The agile behavior of children can often cause their heads to bang. If this happens to your little one, don't panic, Bun. Check out the following article to find out what first aid can be done if a child's head hits.
Hitting the head is a common thing experienced by children, especially children under 4 years old, when they are actively playing. At this age, children do have a high curiosity, so they like to explore the environment around them.
Unfortunately, the system of coordination and balance of a child's body at this age is not perfect. That's what makes children vulnerable to falling so that their heads hit.
Handling Steps When a Child's Head Hits
When you find a child's head hit, pay attention to the situation first. Is the child conscious, drowsy, or unconscious? Can the child still be spoken to or is his speech rambling?
If the child's consciousness declines or suddenly slurred his speech, immediately take him to the hospital because of the possibility of an impact on the brain. In addition, children aged less than 2 years who hit their heads are also better checked immediately to the doctor.
However, if the child is still conscious and able to talk to or respond to questions, it is likely that only the outside of his head is injured. If there is an open wound on the child's head, give first aid immediately to stop the bleeding and prevent infection.
The trick, wash the wound with running water, then gently press the wound area with sterile gauze to stop bleeding. If the bleeding doesn't stop after a few minutes or if the wound is large, take the child to the doctor or hospital emergency room immediately.
If there is no open wound on the child's head after being hit, here are the first aid steps that can be taken:
1. Give a cold compress
Cold temperatures can reduce swelling or lumps and reduce pain in the head. Mothers can wrap some ice cubes with a clean cloth, then stick them for 20 minutes to the part of the Little One's head that hit. Repeat the compression every 3-4 hours.
Don't put ice cubes directly on your little one's scalp, right, Bun. Instead of relieving swelling, ice cubes can actually damage skin tissue.
2. Let the child rest
After Mother gives a cold compress, let your little one rest and reduce his activities so that he recovers quickly. Tidy and clean his bed so he can sleep comfortably and soundly. However, Mother still has to monitor the condition of the Little One while he sleeps.
3. Give medicine
To relieve pain from hitting the head, you can give your little one paracetamol. However, make sure you take the medicine according to the directions on the packaging label.
4. Monitor the child's condition for the next 24 hours
After hitting your baby's head, his condition needs to be monitored for the next 24 hours. If your little one only cries for a while and then can return to their normal activities, chances are that they are not experiencing anything serious.
However, if within 24 hours your little one vomits after being hit, looks confused or drowsy, has seizures, his skin is pale, his pupils dilate, until he becomes unconscious, the mother must immediately take him to the emergency room of the nearest hospital to get an examination and treatment from a doctor. .
A child's head can be hit at any time, either while playing or falling out of bed. Therefore, create a safe environment for your little one at home. If your little one likes to exercise on bicycles, roller skates, or skateboards, make sure he always wears head protection.
Safety while driving is equally important. Always wear your little one a helmet when he rides on a motorbike, no matter how close the distance is. When driving by car, seat your little one in the back seat and fasten him or her with a seat belt. That way, the risk of a child's head bumping during an accident will be smaller.