Bang! Ow!

Summer is a great time to be active. However, you can also get hurt in all that activity! What should you do if you injure yourself or a friend is injured?

Injuries can range from minor, such as a scratch on your knee; to serious, such as a broken arm.

For minor cuts and scrapes (abrasions); clean the area right away with clean water, apply antibiotic ointment and a Band-Aid.

For cuts (lacerations) and abrasions that go deeper into the skin, you may need medical help. The first thing you should do is call for help or find an adult. If there is bleeding, cover the injured area with a clean cloth and hold it down with firm, gentle pressure. Make sure the injured person does not move. An adult can help to clean the wound and determine if it needs a doctor's attention.

If you think there is a broken bone, call for help immediately. Make sure the person is in a comfortable position, but try to move them as little as possible, and do not move the broken arm or leg. If there is a lot of blood or even a bone sticking out of the skin, cover the area with a clean cloth. Do not push on the bone, but try to apply gentle pressure around the bleeding area to help slow the bleeding. More severe injuries will need to be evaluated at a hospital emergency room, so your job will be keeping an injured person safe and calm until help arrives.

Hopefully, such serious injuries will not happen to you or your friends, but being prepared goes a long way!

To learn first aid, consider taking a first aid class through your school, local community center or the American Red Cross.

And of course, do your best to prevent accidents and injuries! Use protective safety gear like helmets and pads, and always use equipment properly.

Keep yourself safe and injury free this summer and all year long!
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