Wrong advice given?

Question

Do it bother you when you see wrong advice given, not only wrong, but potentially harmful? I see things where people are told that when there kid's have temperatures to put them in a cool bath or give them alcohol rubs. These things are not only wrong but potentially dangerous.

I try to put in correct information, but it doesn't mean that people will actually do the right thing..oh yes, Grandma did that, must be right. It really scares me.

I know yahoo has disclaimers but still....

Geez..you can use tepid..warm water to give a child with a fever a bath and alcohol can be absorbed by the baby and cause serious problems.

http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/My-Babys-Got-a-Fever!.asp

Take a look, this is all over the internet. I am now scared because people who say they are nurses are saying alcohol rubs are ok. Obviously they have not been getting their CME credits or have been sleeping through them.

Anyone who thinks cool baths and alcohol rubs are ok, please do not surfing and learn they are not, so you don't hurt someone that you love.

Answer 1

I know what you mean - I have to think that many people are like me when I ask a question - I do it to get a new perspective on it - NOT to get the all knowing answer - you just have to pray that the people who ask medcial questions just as the ones you listed take it with a grain of salt so to speak and understand if they really are in danger - Answers is not the place for them!

So kind of you to worry! Have a great night!

Answer 2

This is what we do to patients in the hospital. Tepid baths pull the heat from the body. Alcohol will do the same thing, but smells really bad so we don't do that. Ice packs under the arms, behind the neck, and in the groin are also commonly used in hospitals to reduce fevers. They need to be high temperatures though. High temps can kill you or fry your brain. If the child has a temp >104 I would use a tepid bath along with acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce the fever.

Answer 3

I think yahoo answers is a reflection of real life. You can ask ten different people the same thing and get lots of answers. Same with different doctors. Cool baths didn't hurt anyone in my family. Don't be scared. If someone takes advice given here and learns the hard way that it was wrong, then they got what they paid for... free advice. This is Darwin's laws at work... don't worry about it. It's quite natural. Besides, there isn't much you can do about it, so let's just move on, shall we?

Answer 4

If that advice had been given by a doctor than the risks must outweigh the harm. Sometimes the only way to bring down a high fever is by alcohol rubs and cool baths. If you have an infection and your body internal temperature gauge goes awry than you have to use external measures to bring your temperature down.

Answer 5

Ok, do you know that some medical professional TELL parents to put children in cool, not cold baths to help bring down temperatures which are usually raised from too high a heat index? I am just trying to give you correct information. You have the right to vote, just exercise it. Parents/people/kids have the right to make their own choices.

Answer 6

Yes, it does bother me. But this is a public forum- not a professional one...-And if you EXPECT to get expert advice every time from a place like THIS, you're making a dangerous mistake. Look at it like this: Where's the best place to buy an expensive watch- from a jewelery store, or from a guy selling watches on the sidewalk? It's "buyer beware" here on the Internet- and using common sense is the rule, not the exception.

Answer 7

People could do a google search for the right information in about just as much time as it takes to post a question on here. Yes, I have noticed alot of wrong advice and also alot of dumb questions :)

Answer 8

Well , first off the cool baths , and alcohol rubs are NOT wrong nor potentiallly dangerous........ so having said that I answered your question

Answer 9

The only disclaimer on here should read as follows....

"People are stupid. Read and accept the answers to these questions at your own risk!"


Ahhh... it's like a Hallmark card... It says so much and yet so little.

Answer 10

All we can do is tell these people to go to the Doctor or the ER... Bad advice can be deceivingly helpfull its up to the one who asked to follow good common sense,and up to us answering to report anything off the ledge to yahoo !!!