More injuries before 8:30 than most people have all day (with update)

Am I the shittiest mother in the world because I really don't want to go to the ER?

About 20 minutes ago El Chico pulled a wooden chair down onto his foot (the back of the chair) and it sliced two of his toes and I think mashed his foot a little. This is the most pain I've seen him in. So I washed it off and put Dora band-aids on his toes, and am keeping watch to see if the bleeding stops. I gave him some Rescue Remedy because he was freaking out, and a little arnica montana to help with swelling and brusing. And then I nursed El Pequeño to calm him down from El Chico freaking out. And now I'm waiting to see if we need to go to the ER.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm waiting for. If the bleeding doesn't stop then that means he needs stitches, doesn't it? So that's one sign. But what else should I be looking for?

I so do not want to have to bundle these kids up and put them in the stroller and go in the cold rain to the ER.

Update: Talked to a nurse friend, who told me to call my regular ped and go there to get triaged. Uh, duh. So after we're done with breakfast we'll go to the doctor.

Comments

[Chris]

I don't think that makes you a shitty mother, I think it makes you a sensible one.

Why call it an emergency if it isn't? You'll know soon enough.

If it was a clear emergency you wouldn't debate it, you'd go, even if you thought 'Man, I don't want to spend the day in the ER.'

[Ruth]

I agree with Chris. Also, our health insurance has a phone number you can call to talk to a nurse for free and get advice about whether you should go to the ER. Could you use some service like that to get pointers about whether or not you need to go?

[Victoria]

I'd only go to the ER if the cut is REALLY deep. Make sure that it is clean, and maybe you (or hubby) could head to the closest drugstore and get some butterfly closures. As long as you put them on tight, they should hold the cut closed. They won't do anything for the mashed foot - it probably isn't broken anyway, and his bones aren't fully developed. I'd keep up with the Arnica, and then move on to ledum for bruising tomorrow - Arnica gel and an icepak will help too. I hate the ER, and didn't even take my 4 yr old when he cracked a rib skiing. You can email me more specifics if you are worried about his foot.
victoria the foot lady :)

[Cricket]

Ice and elevation would help with bleeding and pain. I do not do hospitals unless it is absolutely necessary. However, this early on a Thursday, it shouldn't be that bad.

[Peach (also a Victoria)]

Or, you could also call your doc's office and see if they have the means for small sutures and such (my niece's ped's office does that and things like casts and such). Apparently, a lot of ped's offices do because kids are always getting into some scrapes or other all the time. Or, barring that, call your ped and see if there's an urgent care somewhere, because based on my insurance, and ER visit is like $100 minimum and the urgent care center is only $50.

[Lala]

I would totally be hedging in the same situation but that comes after going to the hospital because I *thought* Jack had swallowed an eyeshadow applicator and getting an ambulance ride for a pinkie shut in a door. Now, on the other hand, my mother did NOT take him to the hospital after he fell down the stairs and he has a 2 by 1 inch scar on the back of his head that has zero hair growth.
To sum up, I think you did the right thing. More wine please?

[Shandra]

I think you did everything just right. Noah needed (I mean /needed/) stitches and it was quite obvious and we were in the car in 15 minutes and I will still thinking "I do not want to go! nooo!"

I hope he doesn't need 'em. Poor El Chico, poor you. Have the wine. :)

[ali]

i hate doctors and hospitals and only go when it's ABSOLUTELY necessary.

[Spacemom]

IT sounds like going to triage is reasonable. If the bleeding doesn't stop, he may need stitches. One thing I recently learned was that you must get stitches within 24 hours of the injury. Past that, the doc wouldn't do it for me. I have a very nice scar to show for it...

Please let us know how it turned out!

[Lisa V]

Don't feel guilty, I really wait to see if our kids need a doctor. Trust your gut. Last time Sunshine had a stomach ache that Bert was sure was her appendix, it turned out to be constipation. My gut new we should stay home, but guilt made me take her for no reason.

[Meramoo]

My internist does stitches, and they say to always, always call them first. Does your office have a Dr. on call during off-hours, or an urgent care center?

[Souvik]

1.) All three of these videos seohwd athletes who have used steroids and the victory they got from using the PEDs.2.)Athletes who use steroids are typically those who feel their natural abilities arent taking them very far. So they hide behind steroids to make people believe that they are faster or very strong.They want to come out on top every single time they perform no matter what sport it may be. Every one wants to be a winner and when I say they hide behind steroids that means they dont want to put in that extra work that be neccessary to be number 1. Instead they take the easy way out by using PEDs to make them faster and stronger. I wonder if people think they are the better athlete by using PEDs. 3.)Absolutely, the love and art of the sport would be damaged. If every competitor were to use steroids than whats the point of the competition? If PEDs in professional sports became legal it would without a doubt punish those athletes who naturally train strenuously to become the best. It would not be fair for those athletes who train normally to compete with others who use PEDs. Nor would it be fair for one competitor to have a huge advantage than the other by using enhancements such as steroids . That statement doesnt mean make PEDs legal, it means keep steroids and other forms of PEDs illegal in professional sports.4.)Disagree. Of course the governemt shouldnt have a say so in what you inject into your body because you have control over your body. However, when it comes to professional sports and world records it means alot and if the world record holder has been using steroids to get that title that holds back other athletes who are naturally talented who want that title just as bad. I feel if those athletes work hard naturally toward what they want then they should be able to achieve it. On the other hand, that would be impossible if we allowed superhumans to participate in professional sports. Yes, as an adult you should be able to inject and take whatever it is that suits them. However, the goverenment should step in when other athletes arent able to shine because of the usage of PEDs from other athletes in competition.

[Malik]

1. Each one of them used steroids to iprmove their physical abilities for recognition or fame, and if not one then both.2. I think athletes turn to steroids for a variety of reasons. Streching from just being recognized as the best all the way to using them as a last resort in order to save their career, and all that fall between. Those who use steroids for recognition have nothing but there imagine in public in mind when they use it. But those who use them as a last resort to save their career typically do it to make sure they remain providers for their families.3. No, I do not see any arguement for leagalizing PED's in professional sports. Because if you allow them to take drugs to artifically enhance their abilities, what makes them professionals at that sport? If I counterfeited millions of dollars, would I still beconsidered a genius in finace? To compete in professional sports is a privilege given to those who put in a great deal of their life to perfecting their abilites, while knowing profection at what they do is an impossible task.4. I disagree with that statement because usually the people with that type of logic that end up blaming other people and forms of authority for not doing their jobs once something doesn't go the way they planned. Plus how can we entrust the safety of everyones own bodies to them if they aren't fully aware of everything that their body consist of? Tell me how do you think that would work out down the long run. And if that isn't enough, go ask a group full of people in their mid 20 s to late 30 s 25 text book anatomy questions and see how well they do. If they don't understand the foundation then they wont be able to comprehend the more advanced things like future complications, especially when it comes to contrevisal topics like biomedical enhancement.