Sandy beach holiday ruined for DD by mashed toe nail

[ForgotwhatIcameinherefor]

Arrived at lovely holiday park today, glorious sunshine, really pleased with the caravan...
After a couple of hours on the sandy beach and in the sea (water not even cold!) and a scoot around the shops to pick up some essentials; 10 yr old DD has opened the freezer door across her toe nail and done this. She's only just fallen asleep after a LOT of tears on and off, ice pack, etc. Really hurt her. I texted the site warden a couple of times and got no response. It's a really crappy thing to happen on the first night of a week intending to be spent pretty much entirely in sand and saltwater :(((
The fridge freezer looks to be a temporary(?) edition as the fitted one is switched off/not working so this is sitting on carpet nearby with the door really low to ground.
What should I expect from the holiday park management by way of assistance? But mainly, what is best to do for her toe for the beach? Any help/suggestions appreciated. It's such a disappointment after thinking (for once) we are sooo lucky with the weather!

Wow thanks so much everyone for all the replies tonight xxx

I will go to pharmacist tomorrow and ask about toe cots/condoms

You shouldn't expect anything from the holiday park. It's a broken toenail that has slit and caused some bleeding. It has happened to me lots of times in my 40 odd years - toes, fingers. It heals quickly though and paracetamol will take the pain off.

Are you expecting some sort of compo?

All seems a bit precious to me.

If all else fails a pack of rubber gloves and masking tape would do 10 days!

Bandage it up to keep dirt out of the wound and to protect it from bumps, and your dd should be absolutely fine on the beach and in the sea.

My dd had a similar but more severe injury to a finger (the bone was also broken) and this was the advice we were given by the hospital. She had a splint, and a dressing which I had to change every night if it got wet during the day. I taped a sock over her hand, too, and changed that several times a day.

Dd was in and out of the sea, digging in the sand, no issues whatsoever. (Except when I changed the dressing at bedtime. Drama!)

@LifeIsGoodish You were told it was okay to submerge the hand in the sea with an open fracture without a waterproof dressing

Chances of the OP’s DD getting a freak infection with long term consequences are probably slim, chances of a localised cellulitis needing a week of strong antibiotics (case with exposure to sea water need discussing with microbiologist before prescribed due to the differing organisms) are much higher, however someone does always have to be the worst case scenario and nobody knows when it could be their turn.

Cheesemongery so why are you as a 40 odd year old grown woman telling me/us about your own general nail injuries if I'm being "precious" worrying about my little girl's big toe nail in a beach holiday scenario?

Yes I think we've all damaged our toe nails in our 40 years. Not really the point is it.

I certainly wouldn't be talking about it on here if I'd done it to myself.

Jeez.

I didn't expect compo(!) either - but I'd expect it to go into an accident book at least as whilst I have told DD not to go into the freezer again; if it happened to her then it could definitely happen again to future kids in here and I wouldn't want to just let that "accident" repeat itself.

Poor munchkin, that looks really painful!! I hope it heals quickly and you're all able to enjoy the rest of your holiday.

I had a child do pretty much this on a foreign beach holiday, it as the whole toenail though. It was a nightmare and we did have to miss quite a few days as it hurt a lot, needed antibiotic cream, dressings and washing daily. We did try the beach at the very end of the holiday, after a week or so, but it got sandy and there was much screaming (mine and hers) getting that out, even with a sock/plaster protection.

It does suck but there's no miracle cure- just do your best to protect it and seek medical advice esp if it gets infected (which is what happened to my dd's).

We've only had the one holiday abroad when she was just 2 but I was saying earlier this is amazing now we have the weather without the flight so we're finally having a "beach" holiday (rather than a "British" holiday!)

Sounds like you might need a toe condom plus micropore tape to seal it (plus antiseptic cream and maybe a thin dressing - get one with anaesthetic in too!) plus a verrucca sock plus more tape plus vigilance to keep it really sand free to start with!

I get what you mean - it’s rare for freezer doors to be so close to the floor they would hurt a child’s toe - you would expect it to swing higher so you’re sensible to get it recorderd as an accident and hope they warn others, doubly so if it’s an extra that isn’t normally there.

The sea (sting at first so tell her it’s normal) will clean it and heal it right up! Sand and swimming pool she’ll need to wear a plaster and a verruca/athletes foot sock.

But the sea will be brilliant for it!

advancedtissue.com/2015/09/should-you-hit-the-beach-with-a-wound/

No, the sea won't be brilliant. It's got bacteria and other nasties in it as well as salt water. In some places where there's not a great flow of water (e.g. estuary), it really may be not good.

No, sand isn't sterile either. Yes, you can get dirt or sand in a wound and likely not get an infection, but equally it makes it more likely and then getting the sand out afterwards is grim.

If you are in the Uk, there's lots to do on a beach holiday which isn't the beach, it's a shame but I'd go to a pharmacy, get advice and products, go to minor injuries if it looks infected and no, I wouldn't just go in the sea and sand when there's a choice about it.

Why on earth do you think management or the warden have to do anything ??
Its your daughters fault

Put a toe condom on and get on with life. It is only a toenail. You made it sound like her bloody toe fell off haha

Get some sleep Yeahnahmum

I know the OP isn't looking to make a claim but actually I think that freezer door is likely unsafe. You should be able to open a freezer door without risk of injury to your foot. The door should either be to the floor (aided with a a rubber skirt if necessary) or sufficiently high that there isn't a risk of customer's toes getting trapped underneath.

Obviously there's a risk of injury (it having already caused at least one) and, even if the OP isn't interested in compensation, reporting the incident is the responsible thing to do.

the sea will be brilliant for it!

Absolutely, really will not.
Keep it clean and dry and see the pharmacist as you plan.

As long as she has a normal immune system I would carry on as normal personally. Once its cleaned properly and covered to stop nail catching I would let her go in sea and on beach and just clean and cover again at end of the day. I may be a lax parent but that injury wouldnt stop us going on the beach or in the sea. I am a nurse though and feel confident that I could note any worsening plus have a high threshold for worry about minor injuries.

I am on the other side of the planet op. Day time over here: so i got plenty of time to tell people that they are being U or overdramatic

😂 you're funny OP. Just get on with your holiday and stop looking for compensation.

Vibrio vilnificus is an example of a “flesh eating” bacteria which can be common in coastal sea water

Are you in the UK OP? If so, this is not an issue, the sea temp is not high enough.

It would be better if people don’t scaremonger.

Have you given the poor girl some painkillers?

Can't see clearly from the image, by I gave suffered a"madhed" area under the toenail and it wasn't classed as a simple cut.
It was nasty. My foot was anaesthetised and the area majorly cleaned ( still equaed agony). Apparently lots of grit gets in the mashed flesh in my case. Mine was 're dressed at hospital ever day for 2 .weeks. ot honestly hur like hell.
If it is truly mashed underneath it might need looking at properly. If Not cu the nail short and bandage get Moulin non stick dressings an sick on with as muchfabric plaster tape ad poss as it doesn't cos of feet so easily as it's double any canwidup around the doing y secure it
Iys reasonable yo contact the site manager. If the fridge isn't supposed yo e there. It msyotbe seemed fit under the normal hrleath and safetygudelined in that environment. Sdyo see see an as I Not sure in what instances opening a fridge door wul immediaelyc coincde clwith your toes. If that paperwork isn't available I'd totally request it.
Keep an eye on the toe for potential infection. Lurgi from the door dud have been us get in t it as end have been frsgnets o nail. With any luck it will grow out over a clue of in the With it prople

I remember mashing my toe on a rock on a beach over 50 years ago. It bloody hurt.

Hope it doesnt spoil you holiday.

And having a temporary freezer on a carpet doesn't sound the best.

I don't think you're being precious, that looks dead sore! Your poor DD! Toenail injuries are unpleasant. Obviously it's not the sort of thing that needs urgent medical attention, but if you're on a beach holiday then you do need to do something about it to protect against infection. Not sure why that's being precious?

I would expect the management to let you know where to access medical assistance - eg pharmacy. I wouldn't expect anything else from them, unless it's a very upmarket resort then they probably aren't arsed and I doubt they are legally obliged to do anything about it.

Hope you find what you need to protect her toe and still have a lovely holiday

It will only ruin your holiday if you let it. Attitude is everything.

It was an accident. You can’t and shouldn’t expect anything from the site. Accidents happen.

Take half an hour out of your morning to source some dressings then get on and have a lovely holiday.