Cuts, Scrapes and Not Shipshape
If you have a toddler or child (or are just plain accident prone), you’ll see your fare share of cuts and scrapes. So, what to do when you’re out in the wild? Be prepared, of course! I keep a very small first aid kit in my purse at all times. This has helped in so many different scrapes, whether it’s been with my kid, other people’s kids, or even myself. What I have in mine is really, really simple since I wanted to save on space:
Saline wipes: these are effective at cleaning the wound without the sting
Band-aids: I keep a variety of sizes, colors and characters (everyone has a favorite Paw Patrol character, but I personally love the variety of welly bandages - but be warned - their adhesive is intense)
Burn gel: this is helpful to have on hand because it can treat burns and minor cuts and scrapes, and this is what I credit with helping heal sunburns quickly
Lollipops: because nothing makes you feel better than a hit of sugar - plus it gives your kiddo something else to focus on while a boo-boo is being tended to; we like the Dum Dums!
Reminder that I’m not a doctor, but I am a Mom who has dealt with her fair share of cuts, burns, scrapes and tears. As always, please use common sense.
If you do have concerns about whether a cut needs stitches or not, here are some basic guidelines that help (sourced from kidshealth.org):
If the cut is still bleeding after you apply pressure for 5 minutes
If the cut looks deep/can see bone, or your kiddo has anything sticking out of it (think rocks, twigs, glass, etc.)
If the cut or scrape is gaping or wide (reason - the skin needs scaffolding to build on, and if it’s too wide it may not heal properly)
And hopefully this is a no-brainer, but if the cut is spurting blood, go to urgent care/ER immediately - this could indicate that a critical artery has been severed (and keep in mind that kiddos don’t have as much blood in their system as an adult, so it is crucial to get them to urgent care/ER immediately)
Hope this helps! If you have other essentials that you keep in your to-go first aid kit, drop them in the comments below.
