An Australian nurse has revealed a tip that everyone should know, especially parents, to save lives.
Pediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead, who is behind the early childhood education and first aid group. CPR childrenHe said it’s important to outline a suspicious mark to notice if it changes or grows.
People are advised to draw a border around a suspected rash, bite or spot with a skin-safe pen so it is easy to identify if it is getting worse.
‘Remember: Outline with a pen and then check again!’ said Mrs. Hunstead.
While most rashes are harmless and resolve on their own within a few days, it’s safer to keep an eye out for any new marks in case you need to visit a doctor.
Pediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead is behind children’s education and first aid group CPR Kids
Rashes can be caused by infections, allergic reactions, immune system problems, or reactions to medications.
If a rash is accompanied by other worrying symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling or dizziness, call triple zero immediately.
Also, if you have a rash that does not go away on its own, gets worse, or spreads, you should see a doctor.
Healthdirect Australia revealed that non-viral rashes can be treated with prescription creams, antibiotics, antihistamines, steroids or a simple moisturizer.
One nurse said it’s important to outline a suspicious mark to notice if it changes or grows.
Another paramedic shared an important trick for checking if a rash is life-threatening.
Nikki Jurcutz previously revealed that a rash that turns white when pressure is applied is considered safe, while a mark that remains the same color even when pressed may be a sign of a serious illness such as meningococcus and parents should call triple zero immediately.
He said rashes can have many different appearances, with bumps, flat areas, blisters, welts, bright red coloring or a combination of features.
‘They could spread, move and change over time. “You may also have rashes that appear small and have bright red or purple spots or bruises,” he said.
“When you notice your baby has a rash, you should do a test to see if the rash pales.”
One way to perform the test is to apply pressure to the rash with a finger and hold it for five seconds.
‘What did you notice? Did it turn white and then back to red? If yes, good! “This is a pale rash and as long as Bub has no other worrying symptoms, see your GP,” Ms Jurcutz wrote.
Another way to do a “whitening test” is to gently run a glass over the rash to see if it loses its color when pressure is applied.
“If you press, hold and release and the rash does not change color to white, it is a non-blanching rash and you should call 000,” he warned.
“Non-blanching rashes could be a sign of a serious illness, such as a meningococcal infection, meningitis, anaphylaxis, or measles.”
“Non-blanching” rashes, which can occur anywhere on the body, are caused by bleeding under the skin and, while they are not always a sign of something sinister, they need to be caught quickly to rule out or treat serious infections.