Welcome to the Children's First Aid and Emergencies online course!
The challenges of helping and the specificities of the baby/child in first aid
Identification and response in an acute emergency
Choking / Foreign body in airways
Injuries and accidents
Diseases and illnesses
Poisonings
First aid supplies for families
Final exam
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Musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries in children

Video. Musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries in children.

Musculoskeletal injuries in children are usually caused by falls or falls from a height. Children's bones are more flexible and elastic than adult bones, which means that injuries to children's bones are often different from those of adults.

First aid for muscle, ligament and bone injuries and under suspicion:

  • Immobilising the disability (supporting with hands) with an elastic bandage.
  • Apply cold to the site of the injury with an elastic bandage, garment or tissue (never against the bare skin). Keep cold for 10-20 minutes at a time.
  • There is no clear evidence of benefit, but on the other hand, if the child feels that elevating the limb can help with pain, it can be used.
  • Do not try to correct a possible misalignment of the limb by pulling it into position.

After the injury occurs, see a doctor if:

  • The child refuses or is unable to use the limb after the accident.
  • The injury site is swollen and sore.
  • The part of a body is clearly misaligned.

After mild injuries, the onset of lameness can be monitored at home for 1-2 days if the child is able to walk/use the limb and there are no findings as mentioned above. It is also important to be aware that if the child's lameness is not related to an injury, the child's general condition is abnormal or the child has a fever, a doctor should be consulted for further investigations.