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To learn more about this and many other topics for children, go towww.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com

There’s no doubt that kids are ourmost precious treasures. We try our best

to keep them safe, happy and healthy. Sometimes,

despite our best efforts, they get hurt or sick. As a

parent, the best medicine is a good dose of prepa-

ration. And while a lot of good parenting is just

plain common sense, there are other times when

knowing how to treat an illness or injury allows for

quicker intervention and better care for your child

— especially during the summer months. That’s

why Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at

Sky Ridge Medical Center has created this quick

reference guide for you. Keep it handy and you’ll

be better prepared for life’s little emergencies...any

time of year.

please read on >>>

Now part of all HealthONE hospitals: The Medical Center of Aurora, North Suburban Medical Center, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, Rose Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center.

To learn more about this and many other topics for children, go toMay 2010

RMHC CO Parent May 2010_RMHC Colorado Parent 4/16/10 3:45 PM Page 1

Allergic Reactions canbe triggered by food, medications, insectstings, pollen or just about anything!Most allergic reactions cause hives anditching but aren’t serious.However, severe reactionscan be life-threateningand require immediatemedical attention.

Mild Allergic ReactionsSymptoms of a mild allergicreaction will usually improve with the use of an antihistamine. If symptoms aremore severe or cause alarm, contact yourpediatrician immediately. Itchiness, redness or slight swelling

of the skin Stuffy, runny nose and/or sneezing Itchy, watery eyes Hives (raised red bumps or welts)

anywhere on the body

Severe Allergic ReactionsOccasionally, allergic reactions can be

very severe and even life threaten-ing. If you have an EpiPen,you should immediately

provide an injection as directed.Severe allergic reactions require

immediate emergency medicalassistance and may present with: Swelling of the tongue or mouth Difficulty speaking or swallowing Wheezing or labored breathing,

dizziness or fainting Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting

or diarrhea

Animal Bites and scratchescan sometimes cause infection. Somebites require stitches while others healon their own. In rare cases, animal bitescan cause rabies, which is a life-threaten-ing illness. Always watchyoung childrenaround animals –even your own pets– and teach them totreat animals gentlyand to stay awayfrom wild and unknown animals.

Treatment Wash the bite area thoroughly

with soap and water Apply pressure with sterile gauze

or clean cloth if there is bleeding Apply antibiotic ointment and

cover the area with a bandage orclean gauze

Provide acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain

Seek immediate medical care if: The bite was from a wild animal, a

pet that isn’t up-to-date on rabies vaccinations or an animal that is acting strangely

The bite has broken the skin The bite is on the head, neck, face,

hand, foot or near a joint The wound becomes red, hot,

swollen or increasingly painful The child is behind on shots or has

not had a tetanus shot in the past five years

Broken Bones are a common injury in children. It’s impor-tant to seek medical attention for anybroken bone – regardless of where it occurs or how large or small it appears.You can help your child avoid brokenbones by installing proper safety equip-ment and ensuring that he/she wears protective gear when participating insports or physical activity.

Signs & SymptomsYour child may have broken a bone if: There was a “snap” or “grinding noise”

when the injury occurred The area is bruised, swollen or tender The injured part is difficult to move

or hurts when moving, being touchedor bearing weight

Treatment Remove clothing from the injured site

and immediately apply an ice packwrapped in a soft cloth Avoid excessive movement of

the injured limb Place a simple splint on theinjured limb, if available Seek medical attention and

don’t allow the child toeat (in case surgery is

required)

Do NOT move the child or touchthe injury and immediately call 911 if: You suspect a seriousinjury to the head, neck or back

A bone is protrudingthrough the skin

Sunburn can happenwith as little as 15 minutes ofsun exposure but may notcause redness or discomfortfor a few hours. Repeated

sunburns can lead to skincancer later in life. Children

who have fair skin or hair, lots offreckles or moles, or a family history ofskin cancer are at a higher risk. Limitthe amount of time your children are inthe sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.and make sure they wear protectiveclothing, sunglasses and a hat. Apply asunscreen that provides UVA and UVBprotection with an SPF of 15 or higherprior to going into the sun; reapply after30 minutes and continue to apply tochildren who are sweating or playing inthe water.

Symptoms of Mild Sunburn Skin redness and warmth Pain and itchiness

Symptoms of Severe Sunburn Skin redness and swelling Pain and tingling Headache, nausea, fever and chills Dizziness

Treatment Remove the child from the sun Put the child in a cool (not cold) bath

or shower or apply cool compresses as needed

Increase fluids for 2-3 days Give ibuprofen or acetaminophen

as directed to reduce pain

RMHC CO Parent May 2010_RMHC Colorado Parent 4/16/10 3:45 PM Page 2

Use moisturizing creams or aloe gel to reduce discomfort

Fully cover all sunburned areas beforegoing outside

Seek emergency medical treatment if: Blisters appear or the area is

extremely painful Facial swelling occurs The sunburn covers a large area The child has a fever or chills, a

headache, confusion or faintness The child becomes dehydrated (signs

of increased thirst or dry eyes/mouth)

Dehydration can happen ifkids don’t drink enough fluids or if alarge amount of fluid is lost due to vom-iting or diarrhea. It’s important to replenish fluid losses quickly.

Mild DehydrationMild dehydration can typically be

treated at home. If the child has diarrhea but is not vomiting,he/she may continue a normaldiet. If the child is vomiting,stop milk products and solidfoods and give infants 1 table-spoon of oral electrolyte solu-tion (Pedialtye) every 15-20minutes. Give children overthe age of one year sips of clearfluids, oral electrolyte solu-tions, ice chips, flat non-caf-feinated soda, clear broth or icepops (1-2 tablespoons every

15 to 20 minutes). Signs of mild dehydration include: Dry tongue Few/no tears when crying Rapid heart rate Fussiness in infants No wet diapers for six hours, in

infants or no urination for eighthours, in children

Severe DehydrationGet immediate emergency medical careif your child is unable to keep clear fluids down or experiences any of thefollowing: Very dry mouth (looks sticky inside) Dry, wrinkly or dough-like skin

(especially on the belly and upperarms and legs)

Inactivity or decreased alertness andexcessive sleepiness

Sunken eyes Sunken soft spot on top of infant’s

head No urination for eight hours or more

in an infant/10 hours in a child Deep, rapid breathing Rapid or weakened pulse

Heat Illness or heat exhaus-tion starts slowly and, if not treated, canquickly progress to heatstroke. Heat-stroke requires immediate emergencymedical care as the body temperaturecan rise to 105° F or higher resulting in

severe injury or death. To helpavoid heat illness, do not letyour children participate inintense outdoor activ-ities during thehottest part of theday and teach themto drink plenty offluids before andduring activity —and to come in-doors as soon asthey feel over-heated. Neverleave a child alone in the car.

FREE Safety

and Wellness Expo

At Sky Ridge Medical Center

www.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com

For Kids and Their ParentsSaturday, June 129:30 am - 12:30 pmLone Tree Recreation Center10249 RidgeGate Circle • Lone Tree(just west of Sky Ridge Medical Center)

Join us for our 5th annual fun-filled day and: Learn the latest health & safety tips Meet pediatricians and other experts Bike rodeo and helmet check Tour our AIRLIFE Chopper Visit with firefighters See the K-9 unit in action Learn how to use 911 Win prizes and play safety games

PLUS lots of info and safety gadgets for parents, too!

continues >>>

To find a physician: 720-225-5DOCwww.skyridgemedcenter.com I-25 at Lincoln Avenue • Lone Tree 720-225-1000

At Sky Ridge Medical Center

RMHC CO Parent May 2010_RMHC Colorado Parent 4/16/10 3:45 PM Page 3

www.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com

Signs & Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion Increased thirst Weakness Fainting Muscle cramps Nausea, vomiting or headache Irritability Increased sweating and/or body

temperature Cool, clammy skin

Signs & Symptoms of Heatstroke Severe headache, weakness/dizziness

or confusion Rapid breathing and heartbeat Loss of consciousness leading to

coma or seizures Flushed, hot, dry skin Body temperature of 105° F or higher

TreatmentIf a child has symptoms of heatstroke,seek immediate emergency medicalcare. If your child is suffering from heatexhaustion or while you wait for emer-gency medical care: Move the child indoors or to a

shady spot Undress the child and have him/her

lie down and slightly elevate feet Place the child in a cool bath or mist

with a garden hose If the child is alert and coherent, give

frequent sips of cool, clear fluids If the child is vomiting, turn onto

his/her side to prevent choking

Dental Injuries that involve a permanent tooth require med-ical attention. To help avoid mouth injuries, make sure your children wearmouth guards and protective gear forcontact sports and helmets when biking,skateboarding, skating or skiing.

TreatmentIf a permanent tooth is knocked out, go

to the dentist oremergency roomimmediatelyafter followingthese steps:

Find the tooth Hold the tooth by the crown (the sur-

face farthest from the gum line) andtry to put it back into the socket andhave the child hold in place

If the tooth can’t be put back into thesocket, store it in cold milk — do notstore it in tap water

Have the child bite on a gauze pad orcloth to relieve bleeding and pain

Strains and Sprains are muscle injuries that occur due tooverstretching — or are partial tears of ligaments or tendons. You can help your children avoid strains and sprainsby teaching them to warm up properlybefore exercising and making sure theywear the proper sports equipment.

Signs & Symptoms Pain in the joint or muscle Swelling and bruising Warmth or redness at the injury site Difficulty moving the injured part

Treatment Make sure the child stops activity

immediately Follow the R.I.C.E. guidelines (below)

for 48 hours after injury:

Rest the injured part.

Ice the injured part by applying awrapped ice pack or cold compress. Continue for no more than 20 minutesat a time, four to six times daily.

Compress the injured part immedi-ately by using an elastic bandage for atleast two days.

Elevate the injured part above heartlevel to decrease swelling.

Seek emergency medical attention if the child has: Severe pain when the injured part

is touched or moved Continued trouble bearing weight Increased bruising Numbness or a feeling of “pins and

needles” in the injured area A limb that looks bent or misshapen Signs of infection (warmth, redness,

streaks, swelling, pain)

A strain or sprainthat doesn’timprove infive to sevendays.

Bike Safetyshould be a top priority this time ofyear! Bike riding is agreat way to get exerciseand fresh air and sharetime as a family. But before you and the kidsrush out and start pedal-ing, make sure everyone isprotected with a proper-fitting helmet.

Buying the Right Helmet Pick bright, highly visible colors

and adequate air vents Make sure that the helmet has a

sticker inside noting that it has metsafety standards

Make sure your child's helmet fits correctly and can be adjusted (Most bike stores can help you findand adjust a helmet so that it fits correctly.)

Fasten straps securely and be sure notto wear a hat under the helmet sinceit would affect fit

Replace helmets made before 1999 or ones that have been involved inhard-impact accidents

Buy a bike helmet rather than onemade for another sport

For more information on parenting, health tips andmore, please visit Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children’s main website or ParentsPages.com.

RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com

At Sky Ridge Medical Center

To find a physician: 720-225-5DOCwww.skyridgemedcenter.com I-25 at Lincoln Avenue • Lone Tree 720-225-1000

At Sky Ridge Medical Center

RMHC CO Parent May 2010_RMHC Colorado Parent 4/16/10 3:45 PM Page 4