Please use this checklist 

Concussions

To state the obvious, your brain is an essential organ with a long list of duties. ANY INJURY to the brain should be taken seriously.

A concussion qualifies as a brain trauma. If a child hits their head and shows signs of a concussion, the student should be referred for medical attention. Concerning symptoms include:

• A headache.
• Seeming dazed or confused.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Difficulty standing or walking.
• Impaired speech or vision.

Err on the side of caution. If a child falls more than 3 feet and hit their head they should be examined 

Broken bones

A broken bone may not be obvious. Signs of a broken bone include:

• A cracking sound during the injury.
• A noticeable deformity.
• Constant or severe pain in the area.
• Severe swelling or bruising.
• Tenderness to the touch.

Apply a cold pack to the injured area right away to reduce swelling. Keep movement to a minimum. 

Call 911 and don’t move the injured child if the injury seems serious. That would include possible breaks to the skull, back or neck, or if the bone broke through the skin.

Refer to a healthcare provider.

• Stabalize the limb.
• If there is a circulation concern call 911.
• If there is not a circulation concern and you are able to get in touch with a parent, the parent may come pick the student up to take them to a hospital. 
• If unable to get in contact with a parent call 911.

Cuts

The first goal in treating a cut is to get the bleeding under control.

To do that, apply pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops. (It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.) Then, thoroughly rinse the area with warm, soapy water. It’s best not to use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can slow healing.

If a consent is on file, apply a bit of antibiotic ointment and cover the cut with a bandage. The wound should remain covered until a scab forms. Studies show that covered wounds heal up to 40 times faster than those left uncovered.

Referral to a health care should be made for cuts that:

• Bleed for more than 10 minutes.
• Go deep or extend longer than a half-inch, which may require stitches.
• Appears to be filled with debris.
• Are caused by a rusty object — especially if the student’s tetanus shot is not up to date

Split lip

Basic  guidelines for dealing with a split lip are similar to the above instructions for handling a cut. But it’s important to know that this injury might be a bit messier.

Rinse the wound area to find the source of all blood and then apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. Don’t be surprised if it takes as long as 10 minutes to get the bleeding under control.

Wash the area with soap and water to remove any dirt. Do this gently. No scrubbing!

Applying a cold pack to the wound can help minimize swelling. If you’re using ice, make sure it’s wrapped in a towel to avoid direct contact with the skin. (Putting ice directly on a split lip or any skin can cause a burn.)

See a healthcare provider if the bleeding won’t stop or if the wound is large or looks to be filled with debris.

Bloody nose

While the blood is flowing, keep the child leaning forward with their head tilted down. Yes, it sounds a bit messy — but it’s better for any blood to spill out as opposed to running down their throat.

Pinch together their nostrils to help stop the flow of blood with a tissue or damp washcloth.

Wait five minutes to check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If it hasn’t, pinch and hold the nostrils again. Seek medical help if bleeding continues after 15 minutes or the student loses a cup’s worth of blood.

Black eye

Place a cold, wet compress over the eye for 10 to 20 minutes to limit swelling. Stay away from using an ice pack as the skin around the eye is too sensitive for that kind of cold.

Avoid using a chemical-based cold pack, too, as they may leak and cause additional damage to the eye.

Refer to a healthcare provider if:

• Bruising forms around both eyes.
• A bloody nose comes with a black eye.
• There’s bleeding within the eye.
• Vision becomes blurry.
• Severe pain lingers in the eye.

Friction burns

Friction burns go by many aliases. Road rash, for instance. Carpet burn. Raspberries.

Treating this uncomfortable skin condition begins with a gentle cleaning with soap and lukewarm water.

Do NOT apply ice or use ice water. Either could further traumatize the skin and ultimately slow the healing process.

Once the area has been rinsed, check for any debris or foreign objects in the rubbed-raw skin. (You might be surprised by what you find.) 

Cover with a gauze pad, making sure the adhesive isn’t on the burned area.

Sprains

A sprain involves a ligament that’s stretched or even torn within a joint (such as an ankle, knee or wrist). A popping sound may be heard when the injury occurs. Any pain, tenderness or bruising is usually focused around the affected joint.

For treatment, follow the RICE method which includes:

• Rest. Try not to use or put pressure on the injured joint while it’s healing.
• Ice. Apply cold packs in 20-minute cycles to reduce pain and swelling.
• Compression. Wrapping the joint in an elastic bandage can improve blood flow and speed up the healing process. (Don’t wrap it too tight, though! A gentle squeeze is all that is needed.)
• Elevation. Keeping the injured joint raised can limit fluid buildup in the joint and keep swelling down.

On average, it takes at least two weeks to recover from a mild sprain. Contact a healthcare provider for a checkup if the pain continues or worsens over time. (That “sprain” may turn out to be a broken bone.)

Blisters

Do NOT break or “pop” a blister. This can introduce infection into the wound

Was the blister area with soap and water. If consent is one file, apply antibacterial ointment and cover the blister with a bandage or gauze secured with hypoallergenic tape. If no consent is on file, just cover the blister as above.

Covering the blister will help protect the skin and prevent infection. Change the dressing at least once daily until it’s healed.

If the blister does burst, don’t peel off the dead skin. Leaving it in place can help keep dirt and bacteria out of the opening. Cover the popped blister with a bandage or gauze, just as you would if it was still intact.

Knocked-out tooth

Pick up the tooth by the crown, the normally exposed part. Gently rinse the root off with water if it’s dirty. (Don’t scrub at it or remove any tissue.) Once it’s clean, reinsert the tooth into the vacant spot.

Press on the tooth with your thumb and then, have the child bite down on it. Then, refer the family immediately to a dentist.

If you can’t get the tooth back in place, place it in a small container of milk and have them go to a dental office. (Milk has substances that help the tooth stay alive while it’s outside its natural mouth habitat.)

Knocked-out teeth are more likely salvageable if reinserted within an hour of being knocked out.