Dressing Change (Child)
Your child has been given a dressing (bandage) to cover a wound. This sheet explains how and when to change the bandage.
Home Care
- Leave the bandage in place for the length of time prescribed by your healthcare provider. If the bandage becomes wet or dirty during this time, call your healthcare provider for instructions on replacing it. .
- Clean the wound and change any subsequent dressings as instructed by your child’s healthcare provider.
- Your child’s healthcare provider will tell you when it is safe for your child to shower. When showering, if the bandage is on your child’s arm or leg, cover it with a plastic bag. Hold the bag closed with duct or package tape. Do not tape the bag to the skin. Keep your child from taking tub baths or swimming until the bandage is removed and the wound healed. This will be at least 7 days.
Call 911
Call 911 if your child has:
- Trouble breathing
- Confusion
- Drowsiness or trouble awakening
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- A rapid heart rate
- A seizure
- Stiff neck
When to seek medical advice
Call your child's healthcare provider right away if any signs of infection occur:
- Fever
- Worsening redness, swelling, or discharge
- Pain at the site of the wound.
For a usually healthy child, also call your child’s healthcare provider right away if:
- Your child is of any age and has repeated fevers above 104°F (40°C)
- Your child is younger than 2 years of age and a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) continues for more than 1 day
- Your child is 2 years old or older and a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) continues for more than 3 days