Children who are learning to walk are frequently vulnerable to minor injuries due to falls, collisions, and muscular strain. The most common outcome of such injuries in children is pain in the arm or leg, which is rarely severe enough to require medical care. However, a broken bone (fracture) can occasionally result from an injury, necessitating urgent medical attention. If pain persists for more than a day or two without any obvious signs of injury, it should always be brought to your doctor’s attention.
Growing pains
Growing pains are frequently used to describe recurrent aches in the legs, particularly in children. In fact, growth itself produces no discomfort. Such pains typically have no apparent source, but they occasionally may be brought on by an unnoticed injury, a muscle strain, or they may be connected to recurrent emotional tommy aches. If your kid occasionally complains of limb pain but otherwise seems healthy and content to engage in typical activities, there is probably no reason to be alarmed. If your kid experiences frequent pain attacks or seems reluctant to use the affected limb, only then should you consult a doctor.
General points
- You should not attempt to move the bone or joint back into place; only a specialist should do this.
- Keep your kid warm and maintain as much composure as you can while you await medical assistance.
- Don’t consume or drink anything; the bone may need to be reset with a general anesthetic.
- Take no further action and move the kid as little as possible if medical assistance is nearby.
- Use bandages and splints to immobilize the limb in the most comfortable posture if medical assistance won’t be there right away or if you need to move the child. See the instructions below for more information.
- After administering first aid, call for medical assistance or, if your kid can be moved (as in the case of an arm injury), take them to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.
Splints
A splint is a firm support that is used to immobilize an injured body part, typically an arm or a limb, to lessen pain and the chance of further injury. You can use a common domestic item, like a cardboard or rolled-up newspaper, to create an emergency splint. Always fasten the splint in two places, ideally on either side of the injury but not too close. Avoid tying these too tightly by using long, wide pieces of material or bandages rather than rope or thread. (you should be able to insert one finger between the bandage and limb).
A broken arm
Gently lay your injured arm across your torso in a bent position. The limb and chest should be separated by some padding. Along its length, a sling should be used to support the arm’s weight along with the padding. Bandages can be used to bind the arm to the side of the torso if it cannot be bent. A brace might offer more support.
Collar bone, shoulder or elbow injury
- Support the weight of the arm in a sling, in the child’s most comfortable posture.
Leg injury
- Attach the injured limb to the healthy one. Put a well-padded brace between them if you can.
Knee injury
- Support the joint in the way that the infant finds most comfortable. Apply a bandage to the knee if it is bent to keep it there. Use a board or something similar as a splint to support the limb from underneath if the knee cannot bend. Put padding around the foot and between the knee and the splint.