Did your child just swallow a toy?

It's normal for children to swallow toys, fall and get cuts and bleeds. But you needn't worry all the time

As parents of young children, it's normal to worry about their safety and health. Children are curious creatures and try to discover the world by touching and eating. Much as you try you will not be able to monitor their every move.

But, panicking each time they get a cut or bruise will affect your well-being and interfere with your child's confidence. Here's a guide on what to do when they get hurt and when to call the paediatrician.

1. Electric shock: It may sound scary but doctors say that electric shocks from plug points at home are mostly harmless. Small burns on the hand and fingers are unlikely to be severe. First Aid: If you see hot spots, cool your child's skin and stop the burning with cold water. Don't use ice; it injures the skin. Call the doc: If the burned area blisters within a few minutes. The paediatrician may drain the blisters, then dress the burn with antibiotic ointment and a bandage to prevent bacterial infection. If your child doesn't seem like himself after the shock and is less responsive, he needs medical attention.

2. Cuts: Accidents are bound to occur when children play. Small cuts are part of the growing-up process. First Aid: Grab anything absorbent — wipes, a T-shirt, a rag — and hold it firmly against the wound for at least five minutes to stop the bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped, wash the area with soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment and put on a bandage. Call the doc: If the wound is still bleeding after 10 minutes of continuous pressure, or if the cut is larger than half-aninch, it may need stitches.

3. Nose bleeds: Nasal passages have a dense web of blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Cold, dry air, seasonal allergies and blowing the nose can give your child a nose bleed. First Aid: When kids are scared and crying, their blood pressure naturally increases and this can intensify the bleeding. To stop the flow, sit your child upright on your lap, then squeeze their nose gently but firmly shut — right at the top, where their nostrils open — for three to five minutes. Call the doc: If the bleeding persists, or if nosebleeds become frequent, check with an ENT specialist.

4. Swallowing a toy: If after swallowing the toy, your child is breathing normally, it's very likely that it will end up in their stomach, go through their gastrointestinal tract and get excreted at some point. First Aid: Apart from getting an X-Ray to pinpoint the piece so you feel better knowing it's in the stomach, there's really nothing to be done except wait for it to pass. Call the doc: If your kid has problems breathing or swallowing or vomiting. This means that the piece has probably gone down the windpipe and into a lung and will need to be removed with an endoscope.

5. Dislocated elbows: At the age of four or five, children's joints are still loose enough for a sharp tug on the arm to easily pull the elbow out of joint. A mere yanking — to get them away from a speeding car — could leave them with a dislocated joint. First Aid: A dose of children's pain reliever and some ice can ease the discomfort, but head to the paediatrician and the doctor will pop the elbow back in place.

6. Puncture wound: There's no reason to panic if your child has got a cut from something sharp, provided the resulting puncture wound isn't deep and nothing's broken off inside the skin. First Aid: Wash out wound with warm water and soap, put on some antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage. Get a tetanus shot as a precaution. Continue to rewash and re-bandage the wound for the next two to three days and watch for signs of infection. Call the doc: If there is increased redness or tenderness or if your child develops fever within 24 to 72 hours.

7. Choking on food: There's a higher risk of choking when eating and talking are combined. But, coughing and sputtering when food goes down "the wrong way" is a sign that your child's airway is only partially blocked. First Aid: Help your child's natural cough reflex dislodge the food by thumping them on the back. Lay your child face down across your lap, then, with a cupped hand, thump the back five to six times between the shoulders. Call the doc: If your child isn't breathing.

8. Allergic reaction: Discovering what foods your child is allergic to is a slow process. But while an allergic attack is serious, it's easy to handle. First Aid: Ask your paediatrician to recommend an antihistamine that you can keep at hand. If the reaction is limited to a rash of itchy hives or a stuffy nose, that may do it. Call the doc: If your child's lip swells or he/she has wheezing or trouble breathing — these are signs of potentially fatal allergic reactions. Speak to your paediatrician, and keep an epinephrine (epi) pen handy. Use it to buy yourself some time and then rush your child to the doc.

9. Broken tooth: There's no reason to worry if it's a milk tooth that's got knocked off. The tooth would have fallen eventually. However, if the milk tooth was chipped or broken or it's the permanent tooth that's got knocked out, your paediatric dentist could help. First Aid: If you trust your child not to swallow the tooth, clean it with milk, then put it back in its socket. (For a younger child, put the tooth or fragment in a container of milk). Then rush to the dentist. Experts say you've got the best chance of saving the tooth if it can be re-implanted within an hour of being dislodged.

10. Head stuck in bars: Yes, children are curious and unaware about their own size and abilities. They will often get stuck in places you'll wonder about. If your child is breathing fine but crying uncomfortably on getting stuck, and the bars are flexible or widely spaced, it's a matter of orienting your child's head to ease it out. First Aid: The ears are likely to make it difficult for you to pull their head back. Lathering up the ears with some baby shampoo may help ease the way. If that doesn't work you may have to saw through the bars or call for assistance.