Conference moira::parenting

    
    My daughter has a few tiny splinters in her both her hands.  Actually,
    one came out last night in the tub, but she still has about 3.
    
    My husband said that the wood would dissolve and it would be worse for
    her if we were to try and get them out.  They are very tiny, but I hate
    to have them in her hands.  Is there a painless way to remove them?  Or
    is it better to leave them in.  I have been washing the area with warm
    soap and water to keep them from getting infected.
    
    

    Re: Splinters
    
    I've been wondering about that too...When I was growing up, I think my
    grandparents used some kind of (commercially made) paste. It was black
    and, if I remember correctly, after you took some out of the jar (or
    off a solid stick) you warmed it up and put it over the splinter. The 
    heat helped draw out the splinter and the stickiness was like a 'built in'
    tweezer when the end appeared at the skin surface. Anyone know what this 
    stuff was and if it still exists? All I remember was that if felt
    good... what a special way to remember what could have been a painful
    experience w/ the old tweezer method!

    
    That stuff sounds good - heck when I get a splinter, I dig it out with
    needle.
    
    My daughter is 18 months and I don't think any kind of paste or lotion
    would stay too long on her hands -- she would most likely start rubbing
    it into her face.
    
    I will continue with warm soap and water unless others out there have
    any other suggestions.

    A friend of mine told me last summer that she "numbed" the area around
    the splinter with baby Orajel, then dug it out with a needle. We tried
    it with our daughter and it really worked, although we learned that you
    have to work fast because the numbness window is short (a minute or
    so). When the splinter is deep, we apply the Orajel, dig quickly, rinse
    off the wound with warm water, and repeat the process until the whole
    splinter is out. I also cover the area with Neosporin and a bandage for
    a night or so to avoid infection, although I'm not really sure if
    that's necessary (I figure it's better safe than sorry and the kid gets
    to wear his/her favorite bandage).
    
    Your mileage may vary, but this method has worked for us several times
    since last summer!
    
    Nancy-

    In our family, the splinter is always handled by the following method:
    
    Cut a piece of fat off a raw slice of bacon.  Cut it big enough to
    cover the splinter.  Put the piece of bacon fat on the splinter and 
    cover with a band-aid.  The "oil" will grease the splinter and will
    normally slide right out.  We normally do this at bedtime so children
    will leave it alone.
    
    Thanks,

    For when you need a cold compress:
    
    Take a dark colored washcloth, wet it, squeeze excess water out, 
    and fold up and put in a baggie.  Put in the freezer.  When you
    need a cold compress, take out and put on boo-boo.  If it is bleeding
    the dark color tends to "hide" the amount of blood. 

    Vaseline is a great aid for splinter removal. Massage the area with
    Vaseline before bedtime - the next morning it may be soft enough to
    remove, or will be after another massage of vaseline.
    

    We always had some black goo called "icthamol" (or something along
    those lines!) for removing splinters.  It seemed to keep the skin soft
    enough to allow the splinter to work its way out far enough to graps it
    with tweezers.  

    My mother-in-law has something like the black tube, it is called Hardy
    Salve (or something that sounds like Hardy.)  She orders it from the
    druggist.  I've used it, don't find that it works as well as she claims
    it to.  
    
    Lisa Cozzens

    I remember the icthylmol or whatever it was.  Mom said they no longer
    make it (and the small jar she had was **OLD**).
    
    Well, last time I visited my aunt (in Feb), she was having a problem
    with her fingernails.  Her hairdresser (I think) told her to go to the
    nearest horse supply house (or whatever it may be called) to purchase
    this hoof stuff.  To my surprise, it was the same ointment that Mom had
    used.  Cost was about $10 for a container about the size of a small
    thermos.            

   actually, they do still make this stuff, just call it a different name
   now - if I can remember, I'll check my tube in the medicine cabinet
   tonight !

    re: the hoof ointment
    
    Most rural pet/animal supply stores carry this; I've seen it
    called 'bag balm'...comes in a small green tin. Supposed to be
    excellant for dry, chapped skin (supposedly used by milk-cow farmers?)

    Bag Balm and hooflex are two different items.  BagBalm is good for
    chapped hands, jogger's toe and other skin type stuff.  Hooflex is good
    for brittle nails, and wierd funguses.
    
    meg, who has used both at varying times, on animals as well as herself.  

    Try Petro Carbo Salve from Watkins.  It works great at getting
    out splinters (it used to be black but now they filter it so it
    is clear) and dairy farmers love it for the cows utters.
    
    Pam

    Tried and true for splinters in our house;
    
    Wash out the wound w/ or w/out soap, as much as the child will
    comfortably allow.  Try to give it a soak for at least 5 mins to help
    wet the wood.  Apply first aid ointment, and cover it.  This keeps if
    from getting infected, and provides nice lubricant.  The next day you
    MIGHT need a gentle squeeze to get it out.
    
    I don't know that it would hurt if you didn't get it out (although
    pressure treated wood is supposed to be a big problem).  When I was
    ~12, and bowling stocking footed, I got a CHUNK of the alley stuck in
    my heel.  I couldn't get it out to save my life, and boy did it hurt! 
    Eventually it stopped hurting, but never came out.  There was always a
    little 'cut' there, but it never got infected or anything 'bad'
    looking.  About 2 mos later, my foot felt itchy, I took off my sock,
    and there was the chunk of wood - it had worked itself out.  I don't
    know if I'd recommend this, but it didn't seem to bother me at all the
    time it was left in.  
    
    

    
    This may be a minor problem, but Sunday I noticed a small red mark on
    my daughter's arm (18 months) which looks like some kind of insect
    bite, it has the very tiny white bump in the middle with the
    surrounding red (about the size of a nickel).  Is there something I
    could apply to it to make it go away faster.  It doesn't seem to be
    bothering her, but I'm sure it itches.  Everytime I look at it, she
    points to it and says "boo-boo", but I think she does that cuz I draw
    attention to it.
    
    Also, is there something I should be looking for for sign of infection?
    
    Like I said, this is a minor problem, but I thought I would consult
    with you parenters.
    
    

It's a 'bullseye' a sign of a tick bite?  If so, call your doctor.

Dave

    Don't spider bites sometimes look like that?  
    
    					cj *->

    
    I thought it was either a spider or an ant.  We have been finding ants
    in our house the last few days (now that the warmer weather is here,
    all the criters are coming out.
    
    I will keep an eye on it.
    
    

    My son gets these all the time, and they are (in our case) from
    the small grey and brown spiders we see in Calif.  A little benadryl or
    some mild (over-the-counter) cortizone cream usually helps deflate the
    itch until it goes away (in a few days/week at the most!).
    
    FYI - when *I* get bitten, I get a much bigger bite spot, and swell
    like crazy in the area of the bite.  When I was a small one, Mom and
    Dad actually had to rush me to the hospital and have my shoe & slacks
    cut off me!  Be glad your little one is like mine, and only gets the
    mild reaction to bites!
    
    M.
    
    
    

    
    Except for the obvious bandaides, first aid cream, ipecak, what are
    some other "must haves" in a first aid box.
    
    What are some of those products that you don't think about until its
    too late, or hardly use, but when you need them, their a life saver
    
    

    Chemical ice packs (the kind you have to squeeze [hard!] to activate)
    for the car, in case of sprains when you're "offsite" and away from a
    freezer.  Get a few--they don't stay cold for too long (maybe 10
    minutes).
    
    Leslie

    Vinyl or latex gloves.  I know that with your own you aren't worried,
    but the latest first aid class I took stressed ALWAYS using gloves when
    dealing with another person bleeding.  One pair fits in a film can and
    doesn't take up much space.  
    
    Tweezers, for splinters, thorns and cactus spines are a requirement out
    here.  
    
    It wouldn't hurt, if space permits to keep a quart or so of clean water
    for washing minor scrapes, flushing eyes or small burns.
    
    meg

    
    Pain killer/fever reliever.  I don't typically carry that around with 
    me and one day I got caught an hour away from home with a very unhappy
    baby!  Luckily, the pharmacy was close by because she was miserable.
    
    Now I make sure it goes with me whenever I'm visiting anywhere.
    
    Karen

    Alcohol wipes, scissors. I always carry around a swiss army knife too.
    
    michael

    I don't agree with having ipecak in the box.  
    This implies that one has choosen to call the poison control center,
    and received instructions first.  Ipecak takes about a half hour to
    work, and requires some level of support, not allowing the victum to 
    become unconsiouse, ingesting the output into the lungs, etc.
    
    The better method is to call for an ambulance if the child has
    swallowed something.  The can have the child to the hospital probably
    before the poison control center recomends a course of action.  Note
    ipecak is NOT recomended with all poisons.
    
    a better thing to carry is charcoal, no not the kind you cook with.
    This starts neutralizing whatever was swallowed.  And can be
    administered while waiting for the ambulance.
    
    then again, if you are going backpacking, where help would not be
    available for hours, a good book on wilderness 1st aid [can be bought
    at most outdoor shops like Hermans] along with a course is valuable.
    ed
    

    I disagree,  Ipecac SHOULD be a part of any First Aid kit.  I had the
    unfortunate experience of needing to give my son some of this many
    years ago.  If you have access to a phone to call an ambulance, you
    have access to the Poison Control Ctr.  Don't USE the Ipecac unless the
    Poison Control Ctr. tells you to, but it SHOULD be available for
    immediate use.
    
    

    I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.  I've had 4+ years as an EMT
    on an amublance and I WON'T USE THE STUFF.  I won't endanger
    someoneelse's child by recomending it.  My advice to anyone else
    is to spend your dime on a phonecall to the ambulance if you have had
    a child swallow something.  the stuff is dangerous in the hands of
    an inexperienced person.
    ed
    
    

    What's the best thing to do for a bee sting?
    I was totally unprepared for that, my Mom used mud.
    We were on a boat, there isn't any mud on a boat.
    
    My First Aid Kit was not as complete as I had 
    hoped.  Now I'm wondering if there are any items
    I should have automatically ADDED to any store
    bought First Aid Kit.
    
    Missing things I would have like to see:
    
     - Aspirins
     - Tweezers
     - Mirror (basic make-up re-work after the emergency)
              [I was stung on the neck, I thought someone
               burnt me with a tossed cigarette.]
     - Tampons (used for treating wounds that need a clean
                cloth/material and pressure.
                Pack individually wrapped ones.)
     - Something to apply to a bee sting.
     - Sunscreen
     - Matches (sterilize needle for splinters)
    
    Any other ideas?  Thanks.

    re: Bee Stings 
    When I was preparing our "first-aid" kit for camping, I found some
    Wipes for Insect Bites/Bee Stings at the register at CVS. They were 3
    individually wrapped wipes in a package for 49cents. I don't know if
    they worked, as no-one was bit yet....
    
    One thing I add to the First-Aid kit when we do go away is..
    .. A Thermemoter (I have the one that reads from the ear)
    .. A bottle of Childrens Tylenol
    .. A tube of Ora-Jel for the teeth
    .. Sun-tan lotion
    .. Ear Drops.. (My son has tubes and is prone to ear infections)
    .. also, some type of anti-histimine (you never know when the 
        allergies are going to act up..
    
    Anne Marie

I'd also include a sunburn cream, asprin or paracetamol (child & adult), 
peroxide, antihistamine (child & adult) and cotton buds (US q-tips)

****child-proof your first aid kit****

St Johns Ambulance (who do the various CPR traing courses etc) also (in 
Australia at least) sell various types of First Aid kits.


(Old-fashioned laundry blueing bags with a little water can help with 
bee-sting swellings)


Chele

    Baking soda, ammonia or meat tenderizer are all effective in helping to
    take the sting out of bee venom.  I also recommend a fast acting
    antihistimine, but I have a moderate allergy to bee and wasp venom, and
    the faster I can get an antihisimine into my system, the better.  I use
    Alkaselzer plus cold remedy, but liquid benadryl or chewable
    antihistimines work well.  (yes I know I should get a bee kit
    prescription, but I am not that bad off, right now anmnd the
    antihistimines usually bring things under control in 15 minutes.  
    
    Rubber or vinyl gloves are considered a must anymore, particularly if
    you are working with a stanger and bleeding.  A pair tucks easily into
    a 35 mm film can.  
    
    meg

    The best things I've found for bee stings is mixing baking soda with
    water to make a paste.  Then cover the area with the paste.  Takes the
    stain right out.
    
    meat tenderizer works well too.
    
    Holly
    

    Also include a marker or a pen that writes easily .... if you ever have
    to do CPR, you're supposed to write the time that you started, on the 
    'patients' forehead.  Then there's no question at the hospital. 
    
    Mine includes the following (when the kids haven't gotten into it!);
    
    aspirin
    bandaids
    gauze
    tape
    scissors
    first-aid wipes
    first aid ointment
    aspirin
    tylenol
    sunscreen
    bug spray
    after bite
    benedryl
    tweezers
    few oz. sterile water
    marker/pen and paper
    compass
    needle and thread (hey, if you HAD to, you could probably sew someone 
    		       back together)
    matches (to sterilize the needle)
    hard candy and/or sugar packets (I'm diabetic)
    smelling salts
    ace bandage
    those big popsicle sticks from the Drs office to use as a make-shift
    			splint, if needed.
    clean cloth (washcloth size)
    straw or sippy cup (in case someone can't sit up to drink) 
    sharp jack knife, preferably w/ a saw edge as well.
    small bar soap (make sure it's well wrapped, or the aspirin pick up the
    			taste YECH!)
    vaseline lip-balm (for use as either)
    sunglasses (helps for overheating)
    
    I can't remember any more.  I used to carry a bic stick pen, in case
    anyone felt up to opening an airway through the throat - then I decided
    I'd abandon my medical exploits and stick with computers (-;  BUT, if
    you're going to maybe be around anyone who might have some experience,
    it might help.  I usually carried the 1st aid kitfor flying or hiking,
    so wanted to be prepared if we were stranded in the woods somewhere
    .... I'm sure there's other things that would be helpful (plastic
    poncho, rope, heat and ice packs that work when you 'break' them etc).
    If you have kids around, some stickers might be worth their weight in
    gold to make the kiddos feel better, or perhaps some lollipops.
    
    A lot of the stuff should be sealed in zipper-type bags.  I have them
    in that, and then the whole thing in a shoe-box size plastic container.
    
    Good luck, and be safe!

Does a lit match really sterilize a needle?  My mom used to do this, she would
run the needle quickly through the flame.  However, I got to thinking: I can
run my finger through the flame that quickly, and it doesn't hurt at all.
If I keep the needle in the flame until it has a chance to get hot, the needle
turns black with soot, which to me means that it is *not* sterile.  So, does
a match really help?

    Carol

    If the needle turns black, I believe it's because it's at the wrong
    point of the flame.  You need to hold the needle over the bluest point
    of the flame.  I would heat it that way, and then pour some of the
    sterile water over it or wipe w/ alcohol pad afterward.  If you weren't
    sure still, you could bring along some betadyne and/or alcohol.  That
    should do the trick!  OR you could lite some sticks on fire, and boil
    the needle in the little bottle of sterile water ??
    
    Personally, I hope to never sew someone up, and if I had to, they'll
    have a lot more problems than whether or not the needle was completely
    sterile (use that antibiotic ointment!!)
    
    Does anyone know fer sure?

Well, I use these needles for "minor surgery" for my family, as in getting
splinters out.  :-)

Hold the needle *over* the blue flame, so it's not *in* the flame?

   Carol

    IMO it's soot, but it's *sterile* soot!  I hold the needle in the
    flame until it's red hot, (literally).  When it's cool it's black with
    soot but I can't believe there are any micro-beasties still living on
    it.
    
    In any case it's easier to swab it down with isopropyl alcohol and be
    done with it.
    
    Leslie 

>    In any case it's easier to swab it down with isopropyl alcohol and be
>    done with it.

But alcohol doesn't sterilize it.  Presumably heating it red hot does.

    		Alcohol will sterilize, given the proper amount of
    time and concentration.....
    
    
    			Bob