Injuries to children in traffic - what to do
It is very important to stay calm and level-headed in these situations and provide assistance and protection to the child in a professional way. It is important to maintain contact and communication with the child, assure him/her that he/she is protected and that help is coming.
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- Establish control over the scene until the ambulance arrives.
- Remove all people who are hindering the provision of assistance (persons under the influence of alcohol, panicking persons).
- Assess site safety. If there is a danger to the child, take him/her to a safe place.
- Several people are needed to move a child safely, due to the possibility of spinal injury.
- In every severely injured child, it should be assumed that the spine is injured too. Possible spinal injuries are indicated by: back pain at rest or during movements, visible deformity and swelling, difficult mobility of the neck or back, paralysis, numbness, feeling of "tingling".
- Call an ambulance at 194.
- Keep the child in the same position.
- Cover him/her with a light blanket or clothes.
- Until help arrives, hold the child's hand and talk to him/her in a soothing tone.
What should you not do?
Do not move the child unless he/she is in a dangerous place.
