Scrape, Bang, Bump: How to Prevent and Treat Common Childhood Injuries

As much as we want to protect our children, accidental childhood injuries are bound to happen. Toddlers fall and scrape their knees when they’re learning to walk, and kids get bruised during recess and after-school sports. 

Some types of injuries are more common than others depending on the age of your child. Common causes of childhood injuries include poisoning, falls, playground accidents, and heat-related injuries from fire, steam or hot liquids.

While most childhood injuries are easily treated, some can be incredibly serious. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for kids and teens. With a little awareness and precaution, parents and guardians can help prevent major injuries from occurring. 

Child Injury Prevention Saves Lives

Knowing the common forms of childhood injuries is the first step toward reducing your child’s risk of injuring themself. The next step is to take action. Consider the following preventive actions:

• Child-proof your home. Install safety gates to prevent falls down stairs or bumps into glass doors. Keep anything toxic, like cleaners, medications, bug sprays, soaps and cosmetic items, out of reach and locked up.
• Learn and practice water safety. Always supervise children around water, even in the bathtub. If you have a pool or hot tub, make sure safety gates prevent children from wandering anywhere near the pool area. Start swimming lessons as early as possible.
• Use safety equipment. Helmets and knee pads can prevent injuries on bikes and scooters, while a properly installed car seat can save a child’s life during a car crash.

Although it’s impossible to prevent every injury, head injury prevention should be a staple of every safety routine. Research has found that childhood head injuries may create mental and physical issues later in life. Wearing helmets, using seat belts and limiting involvement in concussion-prone sports can reduce a child’s risk of brain injury. Learn when a concussion test may be needed.

Basic First Aid Can Help

Knowing basic first aid is important in general, and doubly so if you have children. It’s impossible to prepare for every unique emergency situation, but having a general understanding of how to handle injuries can greatly help until medical professionals arrive.

• Keep a first aid kit at home and in your car. You can buy one or make your own, but ensure it is stocked with bandages, absorbent gauze, antiseptic wipes, gloves, aspirin (for adults), and a one-way breathing barrier for CPR.
• Learn CPR. Taking one afternoon to learn CPR could help save your child or someone else’s life in an emergency.
• Study the correct treatment methods for different injuries. For example, scrapes shouldn’t be treated the same as burns.

When Your Child Needs Urgent or Emergency Care

Some injuries need professional medical care right away. University of Maryland Medical System urgent care is a great option for less serious childhood injuries, such as:

• Cuts and scrapes that might need stitches or appear infected
• Insect stings or bites that are causing a mild allergic reaction
• Minor burns
• Rashes
• Sprains or strains
• Bruises

However, if your child has a serious or life-threatening injury, you should seek emergency care immediately. ERs have the equipment and staff to diagnose and treat the most severe conditions, such as:

• Broken bones
• Dental injuries
• Eye injuries
• Head injuries
• Heavy bleeding
• Poisoning
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe burns

Call an ambulance if your child stops breathing, is unconscious or unresponsive, has a severe head injury, or has a seizure for the first time. Do not move your child if there is a visible broken bone or a severe head, back or neck injury. If you suspect poisoning, call the Poison Control helpline (800-222-1222) for expert advice that may help you before you head to the ER. 

Injuries Happening All the Time? Talk to Your Pediatrician.

If your child bruises easily, seems overly clumsy or is more accident-prone than other kids, you should talk to your pediatrician. Frequent or severe bruising could be a sign of anemia, a bleeding disorder, or childhood leukemia. Frequent accidents or clumsiness could be a sign of issues such as developmental coordination disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

More to Read

• Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room?
• The Top 10 Signs You Might Need a Concussion Test
• Broken Bones: How to Spot Them and Where to Seek Care
• 7 Tips to Help Your Child Avoid Sports Injury This Season

Medically reviewed by Rebecca Cater, MD.