10+ Quick First Aid Tips That Can Save Your Day
If you know the basics of first aid, you can literally save lives, including yours. When you're in the middle of an emergency, it's best to know how to assess a situation, what you can do to help, and even the difference between what helps and what does not. Let's just say that a simple gauze pad is usually more effective than a tourniquet for bleeding.
1. Wounds
Whenever you have an injury, you should always try to lift it above the level of your heart. This calms the swelling and helps drain the fluid from the area. If your injury is on your hips or buttocks, lie down and lift it with pillows. If you can not lift the wound, try to keep it at the level of the heart or as close as possible.
2. First-degree burns
First degree burns, also known as superficial burns, only affect the superficial layer of the skin. Although they may be painful, they are not serious. To treat them, rinse the wound with lukewarm water. Although ice water seems more obvious, it can actually cause more tissue damage. After cleaning the fire, use an ice pack or cold compress. The use of butter or fat is a traditional remedy, but it can actually cause more damage to the wound because it slows down the release of heat. A paste made by mixing water and baking soda can also help release heat from the fire.
3. Heart attacks
In case of a heart attack, early intervention helps to limit the damage. Chewing an aspirin can help because it inhibits the platelets that cause blood clotting. It blocks your arteries. When taking aspirin, it is important to take small doses and chew the pill instead of swallowing it or taking it with water, as this will produce a faster effect. Try to contact the ambulance service as soon as possible.
4. Bee stings
If you are stung by a bee, you must remove the sting. Although it is generally accepted that removing the sting of the skin minimizes the poison, the most important time is to choose it. You should try to remove the sting as soon as possible, whether you are scratching or removing it with tweezers. When a bee loses its bite, it releases a scent that attracts other bees in the area that may upset you. Once the sting is removed and you have left the area, clean the wound and apply a cold compress. If you are allergic, have an autoinjector or EpiPen handy and contact emergency services as soon as possible.
5. Fractures
For fractures, do not try to smooth the wound, but keep the limb stable and irremovable with a splint and padding. The most important thing is to keep it in the same position. Although a fracture can be a simple dislocation or sprain, you should always consult a doctor to make sure the injury is not serious or even to prevent further injury.
6. Eye injuries
If you are injured, the first thing to do is to clean the wound. However, if you hurt your eyes, it is very important to cover yourself and ask for help. If you try to wash your eyes on your own, you can still hurt yourself and eventually cause permanent damage. The main exception to this rule is when chemicals enter your eyes. In this case, you should immediately rinse the eyes with water.
7. Splinters
Splinters are full of germs and can easily infect open skin. So, always remember to stay sterile when dealing with them. If you have a splinter completely embedded in the skin, first clean the area with an antiseptic, then remove it with a needle sterilized in boiling water. Once this is resolved, you can remove the bursts of tweezers. Then wash the area with soap and water.
8. Snake bites
In TV shows and movies, the first reaction is to suck the poison when someone is bitten by a venomous snake. Realistically, the poison has already entered the blood of the victim, so it does not really help. When you receive a snake bite, the most important thing is to relax. You must keep your heart rate low to slow the spread of poison. Similarly, taking analgesics can actually dilute the blood and accelerate the action of the poison. Contact the medical service immediately to obtain the correct antidote. If you have to travel for help, be sure to walk and not run to stay calm. If you can, apply coconut oil to the wound as it can help fight bacteria and parasites and connect the area.
9. Jellyfish stings
Nothing can ruin a beautiful day at the beach like a jellyfish sting. You can try rinsing the wound with salt water. You can also rinse the wound with warm water or vinegar or cover with a solution of baking soda and water. Activated charcoal can also help eliminate the poison of jellyfish. You may have heard the popular urban legend that urine can be used to treat jellyfish stings. Realistically, urine does not contain enough acid to counter the poison. It is said that urine can relieve pain, but hot water is just as effective.
10. Scars
If you are injured, you may be afraid of a bad scar, but you can take some steps to prevent the formation of a scar. Baking soda has disinfecting properties that help prevent the formation of a scar that can remove a hard crust and even prevent infection. When treating a scar with baking soda, it is important that the wound is also exposed to air. In addition, baking soda can also be mixed with water to form an antiseptic.
11. Obstructed breathing
When a person has stopped breathing, their airways are usually blocked. Turn the person on their back, check their mouths and remove anything that could interfere with breathing, even liquids. To open the airways, tilt your head and lift your chin. Place your hand near the top of your head or forehead. You can also perform a "jaw thrust" by placing your fingers under the jaw and pushing the lower jaw upward without moving the neck to open the mouth. This raises the tongue of the airways and helps reduce air blockages. Then, apply an inclination of the head until the opening of the airways.
Bonus: Tips for removing bandages
First aid is important not only if you are injured for the first time, but also during the healing process. Try loosening the tape by covering the area with baby oil, alcohol, or even warm water for your safety. You can also freeze the area with ice cubes. Despite the temptation to simply tear it off, it is also important that the wound remove it slowly, otherwise you risk tearing a crust or even reopening a cup.
If you know the basics of first aid, you can literally save lives, including yours. When you're in the middle of an emergency, it's best to know how to assess a situation, what you can do to help, and even the difference between what helps and what does not. Let's just say that a simple gauze pad is usually more effective than a tourniquet for bleeding.
1. Wounds
Whenever you have an injury, you should always try to lift it above the level of your heart. This calms the swelling and helps drain the fluid from the area. If your injury is on your hips or buttocks, lie down and lift it with pillows. If you can not lift the wound, try to keep it at the level of the heart or as close as possible.
2. First-degree burns
First degree burns, also known as superficial burns, only affect the superficial layer of the skin. Although they may be painful, they are not serious. To treat them, rinse the wound with lukewarm water. Although ice water seems more obvious, it can actually cause more tissue damage. After cleaning the fire, use an ice pack or cold compress. The use of butter or fat is a traditional remedy, but it can actually cause more damage to the wound because it slows down the release of heat. A paste made by mixing water and baking soda can also help release heat from the fire.
3. Heart attacks
In case of a heart attack, early intervention helps to limit the damage. Chewing an aspirin can help because it inhibits the platelets that cause blood clotting. It blocks your arteries. When taking aspirin, it is important to take small doses and chew the pill instead of swallowing it or taking it with water, as this will produce a faster effect. Try to contact the ambulance service as soon as possible.
4. Bee stings
If you are stung by a bee, you must remove the sting. Although it is generally accepted that removing the sting of the skin minimizes the poison, the most important time is to choose it. You should try to remove the sting as soon as possible, whether you are scratching or removing it with tweezers. When a bee loses its bite, it releases a scent that attracts other bees in the area that may upset you. Once the sting is removed and you have left the area, clean the wound and apply a cold compress. If you are allergic, have an autoinjector or EpiPen handy and contact emergency services as soon as possible.
5. Fractures
For fractures, do not try to smooth the wound, but keep the limb stable and irremovable with a splint and padding. The most important thing is to keep it in the same position. Although a fracture can be a simple dislocation or sprain, you should always consult a doctor to make sure the injury is not serious or even to prevent further injury.
6. Eye injuries
If you are injured, the first thing to do is to clean the wound. However, if you hurt your eyes, it is very important to cover yourself and ask for help. If you try to wash your eyes on your own, you can still hurt yourself and eventually cause permanent damage. The main exception to this rule is when chemicals enter your eyes. In this case, you should immediately rinse the eyes with water.
7. Splinters
Splinters are full of germs and can easily infect open skin. So, always remember to stay sterile when dealing with them. If you have a splinter completely embedded in the skin, first clean the area with an antiseptic, then remove it with a needle sterilized in boiling water. Once this is resolved, you can remove the bursts of tweezers. Then wash the area with soap and water.
8. Snake bites
In TV shows and movies, the first reaction is to suck the poison when someone is bitten by a venomous snake. Realistically, the poison has already entered the blood of the victim, so it does not really help. When you receive a snake bite, the most important thing is to relax. You must keep your heart rate low to slow the spread of poison. Similarly, taking analgesics can actually dilute the blood and accelerate the action of the poison. Contact the medical service immediately to obtain the correct antidote. If you have to travel for help, be sure to walk and not run to stay calm. If you can, apply coconut oil to the wound as it can help fight bacteria and parasites and connect the area.
9. Jellyfish stings
Nothing can ruin a beautiful day at the beach like a jellyfish sting. You can try rinsing the wound with salt water. You can also rinse the wound with warm water or vinegar or cover with a solution of baking soda and water. Activated charcoal can also help eliminate the poison of jellyfish. You may have heard the popular urban legend that urine can be used to treat jellyfish stings. Realistically, urine does not contain enough acid to counter the poison. It is said that urine can relieve pain, but hot water is just as effective.
10. Scars
If you are injured, you may be afraid of a bad scar, but you can take some steps to prevent the formation of a scar. Baking soda has disinfecting properties that help prevent the formation of a scar that can remove a hard crust and even prevent infection. When treating a scar with baking soda, it is important that the wound is also exposed to air. In addition, baking soda can also be mixed with water to form an antiseptic.
11. Obstructed breathing
When a person has stopped breathing, their airways are usually blocked. Turn the person on their back, check their mouths and remove anything that could interfere with breathing, even liquids. To open the airways, tilt your head and lift your chin. Place your hand near the top of your head or forehead. You can also perform a "jaw thrust" by placing your fingers under the jaw and pushing the lower jaw upward without moving the neck to open the mouth. This raises the tongue of the airways and helps reduce air blockages. Then, apply an inclination of the head until the opening of the airways.
Bonus: Tips for removing bandages
First aid is important not only if you are injured for the first time, but also during the healing process. Try loosening the tape by covering the area with baby oil, alcohol, or even warm water for your safety. You can also freeze the area with ice cubes. Despite the temptation to simply tear it off, it is also important that the wound remove it slowly, otherwise you risk tearing a crust or even reopening a cup.
