"Mom!" you yell down the stairs. "Where's my
math book? I can't find it and the bus is coming! Please help
me ... it's an
emergency
!"
It is kind of an emergency with the bus coming and all, but what
about a
medical emergency
? That kind of emergency is usually more serious. If you don't
have your math book or miss the bus, that would be bad. But a
medical emergency means someone needs care from a doctor right
away. Let's find out the right thing to do.
Quick Thinking: What Would You Do?
Liz and her little brother Jamie are out for a walk. Jamie
decides to race ahead down a very steep hill. He's running
pretty fast when he suddenly trips. Over and over he falls, rolling
down the hill at high speed until he's sprawled out on the
sidewalk at the bottom.
Liz rushes to her brother's side, hoping that he's OK.
Then she sees some blood on the pavement. And Jamie isn't
moving at all. What should she do? First things first: Liz should
call for help right away.
Calling for help is the most important thing a kid can do in an
emergency.
If you are going to be the one making the emergency phone call,
here's what to do:
- Take a deep breath to calm down a little.
- Tell the operator there's an emergency.
- Say your name and where you are (the exact address if you
know it).
- Explain what happened and how many people are hurt. (The
operator will need all the information you can provide, so give
as many details as you can.)
-
Stay on the line
until the operator says it's OK to hang up.
After calling for help, your first thought might be to rush over
to the person who's injured. But
stop and look
before you do. Make sure the scene is safe. If it's not, wait
in a safe spot until a grown-up or an emergency team arrives.
If the scene is safe, and as soon as Liz is sure someone is
calling 911 - or she has called it herself - she could return to
her brother and wait until help arrives. (She shouldn't move
her brother at all because he could have a neck or other bone
injury. Moving someone who has that sort of injury can make it much
worse.) She can help him feel calm by being calm herself.
In Case of Emergency
The best way to handle an emergency is to be prepared for one.
Knowing what to do ahead of time can help you stay in control so
that you can help. Here are some suggestions on how to be ready to
help in an emergency:
- When you are outdoors, make sure you are in an area where you
can call out for help even if you don't have a phone with
you.
- Know how to dial 911 or your local emergency number. In most
areas in the United States, it's
911
.
- If you have one, carry a cell phone or know how to use your
parent's cell phone.
- Learn first aid. Look for basic first-aid classes with your
local Red Cross, the YMCA or YWCA, the Boy or Girl Scouts, 4-H
clubs, your local hospital, and other organizations. Or ask your
school nurse to have a first-aid class just for students in your
school.
It's
scary
to think about someone getting hurt. But the truth is that
accidents can and do happen. They happen when people are being
careless and careful. Sometimes, kids are the ones who get hurt.
Sometimes, grown-ups get hurt. Either way, it's good to know
what to do if someone needs emergency medical help. Even though
you're a kid, you can make a big difference by doing the right
thing.
Reviewed by:
Kate Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: August 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.