How to bandage a child’s wound during a day hiking accident

When children suffer cuts and scrapes during an day hiking accident, the wound will need to be bandaged. This could be as simple as simply applying a lone adhesive bandage. For deep or long cuts, however, that a single adhesive bandage won’t cover, more is required.

Before bandaging any wound, ensure that it the bleeding has stopped and that the wound has been disinfected.

Begin the bandaging by lining up the cut’s edges. Then, from the wound’s center, apply adhesive bandages so that they cross-cross one another. Do this for the length of the cut. Always try to push up the edges of the cut against one another.

Next, cover this pattern of adhesive bandages with a sterile wrap. This helps ensure the adhesive bandages remain over the wound.

Whatever you do, don’t try to stitch the wound with a needle and thread unless you are a medical professional and have the proper tools. Stitching in the wilds almost always results in a poorly healing cut and greatly raises the risk of infection.

In dire emergencies, some people have used superglue to hold wounds together, but there should be no need for the drastic solution. Adhesive bandages and sterile wrap ought to be part of your first-aid kit.

Skin needs about 72 hours to close up beneath a bandage. During this time and for a few days after, check the cut to ensure that bleeding does not begin again or that an infection has not set in. If either occurs, immediately seek medical attention.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Treating children's cuts, wounds on hike

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Avoid cuts and wounds by following the same principles of safety to avoid falls. In addition, don’t go off trail through vegetation or climbing on rocks.

To treat a cut or wound, with an antiseptic clean the opening of sand, dirt, gravel and other debris. A cotton swab works well. To irrigate deeper cuts or wounds, a disposable syringe can be used. After drying it, apply an antibiotic ointment and then an adhesive bandage. If a wound, don’t use an adhesive bandage but cover it in gauze dressing and get medical attention immediately.

Never apply insect repellent to cuts or wounds (or to irritated skin, for that matter).

Related articles:
g How to prevent and treat hypothermia in children
g Avoiding and treating child dehydration on the trail
g How to avoid and treat nosebleeds
g How to avoid and treat hiking kids' muscle cramps

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Prevent, treat children's blisters on hikes

A blister is a small, painful pocket of fluid that builds in the upper layers of the skin.

You can avoid blisters by wearing good-fitting, broken-in boots and socks that provide cushion and wick moisture from the skin. If certain parts of a foot are prone to blistering, pretreat the area by placing mole skin or an adhesive bandage over it. Long and sharp toenails can lead to rubbing against a shoe and boot and thus blisters on the toes. Always remove tiny stones and twig pieces from a shoe. As soon as your foot or that of your kids’ feels any pain, check the foot for a “hot spot,” an area of inflammation that is on the verge of becoming a blister.

Always treat a hot spot as soon as you feel it by placing an adhesive bandage over the affected area. While you generally shouldn’t pop a blister, do so if hiking. Then clean the blister with antiseptic and dry it to help relieve pressure and to prevent the blister from spreading, which will occur if your keep walking. Place a piece of mole skin over it, secured by an adhesive bandage, so it does not continue to rub against the boot.

As a side note, place a little foot or baby powder in your boot before hiking. While this won’t prevent blisters, it’ll help reduce moisture on the foot, making the walk more comfortable.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.