quick response required please. re: tetnus shot for son who fell out of tree!!

[Tortington]

hes ok - have phoned nhs direct who are busy and might take 4 hours to ring back - so i reckon he prolly need a tetnus shot - do i have to go to casualty now - or - can it wait til doctors on monday or even casualty tomorrow?
have wiped with antiseptic wipes and put a bandage on as he has a rather large grazed area

He shouldn't need it just for a graze, custy; tetanus is for puncture wounds.

Which bit did he fall on? How's his head?

Don't we give them a DTP (diptheria tetnus and Pet- something whoping cough) - but I can't remember how old

I think it lasts 7 years

his head is fine - its a graze around his ribcage - the side and back - it is bleeding slightly

How old is he, and is he immunised? Thought that tetanus was part of DPT/DTaP?

hes 12 btw - so its ages since he had an injection for anything

Just found this:

Tetanus: 'Once every 5 years'? 'Once every 10 years'? NEITHER! The Department of Health guidelines recommend 5 documented tetanus jabs in your lifetime. Most young adults are covered for life, 3 jabs as a baby, one when starting school and another when leaving school. The only exception is in the event of a nasty dirty injury or travelling to an area where medical attention may be inaccessible and your last dose was more than 10 years ago.

The last booster is leaving school at 15-16. Was there likely to be any animal dirt where he fell?

How old is your son custy? I understand you dont want to go anywhere A&E in a saturday night and NHS direct are just c**p.

some info

he was saving a bird! so could have been bird poo

sorry posts crossed. i woudl have thought that he would be up to date at 12. A graze ( through a t shirt i assume) doesnt sound as if it got a lot of dirt?

thanks for that link - however crap mum i am - i cant remember the last time he had a shot for anything ! god that sounds rubbish

If it's a large area of skin with superficial damage, and you've cleaned it thoroughly, I would think he's OK. But stick him in the bath if poss and wash with soap if he can stand it.

yes he was wearing a t -shirt - your probably right it wouldnt have got that dirty

foxes?

badgers?

birds?

okay will do janh - thanks everyone for your very quick responses - mumnet is the best as usual

oops sorry took too long to post

yes it was a bird he was saving

Ah bless!!!! Was the bird OK?

He was saving a bird in a tree?

It was an emu wasn't it? that couldn't fly?

Sorry about that

Hope he is OK

Probably be rather stiff in the morning,

thanks very much everyone - nhs direct rang back not long ago and said he was still covered from his pre school jabs and for future reference with tetnus it is 72 hours grace - so i will remember that.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx thanks for all your quick responses

Custardo my dp thinks you are the funniest ever. I read him your post on why not to have more children. he twitched with laughter and wants to meet you!

Aww, saving a bird is sweet. Hope he's ok. Why did the bird need saving?