Printable Safety Guides

Sore throats are common at any age and can be one of the first signs of another illness, like a cold, the flu, or mononucleosis. They also can be caused by a strep throat infection, although this is rare in children younger than 2 years old.

Signs and Symptoms

• painful throat
• fever
• swollen glands in the neck
• bad breath
• scratchiness in the throat
• redness in the back of the mouth

What to Do

Here are some ways kids can relieve sore throat pain:

• sip warm liquids
• eat cold or frozen liquids (such as ice pops)
• gargle with saltwater
• suck on hard candy or throat lozenges (for kids age 4 or older)
• take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed

Seek Medical Care

If Your Child:

• has difficulty swallowing or breathing
• is drooling (in a young child)
• tires easily
• has pus in the back of the throat
• has a sore throat that lasts longer than a week

Think Prevention!

As with most common illnesses, preventing a sore throat starts with regular hand washing. Kids also can avoid sore throats by:

• not sharing food utensils and glasses with others
• avoiding contact with people who have sore throats

Because most spider bites don’t fully penetrate human skin, they usually cause only mild reactions. However, black widow and brown recluse spider bites can cause serious reactions and need immediate care. Allergic reactions can happen but are rare.

Signs and Symptoms

Of a brown recluse spider bite:

• red blister in the center with surrounding bluish discoloration around the bite
• swelling or redness around the bite
• development of pain around the bite within 2 to 8 hours
• joint stiffness or pain
• nausea, vomiting
• body rash
• fever and chills
• fatigue

Of a black widow spider bite:

• rigid, painful muscles within 8 hours
• no sign of the bite on the skin
• abdominal (belly) pain and cramping
• nausea and vomiting
• breathing trouble

Of an allergic reaction:

• swelling of the face or mouth
• difficulty swallowing or speaking
• chest tightness, wheezing, or difficulty breathing

What to Do

If your child has been bitten by a spider:

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply an ice pack or a cool wet cloth to relieve pain and swelling.

Seek Medical Care Right Away

If:

• your child has any signs of an allergic reaction
• your child develops any kind of rash after a bite
• the area begins to look infected (increasing redness, pain, swelling, warmth, or pus)
• you think your child was bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider

Think Prevention!

• Make sure garages, attics, and woodpiles are free of spider webs.
• Make sure kids wear long sleeves and pants when playing around garages, attics, and woodpiles, etc.
• Firewood should be kept outside the house to avoid bringing spiders inside.

Splinters are objects that become embedded under the skin. Most often these are tiny pieces of wood, although glass, metal, and plastic can be splinters too.

Taking a splinter out as soon as you spot it helps prevent infection and makes removal easier (since the skin won’t have time to heal over the splinter).

Signs and Symptoms

• a small speck or line under the skin, usually on the hands or feet
• a feeling that something is stuck under the skin
• pain at the location of the splinter
• sometimes redness, swelling, warmth, or pus (signs of infection)

What to Do

To remove a splinter:

• Wash your hands, then the area around the splinter with soap and warm water.
• Sterilize tweezers and a needle by putting the ends of each in boiling water, then wipe them off with a clean cotton ball or alcohol pad.
• If the splinter is sticking through the skin, firmly grip the end with the tweezers. Pull slowly and gently at the same angle the splinter went in so it won’t break.
• If the tip of the splinter isn’t sticking out, gently scrape the skin away from the splinter with the needle until there’s an end to grab with the tweezers.
• After the splinter is removed, wash the area again and cover it with a bandage.

Seek Medical Care

If:

• the splinter seems to be too deep or won’t come out
• the splinter is under a fingernail or toenail and can’t be reached
• the wound is bleeding a lot or seems to be infected
• your child’s vaccines are not up to date

Think Prevention!

Make sure kids:

• avoid rubbing hands on wooden surfaces (picnic tables, outdoor furniture, playground equipment, railings, toys)
• wear shoes on decks, boardwalks, and docks, and when wading in water
• wear slippers or shoes after glass breaks on the floor
• steer clear of bushes and plants with thorns or spikes

A stiff neck without other symptoms might be caused by minor muscle strain from sleeping in an odd position or sitting in front of a computer too long.

But other signs may accompany neck stiffness, making it a more serious complaint. For instance, meningitis is a rare infectious illness that can result in stiff neck, headache, and fever.

What to Do

If your child has a stiff or sore neck but no fever or other symptoms:

• apply a warm moist cloth to the neck
• give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain
• call the doctor if symptoms persist

Seek Medical Care

If Your Child Has a Stiff Neck and:

• had a recent injury
• has been bitten by a tick within the last month
• a fever (or lower-than-normal temperature in babies)
• fatigue, drowsiness, or loss of energy
• extreme irritability (or trouble being comforted in babies)
• persistent headache
• vomiting
• eye sensitivity to light
• a skin rash
• flu-like symptoms
• for infants: a weak suck, high-pitched cry, or a bulging soft spot on the skull

Think Prevention!

• Get all routine immunizations on time, especially the meningococcal vaccine, which protects against meningitis.
• Help avoid tick bites by using insect repellent (with no more than 10% to 30% concentration of DEET); checking kids and pets frequently for ticks; and making sure kids wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in high-risk outdoor areas.
• Have children avoid activities and equipment known to be risky for neck injuries.

Stomachaches can be caused by many things, from gas or constipation to stress, overeating, or a contagious stomach bug. Sometimes, complaints about stomach pain may have nothing to do with the stomach itself — pain can come from another part of the body.

Signs and Symptoms

• vomiting
• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• sore throat
• heartburn
• fever
• bloating
• cramping
• painful urination

Seek Medical Care

If a Stomachache Is Accompanied by:

• pain that’s frequent, increasing, or severe
• pain that starts near the belly button, then moves to the lower right side of the abdomen
• difficulty walking due to pain
• persistent vomiting, especially if it is greenish-yellow
• signs of dehydration
• trouble having a bowel movement (poop)
• bloody or black bowel movements
• loss of appetite for more than a day or two

Think Prevention!

Encourage kids to:

• avoid overeating or eating right before going to sleep
• never share utensils, cups, straws, etc.
• get plenty of fluids and fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables
• reduce fatty, greasy foods like fries and burgers
• wash hands well, especially before eating and after going to the bathroom
• get lots of sleep and talk about their worries to help deal with stress

Strains are injuries to muscle due to overstretching, while sprains involve a stretch or a partial tear of ligaments (which connect two bones) or tendons (which connect muscle to bone). Sprains and strains happen more often in teens than in younger children.

Signs and Symptoms

• pain in the joint or muscle
• swelling and bruising
• warmth and redness of the injured area
• difficulty moving the injured part

What to Do

• Make sure your child stops activity right away.
• Think R.I.C.E. for the first 48 hours after the injury:
  • Rest: Rest the injured part until it’s less painful.
  • Ice: Wrap an icepack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injured part immediately. Continue for no more than 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day.
  • Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
  • Elevation: Raise the injured part above heart level to decrease swelling.
• Give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain and to reduce swelling.

Seek Emergency Medical Care

If Your Child Has:

• severe pain when the injured part is touched or moved
• continued trouble bearing weight
• increased bruising
• numbness or a feeling of “pins and needles” in the injured area
• a limb that looks “bent” or misshapen
• signs of infection (increased warmth, redness, streaks, swelling, and pain)
• a strain or sprain that doesn’t seem to be improving after 5 to 7 days

Think Prevention!

Teach kids to warm up properly and to stretch before and after exercising or participating in any sport, and make sure they always wear appropriate protective equipment.

Sunburn can happen within 15 minutes of being in the sun, but the redness and discomfort may not be noticed for a few hours. Repeated sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for kids who have many moles or freckles, very fair skin and hair, or a family history of skin cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Mild:

• skin redness and warmth
• pain
• itchiness

Severe:

• skin redness and blistering
• pain and tingling
• swelling
• headache
• nausea
• fever and chills
• dizziness

What to Do

• Remove your child from the sun right away.
• Place your child in a cool (not cold) shower or bath — or apply cool compresses as often as needed.
• Give extra fluids for the next 2 to 3 days.
• Give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed, if needed, to relieve pain.
• Use moisturizing creams or aloe gel to provide comfort.
• When going outside, all sunburned areas should be fully covered to protect the skin from the sun until healed.

Seek Emergency Medical Care

If:

• a sunburn forms blisters or is extremely painful
• your child has facial swelling from a sunburn
• a sunburn covers a large area
• your child has fever or chills after getting sunburned
• your child has a headache, confusion, or a feeling of faintness
• you see signs of dehydration (increased thirst or dry eyes and mouth)

Think Prevention!

• Minimize kids’ summer sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Have kids wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a hat.
• Apply sunscreen that provides UVB and UVA protection with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure and 30 minutes after exposure begins, then reapply after kids have been swimming or sweating.
• Although the best way to protect babies 6 months of age or younger is to keep them shaded, you can use minimal amounts of sunscreen (with an SPF of at least 15) on small exposed areas, like the face.

Sometimes mistaken for the common cold, the flu (influenza) causes more symptoms and can sometimes cause serious illness. Fortunately, most kids who get the flu get over the infection without any problems. The flu occurs most often in the winter months.

Signs and Symptoms

• fever
• chills
• headache
• muscle aches
• loss of appetite
• cough
• sore throat
• runny nose
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• tiredness

What to Do

If Your Child Has Flu Symptoms:

• Call your doctor.
• Encourage rest.
• Keep your child hydrated with plenty of fluids — breast milk or formula for babies; water, juice, ice pops, and cool drinks for older kids (but no caffeinated drinks).
• Relieve symptoms with:
  • a warm bath
  • a cool-mist humidifier
  • saline (saltwater) nose drops
  • acetaminophen or ibuprofen (check package for correct dosage)

Never give aspirin to a child with the flu. Do not give cough or cold medicine to children under 6 years old (call the doctor first for older kids).

Seek Medical Care

If Your Child Has:

• symptoms that get worse
• a severe cough
• trouble breathing
• a fever and is 3 months of age or younger
• a stiff neck
• a headache that doesn’t go away after acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Think Prevention!

• Get the flu vaccine each year.
• Try to avoid large crowds during flu season.
• Wash hands well and often.

While most tick bites are harmless and don’t require medical treatment, some ticks (like the deer tick, wood tick, and others) can carry harmful germs and cause diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. The deer tick is tiny, no larger than a pencil point. Other ticks are larger and easier to find on the skin.

Signs and Symptoms

Of Tick-Related Diseases:

• a red bump ringed by an expanding red rash, which looks like a bull’s-eye (Lyme disease)
• red dots on the ankles and wrists (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
• flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and muscle and joint aches

What to Do

If the tick is still attached to the skin, follow these steps:

1. Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin.
2. Pull firmly and steadily until the tick lets go of the skin. Do not twist the tick or rock it from side to side. If part of the tick stays in the skin, don’t worry. It will eventually come out on its own.
3. Release the tick into a jar or zip-locked bag in case you want to have it identified later on.
4. Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water.
5. Swab the bite site with alcohol.

Never use petroleum jelly or a hot match to kill and remove a tick. These methods don’t get the tick off the skin, and can cause the insect to burrow deeper and release more saliva (which increases the chances of disease transmission).

Seek Medical Care

If:

• The tick might have been on the skin for more than 24 hours.
• Part of the tick remains in the skin after attempted removal.
• A rash of any kind develops (especially a red-ringed bull’s-eye rash or red dots on wrists and ankles).
• The bite area looks infected (increasing warmth, swelling, pain, or oozing pus).
• Symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck or back, or muscle or joint aches develop.

Think Prevention!

• After kids play outside, check their skin and hair — especially the scalp, behind the ears, around the neck, and under the arms.
• When playing in wooded areas, kids should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and tuck pant legs into their socks.
• Use an insect repellant with at least 10% to 30% DEET for protection against bites and stings in kids older than 2 years, always carefully following the directions for application.
• Avoid tick-infested areas.