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Minor Injuries Overview

Minor Injuries Overview

Male doctor talking to mother and son.

Children's days are filled with running, jumping, bicycling, sports, and other fun activities that keep them active and on-the-go from morning until night. Along with the fun comes an occasional cut, bruise, or tumble. Luckily, most of these injuries are not serious. They can be handled with some simple first-aid treatment at home. However, there are times when a healthcare provider's care is needed.

Specific treatment for skin wounds and injuries will be determined by your child's healthcare provider. In general, call your child's healthcare provider for skin injuries that are:

  • Bleeding heavily and do not stop after 5 to 10 minutes of direct pressure

  • Deep, or longer than 1/2 inch

  • Located close to the eye

  • Large cuts on the face

  • Caused by a puncture wound or dirty or rusty object

  • Embedded with debris such as dirt, stones, or gravel

  • Ragged or have separated edges

  • Caused by an animal or human bite

  • Extremely painful

  • Cause numbness of the skin, or inability to move a body part such as a finger and or toe

  • Showing signs of infection, such as fever, warmth, redness, swelling, or fluid leaking

Also call your child's healthcare provider if:

  • Your child has not had a tetanus vaccine within the past 5 years, or if you are unsure when your child's last tetanus shot was given.

  • You are concerned about the wound or have any questions.

Reviewed Date: 04-01-2022

Minor Injuries Overview

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.