scarring of the cut, regardless of whether it’s treated by a plastic surgeon or an emergency physician. The best way to minimize scarring is to put sun block on the wound for six months to a year after it initially heals and the scab comes off.
FRACTURES:
Children are more apt to have subtle fractures because they have their growth plates open. A majority of the fractures are easily handled by getting your child into a comfortable position, and getting your son or daughter to the ER. However, it's important to identify the possibility quickly. If you see swelling or if you push on all the bones and they jump to one spot – that’s a sign of a fracture and should be taken care of immediately.
POISONS
If you think your child has ingested anything toxic -- whether it's adult cough medicine or a household cleaner -- immediately call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. The Poison Center will guide you through the necessary next steps to take to deal with the situation. Do not use syrup of ipecac to treat the poison. 9-1-1 should also be called immediately if your child is showing any other symptoms (vomiting, change in mental status, lethargy, respiratory difficulty, etc.)
BURNS
First, get your child away from where the burn took place; then immediately wash off and put room temperature wet cloths over the burn area on his or her body. Do not put butter, oil or ice on a burn. If the burn area is bigger than your child's palm, call 9-1-1 for assistance. EMT's will provide faster, safer transport for your child to the ER, give your child proper patient pain medication and wrap up the burn more effectively.
LOST TOOTH:
If your child's tooth is knocked out because of head trauma, take the tooth, put it in a cup of milk, and bring it with you to your dentist. Do not try to rub the tooth, because you may destroy a ligament on the tooth needed to reinsert it successfully. Also, make sure there are no signs of a more severe head injury -- watch out for symptoms (dizziness, vomiting, headaches) that can you lead you to think there is something more.
SEVERE NOSEBLEEDS:
Pinch your child's nose right below the bony portion and hold it for at least five minutes. That is the minimum time needed for blood to clot. If you hold it for five minutes straight, non-stop, and it’s still bleeding, try again. You may want to put some gauze up there when you pinch it. If it still continues, call your pediatrician. Many times, your pediatrician can advise you on further treatment and avoid going to the ER.
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