You respond to a local playground and find an 11-year-old girl with a small laceration on her hand. The wound is not bleeding. What do you do?

In a situation where an 11-year-old girl has a small laceration on her hand that is not bleeding, releasing the patient to self is an option that acknowledges her age and ability to make decisions regarding her minor injury. At 11 years old, children often have a basic understanding of their own needs and may be able to handle minor injuries with appropriate guidance.

This approach respects the autonomy of the child while ensuring that if they feel capable of addressing their own needs, they have the right to make that choice. It is important to assess whether the child feels comfortable self-managing the injury and can follow up with any necessary care later.

While providing first aid and transport might seem appropriate for larger or more serious injuries, in this case, since the laceration is small and not actively bleeding, it is reasonable to consider that the child might not need extensive medical assistance. Seeking parental consent or contacting emergency services would typically be appropriate for more severe injuries, but since the situation is not critical and the wound is minor, it is not necessary here. Therefore, allowing the child to handle the minor injury with guidance aligns with appropriate responses for this scenario.