Sunday, 24 May 2009

• 10 Most Dangerous First Aid Mistakes

  
  
  

  
  Often times we need emergency help, first aid, that can save our fingers, legs, heads or even lives. Therefore we need to learn at least the basic first aid techniques or mistakes.

  You may need (hope not) to use them at any time at home, at school or work or even while you’re traveling.
  

  1. Cut finger first aid.
  It’s surprisingly easy for a person to amputate part of a finger — for instance, while chopping vegetables or using an electric saw. Don’t try to preserve the loose part by placing it directly on ice.

  Do wrap the severed part in damp gauze (saline would be ideal for wetting the cloth), place it in a watertight bag and place the bag on ice. Then be sure to bring the bag and ice to the emergency room. The patient will be going into surgery, so he’s best off with an empty stomach. As for the wound on the hand or body, apply ice to reduce swelling and cover it with a clean, dry cloth.

  2. Knocked-out tooth first aid.
  Don’t scrub the tooth hard even if it’s dirty (a gentle rinse is OK).  Do put the tooth in milk and go straight to the ER; there’s a chance the tooth could be reimplanted.

  3. Burns first aid.
  Don’t apply ice or butter or any other type of grease to burns. Also, don’t cover a burn with a towel or blanket, because loose fibers might stick to the skin. When dealing with a serious burn, be careful not to break any blisters or pull off clothing stuck to the skin.
  

  Do wash and apply antibiotic ointment to mild burns. Head to the hospital for any burns to the eyes, mouth, or genital areas, even if mild; any burn that covers an area larger than your hand; and any burn that causes blisters or is followed by a fever.

  4. Electrical burns first aid.
  Don’t fail to get medical attention for a jolt of electricity (for instance, from lightning, a power line, or home electrical cords), even if no damage is evident. An electrical burn can cause invisible (and serious) injury deeper inside the body. More than 500 Americans die every year from electrical burns. Do go to the ER immediately.

  5. Sprained ankle first aid.
  Don’t use a heating pad. Do treat a sprain with ice. Go to the ER if it is very painful to bear weight. You might have a fracture.

  6. Nosebleed first aid.
  Don’t lean back. And after the bleeding has stopped, don’t blow your nose or bend over. Do sit upright and lean forward and pinch your nose steadily (just below the nasal bone) for five to 10 minutes. If the bleeding persists for 15 minutes (or if you think you are swallowing a lot of blood) go to the ER.

  Also look what Dr. Paulose write about nose bleeds (epistaxis).

  7. Bleeding first aid.
  Don’t use tourniquets! You could cause permanent tissue damage. Do apply steady pressure to the wound with a clean towel or gauze pack and wrap the wound securely. Go to the ER if the bleeding doesn’t stop, or if the wound is gaping or caused by an animal bite. To help prevent shock, keep the victim warm.

  8. Ingestion of poison first aid.
  Don’t induce vomiting or use Ipecac syrup (unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel). Do call poison control, and bring the ingested substance with its container to the ER.

  9. Being impaled first aid.
  Don’t remove the object; you could cause further damage or increase the risk of bleeding. Do stabilize the object, if possible, and go to the ER.

  10. Seizures first aid.
  Don’t put anything in the victim’s mouth. Do lay the victim on the ground if possible in an open space and roll the victim onto his or her side. Call 911.

  Are you guilty of doing any of these First Aid mistakes?  Which one of these do you suffer from the most?

  Guest blog from Alex at Heheli.com. Newsweek provide us with the top first aid mistakes.

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