Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice

December 13 2017

How To Prepare Your Children for an Emergency

skilgore Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice, News, Pediatrics accident prevention, child health, home health 0

Have you ever thought of facing a situation where your child is alone and in need of immediate medical help? Wouldn’t you blame yourself if your child’s condition worsens because he is not aware of the steps he should take in an emergency situation? You surely will! So avoid all blames and regrets and get your child prepared for emergency medical care when alone. Here are a few ways you can teach your child to act in medical emergency conditions:

Teach your Children to Use 911

Ensure that your child is aware of the 911 service. Create a very comfortable environment when teaching your child about 911. Always refer to the number as nine-one-one and not nine-eleven, or else during an emergency; your child will look for number eleven on the dial pad. Inform your child what 911 is, why it exists and what its purpose is. Your child will retain this information, if provided correctly. Teach him how to dial 911 and most importantly, emphasize that this number should only be dialed during emergencies and not otherwise.

What Information to Give

Teach your children to memorize your address. . Inform him what information the 911 personnel may require and will inquire when he calls them. Make sure you make a note of this information and keep it in a diary so that your child has easy access to it. Questions such as where are you calling from, what is your address, and contact number are asked by the 911 personnel. Confirm your child has answers to all these important questions by practicing these with them.

Listing Emergency Phone Numbers

Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and give it your child or to the baby sitter so that they can call you or any other person whenever a medical emergency situation arises. Placing the same list in a usual and common place at home will also help in times of emergencies. This will help in reducing chaos as an important person will have information of what is going on at home. Looking for the best Emergency Care Center in Victoria? We, at Victoria ER provide unmatched emergency medical care services and make sure that you get the right care at the right time. Click here to find out more about us.

December 13 2017

What to do if Your Child Swallows Medication

skilgore Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice, News, Pediatrics, Resources child health, medication 0

Medications are meant to treat illnesses, but they can cause a lot of harm in some unfortunate cases, especially in households with children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60,000 young children go to the emergency room each year as a result of swallowing medications. In fact, several cases have been reported where toddlers have died as a result of swallowing their parents’ pills. It is a commonly known fact that all types of medications should be kept out of children’s reach to ensure their safety. But in many instances, parents who keep medications out of their children’s reach are at a risk of such an emergency. All types of medications are dangerous to children, especially the ones mentioned below:

Antidepressants

Antidepressants have accounted for almost 17 percent of child poisonings in recent years. All types of allergy pills and antidepressants must be kept away from children. After taking these pills, a child may experience seizures or even go into a state of coma.

Heart medications

Swallowing a heart medication can cause a child’s heart rate and blood pressure to drop and result in cardiac arrest.

Pain relievers

Aspirin poses significant risks to children as it can lead to a fatal illness known as Reye’s syndrome. As little as 4 adult extra-strength acetaminophen tablets can be toxic to an average 2 year old.

Over-the-counter medicines

Every household has over-the-counter medicines. These medicines have led to a majority of child poisonings. Products, including nasal sprays and eye drops can result in seizures among toddlers.

What should be done if a child swallows your medication?

As a rule of thumb, always store your medications out of your kids’ reach. Never ever leave your medicines out in the open. And if you have young children, make it a point to tell them about the dangers of your medicines so that they do not go near them. In addition, keep all your medicines in bottles with child-resistant caps. Furthermore, do not take your medicine in front of your children as they might imitate you in your absence. However, if your child has swallowed any of your medicines, they might feel nauseous or lethargic, and vomit. These are the most common symptoms of medicine poisoning in children. Sometimes, your child might have a seizure or a coma. If this happens, you need to take immediate action. Take your child to the nearest emergency room without any delay. Your child’s life is in danger, so you must seek immediate medical help. If possible, try to establish the type of medicine and the amount your child has swallowed to inform the emergency room specialists so that they are able to carry out the appropriate treatment. Looking for an emergency care center in Victoria? Look no further than Victoria ER. We are a 24 hour emergency care center that provides compassionate and quick medical treatment. Click here to contact us.

Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on Victoria ER or any one of our concierge-level, freestanding emergency facilities to deliver the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 13 2017

Top 5 Serious Symptoms in Children

skilgore Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice, News, Pediatrics child health, list, symptoms 0

Children get injured or sick all the time. It is a part of growing up, and in most cases, parents have nothing to worry about. However, in some cases, a child’s injury or illness might need the services of an emergency room. For parents, it can be hard to tell when a fever or cold that has persisted for a few days needs the attention of the ER. Even though not all physical conditions warrant a visit to the nearest emergency room, some symptoms are quite worrisome, and call for emergency care services. Read on to learn about the 5 most common symptoms that require timely emergency services for children:

High fever

If your child has a persistent high fever, combined with vomiting and restlessness, you should immediately visit the nearest emergency room. In some instances, high fever, vomiting and a stiff neck could indicate a serious illness, such as meningitis. Another important thing to keep in mind is that if your child experiences frequent headaches, you need to get them medically evaluated to determine its underlying cause and seek proper treatment.

Coughing

Excessive coughing is a serious symptom that needs medical attention. It is possible that your child has an underlying issue in their digestive tract or lungs that is causing uncontrollable coughing and making it difficult for them to breathe.

Rash

Children, especially toddlers, are prone to rashes, which can usually be harmless. However, if your child’s rash is all over their body, it is advisable to get it checked as soon as possible. The type of rashes to be concerned about include red or purple spots that do not change color when pressed and hives. In addition, hives accompanied with facial swelling are serious and require medical evaluation.

Lethargy

An unusually lethargic child or newborn, who has a difficult time staying active, should be taken to the emergency room for assessment. It is perfectly normal for a child to sleep and get some rest. But, if they fail to stay alert even when you wake them up, you should take them to a doctor as this may indicate a serious illness.

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is common in children. However, make sure to take your child to the emergency room if their abdomen feels hard and they have not had a bowel movement for more than two days. Constipation could be a likely cause for this issue, but it could also mean an intestinal problem. It really does not matter whether a symptom is life threatening or not. To be on the safe side, seek medical help if your child complains of pain in their body or is not acting their usual self. Considering emergency care services for your child? Get in touch with the experts at Victoria ER. As one of the leading emergency care providers in Texas, we provide the highest quality emergency care services for children. Click here for more details.

December 13 2017

What’s in Your First Aid Kit?

skilgore Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice, News, Wellness & Community Outreach Ideas first aid kit, home health 0

Having a well-stocked first aid kit is critical to address medical emergencies. Whether you are at work or at home, you should ensure that you have all the essential medical tools in your first aid kit. Similarly, do not forget to keep a small first-aid kit in your car as well to respond to injuries while travelling. Here is what you need to assemble a handy first aid kit:

Band-aids and bandages

First off, keep band-aids of various sizes for dressing wounds and small cuts. In addition, your first-aid kit should also contain elastic bandages for wrapping a sprained joint or a broken arm.

Gauze and adhesive tape

You need gauze pads to control bleeding from cuts and scrapes. At the same time, you will need adhesive tape to keep the gauze in place. Gauze serves as a bandage to cover bigger cuts, while an adhesive bandage can protect the minor scrapes.

Pain reliever

No first aid kit would be complete without a pain reliever, such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen or acetaminophen .Be sure to read the dosing instructions when giving pain medicines to children since the correct dose is based on their weight.

Antibiotic cream

Always keep an antibiotic cream to help protect minor wounds from infection. An antibiotic ointment can also keep the wounded area moist.

Allergy medications

If you have mild allergies, keep antihistamines in your first aid box. On the other hand, those suffering from grave allergies should carry injectable epinephrine.

Hand sanitizer and gloves

Hand sanitizers and gloves can be useful for treating wounds. Alcohol-based gels can sanitize hands and thus mitigate the risk of infection. Make sure to sanitize your hands before slipping on a pair of disposable gloves. Once you put on gloves, you can treat a wound and remember to sanitize your hands again after treating the wound.

Tweezers and scissors

Tweezers and scissors are pivotal components of any first aid kit, especially if you are outdoors and are susceptible to cuts. A pair of small scissors always comes in handy when you need to cut a tape, whereas you can remove a splinter with a pair of tweezers. Most importantly, disinfect the tweezers before using them.

Calamine lotion

Calamine lotion helps to sooth rashes, itching or sunburns, and therefore, recommended for inclusion in the first aid kit.

Thermometer

Always keep a functioning thermometer in your first aid kit to check fever. It is advisable to keep a digital thermometer. After gathering all these essential items in your first aid kit, keep it in a cool, safe place. If it is accessible to children, teach them its purpose and significance. Need more information on first aid medical tools? Victoria ER a professional emergency care center in Victoria, Texas that prides itself in offering our patients with high-level, quality emergency care services. Discover more about us here.

December 13 2017

WHAT TO DO IN THESE COMMON MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

skilgore Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice, News, Wellness & Community Outreach Ideas cold and flu season, common medical emergencies 0

Health and medical emergencies happen all the time, especially when you least expect them to occur. That is why a medical emergency requires prompt decisions and immediate action. If you fail to take appropriate steps on time, it could unfortunately, lead to the death of a loved one. Knowing a few key facts on common emergencies and ways to address can be life saving. Here are the 5 common health and medical emergencies that you need to know in order to take correct action on time:

Fainting

There can be several causes for fainting, such as excessive heat, anxiety, low blood sugar, a heart condition, or diabetes. No matter what the cause is, if you are with someone who feels dizzy, make them lie down or sit somewhere. Make sure to check their breathing and pulse rate. If they are still breathing, you can restore the blood flow to their brain by raising them above the level of their heart almost 12 inches. In case you cannot detect their pulse or breathing, call 911 immediately then if a defibrillator (AED)is available, use it. Otherwise, start CPR.

Seizure

Due to abnormal or unusual electrical activity in the brain, seizures take place. Different types of seizures can affect people in a variety of ways. Some common symptoms include blackouts, flashing lights, blurry vision, increased pulse rate, and difficulty in breathing. While epilepsy is a major cause of seizures, they can also happen to people with no health conditions. In the event of a seizure, place a soft jacket under the person’s head. Turn the person on their side so that if they vomit it doesn’t collect in the back of their mouth causing it to go down the lungs. And do not try to put anything into their mouth like a spoon.

Broken bones

It does not matter how old you are, anyone can experience broken bones due to an injury. Broken bones are likely to require emergency medical care. Do not move the person with a broken bone, unless it is really necessary. In case of bleeding, you can apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Similarly, use ice packs wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

Burns

There are three categories of burns. Those suffering from first-degree burns will experience redness or swelling. In case of second-degree burns – the second layer of the skin is burned – swelling is accompanied with painful blisters. The most serious of all, third-degree burns occur when the entire outer layer of the skin has been burnt. . In case someone faces a first or second-degree burn, run cold water over them to provide relief. You can also use an antibiotic ointment for such burns. Make sure to cover the burn with a bandage. Do not apply petroleum jelly or any other home remedy to the burn.

Back pain

Excruciating back pain can take place due to lifting excessive weight or using improper technique to lift an object. At the same time, back pain can also cause unexplained weight loss or uncontrollable fever. Sometimes, back pain can signify serious health issues such as kidney stones, aortic aneurysm or herniated disc bulging against the spinal cord. This is why back pain calls for emergency care service as it has the potential to become life threatening. Anyone can face these emergencies at anytime. It is therefore better to be prepared.. At the time of a medical emergency, remember to stay calm and keep a few essential first aid tools with you, at home or at work. However, if the problem aggravates, visit the nearest emergency room. Looking for an emergency room in Victoria, Texas? Visit Victoria ER. As one of the leading emergency care providers in Texas, we provide professional emergency care services for adults and children. Click here to find out more.

Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on our trusted brand to deliver the emergency care you deserve at any one of our concierge-level, freestanding emergency facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.