Common Childhood Injuries: First Aid, Prevention, and When to Get Emergency Help

They bump their heads.

They scrape knees.

They burn fingers.

They sometimes put the wrong thing in their mouth.

Most childhood injuries are minor.

Some need fast action.

This guide explains the most common childhood injuries, what parents can do in the first few minutes, how to reduce risk, and when to get emergency help.

It is not a replacement for hands on first aid training.

For the full safety library, visit our Child Health and Safety Guide.

For prevention across the home, road, play, and daily life, read our Child Injury Prevention Guide.

What should I do first when my child gets hurt?

Start with three questions.

Is the scene safe?

Is my child awake?

Is my child breathing normally?

The American Red Cross recommends checking for responsiveness, breathing, life threatening bleeding, and other obvious life threatening problems before focusing on smaller injuries.

If your child is unresponsive, is not breathing normally, is only gasping, or has life threatening bleeding, call emergency services and give care based on your training.

A certified pediatric first aid and CPR course is one of the best ways to prepare for these moments.

Which injuries can usually be managed at home?

Minor scrapes, small bruises, mild bumps, and mild strains can often be managed at home when your child:

• Is awake and acting normally
• Breathes normally
• Can move normally
• Has bleeding that stops with pressure
• Has pain that is mild and improving
• Has no serious warning signs

If you are unsure, call your child's healthcare professional.

1. Cuts and Scrapes

Cuts and scrapes in children happen during falls, outdoor play, sports, and daily life.

Small wounds often heal well with simple care.

What to do

• Wash your hands.
• Apply steady direct pressure if the wound is bleeding.
• Rinse a minor wound with clean running water.
• Gently remove visible dirt if it comes away easily.
• Cover the wound with a clean dressing if needed.
• Watch for increasing redness, swelling, pain, warmth, or pus.

Do not keep lifting the dressing to check severe bleeding.

Keep steady pressure.

When is bleeding an emergency?

Get emergency help when blood is spurting, flowing continuously, soaking through dressings quickly, or will not stop with firm direct pressure.

In a small child, serious blood loss can happen with less blood than in an adult.

If you have been trained to use a tourniquet for life threatening bleeding from an arm or leg, follow your training.

2. Bruises and Bumps

A bruise happens when small blood vessels under the skin are damaged.

Minor bruises are common.

What to do

• Let the child rest.
• Use a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel.
• Apply it for short periods.
• Do not place ice directly on skin.

Call a healthcare professional if swelling is severe, pain keeps getting worse, the child cannot use the body part, or the bruising is unusual or unexplained.

3. Falls, Head Injuries, and Concussion

Falls are common as children learn to walk, climb, ride, and play.

Most head bumps are minor.

A concussion in children is a brain injury and should be taken seriously.

A child does not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion.

Possible concussion signs

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Balance problems
• Blurred or double vision
• Confusion
• Slow answers
• Memory trouble
• Unusual irritability
• Not feeling right

What should I do after a possible concussion?

Remove the child from sport or risky activity.

Do not send the child back into the game on the same day.

Have the child assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.

Return to school and sport should follow professional guidance.

Head injury emergency signs

Get emergency help for:

• One pupil larger than the other
• A child who cannot be awakened
• A headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures
• Weakness or poor coordination
• Slurred speech
• Increasing confusion or unusual behaviour
• Loss of consciousness

4. Sprains, Strains, and Possible Fractures

Children can hurt muscles, joints, and bones during falls and sports.

It is not always possible to tell a bad sprain from a fracture at home.

The Red Cross recommends treating a muscle, bone, or joint injury as a possible fracture until you know otherwise.

What to do

• Stop the activity.
• Let the child rest.
• Do not force the body part straight.
• Do not ask the child to keep testing it.
• Use a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel for up to 20 minutes.
• Seek medical assessment if there is strong pain, swelling, deformity, or trouble using the limb.

Get emergency help if

• Bone is visible through the skin
• There is severe bleeding
• The hand or foot becomes numb, cold, pale, or blue
• The injury involves the head, neck, spine, pelvis, or upper leg
• The child has several serious injuries

5. Burns and Scalds

Burns in children can come from hot drinks, bath water, stoves, fire, chemicals, electricity, or other heat sources.

What to do for a thermal burn

• Move the child away from the heat source.
• Remove clothing or jewelry that is not stuck to the skin.
• Cool the burn under clean cool running water.
• Continue cooling for at least 15 minutes when possible.
• Do not use ice.
• Do not put butter, oil, toothpaste, or greasy cream on the burn.
• Do not break blisters.

Children can lose body heat quickly.

Keep the rest of the child warm while cooling the burn.

When does a burn need urgent medical care?

Get professional medical help for burns that are deep, large, blistered, chemical, electrical, or involve the face, mouth, hands, feet, joints, neck, or groin.

Because children are small, get medical advice when you are unsure about the size or depth.

6. Choking

Choking in children is an emergency when the airway is blocked.

A child who can cough strongly, cry, or speak still has air moving.

Encourage coughing and watch closely.

A child who cannot cough, speak, cry, or breathe needs immediate help.

For a choking infant younger than 1 year

Current Red Cross guidance uses:

• 5 firm back blows
• Then 5 chest thrusts

Continue the cycle until the object comes out or the baby becomes unresponsive.

For a choking child older than 1 year

Current Red Cross guidance uses:

• 5 back blows
• Then 5 abdominal thrusts

Continue until the child can cough, cry, speak, or breathe, or becomes unresponsive.

If the child becomes unresponsive, lower them to a firm flat surface, call emergency services, and begin CPR according to your training.

Never perform a blind finger sweep.

Only remove an object from the mouth if you can actually see it.

For prevention, cut food into age appropriate shapes and keep small objects away from babies and toddlers.

7. Poisoning and Chemical Exposure

Young children can be poisoned by medicines, cleaning products, chemicals, plants, alcohol, nicotine products, batteries, and many other substances.

What should I do if my child swallows something poisonous?

Do not make the child vomit.

Do not give a home remedy unless a poison expert tells you to.

Get expert help right away.

In the United States, contact Poison Control at 1 800 222 1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL.

In other countries, contact your local poison center or emergency service.

If the child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call emergency services immediately.

What if a chemical gets in the eye?

Start rinsing the eye with water immediately.

Keep the affected eye lower than the other eye so contaminated water does not flow into the healthy eye.

Continue flushing while getting urgent advice.

What if a chemical gets on the skin?

Remove contaminated clothing if it is safe to do so.

Brush away dry powder before adding water.

Flush liquid chemicals from the skin with water.

Get poison or medical advice.

8. Eye Injuries

Eyes can be injured by dirt, sharp objects, sports, chemicals, toys, or impact.

For loose dirt or a small particle

Do not rub the eye.

Gentle rinsing with clean water may help.

For a chemical splash

Flush with water immediately.

Keep flushing while emergency help is arranged.

Get urgent medical care for

• Loss of vision
• Blurred vision after injury
• Bleeding in the eye
• An object stuck in the eye
• Ongoing severe pain
• A chemical exposure

Do not try to pull an embedded object out.

9. Dental Injuries

Falls, sports, and collisions can chip, loosen, or knock out teeth.

A knocked out permanent tooth is a dental emergency.

If a baby tooth is knocked out

Do not put it back into the socket.

Call the child's dentist for advice.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out

• Pick it up by the crown, not the root.
• Do not scrub the root.
• If appropriate and you feel able, gently place the tooth back into the socket.
• If you cannot replace it, keep the tooth moist in milk, saline, or a suitable tooth preservation solution.
• Go to a dentist or emergency department immediately.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that the best chance of saving a permanent tooth comes from acting very quickly.

10. Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds can happen after a bump, nose picking, or dry air.

What to do

• Have the child sit up.
• Lean the head slightly forward.
• Pinch the soft part of the nose.
• Hold continuous pressure for 10 to 15 minutes.

Do not tilt the head backward.

Leaning forward reduces the amount of blood that runs down the throat.

Get medical help if bleeding is severe or does not stop after about 15 minutes of proper pressure.

11. Insect Bites and Stings

Most insect bites and stings cause local pain, redness, itching, or swelling.

What to do

• Remove a visible stinger as quickly as possible.
• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Use a cold pack wrapped in cloth.
• Watch for a severe allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis warning signs

Anaphylaxis can cause:

• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Widespread hives
• Vomiting or stomach symptoms with other allergy signs
• Dizziness or collapse
• A change in responsiveness

If your child has prescribed epinephrine for anaphylaxis, use it as directed and call emergency services.

Do not wait for an antihistamine to fix breathing trouble or throat swelling.

12. Animal Bites

Dog, cat, and other animal bites can damage skin and become infected.

What to do

• Move the child away from the animal.
• Control bleeding with direct pressure.
• Wash a minor bite with soap and running water.
• Contact a healthcare professional for advice.

Bites to the face, hands, deep punctures, severe bleeding, or bites from an unknown or wild animal need prompt professional assessment.

A clinician may need to consider infection, tetanus protection, and rabies risk based on the animal and location.

What about drowning and water emergencies?

Drowning prevention deserves its own plan.

Young children can drown quickly and quietly.

Use close active supervision around water.

If a child is pulled from water and is unresponsive or not breathing normally, call emergency services and begin CPR according to your training.

For toddler water safety, see our Toddler Water Play and Swimming Safety Guide.

How can parents prevent common childhood injuries?

Child injury prevention changes as children grow.

At home

• Use stair gates that are appropriate for the location.
• Secure unstable furniture.
• Use window guards or stops where needed.
• Keep medicines and cleaning products locked away.
• Keep hot drinks and hot cookware away from edges.
• Keep small choking hazards away from young children.

On wheels

• Use a correctly fitted helmet for bikes and similar wheeled activities.
• Use the correct car seat, booster, or seat belt for the child's size and stage.
• Teach children safe road and pedestrian habits.

During sports

• Use the right protective gear.
• Use mouth guards when the sport calls for them.
• Stop play after a suspected concussion.
• Do not encourage a child to play through serious pain.

What should be in a family first aid kit?

A simple child first aid kit can include:

• Disposable gloves
• Sterile gauze
• Adhesive bandages
• Medical tape
• Saline
• A digital thermometer
• A cold pack
• Tweezers
• Emergency contact information
• Any emergency medicine prescribed specifically for your child

Store medicines separately and securely.

Check expiry dates.

Keep the kit where adults can reach it quickly but young children cannot.

What first aid skills should every parent learn?

A written guide is useful.

Hands on training is better.

Parents and caregivers should know how to:

• Call emergency services clearly
• Recognize abnormal breathing
• Give child and infant CPR
• Respond to choking
• Control severe bleeding
• Recognize anaphylaxis
• Use prescribed epinephrine
• Recognize concussion warning signs

Consider a certified pediatric first aid, CPR, and AED course.

For a focused emergency guide, read our Child First Aid Tips.

When should I call emergency services after a childhood injury?

Call emergency services for:

• Severe trouble breathing
• A child who is unresponsive or cannot be awakened
• A child who is not breathing or is only gasping
• Life threatening bleeding
• Severe choking
• Seizures after an injury
• Severe head injury signs
• Severe allergic reaction
• Major burns
• Serious neck or spine injury
• Collapse after possible poisoning

If something looks life threatening, do not wait for an online article to confirm it.

Common first aid mistakes parents should avoid

Putting ice directly on a burn

Use cool running water.

Ice can damage burned skin.

Making a poisoned child vomit

Do not induce vomiting.

Get poison expert advice.

Sending a child back into sport after a head hit

A possible concussion means no same day return to play.

Blind finger sweeps during choking

Do not put a finger into the mouth unless you can see the object.

Straightening a possible broken bone

Keep the injured area still.

Do not force it into position.

Tilting the head backward for a nosebleed

Lean forward and pinch the soft part of the nose.

My parenting perspective

After more than 33 years of parenting and grandparenting, I have learned that accidents feel much bigger when you do not know what to do next.

The first few seconds matter.

Not because every scrape is an emergency.

Because calm steps help you notice when it really is one.

I learned to check breathing first.

Then bleeding.

Then the injury itself.

I also learned that prevention is easier than first aid.

A helmet.

A locked medicine cabinet.

A stair gate.

A safe food shape.

Those small habits matter every day.

My family experience shapes the practical side of this guide.

The first aid and injury guidance comes from current pediatric, emergency, poison, and safety sources.

Conclusion

Common childhood injuries are part of growing up, but good first aid and simple prevention can make a big difference.

Learn CPR.

Learn choking care.

Keep a first aid kit ready.

Use helmets and the correct child restraints.

Lock poisons away.

Know the warning signs that need emergency help.

Bookmark this guide and share it with every adult who regularly cares for your child.

Keep Reading on Parnthub

• Child Health and Safety Guide
• Child Injury Prevention
• Child First Aid Tips
• Child Safety Tips
• Complete Toddler Guide
• Complete Big Kids Guide

High Authority References and Sources

1. American Red Cross: Child and Baby First Aid
2. American Red Cross: Burns and First Aid
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HEADS UP Concussion Guidance
4. Poison Control: First Aid for Poisoning
5. American Academy of Pediatrics: First Aid for a Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Frequently Asked Questions About Common Childhood Injuries

What are the most common childhood injuries?

Common injuries include cuts, scrapes, bruises, falls, head injuries, sprains, fractures, burns, choking, poisoning, eye injuries, dental injuries, nosebleeds, and insect stings.

What should I do first when my child is injured?

Make sure the scene is safe, check that your child is awake and breathing normally, look for life threatening bleeding, then give first aid for the injury you find.

How do I stop bleeding from a cut?

Apply steady direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth. Keep pressure on the wound. Call emergency services for heavy bleeding that is spurting, flowing continuously, or will not stop.

What should I do if my child burns their skin?

Move the child away from the heat source and cool the burn with clean cool running water for at least 15 minutes when possible. Do not use ice, butter, oil, or greasy creams.

When is a head injury an emergency?

Get emergency help for repeated vomiting, seizures, worsening headache, weakness, slurred speech, increasing confusion, unequal pupils, loss of consciousness, or a child who cannot be awakened.

What should I do if my child is choking?

For a conscious choking infant, use cycles of 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. For a conscious child older than 1 year, use 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts. Call emergency services and start CPR if the child becomes unresponsive.

What should I do if my child swallows poison?

Do not make the child vomit. Contact a poison center immediately for instructions. Call emergency services if the child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened.

Should I put a knocked out baby tooth back in?

No. A knocked out baby tooth should not be put back into the socket. A knocked out permanent tooth is a dental emergency and needs immediate professional care.