This is icky to think about. One study says your playground carries more germs than a public bathroom. EWW!! So, that’s why it’s important to try and prevent infection when your child gets a cut or scrape as soon as possible. There’s a simple protocol doctors are talking about, and there’s a new product available in Canada that’s pretty zippy and easy to use.
Here’s the story.
Lisa Rushka and her son Rylan go to the playground almost everyday.
“The playground is part of our daily routine,” says Rushka, “we’re always there, and he could stay for hours and hours.”
”I like going on the swings and I like going on the slides,” says Rylan.
But the playground isn’t exactly clean. One study says it has more germs than a public bathroom.
It makes sense, says Doctor Carlye Jensen. “Where does this bacteria come from? Our hands and children’s hands are dirty and they’re all over the playground with these dirty hands.”
That’s why Doctor Jensen says it’s a good idea to clean any scrapes and wounds kids get on the playground right away. “We have to feel comfortable letting them play on the playground and know that they’re going to get a few scratches and scrapes or bruises. The important thing is to be able to treat them when they happen to prevent an infection down the road.”
The simplest way to prevent those infections, is to follow what Doctor Jensen calls the ‘clean , treat, and cover’ protocol.’ This starts with an antiseptic, because 80 percent of cuts and scrapes happen when you’re on the go – and there’s no clean water to wash the wound.
“A topical antiseptic spray would be a great thing to use. We now have this product called Polytogo from the people who make Polysporin which you can spray on right when the wound happens, starting the healing process,” says Dr. Jensen.
Then when you get home, you’ll want to “treat” the wound by putting on a topical antibiotic and then “cover” the wound with a bandaid.
But Doctor Jensen says, “a lot of us think you should leave the wound open to let the air get at it, that actually slows down the healing process quite a bit and increases the risk of infection.”
Something Rushka hasn’t given much thought to, until now.
“I worry about his safety, but I want him to have fun and we sort of take our chances that way and trust he’ll be good for the most part.”
And with the Clean, Treat and Cover program he probably will.