Whether it’s a burn, sprain, broken bone or choking incident, family life is often riddled with unexpected perils that will have you trying to stay calm while simultaneously finding the right kind of support. To help alleviate panic, here’s the lowdown on what to do if you’re faced with a common family health emergency:
The emergency: burns
The scenario:
Whether inquisitive little hands have accidentally reached for the hob, or someone has spilled boiling water from the kettle, a burn requires immediate attention, no matter the age of the person it’s happened to.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“The seriousness of burns should not be underestimated,” advises Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. “They can be extremely painful and can even cause lifelong scarring. Any burn that is large, blistered, deep or affects sensitive areas like the face, hands or joints should be treated as serious.”
What you should do:
“The first step is always to cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes, then cover it with cling film,” explains Rebecca. You’ll also want to take a trip to A&E if the burn is serious. “Because children’s skin is thinner and more vulnerable, even smaller burns can have lasting consequences. Parents should always seek medical attention immediately if their baby or a child is affected,” she adds.
The emergency: choking
The scenario:
As much as we love and need food, errant bones or food not chopped or chewed properly before swallowing (especially with children and older people) can pose serious risks and result in choking incidents.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“Choking is a medical emergency,” says Rebecca. “If a person’s airway is only partly blocked, they may still be able to cough or speak. If this is the case, encourage them to keep coughing. But if the person cannot breathe, cry or make any sound, act immediately.”
What you should do:
“Give back blows followed by abdominal thrusts if necessary for adults and older children,” Rebecca advises. “For babies, never use abdominal thrusts. Instead, you should give alternate back blows with chest thrusts. If the blockage isn’t cleared, call 999 straight away and continue the thrusts until help arrives.”
The emergency: broken bones
The scenario:
Slippery floors, uneven pavements and hundreds more everyday trip hazards mean we’re all at risk of a tumble. Elderly bones are at particular risk of breakage.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“A broken bone often causes clear symptoms, but some fractures can be surprisingly subtle,” says Dr Sara Kayat (@drsarakayat), a London-based GP and private health consultant. “The classic signs are sudden pain, swelling, bruising and not being able to move the limb properly. Sometimes you get that tell-tale deformity in larger or displaced fractures, where the arm or leg just doesn’t look the way it normally should. It’s worth remembering that small fractures can be much more subtle and you might only notice pain when putting weight on the limb.”
What you should do:
“If you think a bone might be broken, keep the limb still and supported,” says Dr Kayat, who also recommends using ice to reduce swelling, and pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. “They’ll also need to be seen in urgent care or A&E for an X-ray. If the limb is at an odd angle, the bone is poking through the skin or there is severe pain, go straight to A&E. For babies and toddlers, I always advise erring on the side of caution. They can fracture bones from surprisingly small falls, so get them checked if anything feels off.”
The emergency: sprains
The scenario:
If you’re running after rambunctious children, a simple twist and sprain of the ankle is easy to come by, whether it’s you or them.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“A sprain is an injury to a ligament, so the pain tends to be around a joint,” explains Dr Kayat. “You’ll typically see swelling, bruising and stiffness. The ankle is the most common sprain in the UK and many of us have done it just by stepping off a kerb. You can often still move the joint, but it might feel sore and unstable. Mild sprains can be managed at home, but if you can’t put any weight at all on the joint or the swelling is really obvious within a few minutes, then you might actually be looking at a fracture.
What you should do:
“Most sprains respond well to the ‘RICE’ approach,” says Dr Sarah. “That’s rest, ice for short periods, compression if comfortable and elevating the limb when you can. Keeping joints completely still for too long can cause stiffness and slow recovery, so try some gentle movement after a couple of days. For children and babies, the same principles apply, but I always recommend getting them seen if there is a noticeable limp, they stop using a limb or they are more unsettled.”
The emergency: stroke
The scenario:
More than 100,000 people suffer from strokes each year in the UK, and survivors can be left unable to eat, speak, or swallow. With no two strokes being alike, symptoms can vary widely, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“It can be difficult to diagnose a stroke because the signs and symptoms can vary depending on which part of the brain is affected,” explains Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association. “The most common signs of stroke are facial drooping, arm weakness and speech problems – meaning it’s time to call 999.” Other symptoms can include sudden weakness or numbness down one side of the body, difficulty finding words or speaking in sentences, blurred or disrupted vision, sudden memory loss or confusion, sudden dizziness or unsteadiness, or a sudden and severe headache.
What you should do:
“Anyone with any concerns as to whether someone is having a stroke should call 999 immediately. Paramedics are trained to recognise stroke so they can take the patient to the best hospital for specialist treatment,” recommends Juliet.
The emergency: heart attack
The scenario:
A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked. In the UK, there are around 100,000 hospital admissions due to heart attacks each year, so it’s important to recognise the warning signs.
How to tell if it’s serious:
“A heart attack is a medical emergency, and acting quickly can save a life,” explains Regina Giblin, senior cardiac nurse at British Heart Foundation. “The most common signs include sudden chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away, and which may feel like pressure, heaviness or squeezing. This pain can spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach. Other symptoms can include feeling sick, sweaty, light-headed or short of breath, and some people may experience an overwhelming sense of anxiety.”
What you should do:
“If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 999 immediately,” advises Regina. “Help them to sit down and stay calm, and if they have access to aspirin and are not allergic, they should chew a 300mg tablet while waiting for the ambulance. Do not try to drive them to hospital – emergency care needs to start as soon as possible.”
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