Will one of these children be yours?
Emergencies happen. It could be a fall from a bike… a sudden high fever or seizure…a pot knocked from the stove. What if your child started choking during dinner? What if she was stung by a bee and suddenly couldn't breathe? Would you know what to do? The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that an emergency exists if you think your child could die or suffer permanent harm unless care is received right away. Most parents feel they are prepared for emergencies because they know when and how to call 9-1-1. But often, that isn’t enough. Your child may need care before emergency medical service personnel arrive. And being prepared can assure your child isn’t further harmed by doing the wrong thing. We want to help you prepare, because no matter how hard you try to protect your children– emergencies happen.
Why emergency planning is important.
The first moments after an injury or onset of an illness are often
the most critical. The key is remaining calm, knowing what to do, and
making a decision to act. Take a look at the following list of potential
emergencies, and ask yourself if you'd know what to do¨Cor not
to do¨C
to help your child until emergency medical service personnel arrive:
If you're like most parents, you would feel comfortable handling some, but
not all, of these emergencies. That's why having a written plan is so important.
If and when emergencies happen, you'll know who to call, what information
you need, where to go, and what to ask. After reading this brochure, talk
to your pediatrician or health care provider to decide what's best for your
family. Learn what resources are available in your community. Then, use the
plan in the back of this guide. Your pediatrician or health care provider
can help you customize it to assure your family is well protected. If your child
has a serious health problem, you may want to use the American Academy of
Pediatrics' detailed Emergency Information Form at www.aap.org.
Writing down important information can help save your child's life.
What if you and your child were in a car crash and you couldn't
speak? What if your child got sick in day care and you couldn't be
reached right away? Emergency medical personnel are going to have
questions, and someone has to be able to find answers —fast.
That's why it's so important to have information about your children written
down. In the back of this brochure, you'll find an easy-to-use emergency
plan. After you complete it, here's what to do:
The more people who have this information, the better off your child will
be in an emergency.
1. CHECK IF 9-1-1 IS THE RIGHT NUMBER TO CALL. Some areas of the
country do not have 9-1-1. Others have E-9-1-1 where your address is
automatically stored in a database. Make sure you know what's available
where you live and work.
2. KEEP A WELL-STOCKED FIRST-AID KIT ON HAND. From minor cuts
and bruises to sunburn and sprains, a good first-aid kit is a great first line
of defense. To learn what makes a good first-aid kit, contact your health
care provider, local pharmacy, or the American Red Cross.
3. MAKE A LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS. Write down the
numbers you need in the emergency plan in the back of this brochure.
4. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WHO TO CALL AND WHAT TO SAY.
Make sure your children know where the phone numbers are for
emergency help and poison control. If they call 9-1-1, the operator will
ask, “Fire, Police, or Ambulance/Rescue?” Tell your child to stay
on the
line while the call is transferred. When the appropriate agency picks up,
the emergency operator will ask for name, address, telephone number,
and details. He or she will want to know what has happened, when it
happened, where it happened, and who is involved. Teach your child not
to hang up unless told to do so. The emergency operator may be able
to offer help over the phone.
5. MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE NUMBER IS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
Make it easy for police, fire officials, or emergency medical personnel to
find your house. Put large house numbers in a highly visible area. Make
sure the numbers are well-lit and can be seen at night. Make sure they
can be seen from the street in either direction.
6. KEEP A CLEAR AND UP-TO-DATE RECORD OF IMMUNIZATIONS.
This can help doctors do a better job of diagnosing a problem in an
emergency. For example, if your child has a bad infection, and the
doctor knows your child has been vaccinated against Hepatitis, the doctor
can rule that out. This can save time.
7. WRITE DOWN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, MEDICATIONS, AND
DOSAGES. The emergency plan in the back of this brochure has space
for you to write this information down. Being prepared in advance can
help assure proper treatment and prevent serious drug interactions.
8. MAKE A LIST OF ALLERGIES AND REACTIONS. The emergency plan
also includes a place to write this information down. It will help ensure
that health care professionals don’t use medicines that can hurt your
child. And, it might help emergency medical personnel find a reason for
problems such as seizures or shortness of breath. If any of your children
have severe drug allergies or chronic conditions, we recommend they
wear Medical I.D. bracelets.
9. IF YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY
COVERAGE. Check your policy in advance. Some insurance companies
require that you call first for approval. Make sure you understand your
policy, and carry all necessary cards and phone numbers with you.
10. TAKE FIRST-AID CLASSES. A basic class will teach CPR and proper
ways to treat burns, wrap sprains, apply splints, and perform the Heimlich
maneuver. Remember, if you take time now, you won’t lose precious time
when your child’s life could depend on it. It’s a good idea to ask
everyone
who takes care of your children to take these classes, including babysitters,
relatives, and day care providers. Your pediatrician, local hospital, fire
department, and local chapter of the Red Cross can tell you about classes.
1. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY. Most people say they will call 9-1-1 when
faced with a real emergency, but sometimes they don’t. Why? They may
not want to “bother” anyone, or they’re worried that the situation
isn’t
really an emergency. Instead, they call their pediatrician, the emergency
room, or some other health care professional. You should know that the
time spent waiting for a doctor to return your call could make a big
difference to your child’s life. Advice given over the phone is not always
correct. The fact is, no one can tell what’s wrong without first seeing
the
patient. That’s why it’s important to get your child in front of a
health
care professional as soon as possible. We recommend that you don’t
drive to the hospital yourself unless you really have to. If you must drive,
choose a hospital that serves children, if possible. Remember, it’s usually
faster, safer, and smarter to call 9-1-1.
2. CALL POISON CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. A poison can hurt your child
if he or she swallows it, breathes it in, or splashes it on the skin or in the
eyes. Get expert help by calling the Poison Control Center right away.
The number is 1-800-222-1222, 24 hours a day.
3. IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED,
DO NOT MOVE YOUR CHILD. In a case such as a car crash or a reallybad fall,
moving your child could result in permanent injury. Unless your
child is in further danger, keep him or her warm, still, and awake, if
possible, until help arrives.
4. KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOUR CHILD IN CASE OF A BURN. For
minor burns without blisters, soak the burned area in cold water until the
pain is gone. DO NOT use ice, butter, petroleum jelly, or other home cures.
For burns with blisters, call your doctor right away. For large and/or deep
burns, call 9-1-1. Keep your child warm and still until help arrives.
5. BE PREPARED IF YOUR CHILD HAS A SEIZURE. If your child is not
breathing, begin rescue breathing and have somebody call 9-1-1. If you
don’t know how to perform rescue breathing, the emergency operator
can tell you what to do. If your child is breathing, turn your child on his
or her side. Help protect your child from further harm by moving objects
out of the way. DO NOT prop up your child’s head or put anything in
your child’s mouth.
6. KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS BLEEDING. For really bad
wounds or spurting blood, call 9-1-1 right away. Have your child lie down
and apply firm, direct pressure to the wound. If the pad becomes
soaked, put another one on top of it. DO NOT use tourniquets. If possible,
raise the wound higher than your child’s heart.
7. KNOW HOW TO HELP A CHILD WITH A BROKEN BONE. Call 9-1-1
immediately. Try to keep the injured limb from moving. Apply cold
compresses to minimize swelling (NOT ICE). If a bone is sticking out from
the skin, cover it with a large bandage, but DO NOT try to push it back
in. If there is a lot of bleeding, use direct pressure around the area. DO
NOT try to move your child unless he or she is in immediate danger.
8. DO NOT ADMINISTER THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER OR CPR UNLESS
YOU ARE TRAINED. Call 9-1-1 right away. The emergency operator can
tell you how to help your child until help arrives.
9. HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN ON HAND. Be prepared to give
emergency medical personnel important information. Use the emergency
plan included in this brochure to write down everything you will need.
10. MAKE IT EASY FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO FIND YOU.
Turn on all the lights in your house. Have someone wait outside,
if possible, to show fire, police, or emergency medical personnel where
your child is.
We hope you will keep this brochure handy as a quick reference in
case of an emergency. We urge you to complete the emergency plan
included here. Ask your pediatrician or health care provider to help you
complete a plan for each of your children. If your child has a serious health
problem, you may want to use the American Academy of Pediatrics’ detailed
Emergency Information Form at www.aap.org. If you would like to learn
more about being prepared, please visit our website at www.ems-c.org.