Fun ends at the emergency room on warm days
During the warm season – from early May to the end of September – the number of children’s injuries noticeably increases. Both doctors and insurance experts note that injuries especially increase during warm summer weather, when more time is spent outdoors being active, according to a press release from the insurance company “If”.
“The most commonly diagnosed are fractures of the hands, for example – forearm bones. Most of these heal without serious consequences. The situation is different when injuries occur while using electric bicycles or scooters: higher speed results in much more severe injuries – from femur fractures to head injuries,” says Ritauras Rakauskas, orthopedic trauma surgeon consulting at various medical institutions in Kaunas.
The doctor identifies the highest risk group as school-age children and adolescents – the bigger, faster, and stronger they are, the more they use various means of transport and play sports, the higher the chance of injury. The very youngest suffer injuries less often, which are usually accidental – accidentally touching hot grills, pinching fingers with exercise equipment in outdoor playgrounds, etc.
Elena Subelė, chief claims specialist at the insurance company, agrees: “We most often record limb injuries: fractures, sprains, bruises, and various wounds after falls. Injuries related to electric scooters and bicycles are increasing. Although they are not the majority, these injuries are often more severe.”
The expert explains that the amount of insurance compensation depends on the nature of the injury and the chosen insurance coverage. Compensation for the most common children’s injuries can range from several tens to several thousand euros.
What to avoid and what to do in the first minutes after an injury?
Although it might seem that a child is safest at home with parents, doctors’ experience in summer shows the opposite trend. “We observe a paradoxical situation: most injuries in summer occur to children while they are with their parents at home. It seems children are supervised, but even the most caring parents sometimes lose vigilance,” notes Dr. R. Rakauskas.
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If the injury does not involve life-threatening signs, the doctor reminds that it is possible to come to the hospital emergency room independently; it is not necessary to call an ambulance. Before going to the hospital, first aid can be provided independently. For example, the wound should be washed thoroughly with clean water and covered with a bandage. In case of a fracture, it is worth improvising immobilization of the limb – tie the arm to the neck with a scarf, fix the leg to a long, flat object.
One of the most common mistakes, according to the doctor, is the decision to eat a large and heavy meal before arriving at the emergency room. If surgical treatment is needed for the injury (which means anesthesia), the procedure will have to wait several hours – until the necessary time has passed since the last meal. Therefore, the doctor advises: until the staff says otherwise, it is best to give the child only non-carbonated water to drink.
In turn, E. Subelė advises not to delay seeking specialists after an injury. The earlier the child’s condition is assessed and treatment started, the greater the chance to avoid complications and long recovery.
She also shares tips that can help prevent injuries or mitigate their consequences: “Many injuries can be avoided by consistently forming safety-related habits. For example, using protective equipment such as helmets, choosing activities appropriate for the child’s age, and regularly reminding about safe behavior rules.”
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