10 Quick First Aid Tips to Save You in Critical Situations
Knowing essential first aid facts can literally save your life and others when faced with an emergency. It’s important to understand how to assess the situation, what actions you can take to help, and to distinguish between what is helpful and what is not.
For example, in the case of bleeding, a bandage pad is more effective than a tourniquet, respecting your request from the health section.SelMagzWe address the most common first aid essentials that any of you might need in various situations.
The most important first aid actions
1. Cuts
When dealing with a cut, always elevate it above heart level to reduce swelling and help drain fluid from the injured area. If the cut is on your buttock, lie down and lift the injured area using a pillow. If you cannot do this, try to keep it at heart level or as close as possible, especially if it is bleeding.
What does first aid include?
2. First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are also known as superficial burns affecting only the outer layer of your skin. Although they may be painful, they are not serious.
To treat, wash the burn with warm water; while ice water might seem obvious, it can cause further tissue damage. After cleaning the burn, use a cold compress or an ice pack.
Using oil and butter is an old home remedy that can cause more harm by trapping heat. A mixture of water andbaking sodacan help release heat from the burn.
3.Heart Attack
During a heart attack, early action helps minimize damage. Chewingaspirincan be helpful as it inhibits blood platelets that lead toblood clottingwhich causes arterial blockage.
For aspirin to work effectively, use a low dose, chew it instead of swallowing, and contact emergency services as soon as possible.
First aid for heart attacks
4. Bee Stings
If you are stung by a bee, you should remove the stinger. It is generally believed that pulling the stinger out minimizes venom. Timing is crucial, so remove the stinger as quickly as possible using tweezers or scraping it off.
When a bee loses its stinger, it releases a scent that attracts other bees which may sting you in self-defense. After you remove the sting, wash the area and apply a cold compress. If you are allergic, use your auto-injector or EpiPen and contact emergency services immediately.
5. Eye Injuries
When you get an injury, the first thing to do is clean the wound. However, when your eye is injured, the most important action is to cover your eye and seek help.
Trying to clean your eye can cause more injury or even permanent damage. The main exception stated by SelMagz is when chemicals come into contact with your eye; in that case, wash your eye immediately with water.
6. Fractures
When a part of your body is fractured, do not try to straighten it. Instead, stabilize it with a splint and keep it immobile. It’s important to keep it in the same condition. A fracture could be a simple sprain or a dislocation. Always seek medical help to ensure the injury is not serious and to prevent further damage.
First aid training for fractures
7. Wood Splinters
Splinters are filled with bacteria and can easily infect an open wound; always remember to be sterile when handling them. If a wooden splinter is lodged completely in your skin, first clean the area around it with disinfectant. Then, remove the splinter with a sterilized needle that has been boiled, and once it’s out, you can use tweezers to pull it out, and then wash the area with water andsoap.
8. Snake Bites
In TV shows and movies, when someone is bitten by a venomous snake, their first reaction is to suck the bite area. In reality, the venom enters the bloodstream before this action is taken, making this approach ineffective.
The most important thing to remember is to stay calm. You must lower your heart rate to prevent the spread of venom, and taking painkillers can thin your blood and make the venom act faster.
Immediately call emergency services to provide you with the appropriate antivenom; if you need to seek help, remember to walk and avoidrunningto stay calm. If possible, applycoconut oilto the wound, as it can fight bacteria and parasites, then bandage the bite area.
First aid methods for snake bites
9. Breathing Obstruction
If someone’s breathing has stopped, there is usually an obstruction in their airway. Lay the person on their back, check their mouth, and remove anything that could block their breathing, even liquids.
To open the airway, tilt the head back and lift the chin. Place your hand over the forehead or near the temples and place your fingers under the jaw, applying pressure to open the mouth without moving the neck, which will push the tongue away from the airway and decrease air blockage. Hold the head tilt until the airway is clear.
10. Scars
When you get injured, you might worry about having ugly scars, but by taking steps, you can prevent scarring. Baking soda, due to its disinfectant properties, helps prevent scarring and can remove closed skin without causing infection on the wound.
When treating scars with baking soda, let the wound air out; besides, you can mix water and baking soda to create a disinfectant solution.
Tip: Tricks for removing bandages
First aid is not only important when you are injured but also during the healing process.
- To remove adhesive without consequences, applybaby oilor alcohol on the area where the adhesive is, or even use warm water.
- You can also cool the area with ice cubes before removing the adhesive.
- Even though you may want to rip off the adhesive at once, you should do it slowly, as otherwise, the skin closed over the wound might tear off, or the wound itself may reopen.
