Preschool kids are keen, daring explorers. Their little explorations at home or at preschool are their fun way of learning things. Unfortunately, preschool children can get a little carried away, and ended up with injuries, such as sprains and strains. If a preschool kid does suffer from any of these injuries, apply first aid to render appropriate care.
Is it a sprain or a strain?
The first thing to do when a preschool child complains an injury is to identify which kind it is. Is it a sprain? Or a strain? How do you know?
A sprain is a painful injury from the sudden twisting (and possibly tearing) of the tissues connecting one bone to another across the joint. The common sites of sprain in preschool children are ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and toes. A strain, on the other hand, is an injury similar to sprain because it is caused by stretching and tearing only this time, the injury involves the muscle tissue.
So, the rule of the thumb is if the injury is at the joint, it is likely a sprain; if at the muscles, it could be a strain. Ask your preschool child where the pain is coming from.
First aid for sprain and strain injuries
Both sprain and strain injuries can cause intense pain, swelling, and restricted movements to preschool children. The urgent care and relief you can give to an injured preschool child are as follows:
- Put off any unnecessary movements and weight on the injured site.
- Apply ice compress to the injured site for 10 minutes in three or four times for two days.
- Apply an elastic bandage to the injured site for support.
- Keep the injured site elevated, above the heart level for two days.
Points to remember in caring for an injured preschool child are immobility, elevation, and ice compress. Immobility prevents further tissue damage whereas elevation and ice compresses minimize swelling. Since your child may need ample time to rest, ask the preschool teacher to excuse your child from school so that your kid can get better soon at home.
Preschool kids may be difficult to manage with their little explorations. Thus, it is important that you are aware of first aid basics. To lessen your worries further, you can ask the preschool teacher regarding the preventive measures they practice to keep preschool children away from possible injuries.
