According to MSc.BS Le Khanh Trinh - Department of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, E Hospital, the number of children who fall in accidents during summer vacation usually increases significantly compared to other times of the year. The reason is that children have more time to participate in activities such as cycling, playing football, rollerblading or swimming.
Doctors said that a fairly common mistake of parents is to assess the extent of injury based on the child's ability to move after falling. In many cases, children can still walk or move their hands and feet, so families believe that there is no serious problem.
However, according to Dr. Trinh, this is not entirely accurate. "Some cases of trauma in children with fractures, but at the level of fresh branch fractures or lesser displacement injuries, young children can still move gently. However, if not detected and treated promptly, it can leave long-term complications such as dislocated bones, affecting movement function later," the doctor said.
When a child falls, the first thing to do is to take the child to a safe place. If an accident occurs on the street, parents need to quickly take the child to an area without traffic to avoid the risk of further injury.
After that, adults need to preliminarily assess the child's perception, breathing, circulation and determine the area of injury. In some cases, initial first aid measures can be taken such as applying cold compresses to the swollen and painful area or temporarily fixing the injured limb with available items before taking the child to a medical facility.
Dr. Trinh also emphasized the role of first aid at the scene in emergency situations, especially drowning. According to the doctor, proper initial treatment is of great significance while waiting for emergency forces to approach.
In addition, children need to be fully equipped with protective equipment when participating in sports activities. For sports such as roller skating, children should wear helmets and use knee and elbow protection devices to reduce the risk of injury when falling.
Parents should also choose safe playgrounds for children, limiting children playing football or cycling on the road, where there are many vehicles passing by. Instead, children should play in parks, playgrounds or areas designed for sports activities.
For children aged 10-12 who have started to participate in traffic by bicycle, families need to guide them on safety rules and self-protection skills when traveling.
