A is for the "ABC's" {Airway, Breathing, Circulation} of
BLS/PALS/ACLS; always to observe.
A
is for appropriateness of attention/activity/interaction/behaviors/physical
and mental development.
A
is for the possibility of abuse: physical, mental, sexual.
A
is for addiction: alcohol, tobacco, drugs.
A
is for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and other eating disorders.
A
is for AIDS which any child might have.
B is for Body Substance Isolation against
Blood-Borne Pathogens and the "Universal Precautions" we should all practice to
protect ourselves and others.
C is for Consent: Informed, Parental or Guardian, In
Loco Parentis, Minor's own consent where permitted by statute, e.g.
Emancipation, Matters related to STDs and Therapeutic Abortion, etc.
C is for Co-Dependency.
C is for Communicability, Contagion and Contacts.
C is for Congenital Abnormalities: Heart Defects,
Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, etc.
C
is for Carbon Monoxide (CO), acute or
chronic: due to smaller mass, the child, given equal exposure, will show worse effects
sooner than adults.
D is for Diarrhea and Dehydration with volume and
electrolyte depletion leading to disaster; the death of many decimating the population in
days of yore.
D is for Dentition and Dental Health.
E is for "Eddy Eagle": the National Rifle
Association's free Children's Safety With Firearms In The Home campaign.
E is for Environment.
F is for Fear.
F is for Fire Safety, clean Smoke Detectors with
fresh batteries, E.D.I.T.H.[Exit Drills In The Home], 911 awareness.
G is for Genetics: Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophilia,
Down's Syndrome.
I is for Immunization Status.
I is for Intraosseous Infusion for rapid vascular
access in younger children when veins cannot be found.
I is for Infestation: Scabies, Pediculosis,
Ringworm, Tapeworm, etc.
I is for Insect stings and bites which may be the
portal for systemic infection; for which careful search of scalp and body.
I is for Ingestion of drugs, poisons, allergens,
and non-foodstuffs, and Inhalation (Aspiration) of Steam, Carbon Monoxide, Pollutants and
Allergens, Glue and Solvent Sniffing.
L is for Lead Poisoning.
M is for Medication Safety, the pills in Grandma's
purse or bedside where they can be reached, Child Safety Caps, etc.
M is for Meningitis.
O is for Orifice and the things that can be put in
them
P is for Parenting; Parenting Skills (&
fears/concerns), Parenting interactions with the child, and is this adult really the
parent?
P is for Prevention.
P is for Pica by which strange substances enter the
body; and which may be a clue to severe Iron Deficiency Anemia.
P is for Puberty.
P is for Pregnancy, and for pregnancy testing.
P is for Precocity.
R is for Reporting of Abuse, Crimes, Communicable
Disease Reportable to Authorities,Social Work Concerns and Child Protection Issues.
R is for the role-modeling which you do and
encouragement of youngsters to consider Nursing as a future career by which we will
recruit future professionals.
R is for Runaway, and actual social conditions not
being what they seem.
S is for Safety Seats, Safety Belts, Safety
Helmets.
S is for Sexuality, Secondary Sexual
Characteristics, Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
S is for Screening, School Performance, and the
Senses of Vision and Hearing.
S is for Shielding of Gonads during radiographic
procedures.
T is for Toilet Training and problems.
T is for Tobacco use prevention.
T is for Toxicology.
U is for Urinalysis for diagnosing UTI, Renal
Disorders, and Diabetes Mellitus, and for Urine Human Gonadotrophic Hormone.
V is for violence.
W is for Water Safety with bathing, swimming,
boating, and other water activities.
W is for Why? When? Where? What? Who? and With
Whom?
W is for Weight: weighing the child, and correct
dosages of medications.
X is for X-Ray which may demonstrate pathology,
poisoning by Iron and other radio-opaque drugs, metallic and other foreign bodies,
soft-tissue swelling in Epiglottitis and abscesses.
Y is for Younger children influenced by older
children.
Z is for Zoonoses acquired from pets and other
animals. |