Child Falls from Office Chair

After a child falls from an office chair, parents should remain calm and follow these steps:

I. On-Site Assessment

1. Observe Reactions: Immediately check the child's level of consciousness and avoid picking them up directly. Look for signs of bleeding, vomiting, or abnormal limb movement, focusing on the head (lumps/abrasions), back/waist (deformities), and limbs (swelling/deformation).
2. Prevent Secondary Injury: If the child is unconscious, vomiting, or suspected of having a fracture, do not move them randomly. Keep them in their original position and call for emergency medical assistance.

II. Treat External Injuries

1. Superficial Wounds: Clean the wound with clean water or saline solution, cover it with sterile gauze, and then bandage it with a band-aid or bandage.
2. Head Injuries:
   • Bleeding: Apply pressure with clean gauze to stop the bleeding.
   • Swelling: Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel for 10 minutes to reduce swelling.
   • Clear Fluid Leakage: This may be cerebrospinal fluid, and immediate medical attention is required.

III. Monitor Consciousness

1. Conversation Test: Use simple commands (such as 'point to your nose') to determine if the child is conscious.
2. Abnormal Signs: If the child exhibits dazed eyes, slow reactions, persistent crying, or drowsiness, be alert for concussion or intracranial injury.

IV. Situations Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

1. Loss of Consciousness: Brief coma or inability to wake up after the fall.
2. Frequent Vomiting: Especially projectile vomiting, indicating increased intracranial pressure.
3. Abnormal Behavior: Limb convulsions, unsteady walking, slurred speech, or weakness in one limb.
4. Severe Head Injury: Obvious depression, persistent bleeding, or clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose.
5. Other Situations: Altered consciousness, worsening headache, impaired limb movement, convulsions, or head hematoma with deep wounds.

V. Follow-Up Observation and Care

1. Continuous Observation for 48-72 Hours:
   • Sleep: More drowsy than usual or difficult to wake up.
   • Eating: Refusal to eat or frequent spitting up (in infants).
   • Emotional Behavior: Irritability, persistent crying, or unusual quietness.
2. Limit Activity: Avoid running, jumping, strenuous exercise, or prolonged use of electronic devices. Maintain quiet rest.

VI. Preventive Measures

1. Environmental Safety: Equip chairs with non-slip mats or safety belts, keep floors dry, and clear obstacles.
2. Education and Supervision: Clearly inform children of dangerous behaviors (such as standing on chairs or tilting their heads back to play). Supervise infants and young children during activities and prevent them from being alone at heights.