Essential First-Aid Guidelines for Common Childhood Injuries at School
Dr. Shay Schneider shares essential first-aid guidelines for common school injuries, detailing proper responses to nosebleeds, foreign objects, and ear pain.
The return to school brings back a routine of physical activities, sports, and playground games, which also increases the risk of childhood injuries. Dr. Shay Schneider, an ENT specialist and head of the urgent care center at Assuta Ramat HaHayil in Tel Aviv, outlines essential first-aid guidelines for common school injuries.
Managing Nosebleeds and Physical Trauma
Nosebleeds are frequent among children due to dryness, aggressive blowing, or minor trauma. The correct immediate response is to tilt the head forward—never backward—to prevent swallowing or inhaling blood, and to pinch the nostrils continuously for about ten minutes. While minor bumps and scrapes require only basic cleaning, parents and educators must watch for severe pain, swelling, deformity, vomiting, or loss of consciousness, which necessitate immediate medical evaluation.
Foreign Objects and Ear Pain
Young children frequently explore their environment by placing small objects in their noses or ears. Warning signs include localized pain, bleeding, or foul-smelling discharge. If a button battery is suspected, it constitutes an extreme medical emergency. Adults should never attempt to remove foreign objects independently, as this can push them deeper into the tissue; instead, removal must be handled by an experienced ENT specialist. Similarly, while ear pain often resolves with mild analgesics, persistent pain accompanied by discharge or hearing loss requires a professional examination.
