Accidents
Accidents are unpremeditated events that may result to a recognizable injury like simple cuts or abrasions or in severe cases death.
Accidents and injuries are common occurrences from infancy to adolescence. Some of these may be prevented only if we adults will be extra careful in handling our children.
What prompted me to write about this is the case i saw in my clinic when a 10 month old infant was placed on a carrier but was not properly secured to the father’s body and the father slipped off resulting to the infant’s fall on the cemented ground.
At the emergency room, the infant was awake, there was no loss of consciousness, no vomiting and no limitation of movement of her extremities.
Upon examination, there was only contusion hematoma on her parietal area.
She was admitted for observation and the laboratories taken like chest xray and ct scan of the brain were all normal.
During fall and trauna to the head could cause cerebral concussion and cerebral contusion.
What happens in cerebral concussion is that there could be vomiting because the brain equilibrium is disturbed. But, the child will appear awake and better.
In cerebral contusion, where the brain is greatly disturbed and that there is skull fracture resulting in increase pressure, the child will have loss of consciousness, with vomiting and may appear weak and lethargic.
This is an emergency and must be seen by a neurologist and a neurosurgeon.
So, it is prudent for caregivers to think of possible risks that may result in all activities involving the children.
There is no harm done if extra measures are taken for the safety and welfare of the children.