Emergences can happen any day and anywhere, you have to be prepared for every possible emergency. First aid is not only a medical supply box available at your home but it can provide first aid beyond the medical supply, you can add more value to life if you get professional training first aid course. First aid course can actually do wonders for an individual in best possible ways! And it is not only beneficial for others but also for you as it’ll give you more confidence and help you calm nerves in most crucial situations in life as well.
For every emergency situation you need to have a proper first aid guide that is essential to tackle every emergency situation in life.To be prepared for every emergency situation follow steps like:
Look out for danger
Before jumping into any emergency situation, it’s important to look out for the scene for danger first. Keep in mind that you don’t want to get yourself injured too. It is only for the sake of precaution, because you can get injured and then you won’t be able to help someone else who’s injured. So before rushing into emergency situation, take a moment to analyze the area and spot anything that can cause danger for you.
To treat cuts and scrapes
Every day minor cuts and scrapes are part of our daily life. However, it needs to be treated effectively to avoid any infections or disease.
- Apply gentle pressure for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Clean the wound by gently running clean water over it. Avoid using soap on an open wound.
- Apply antibiotic to the wound, like Neosporin.
- Cover the wound with a bandage.
If person has got nosebleed, firstly lean forward. Keep the piece of cloth against the nostrils until the blood flow stops.
Minor cuts and scrapes are easy to be treated. But deep wounds may require medical attention. To treat deep wounds:
- Apply pressure.
- Don’t apply ointments. Cover the area with loose cloth to prevent contaminants from infecting the wound.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
To Treat Sprains
Usually sprains are un-alarming injury, and mostly it’ll heal on its own. Swelling is caused by blood flow to an injured area. To reduce swellings apply ice, as ice restricts the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow.
- Keep the injured limb elevated.
- Apply ice to the injured area. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth or put ice in a plastic bag.
- Keep the injured area compressed. Put it in a brace or tightly wrap it. Don’t wrap it so tight that it’ll cut off circulation.
- Ice for a while. Then compress. Repeat at intervals.
To treat Heat Exhaustion
In summers usually Heat exhaustion occurs and due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, the person is doing strenuous activities or hasn’t had enough water. The symptoms of heat exhaustion consist of:
- Cool, moist skin
- Heavy sweating
- Dizziness
- Weak pulse
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Headaches
How to treat someone with heat exhaustion:
- Get the person to a shaded area that’s out of the sun.
- If there are no shaded areas available, keep the person covered by any available materials that can block sunlight.
- Give the person water and keep them hydrated.
- Place a cool cloth on their forehead to lower their body temperature.
To treat Hypothermia
Usually Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It begins to occur when a person’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Symptoms of hypothermia are:
- Shivering
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Week pulse
- Weak coordination
- Confusion
- Red, cold skin
- Loss of consciousness
For hypothermia treatment:
- For treatment it is better to be gentle with the affected person. Never rub the body and don’t move their body aggressively; this could trigger cardiac arrest.
- Keep the person out of the cold, and remove any wet clothing.
- Get the person in blankets and use heat packs. Don’t apply heat directly to the skin because this could cause major skin damage.
- To keep the person warm give them warm fluids.
To treat burns
There are different levels of burns, before treating burns you need to identify the burn first. There are four kinds of burns:
- First-degree burn: In this level only the outer layers of skin are burnt. The skin is red and swollen, and looks similar to sunburn.
- Second-degree burn: For second degree only some of the inner layer of skin is burnt. Look for blistering skin and swelling. This is usually a very painful type of burn.
- Third-degree burn: Third degree burn is severe as entire inner layer of skin is burnt. The wound has a whitish or blackened color. Some third-degree burns are so deep; there might not be any pain because the nerve endings are destroyed.
- Fourth-degree burn: Fourth degree burn is when it has penetrated all tissues up to the tendons and bones.
Additionally, there are two kinds of burn severities: a minor burn and a major burn.
For Minor burns, you could do as follows:
- Run cool water over the affected area (avoid icy or very cold water).
- Don’t break any blisters.
- Apply moisturizer over the area, like aloe-vera.
- Keep the burned person out of sunlight.
- The burn person should take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
But major burns are very serious injuries that require medical assistance. To help someone who has suffered from a major burn:
- Do not apply ointments.
- Cover wound with loose materials to prevent contaminants from infecting it.
To treat allergic reactions
Allergic reactions are the most common type of first aid emergency and it usually happens when your body is hypersensitive to a foreign substance. Allergic reaction could be cause by bee stings, certain foods, or drug ingredients can cause allergic reactions. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can be caused by all of those mention allergens.
Treatment for allergic reaction:
- Keep the person calm. Ask if they use an EpiPen and have one with them.
- Have the person lie on their back. Keep their feet up to 12 inches.
- Make sure the person’s cloths re less tight so they’re able to breathe.
- Avoid giving them food, drink, or medicine.
- If needed, use an EpiPen. Learn how to inject an EpiPen in someone having a reaction.
- Wait 5-15 minutes after using an EpiPen. If the allergic reaction isn’t subdued, a second dose may be required.
To treat fractures
It is very easy to identify if someone has suffered a fractured bone. But usually it’s not. If you suspect someone having fractures follow the steps below:
- Never try to straighten a fractured limb.
- Use a splint or padding to stabilize the area and keep it from moving.
- Apply a cold pack to the area. Don’t apply it directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth or put it in a plastic bag.
- Give the person an anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen.
To perform CPR
Yes CPR does fall into first aid emergency category. The purpose of CPR is to restore breathing and blood circulation to an unconscious person. CPR is an important procedure that can allow you to save lives. However, learning CPR is an intensive procedure that requires some professional training, which is usually in the form of a day-long class. You should be trained enough to treat first aid emergency for every day need without going to hospital or seeing health professionals every day.