Evening star., 1941-07-08
BePrepared
For Minor
Mishaps
Required Medical
Supplies Should
Be Kept Handy
By A neelo Pafri

No healthy child grows up with
out mishap. He runs when he
should walk; he climbs when he
ought to keep both feet on the
ground; he cuts himself with sharp
tools; ne breaks his bones. chops his
teeth, gets burn, falls Ill. Not all
in one day, God be thanked, but all
in a lifetime. His mother, calm
soul with a steady hand, has to
stand by with the witch hazel and
ice as long as she can, as we'll as
she can.
It is not good to anticipate trou-
BILE: nevertheless, every sane mother
is prepared for it. The medicine
closet, stoutly locked, key in moth
er's keeping, is stocked with band
ages. iodine, boric acid, witch hazel,
bicarbonate of soda, spirits of am
monia, smelling salts, adhesive plas-
ter, clean linen rags, white vaseline
pair of scissors, forceps and a
package of new sewing needles
Other articles are added as mother S
experience with her flock dictates
On shelf close at hand are ice
caps, not water bottles and a rubber
sheet. With this equipment moth
ers mind will be calmer, more Sc
cure, in time of emergency.
Most of the mishaps children
have are not serious. They will out
live them and be wiser for the ex-
perience. Once burned, twice shy is
practical teaching. Do what is
necessary to be done and keep con-
troll of yourself and the situation
and the child will mend faster. A
mothers fear conveys itself to the
already frightened child and in
creases his distress. Her calm cour-
age, her sureness, convey themselves
to the child and calm him, so thai
he lessons his own suffering anc
hastens his healing.
Always call the doctor if the mis-
hap is at all likely to be serious. II
a child cracks his head and is sleepy
call the physician and be sure to
tell him clearly what the conditions
are. Physicians attend to emer-
gencies promptly when they know
they are emergencies. Jim bumped
his head" means one thing to him.
Jim bumped his head and he seems
sleepy and dull since" means an
other Be definite when making re-
ports to the physician. He is busy
and must attend to the neediest
first.
Summertime offers more oppor-
tunitles for these happenings, so it is
the time for overhauling the medi-
cine cabinet and the first-aid kit. II
is also the time to take steps to pre-
vent possible accidents. Don't set
the stage for them, but clear it OF
possibilities. Keep the medicine
closet locked. Keep sharp knives in
their places, out of reach and sight
Remove poison ivy from the imme-
diate premises. Keep small chill
dren out of the kitchen while pots
of scalding water or fat are in serv-
ice. Keep matches in safe places
Clear rubbish from the dark corners
Keep stairs free of clutter-the steps
must not be used as storage shelves
Try to know where the children are
and about what they are doing.
Having done your best to prevent
trouble, having provided for the
usual emergencies, settle down to
the routine of the day and forget
the possibilities. They may neve,
occur and if they don't, so much the
better. You have a feeling of Sc
curity that enables you to contro
the emergency should it come, ir
your careful provisions for proven.
ton and first aid. 1t is most en-
couraging to know that children in.
sist upon living, upon growing up
h spite Of their nishapa.