Summarize:
In contrast to adult patients, the majority of children have limited or no previous experience being injured or involved in an emergency. The situation therefore appears new, alien and unknown, and it's therefore usually an intense experience. Knowledge and cognition: Children frequently lack an understanding of the structure and function of the human body, or have incorrect concepts of the role of organs and structures. This might lead to a misinterpretation of injury severity. For example, internal injuries might be interpreted as benign, while skin grazes/abrasions may be interpreted as life-threatening.4,5 The gap generated by a lack of understanding might be filled with irrational or "mythical" explanations, which can themselves lead to distress. Younger children tend to take a more egocentric view and relate the situation to their own behavior, even when there's no objective reason for this. This can lead to feelings of guilt. For example, a child might think that an accident occurred because they behaved badly. Additionally, a child's understanding is dominated by immediate awareness and is less focused on future gains; the idea that a painful procedure, such as gaining IV access, might lead to something positive in the future (e.g., analgesia) might be completely.