This is the stuff of nightmares. Every parent dreads getting the phone call to tell them that their child has been involved in an accident. We try so hard to look after our children and to give them the best start in life. However, there are inevitably going to be times when they are in someone else’s care.
As your children get older they will start to attend pre-school care at a childminder or nursery and then when they are around four or five years old they will start primary school. This may be the first time that they are apart from you for extended periods of time.
Once your kids become teens, you may see very little of them as they spend hours with their friends outside your house. They also like to take part in activities which present a higher risk such as riding bikes and skateboarding. It is no surprise that teen accident statistics make for concerning reading.
No-one wants to think about what they would do if their child had an accident but is makes sense to be prepared.
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Stay calm and get the facts
You may get the initial phone call from the emergency services, the school or nursery, your child’s friends or your child themselves. There are a few facts that you need to establish:
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Exactly where your child is at the time of the phone call and if your child needs emergency medical care involving an ambulance. If they do, ensure that one is on the way. If not, you may have to call one but you need to know where they are first.
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Is it practical for you to get to your child? If not, you will need to meet them at the hospital and you need to establish which hospital they will be taken to.
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How badly injured are they? This will help you to establish if you can cope with the situation on your own or if you need to take your partner or a friend with you for support and to take part in important decisions about their care.
Provide reassurance
Once you reach your child it is your role to provide reassurance and comfort. Let the medical professionals get on with their job. They will explain what is going on as soon as they have a chance. Be positive and upbeat in front of your child. The last thing they need is to see you falling apart.
Find out what caused the accident
Your child may have caused the accident or they may have been injured by the actions of another person. Ronald Fletcher & Co. are a firm of solicitors who can help you to launch a personal injury claim if your child was hurt in a car accident or other type of accident that was caused by someone else. They aim to answer queries within an hour so you will not be left waiting for answers.
Now it is your job to support your child through their recovery and get their lives back on track. Accident rehab can help with a combination of physical and psychological rehabilitation.
*collaborative post
