We did have a calamity when my granddaughter, KC and her parents were here last month. KC was outside blowing soap bubbles with her dad and fell on her knees. Art and I were not there at the time and came home to find a shaken father. Ed just can't bear to see his little girl hurt. Tiffany, however has been through all kinds of bumps and scrapes with her little brother when they were growing up.
KC's knees did look terrible! Her left was a scratch that scabbed and eventually healed well. This photo was taken almost a couple of weeks after the injury.
Her right was scary. It seemed like the top epidermal layer had been completely scraped off.
I was ready to take her to the emergency room since Hawaii does have cases of flesh eating disease.
My daughter, Tiffany was calmer.
She washed and put Neosporin on it.
Art and I have both been to the dermatologists to have some suspicious lumps removed on our faces and chest. The Physician's Assistant (P.A.) and nurse said we should not put Neosporin on the healing skin. They told us to put Vaseline on it instead and to not let it dry out too quickly.
My son-in-law looked on line. We all tried to figure out the best way to deal with this. Neosporin or Vaseline? Bandage or air dry?
We finally decided to put Vaseline on the injury and cover it for the first couple of days. Then we periodically air dried it (with a dab of Vaseline) when we knew she would be in a cleaner environment.
Each night, KC asked me to hold her while Tiffany cleaned her knees with soap and water.
Eventually the left scrape healed pretty well. After more than a month we're not sure what the scarring will be on the right knee.
I asked Tif to send me a photo of what her knee looks like now.
Did we do the right thing? I sure hope so.
But... what's that other band aid for?!?
It seems she scraped it on a loose screw.
Sigh....
Her right was scary. It seemed like the top epidermal layer had been completely scraped off.
I was ready to take her to the emergency room since Hawaii does have cases of flesh eating disease.
My daughter, Tiffany was calmer.
She washed and put Neosporin on it.
Art and I have both been to the dermatologists to have some suspicious lumps removed on our faces and chest. The Physician's Assistant (P.A.) and nurse said we should not put Neosporin on the healing skin. They told us to put Vaseline on it instead and to not let it dry out too quickly.
My son-in-law looked on line. We all tried to figure out the best way to deal with this. Neosporin or Vaseline? Bandage or air dry?
We finally decided to put Vaseline on the injury and cover it for the first couple of days. Then we periodically air dried it (with a dab of Vaseline) when we knew she would be in a cleaner environment.
Each night, KC asked me to hold her while Tiffany cleaned her knees with soap and water.
I asked Tif to send me a photo of what her knee looks like now.
Did we do the right thing? I sure hope so.
But... what's that other band aid for?!?
It seems she scraped it on a loose screw.
Sigh....
My knees still get skinned like that. It does look as though they are well healed now, Kay. She's an active child and will always be getting scraped knees, if she's anything like I was. Am. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh well. That's what my elbow looked like the day I fell. She looks and sounds normal to me. :)
ReplyDeleteAy, poor Ed!
ReplyDeleteMy older daughter was an accident looking for someplace to happen. She has scars from falls, and big scar from a tangle with a car on her bicycle. She was in a body cast for a broken femur for several months. Ugh!
ReplyDeletescraped knees, the badges of childhood! i could never figure out what was worse, the scraped knee or removing the bandage.
ReplyDeleteI had two boys, two active, adventurous boys, so scraped knees were an everyday event, along with broken bones (well, perhaps the broken bones weren't every day, but frequent enough!). But in spite of that, I think my knees are more scarred than theirs!
ReplyDeletekids will be kids, glad she is well now! I hope you and Art are ok as well with those lumps. The best you can do is have them monitored closely I guess.
ReplyDeleteI've linked some art to you again today Kay!
Deleteoh here's the link http://cmlk79.blogspot.ca/2014/09/sunday-sketches-lily-pond.html
DeleteI just looked at your painting, Christine. It's gorgeous! I just love your interpretations of the photos I take.
DeleteThis child is active and will have to live with her scars.
ReplyDeleteAll those bangs and scrapes come back to haunt us later in life I fear. I hope Tif heals well.
ReplyDeleteIt is al part of an active childhood. KC will remember the fun times, not the ouch.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that KC is not being overly protected, because part of growing up is playing outdoors and getting scrapes and cuts and toughing it out. Don't you feel sorry for children who aren't allowed to be kids? Tif sounds like she had everything under control. And poor Ed. I'm sure he'd have handled it differently if it was a son that had strawberries on his knees! LOL.
ReplyDeleteThat really is a nasty scrape. There are so many versions on what to do. Some believe in letting the air get to the wound but I always use the dreaded Neosporin and keep it covered a few days. Works for me like a charm.
ReplyDeleteScary that you all have that awful disease there.
Where did the tan go?
ReplyDeleteYep, Neosporin is over rated. Wound care nurses know that one of the 3 "meds" in it actually can damage the healthy skin around the "owie." Most docs don't know that and recommend it all the time. Double antibiotic ointment is best, and a tad hard to find. Keeping an "owie" that is in a "bendy" place moist while it starts to heal is a good idea. Usually a flat "unbendy" spot can be left open to air.
Your team did well. Now, you and your son-in-law need some sake. Tif gets the "calm and cool Mom" award.
I have a scar from falling while running away from lighting fireworks. I wasn't supposed to be lighting fireworks anyway.
DrumMajor
Thank you, DrumMajor! I was looking forward to getting your expert advice the most! Tif was definitely the calm and cool one. You'd think I'd be seasoned after watching my son and all his scrapes and trips to the ER. Poor Eddie! He was really rattled when he saw how bad the knee was.
DeleteI have a scar on my knee too. I fell on a nasty piece of glass when I was a kid. In fact, I wrote a post about it.
Here's the post where I wrote about the wonderful doctor who treated me.
Deletehttp://travelerswife.blogspot.com/search?q=robert+redford
Really...Vaseline...going to ask my EMT hubby
ReplyDeleteI always use Neosporin for injuries like that
ReplyDeleteThe life of an active kid is on the hazardous side. She'll live. Not much simpathy from this old kid! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt looks like KC is all better and already has the next scrape. It's a good thing kids heal fast!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see KC's knee heal so well. How can anything go wrong with so many smart, concerned family members watching over her? Only too many chefs maybe...KC is very fortunate!!
ReplyDeleteL...w
Oh yes! There was definitely an abundance of "chefs in the kitchen" and we all had our opinion on what should be done.
Deletekids do that, it's part of growing up...lol!
ReplyDeleteWith mounting concerns about overuse of antibiotics, you made the right choice of treating your granddaughter's wound. Soap & warm water to clean the wound and then apply Vasoline to keep the wound moist. A moist wound tends to heal faster. As for your concerns re: flesh eating bacteria, Neosporin is very unlikely to be effective in preventing this deep tissue infection which requires IV antibiotics if diagnosed. There is no need to use antibiotics for a wound that has not been diagnosed as being infected. It more important to make sure your tetanus shot is up to date than to use a antibiotic ointment on a wound. In order for any antibiotic to be effective, you have to know exactly what strain of bacteria you are infected with. That would require a medical lab to take a swab of the infected tissue/fluid, wait a few days for the culture to grow out & then expose the bacterial colonies to a variety of antibiotics until one or more is found to kill off the bacteria or prevent the cells from growing, That is the only way to know the specific antibiotic to use for the bacteria causing your infection. Overuse of broad-spectrum (meaning antibiotics that kill the most common bacteria humans are infected with) antibiotics in hand soaps, detergents, cleaning solutions, patients demanding antibiotics from their doctors for viruses, etc.. has caused most antibiotics to mutate & antibiotics that previously killed the bacteria no longer work or are not as effective as they once were. This is a serious health concern, because new strains of bacteria have no effective treatment which could led to an epidemic strain of bacteria that could infect a large portion of the population. Over-use of antibiotics is why MERSA and other antibiotic resistant infections are being diagnosed so frequently. If you have a normal immune system and are not an infant or elderly adult then it is best to keep it simple and stick to good old soap & water.& see your doctor quickly if any swelling, fever or redness at the wound site occurs.
ReplyDeleteWOW, Ellen! Are you a doctor or nurse? Thank you so very much for this wonderful information!
DeleteI never remember anyone getting excited about my childhood bumps and bruises. I've got some pretty good scars too. When it was my own children and grandchildren, I went into super mode and doctored them beyond anything necessary.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Poor KC but children do heal quickly thank goodness. That's the first time I heard about Neosporin and the use of Vaseline.
ReplyDeleteIn the last photo, it looks to be healing well. Am glad to see that.
ReplyDelete