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First Aid Basics

At some time in your life, you may need to provide first aid to a person who has suffered an injury. Below are some simple guidelines to help you provide first aid for common injuries and home emergencies. 

Shock

Shock can result from a variety of injuries and circumstances. Common symptoms include the following: 

• Skin is cool and clammy to the touch; may appear pale or gray. 
• Weak and rapid heartbeat, slow and shallow breathing, and reduced blood pressure. 
• Eyes lack shine and seem to stare; pupils may be dilated.
• Individual may feel nauseous and may vomit. 
• Individual may be unconscious; if conscious, individual may faint, be very weak or be confused. 
• Individual may become overly excited or anxious. 

If you suspect an injured person is experiencing or may begin to experience shock: 

• Seek emergency medical attention immediately. 
• Have the victim lie down on his or her back and elevate the feet higher than the head. Keep the victim from moving unnecessarily.
• Keep the victim warm and comfortable. Loosen tight clothing and cover him or her with a blanket. 
• Do not give the victim anything to drink. 
• If he or she is vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, place the victim on his or her side to prevent choking. 
• Treat any injuries appropriately.
• Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the victim is not breathing. 

Burns

Follow these steps to treat minor burns at home: 

• If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes. 
• Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth. 
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen to relieve any swelling or pain.
• Do not place any creams or ice on the burned area.

Seek emergency treatment for more serious burns immediately. 

Choking

Abdominal thrusts (commonly known as the Heimlich maneuver) is one of the best methods for removing an object from the airway of a person who is choking. Follow these steps to perform the Heimlich maneuver: 

1. Stand behind the choking person and wrap your arms around his or her waist. Bend the person slightly forward.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place it slightly above the person's navel.
3. Grasp your with the other hand and press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust. 
4. Repeat this procedure until the object is expelled from the airway.

If you must perform this maneuver on yourself, position your own fist slightly above your navel. Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust upward into your abdomen until the object is expelled. 

Cuts and Scrapes

Most small cuts can be treated at home; however, it is important to take steps to prevent infection or other complications from occurring: 

• Stop bleeding by applying continuous pressure with a sterile cloth. If bleeding persists after several minutes of applying pressure, seek medical attention. 
• Clean the wound with water and remove any debris with sterilized tweezers. Use a mild soap to clean around the cut, but avoid getting soap in the wound. Dry the area gently with a clean cloth, apply an antibiotic cream and cover the wound with a protective bandage. Change the bandage at least once a day. If the wound becomes red or oozes fluid, see your doctor. 
• If a cut is mroe serious (large, deep, rough on the edges, persistent bleeding), seek immediate medical attention.

Nosebleeds

To stop a nosebleed, try the following: 

• Have the victim sit or stand upright to slow the flow of blood in the nose. Do NOT tip the head back. 
• Gently pinch the nose with your thumb and forefinger for 10 minutes, maintaining pressure. Have the victim breathe through the mouth during this time. 
• Seek medical care if bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes or if the nosebleed resulted from a broken nose or head trauma.

Poisoning

The signs of poisoning may or may not be obvious. Sometimes the source of a poisoning can be easily identified - and open bottle of medication or a spilled bottle of household cleaner. Other times, the cause may not be apparent. Symptoms vary but may include the following:

• Burns or redness around the mouth and lips
• Breath that smells like chemicals
• Burns, stains or odors on the person or on clothing
• Vomiting or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Confusion, dizziness, weakness or unconsciousness
• Seizures

If you believe someone has been poisoned, do the following: 

• Seek immediate medical attention. If you have identified the poison, take the container with you.
• Many poisonous products include instructions on the label specifying what to do if poisoning occurs. If you know the source of the poisoning and the product has instructions, follow them. 
• If you cannot identify the poison or there are no instructions on the product label, call your local poison control center for instructions.
• If the person was exposed to poisonous fumes, get him or her into fresh air. 
• If the poison was spilled on the person's clothing, remove the clothing and flush the skin with water. 
• If the person is not breathing, begin CPR. 
• Do not give the victim ipecac syrup or do anything to induce vomiting, unless instructed by poison control or a medical professional.

Poison Control: (800) 222-1222

For household pet poisonings, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline: (888) 426-4435

CPR

CPR is a lifesaving technique used to help a victim who is not breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. Traditionally, CPR has involved chest compressions combined with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing. However, recent studies suggest that mouth-to-mouth may not actually help in the efforts to save the victim; chest compressions alone may be more effective in many situations. 

The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross suggest that if an adult collapses and is unconscious, untrained bystanders should call 911 and begin administering chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. To provide chest compressions, follow these steps: 

1. Place the victim on his or her back on a flat surface. Make sure the person's airway is clear. 
2. Place the heel of one hand over the center of the chest, and your other hand on top of the first. Using your upper body weight, forcefully push straight down on the chest at a fast pace. Continue compressions until paramedics arrive (unless instructed differently by medical personnel over the phone).

If you are well-trained in CPR and feel confident in your abilities, you may alternate two rescue breaths for each set of 30 chest compressions (unless instructed otherwise by medical personnel over the phone).

The above guidance is appropriate for adult victims. Children should be given the traditional CPR combination of rescue breathing chest compressions. If you are unsure how to do this, the 911 operator should be able to give you instructions over the phone. 

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