What Should We Do If A Child Hurts Their Privates?

[Hunni Bee]

I was tooling around on the forum, I came across this thread:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40861

I was the OP, I logged out because I didn't want anyone from that horrid job I was at to see it and then use my username to find the other threads I'd written about them

But the basic story was: boy has blood in underwear, he says he hit his penis on a table, stupid director touches and examines boy's penis with her bare hand after several warnings from me NOT to. Kid then changed his story once he got home to say my assistant pushed him into the table. Assistant claims she tripped and fell on him, knocking him into the table. It was her story against his, but she got fired for not reporting the incident.

The director was clearly in the wrong. This boy was 4, she didn't know what was wrong (could've been sexual abuse), and she just flipped him across her lap and started examining his privates with no warning. I told her she shouldn't do that repeatedly and she ignored me. If his mom would have called licensing, we would have all gone down.

But say, I saw him fall and hurt himself, and I knew it was bleeding. Would I administer any first aid? Give him an ice pack and call his parents? Call CPS and ask them how to proceed?

I'm curious. Is there any real protocol for this situation.

[Cradle2crayons]

I was tooling around on the forum, I came across this thread:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40861

I was the OP, I logged out because I didn't want anyone from that horrid job I was at to see it and then use my username to find the other threads I'd written about them

But the basic story was: boy has blood in underwear, he says he hit his penis on a table, stupid director touches and examines boy's penis with her bare hand after several warnings from me NOT to. Kid then changed his story once he got home to say my assistant pushed him into the table. Assistant claims she tripped and fell on him, knocking him into the table. It was her story against his, but she got fired for not reporting the incident.

The director was clearly in the wrong. This boy was 4, she didn't know what was wrong (could've been sexual abuse), and she just flipped him across her lap and started examining his privates with no warning. I told her she shouldn't do that repeatedly and she ignored me. If his mom would have called licensing, we would have all gone down.

But say, I saw him fall and hurt himself, and I knew it was bleeding. Would I administer any first aid? Give him an ice pack and call his parents? Call CPS and ask them how to proceed?

I'm curious. Is there any real protocol for this situation.

If a non diapered child needs their privates examined I call e parents first and let em know what's going on. I document the incident, the parental conversation and the exam. And I'm sure I explain to the child WHY and WHAT I'm doing and that I have talked to their parents.

[Sunshine75]

My advice would be to call the parents and have them bring him to the doctor and document and report everything. I would not touch or do any examination. That is too risky and no way do you want to get involved to that extent.

[Play Care]

My advice would be to call the parents and have them bring him to the doctor and document and report everything. I would not touch or do any examination. That is too risky and no way do you want to get involved to that extent.

I have a kids come to me when they were hurt and show me their genital areas - think a boy who is in underwear and got a bump in that area. I would do a quick *visual* and call parents if necessary. If there was nothing visibly wrong with the area, I might offer them an ice pack (to apply over the pants!) but I would never, ever! ever! touch a child's genitals other then to change a diaper (and I would be wearing gloves) or to assist with wiping if the child was just potty training (again wearing gloves). And I would have probably called to report anyone I saw touching the child's genitals with bare hands for any reason.
I will say I've had boys get bumped in that area while playing and have never had anyone bleed - I can't imagine how hard he must have been bumped.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

My mouth was hanging open reading your story. Holy cow!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have a kids come to me when they were hurt and show me their genital areas - think a boy who is in underwear and got a bump in that area. I would do a quick *visual* and call parents if necessary. If there was nothing visibly wrong with the area, I might offer them an ice pack (to apply over the pants!) but I would never, ever! ever! touch a child's genitals other then to change a diaper (and I would be wearing gloves) or to assist with wiping if the child was just potty training (again wearing gloves). And I would have probably called to report anyone I saw touching the child's genitals with bare hands for any reason.
I will say I've had boys get bumped in that area while playing and have never had anyone bleed - I can't imagine how hard he must have been bumped.

This is what I would do, although I would still be seriously uncomfortable with having to look as I don't even assist 4-year-olds in the bathroom.

[Familycare71]

If there was blood- yes I would look. I would talk to the child about why I was looking and exactly what I was doing. Of it was a child old enough to refuse I would call parent first and ask what they would like me to do.
Everything would be documented and parents would be informed immediately so they could call their dr for direction.
If there was no blood/extreme trauma then no I wouldn't look- I would notify parents, poss give ice and monitor.

[Play Care]

This is what I would do, although I would still be seriously uncomfortable with having to look as I don't even assist 4-year-olds in the bathroom.

I don't either, but in the cases I've had it happen, the child is showing me the area the same way they would if they injured and elbow or knee. But I totally understand - it's NOT their elbow or knee

So while it can be a little disconcerting I feel as though if first aid needs to be given, it's my job to do it. Though I would also be documenting, contacting parents, etc. CYA!

[Hunni Bee]

If there was blood- yes I would look. I would talk to the child about why I was looking and exactly what I was doing. Of it was a child old enough to refuse I would call parent first and ask what they would like me to do.
Everything would be documented and parents would be informed immediately so they could call their dr for direction.
If there was no blood/extreme trauma then no I wouldn't look- I would notify parents, poss give ice and monitor.

That's basically what I did. I never touched him at all, and asked if I could see the underwear. I called his mom and told her everything I did, and documented.

I believe she wanted to do it just so she could see and be nosy.

[Hunni Bee]

I have a kids come to me when they were hurt and show me their genital areas - think a boy who is in underwear and got a bump in that area. I would do a quick *visual* and call parents if necessary. If there was nothing visibly wrong with the area, I might offer them an ice pack (to apply over the pants!) but I would never, ever! ever! touch a child's genitals other then to change a diaper (and I would be wearing gloves) or to assist with wiping if the child was just potty training (again wearing gloves). And I would have probably called to report anyone I saw touching the child's genitals with bare hands for any reason.
I will say I've had boys get bumped in that area while playing and have never had anyone bleed - I can't imagine how hard he must have been bumped.

According to mom, he had a botched circumcision which causes it to bleed if irritated/hurt.

[TwinKristi]

I don't know... Having 6 boys myself and changing sooooooo many diapers over the years, genitals are just that... Genitals. If a child was bleeding from their genitals I would administer first aid just as I would with any bleeding injury and notify parents immediately and document the injury. I've never seen a bleeding genital yet so I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there but I really don't see it as anything different than any other injury. Obviously if the child is protesting I would move towards notifying parents immediately and figure out what to do from there. If bleeding was serious and parents couldn't be there immediately I would ask them what to do next with their consent and document after. If parents couldn't be contacted I would break out the emergency sheet and go from there.

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't know... Having 6 boys myself and changing sooooooo many diapers over the years, genitals are just that... Genitals. If a child was bleeding from their genitals I would administer first aid just as I would with any bleeding injury and notify parents immediately and document the injury. I've never seen a bleeding genital yet so I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there but I really don't see it as anything different than any other injury. Obviously if the child is protesting I would move towards notifying parents immediately and figure out what to do from there. If bleeding was serious and parents couldn't be there immediately I would ask them what to do next with their consent and document after. If parents couldn't be contacted I would break out the emergency sheet and go from there.

I totally agree. An injury is one thing. BLEEDING is something different. Bleeding has to be addressed. Of course I would ask e child but if there is MAJOR bleeding, ill worry about permission later and administer first aid.

[Play Care]

If there was blood- yes I would look. I would talk to the child about why I was looking and exactly what I was doing. Of it was a child old enough to refuse I would call parent first and ask what they would like me to do.
Everything would be documented and parents would be informed immediately so they could call their dr for direction.
If there was no blood/extreme trauma then no I wouldn't look- I would notify parents, poss give ice and monitor.