Night three for Toddler North in her new bed and she' s fallen out and hit her head causing a small gash in the scalp. it's about half a centimetre long.
Worth going to A&E for it to be stitched or is that too small a cut?
clean and dress, and keep an eye on it.
Close it with a steri-strip?
NHS Direct - 0845 4647
They'll be able to answer any queries professionally based on information you give them over the phone.
Minor Injuries Unit or Walk in Centre if you have one to checked for other symptoms and have it cleaned. It can scar easily when they're young, be prepared to be asked a few probing questions though.
NHS Direct tend to refer direct to A&E for all small people injuries.
TTFU.
😉
Sounds small, but I can't see it. Have you tried thin bit of non-adherent dressing across but with tape pulling it closed a bit. Toddlers make you update your first aid kit fairly regularly.
Ask someone responsible will you? Posting the question on here is not a good indicator.
Too Tall - Kind of the point I was trying to make as well 😉
[url= http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Head-injury-minor/Pages/Symptoms.aspx ]Minor Head Injury[/url]
On the phone to a quack at NHS Direct right now.
Am off to check first aid kit. Either that or gaffer tape.
🙂
Chill out TooTall FFS. Child is perfectly happy, cut is small, medic advising.
Kip - I'd think subtle would be lost on the OP given the question posted!
superglue is your friend 🙂
Unless it's big enough for stitches, the hospital would only gaffer-tape it up anyway...
He's trying to divert attention away from the baseball bat hidden in the shed after too many hours of sleep deprivation.
Seriously though best get it checked.
You posted a bone question about the wellbeing of an injured child on a mountain biking forum. I took the proverbial because it is a bit bone.
Chill out and concentrate on your bairn, not internet numpties poking fun at your bone post. On a cycling forum. About an injured child.
superglue is your friend
Getting high won't make the problem go away.
Off to a&e....
YAYYYYY 😀
TT - go easy 'ey. The OP [u]is[/u] talking to a professional, as suggested, and he's getting it sorted.
Sometimes we all forget about the most obvious and easiest answer especially if the child in question doesn't seem phased. I guess he was just looking for a bit more advice to go on top of his gut feeling about the child he can see and he knows best.
Second opinions never hurt.
Hope Toddler North is Ok, and well done on the big bed. Still waiting for Small Kip's first proper launch out of hers!
I remember my three year olds first night in his big boys bed- THUMP- I was up the stairs like a rat up a drainpipe.. Not that I was listening or anything..
Anyways- superglue will prob be the answer at the hospital I'm guessing- depending on how deep it is!
We used one of those 'fence' devices that slides under the mattress and sticks up to stop 'em falling out while they get used to a proper bed. Worked a treat.
superglue will prob be the answer
ok smartarse, you've glued her to the bed so she can't fall out, how are you going to get her up in the morning? hmmmm? didn't think about that one did we!
Blue superglue. Son1 did this after cutting his head on a plant pot falling off his first wooden bike. 1cm gash that wouldn't close. Bled like a stuck pig. Lie on front. Prevent thrashing (a lot of thrashing!). Nurse closes wound with superglue. Preferable to stitches (where no anesthetic is used).
Don't F about on STW, get on NHS Direct!
NHS [i]re[/i]direct... Pfft.
In my experience, usually get more sense (and sense of humour) from NHSTW. Bleeding pointless entity. (IMHO, of course)
NHS Direct were always likely to say hospital. But half a cm? That is seriously tiny.
I once watched a doctor tie hair together across a much larger scalp wound than that. (We were about 3 hours from nearest A&E). Seemed to do a very effective job. By the time we got to civilisation the decision was not to even bother disturbing it to stitch it. Of course improvised repairs may be less appropriate on children, or where help is closer to hand.
since we're talking glue, and Drac and possibly other people who wear white coats are in....
Why isnt the home application of superglue encouraged? I dont think it's in first aid courses? Its hardly any more complicated than applying steris. I self administer for cuts and eczema, but havent yet needed to glue Stoner Jr [s]to the floor[/s] together yet, but I wouldnt baulk at it if the opportunity came up.
I once watched a doctor tie hair together across a much larger scalp wound than that.
Top Macgyvering! Im remembering that one!
One of my girls did the same but head butted the top of a radiator. Quite a lot of blood and an open wound about 1cm long.
Quick trip to a&e (bit too quick as it cost me points for popping through a light just turning red) some superglue and back home.
Small scar there still 4 years on.
The hair technique is actual procedure that's a very effective.
Stoner it not the same kind of glue for start and there's a bit more to it then sticky a wound closed, which is why first aiders aren't taught it.
Stoner it not the same kind of glue
Cyanoacrylate + Aquamarine Blue? 😉
Go on then, show us yer skillz, what makes it more complicated than sticking it together?
I think the general aproach with scalp wounds on kids is "if you can see any clean head at all under the gushing blood, it's a minor injury and safe to leave alone"
I have no real idea what a stuck pig bleeds like, but it can't be nearly as heavily as a toddler with a grazed scalp
Note to TT - 😉
Go on then, show us yer skillz, what makes it more complicated than sticking it together?
Cause, length, depth, width, still bleeding, location, age of patient, previous medical history will that do for now?
Medical superglue is a slightly different compound, upposedly less irritant I think. No idea whether this can be supported with evidence
Scaredy you're right it's a different formula but don't worry it would seem others not trained in it no better than those who are.
no better than those who are.
I can spell better 😛
stoner - medical grade super glue (derma bond) is basically a purified 2-octyl cycanoacrylate it doesn't contain the additional trace compounds that can be skin sensitisers.
Unlike commercial stuff which is ethyl cycanoacrlyate plus additional solvents . This is also why commercial stuff actually sticks better!
superglue is bloody ace for my own cuts, mind
will I, err, you know, .... 🙁
I won't argue with that Stoner. 😀
oh and loctite permabond stings like a b*****d whereas dermabond feels a damn sight better. I used to use it lots when climbing...re-glue mangled hand,dip in chalk bag, back to it.
anyway,
Cause, length, depth, width, still bleeding, location, age of patient, previous medical history
all of that applies to selecting any other dressing. And nearly all common sense. Dont dress it up like the darks arts of the High Courts of Justice. If anything, you should be encouraging better understanding of medical care, not turning into a prohibited taboo.
loctite permabond stings like a b*****d whereas dermabond
now that makes more sense 🙂
can you buy dermabond over the counter?
can you buy dermabond over the counter?
can order on line
A mate of mine is a surgical consultant (ent) and he always has a tube of normal superglue in the house first aid kit.
I'll get comrade noteeth to nick some...
puntastic !Dont dress it up
bdum t'ouch
(ent) and he always has a tube of normal superglue in the house
where's he planning on putting it? I reckon it doesnt work well in the nasal cavity....
surgical consultant (ent)
that's scary, Ears Nose throat are last places you'd want glue 😆
duuuh tazzy - never heard of glue ear ? 🙄
They stick 'em back on all the time
Dont dress it up like the darks arts of the High Courts of Justice. If anything, you should be encouraging better understanding of medical care, not turning into a prohibited taboo.
Not claiming it is but your lack of understanding proves why first aiders don't close wounds. We don't do it as standard, we have to do extra training for it as it really isn't a case of just closing a wound.
Patchy yourself up is different that's your body so your decision.
is that like blue waffle?never heard of glue ear
and back home no stitches required.
am deffo going to order some dermabond for at home though - sounds ace!
Applying some nice fresh dung should balance the humours.
I think on occasion you need to take an educated guess. If its "bleeding like a stuck pig" and you are 3 hours from the nearest help take your best option. That may be B&Q super glue, a sweaty sleeve off a coat, a sock etc. Preferable if you are a bit out of the way you have something sterile and appropriate until a professional gets there.
I always carry a small first aid kit in the car and on the bike. If its small it can be fixed and then get help. If its major your getting the professionals to you.
Common sense. Getting the injury recorded as well on a small child may be a good dea in this day and age anyway. You don't want to be turning up anywhere with self administered superglue and scars everywhere.
On a slight tangent - we had my daughters two guinea pigs sterelised a while back. Vet just split them open down the middle, removed all their squidgy bits, and glued them back up.
My wife was handed two comatose guinea pigs with the advice - if the wound splits open again and bits start hanging out, just poke them back in with your finger and glue them back up with superglue! She couldn't work out if the vet was just joking or not, but we now keep a tube of superglue handy for any accidents of animal or human nature...
PS: Methinks some have become too reliant on the crutch which is STW, if the first reaction to an accident befalling a toddler is to rush to the forum for advice...
What you really need is a Paramedic Practitioner !!
If its "bleeding like a stuck pig" and you are 3 hours from the nearest help take your best option. That may be B&Q super glue...
Which is not closing the wound.
Only if your outfit's as good as spiderman's. Otherwise it's superglue or spideyspaff all the way.What you really need is a Paramedic Practitioner !!
Which is not closing the wound.
pffft, semantics 🙄
Im off to slice Jr open and get busy with the UHU....
Since putting monkey jnr in his toddler bed we've kept a folded duvet on the floor beside him. It should at least cushion the worst of any blow.
i think this thread needs sacrificial children for an online trial
Glad jnr is ok.
Now, WTF is this about? Bone this, bone that? Are you in porno land??
TooTall - MemberYou posted a [b]bone [/b]question about the wellbeing of an injured child on a mountain biking forum. I took the proverbial because it is a bit [b]bone[/b].
Chill out and concentrate on your bairn, not internet numpties poking fun at your [b]bone [/b]post. On a cycling forum. About an injured child.
Which is not closing the wound.
OK so I would glue the wound open? I think its reasonable to assume that the attempt would be to close the wound.
Lets say for example I cut my leg and I have said "I would use a bandage as it quite deep", would you assume that I was going to wipe my arse on said bandage, put it on my arm or do anything other than use it to dress the wound!
Pingu66,
There is 'closing the wound' and there is 'arresting the haemorrhage' you would be doing the latter (and fair play for getting on with it). The former is a specific medical term, and implies that a proper, permenent job has been done, without the need for further medical intervention. (Hopefully)
I always keep a bottle or two of Maplins medium viscosity superglue in my bag, because I frequently get paper cuts and splits in my fingers from handling paper, which dries the skin out; had to glue two up again this morning.
One thing to be really careful of when using glue, and that's to be certain the cut, if fairly deep, is absolutely clean, otherwise it'll get infected; it's happened to me. Deep cuts on fingertips are a bugger, too; trying to get the glue on and set while blood's oozing out is a pain, great big bubbles of glue filled with blood are messy!
I really ought to be more careful using sharp knives... 😳
I think the scenario I used was I am 3 hours from help? If I was around the corner from A&E then its A&E.
Trying to make the point that sometimes you may have to do whatever you can. However rarely in the UK you would be unable to get to A&E in an unrealistic time before you could get professional help.
The OP got flamed for being on here rather than taking his little un to hospital. I think I would have gone stratight to hospital but cannot be 100% certain. You've had a busy day, its late, the injury does not look bad, you don't want to look like your over reacting etc etc.
Fortunately I have never een in either situation only finding the odd random spilling claret on a Saturday night which is easily dealt with as a member of the public. Make comfortable, call the professionals.
Just as an aside, my OH's "little un" (18 year old step daughter) was injured on Sunday. Took her to the walk in centre who suggested as she was unclear how it happened and could not recall she needed a CT scan. That's OK so off to hospital for CT.
Unfortunately it didn't work out like that as she knows best and does not need a CT scan so refuses to go to hospital. Just got a call she is coming home from work and needs to go to hospital, blinding headaches, pain behind her eyes, dizziness. Wish I had been more forceful/insistent. Wish I had got a call sooner so I could get her from work! Worried now.
Head injury! GET IT CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL AND FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE. I would rather be told I am a muppet than what I am feeling like right now.
The OP got flamed for being on here rather than taking his little un to hospital.
I'm worried that (some) people honestly thought that my priority was posting on here. It was slightly light-hearted (though other useful advice welcome) as the clearly perfectly happy Toddler North was running round her room and showing us her books while Mrs North was on a lengthy call to NHS Direct (including one of their clinicians).
On the eventual advice of the doc at NHS Direct, we erred on the side of caution and went for a nice drive to the nearby children's A&E who were reasonably quiet. At that point, it was concluded that stitches and glue probably weren't needed and Toddler North impressed the staff by being so well behaved throughout.
I'm not one to panic, so we assessed the whole situation. Evidently some on here would have preferred a more hysterical (but unreported) approach. I think I got the balance just fine, but I'll bear in mind the sensitivity of others next time.
Cheers for the advice, good and bad.
I think the scenario I used was I am 3 hours from help? If I was around the corner from A&E then its A&E.Trying to make the point that sometimes you may have to do whatever you can. However rarely in the UK you would be unable to get to A&E in an unrealistic time before you could get professional help
Your talking of closing wounds with superglue right? You don't close haemorrhaging wounds. As for wiping your bum with bandages, I do hope not but I was assuming you were so relax.
For the record OMITN, I don't think you did anything wrong. I might not have hesitated, but I probably would have been flapping if it was my little un.
Anyway hospital for me now.
I'd have just left this to scab over. V' important to teach kids the delights of picking your scabs from an early age.
Glad to hear toddler North is ok and that your scenario was pretty much what I thought.
If it's anything though, I was well chuffed that I'd given advice to someone on here and they'd actually taken it; although I'm guessing from your post that you were already on the phone when I suggested it. Ah well, I'll pretend it was me, makes me feel all good inside!