First Aid for Common Injuries: When to Seek Care
An independent educational resource prepared by Mark M. Simonian, MD, FAAP
Sources checked: August 3, 2026 | Medical review completed: August 3, 2026
This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.
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Use this guide for immediate first aid while you decide how urgently your child needs care. Call 911 for life-threatening bleeding, breathing problems, severe allergic reactions, or a child who is unresponsive. Head injuries are covered separately in Head Injuries and Concussion: When to Seek Care.
Urgent Warning Signs — Check This First
Make sure the area is safe before approaching an injured child. When in doubt about a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
CALL 911 NOW
Bleeding is spurting, flowing heavily, or does not stop with firm direct pressure; the child is pale, faint, confused, very weak, or unresponsive
A severe allergic reaction follows a bite or sting: trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, widespread hives with other symptoms, weakness, fainting, or collapse
A burn is caused by electricity or chemicals, or the child has trouble breathing after smoke or fume exposure
There is a serious injury with a possible broken bone, deep wound, severe neck pain, or the child cannot move normally after trauma
GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE NOW
A cut is deep, gaping, visibly exposes fat or muscle, involves the face, eyelid, lip border, hand, genitals, or a joint, or may need wound closure
A burn is charred, white, leathery, numb, blistering and larger than the child’s hand, or involves the face, hands, feet, genitals, or a joint
An animal bite punctures the skin, a wild animal or bat has bitten or scratched the child, or the animal is unfamiliar, sick, or acting unusually
A sting or bite causes significant swelling that interferes with seeing, eating, drinking, or urinating; red streaks, pus, fever, or rapidly worsening pain or swelling
A nosebleed continues after two ten-minute periods of correct, uninterrupted pressure, or occurs after a significant face injury
CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TODAY
A cut or scrape becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen, painful, drains pus, develops red streaks, or is associated with fever
A burn remains very painful after cooling and covering, blistering is present, or you are uncertain whether the burn is minor
A child has repeated nosebleeds, easy bruising, unusual gum bleeding, a bleeding disorder, or takes a medicine that affects bleeding
A tick is attached, a bite or sting is worsening rather than improving, or a child develops fever, rash, weakness, or other illness after an outdoor exposure
Cuts and Scrapes
Wash your hands if possible. Apply firm, steady direct pressure with clean gauze or a clean cloth for 5 to 10 minutes without lifting it to check the wound
After bleeding stops, gently rinse with soap and water. Remove visible dirt with clean running water; do not scrub deeply embedded material or try to remove an object stuck in the wound
Cover wounds likely to get dirty with a clean bandage. Seek care promptly for deep, gaping, facial, contaminated, animal-bite, or heavily bleeding wounds
Burns
Cool a minor burn under cool running water for about five minutes. Do not use ice, rub the burn, pop blisters, apply butter or grease, or use home remedies
Cover with a clean, nonstick dressing or bandage. Keep the area clean with gentle soap-and-water washing; use ointments only if advised by a healthcare professional
For chemical exposure, remove contaminated clothing if it is safe to do so and follow Poison Control or emergency instructions. For electrical burns, seek emergency medical care even if the skin injury looks small
Bites and Stings
For an insect sting with a mild local reaction, use a cool compress. Avoid scratching; keep fingernails short and clean
If a bee stinger is visible, remove it promptly by scraping it away with a card edge or fingernail. Do not squeeze the venom sac
For a dog, cat, wildlife, or unfamiliar-animal bite or scratch, wash the wound immediately with soap and water. For wildlife or unfamiliar animals, wash for 15 minutes and obtain urgent medical/public-health guidance about rabies risk
For a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers close to the skin and pull steadily straight out. Do not use matches, cigarettes, nail-polish remover, or other home remedies
Nosebleeds
Have your child sit up and lean slightly forward. Pinch the soft lower part of the nose firmly and continuously for 10 minutes while the child breathes through the mouth
Do not tilt the head back or repeatedly release pressure to check. If bleeding continues, repeat the same technique once and then seek urgent medical care if it still does not stop
A small amount of swallowed blood can cause vomiting or a dark stool later; seek care for large blood loss, fainting, unusual bruising, or bleeding from other sites
Prepare for Emergencies
Keep a stocked first-aid kit, emergency contacts, and your child’s allergy or chronic-condition action plan readily available
If your child has prescribed epinephrine for severe allergies, make sure caregivers know where it is and how to follow the written emergency plan
For suspected poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Do not make the child vomit unless Poison Control tells you to do so
Sources and Medical Review
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Treating Cuts and Scrapes in Kids: Read source
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), First Aid for Burns: Parent FAQs: Read source
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Insect Bites & Stings in Children: Read source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rabies Prevention and Control: Read source
Poison Control, Get Help: Read source