Sprains And Strains: Summer Safety Tips For Kids

Summer fun is here with longer days, outside activities and warmer weather. Summertime also means children are playing outside for longer periods and are at an increased risk for injuries and heat related illnesses. Here are some of the more common injuries children face and how to treat them - as your family enjoys a safe fun filled summer:

Preventing and Treating Heat-related Injuries

• Dehydration occurs when increased temperatures cause the body to lose more water. Early signs of dehydration in children include thirst, dry mouth and lips, infrequent urination or fewer wet diapers than usual, and decreased activity or irritability. Plan ahead and if you’re going to be outside in the heat, encourage extra hydration, take frequent water breaks and plan for rest periods in the shade.

• Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions. Symptoms in children can include a body temperature above 104 degrees, absence of sweating, disorientation, severe headache and/or dizziness. Avoid being outside for prolonged periods of time, especially the hottest time of day which is usually between 2pm-4pm.

• Sunburn risk can be minimized by keeping kids covered in sunscreen that has 30 or more SPF. Apply 30 minutes before exposure to give it time to penetrate the skin. Reapply every three to four hours and/or after swimming or heavy sweating. If they develop a mild sunburn, avoid further exposure until healed. Moisturize, and use aloe vera to soothe the skin. If the burn is severe, seek medical care.

Water Safety: Protecting Your Child Around Water

• Drowning risk exists even in just a few inches of water. Always supervise your child around water—whether in pools, bathtubs, or even ice chests. If drowning occurs, remove your child from the water immediately, assess their breathing, and begin CPR if necessary. Call 911 and continue rescue efforts until help arrives.

• Avoiding water-related injuries like head injuries, fractures, and lacerations is crucial, especially on slick surfaces near pools or water. Ensure kids don’t run or jump near water, and avoid diving into shallow or murky areas where underwater obstacles might be hidden.

Bicycle Safety: Reducing Injury Risks

To avoid bicycle-related injuries, avoid busy areas, streets, sidewalks and steep driveways when riding bikes and always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet reduces the chance of a head injury by 85%. Correctly fitting helmets should be worn at all times and be fastened correctly. If the injury appears minor, treat at home. If serious, seek immediate medical attention.

Preventing Playground Injuries

Common playground injuries include slips and falls, cuts and bruises, sprains and fractures.  Accidents most often happen on climbing equipment, slides, monkey bars and swings. If the injury appears minor, treat at home. If severe, seek immediate medical attention.

Trampoline and Bounce House Safety

Minimizing trampoline injuries is vital, as thousands of children are injured each year falling off the trampoline or out of bounce houses or by collision with other children. Head and neck injuries are the most serious.  In the case of a head or neck injury, prioritize immediate medical attention if they lose consciousness, have difficulty breathing or show signs of a severe injury like seizures, vomiting, neck pain, or difficulty moving limbs. If the injury appears minor, treat at home, but watch your child closely for any signs that their condition is getting worse. If you are unsure, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional or your pediatrician.

Avoid Sports-Related Injuries

Preventing Sports Injuries involves proper warm-ups, hydration, and rest before playing. Kids start competitive sports as early as age 7. Use precaution when dealing with sports injuries, and be prompt about seeking treatment to help prevent something more serious down the line.

Before playing, kids should stretch and warm up to improve flexibility, and properly hydrate with plenty of water or sports drinks that replace electrolytes lost in sweat. Kids should also get quality sleep for energy, coordination, muscle growth, recovery, and repair, as well as mental focus and ability to manage stress.

In many cases, injuries occur when kids play through pain. This can lead to fatigue, poor technique and ultimately more severe injuries. Make sure your kids understand that they should seek help if experiencing pain or something that just doesn’t feel right.

Broken Bone, Sprain, or Just a Bruise? Here's How To Tell:

Sprains and broken bones can be painful and look similar from the outside. Sometimes the only way to tell is through an evaluation by a healthcare provider, who might suggest an x-ray if you are experiencing trouble walking or moving a limb or persistent swelling or joint pain. The first step however is just knowing when to seek treatment. 

Symptoms of a sprain include pain, swelling, bruising, and/or difficulty moving or bearing weight. Sprains can usually be treated at home with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Ice the area regardless, especially while waiting to get medical attention. Sometimes with severe sprains, especially of the ankle, immobilization (staying still) may be recommended.

There are many types of mild to severe fractures in kids that do not happen in adults. Some may require a brace, cast or surgery. Obviously for injuries where a bone or limb looks crooked or deformed, you should head to an emergency room. Regardless of severity, ice and elevate the affected area while waiting to get medical attention.

A bruise will usually heal on its own, but some general guidelines for treatment include applying an ice pack for the first 24 hours after injury to help reduce swelling and discomfort. If the bruise or swelling is on the lips or in the mouth, give your child ice or a popsicle and if the bruise involves an area on the arm or leg, elevate the limb to help reduce swelling.  

Urgent Care Vs The Emergency Room

Several factors should be considered when determining whether to visit urgent care or the emergency room. Same-day urgent care clinics, equipped with x-ray, lab and other diagnostic services, can handle many of your child’s medical conditions requiring immediate treatment – but not considered true emergencies. They are great for after-hours care for minor illnesses or injuries in lieu of the hassles and inconveniences of a trip to a hospital ER. Common symptoms that can be evaluated and treated at an urgent care clinic include:

• Fever without a rash
• Vomiting or persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Dehydration
• Moderate flu-like symptoms
• Sprains and strains
• Small cuts that may require stitches

Certainly the ER is a vital healthcare component as well for ‘emergency’ medical conditions requiring rapid or advanced treatments, including surgery, that are only available in a hospital setting. Symptoms that are best evaluated in an emergency room include:

• Serious burns
• Head or eye injury
• Concussion/confusion
• Broken bones and dislocated joints
• Fever with a rash
• Seizures
• Severe cuts that may require stitches
• Facial lacerations

Trust Your Gut...And TrustCare Kids

If your personal instinct or your intuition tells you it’s serious, don’t hesitate — go to the nearest emergency room. But the majority of the medical conditions outlined above can be treated outside of a hospital setting for greater convenience and reduced wait times for you and your injured child.

TrustCare Kids is here to help. From fevers to summer scrapes, our experienced pediatricians and skilled Care Crew treat acute conditions in children by providing quick medical attention to help them Feel Better Faster. Our full-service clinics are equipped with on-site x-ray imaging and are open late and weekends giving you peace of mind during active summer months and beyond. You will find TrustCare Kids pediatric primary and urgent care clinics in Gluckstadt, Madison, and Brandon, MS. To make an appointment, click here.