WHAT ARE BUMPS, KNOCKS AND BRUISES?

Bumps, knocks and bruises are common injuries that everyone will experience from time to time.

Though they can sometimes be very painful, bumps, knocks and bruises are usually easy to treat.

WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE RELATED TO BUMPS, KNOCKS AND BRUISES?

These kinds of injuries commonly affect joints such as your elbow or knee, and bumps and knocks to these areas can result in swelling and bruising.

You are in doubt, always treat it as a possible fracture and seek medical attention.

YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR IF THERE IS:

• Intense pain
• You can’t move the injured part
• It is swelling and bruising very quickly
• The injured body part doesn’t work properly

YOU SHOULD ALSO SEE YOUR DOCTOR IF:

• You have a family history of bleeding disorders
• You or your child seem to bruise more easily than other people
• There are bruises all over the body
• There is also bleeding, like frequent nosebleeds

HOW TO TREAT BUMPS, KNOCKS AND BRUISES?

If you have a knock, bump or bruise, you can manage it by using R.I.C.E.:

• Rest the injured part.
• Ice it with a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
• Compress the area with a bandage which is firm, but not tight.
• Elevate the injured part.

NOTE: If someone you know has bumps or bruises and you are suspicious that these symptoms were caused deliberately (on purpose), and were not the result of an accident, you should seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Consider talking to your doctor, Community Nurse, Emergency Department or School Nurse.