Raising God's Kids

July 2011

A Stitch in Time: When to See a Doctor

He's crying, and blood is soaking his ripped jeans. The gash over her eye has stopped oozing, but it looks awfully deep. How do you know when your child needs stitches, also called sutures?

If your child has a cut that doesn't appear to be deep, clean the area with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage the area. If the cut continues to bleed or appears deep, apply firm pressure to the area with a sterile bandage.

If glass or debris is embedded in the wound, don’t exert pressure on it. Seek medical attention to remove the item; don’t attempt to remove it yourself.

When your child has a deep wound – caused by things like falling on a piece of glass, a sharp rock or the corner of a piece of furniture – it generally won’t heal by itself. And if the wound doesn’t stop bleeding in three to four minutes, call your child's Health Care Provider, (HCP), for advice. Your child may need stitches.

There are a number of ways a HCP may pull the edges of skin together so it can heal. Here are some of the materials they may use;

• Traditional stitches. These may be made of nylon, silk or a new material called vicryl. Vicryl is a synthetic that dissolves into the skin as the wound heals.
• Butterfly dressing. This adhesive dressing settles on your child's cut and holds it together. Eventually it dries up and falls off.
• Glue. A new kind of medical super glue may be used for smaller wounds.

Their HCP may suggest medication along with an immunization depending on his history of such preventive measures.  Whatever method is used your child will heal quickly, if you follow your child’s HCP’s recommendations and keep it clean with dry dressings.

All the hurts of childhood don’t come from a fall or other physical injury.  The best preventive medicine we can provide to God’s Kids is the foundation of a solid Christian Education.  Christ the King has prided ourselves on the education provided for our children, but that will not continue unless we have volunteers ready to serve as teachers.  Please contact Sanda Anderson at 425-563-9490 and volunteer for the 2011-12 year!   If not you then who?

I am praying for all of God’s Kids and those chosen to raise them.

Anita Huntley RN BSN MPH Parish Nurse

360.568.8318 or 206.931.7976