Children's wounds are very common — 90% are minor and can be treated at home but the golden rule is staying calm and handling properly to prevent infection.
Steps for Handling Your Child's Wound:
- Reassure the child first: Your fear transfers to the child. Stay calm and assure them everything will be fine.
- Stop the bleeding: Press on the wound with clean gauze for 5-10 continuous minutes — don't lift the gauze to check.
- Clean the wound: Wash with clean running water — no concentrated Betadine or alcohol (painful and harmful to tissues). Saline solution or mild soap and water.
- Remove dirt: If there's soil or gravel — remove gently under running water.
- Apply antibiotic ointment: Thin layer of ointment like Fucidin — prevents infection and moisturizes.
- Cover the wound: Adhesive bandage or gauze — protects from bacteria and scratching.
- Change daily: Or when wet or dirty.
When to See a Doctor:
- Deep wound needing stitches (clearly open edges).
- Bleeding that doesn't stop after 10 minutes of pressure.
- Facial wound (to avoid scarring).
- Animal or human bite.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we handle children's wounds gently and professionally with techniques that minimize pain and fear.