First Aid Tips

Take a first aid class at your local Red Cross. This will help to make sure you know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency.

Have a well stocked first aid kit on hand at home, at work, and in your car. You can purchase a pre assembled one, or you can build your own. If you are building your own, include the following items: Adhesive bandages, Alcohol preps, Gauze, Sterile pads, Antiseptic ointment, Instant ice packs, Bandage scissors, Elastic bandages, and first aid cream.

If you come in contact with poison oak or poison ivy – shower and wash your clothing immediately. If a rash does break out, do not itch it. Use a topical antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream (like calamine lotion) and take an antihistamine medication such as Benedryl.

If you have a minor cut or scrape, rinse it out with running water, put an antiseptic cream on it and cover it with a bandage to keep it clean. Remember to change the bandage daily and clean the cut to prevent infection.

In the event of a large medical emergency contact 9-1-1. They will be able to send medical help to you, and help you until the ambulance arrives.

With administering first aid, stay calm. Take a deep breath to make sure that everything is done correctly and safely.

If you are in a situation where you need to help someone, take a few seconds to protect yourself. First off assess the situation to make sure that you can offer help – don’t try to do something you don’t know how to do. Second - wear protective gloves to prevent contact from blood and other body fluids. Third, look for any medical identification bracelets or cards. These will let you know if someone has a specific illness or allergy to medication.

NOSEBLEEDS: You suffer a nosebleed from any number of occurrences such as being punched in the face, a flare up of allergies, breathing in extremely dry air, etc. It is important to halt this sudden bleeding from one or both nostrils. In order to stop the blood flow, do not lean your head backward. Sit up or stand up which will cause the flow of blood to slow inside your nose. Next, take your thumb and pointer finger and pinch your nostrils for 8-10 minutes with consistent pressure. Be sure to breathe in and out using your mouth. If your nose is still bleeding after the 8-10 minutes, seek medical attention.

If case of accidental ingestion of medication or other items, read the label on the item. Some things once ingested require you to induce vomiting to purge your system, while others (such as gasoline or anything corrosive) should not be vomited. Once you have read the warning label on the item, contact your local poison control center for further information.

If you or someone else is burned by a hot liquid, gas, or surface, you need to determine how serious the injury is. If it is a minor burn, you can treat it at home. If the skin is extremely red, blisters appear, the burn covers a large area, or more serious tissue damage is apparent, you will need to get to a hospital. Otherwise, if there is no broken skin, pour cool water over the affected area for a few minutes. If you have a topical cream specifically for burns, you can use this in lieu of water. Then, with a clean cloth or bandage, wrap or cover the burn area. If there is any pain or swelling, you can take some aspirin to help alleviate the discomfort.

If someone gets food or another object stuck in his or her airway, they will begin to choke. You can administer first aid to the person by performing the Heimlich Maneuver. Start by getting directly behind the person and putting your arms around the waist while bending him or her forwards a little. Then, place your "weak" hand right above the belly button of the person and make a fist. Next, take your "strong" hand and place it over the fist. Make quick, firm thrusting motions into the stomach area by repeatedly pushing upward until the item is removed. If you are choking, you can also perform the Heimlich Maneuver on yourself.

The best way to slow down bleeding in an injury is to apply pressure and then raise it over the level of the heart. Never take off gauze or bandages after bleeding has slowed, this could rip off any healing that may have started.

Bruises happen when bleeding occurs under the skin so you need to treat them too! Apply ice several times a day for a day or so to reduce the swelling. If the ice is too cold for comfort, wrap it in a thin cloth.

If your child ends up sticking something in their ear they're not supposed to, be careful with how you take it out. Don't use a cotton swab or any other kind of tool to probe it out. This could cause the object to be pushed in further. Try to use tweezers to pull the object out instead. If the person starts having difficulty hearing or has discomfort, you should take them to your doctor.

If you feel faint or dizzy, lie down or sit down. If you sit down, put your head in between your legs so that blood can get to your brain efficiently.

If you find yourself or others bleeding profusely after a cut or injury, apply direct pressure to the wound and elevate it as much as possible. Only use a tourniquet (a clean cloth tied to the wound to halt the blood circulation to the wound area) as a last resort, as depending on the time required to get professional help, a tourniquet may severly damage the wounded area.

Don't pop a blister unless it is painful or makes it difficult to walk or use your hands.

If you are ever bitten by a poisonous snake, make sure you immobilize the bitten area so the poison doesn't travel through your body. Don't use a tourniquet to stop the poison though.

Getting a black eye is never fun. The best way to treat it is to gently place a cold ice pack around the eye, not on the eye. You also need to make sure there is no blood in your eye. If there is, contact your doctor.

If you ever have motion sickness in a car, try to sit either in the passenger's or driver's seat. Also, try to focus on a stationary object or the horizon.

If you ever need to perform CPR remember it is 30 compressions with 2 breaths.

Remember the acronym PRICE for treating sprains: PROTECT the injured area, REST the injured area, ICE it, COMPRESS it with a bandage, and ELEVATE it above the heart to prevent swelling.

Whenever you do have to call 911, stay as calm as you can. Speak slowly so the operator can understand you and can get help to you as fast as they can. Remember, don't hang up unless the operator has told you it is ok to.

Should you ever get frostbite, don't use direct heat to warm up the injured area. If you use a stove, fireplace, etc you could burn yourself. Instead, gradually warm up the injured area with warm water.