7 basic first-aid tips everyone should know

We find ourselves confused as to do when someone’s chocking, nose bleeding, or convulsing and those few minutes could be a life or death situation for the victim.

Whether at home, on the road, or even in the office, we’re prone to accidents at all times that can be stopped with a simple first-aid procedure.

However, we don’t realize the importance of learning a few basic first aid procedures until an accident happens. It’s even more crucial if you’re a parent or a caregiver.

It only takes a little training from safety bodies such as the Red Cross to learn first aid procedures which could save someone’s life. Here are a few, simple first-aid tips you should know.

1. Do chest compressions for cardiac arrest
You may have seen people reaching down and giving CPR to a victim who’s stopped breathing. However, this is a very technical procedure that requires professional training before doing it. You can, instead, perform chest compression to such a victim if you don’t know how to do CPR. Simply, push the victim’s chest up and down gently but effectively with one hand on the lower breastbone and the other on their chest.

2. Use Heimlich maneuver for chocking
If someone is chocking, the best way to clear the airway is to carry out this first-aid procedure. Get behind them and wrap your arms around them by the waist. Place your fist above their navel and push into their abdomen in an upward position. Repeat this 5 times until the choking hazard is spat out. You should push as hard as you can and don’t hesitate.

3. Cloth wrap the bleeding
Most accident victims succumb to their injuries due to excessive bleeding. As such, you should try to stop the bleeding first as you wait for help. Take a cloth that can wrap around the injury and tightly tie it over the injury. You can add more layers if the first doesn’t control the bleeding. After that apply pressure around the injury by holding it or tying something over it tightly.

4. Don’t touch an electric shock victim
There are numerous risks of sustaining an electric shock with so many appliances in the house, and place of work. Therefore, it’s important to learn how to deal with an electric shock victim. First, don’t remove them from the current source. Switch it off first then use a wooden spoon to remove them from the source. If they’re unconscious, perform CPR or chest compressions until medical help arrives.

5. Ice the sprain away
Sprains can be relieved at home with a simple first-aid procedure. Put a few ice cubes on a breathable cloth then place it on the sprained area with the limb in an elevated position. This reduces inflammation and makes the pain more manageable. It also reduces swelling. Give it a few hours but if this doesn’t work, you should seek medical help since there could be a more serious injury.

6. Remove the bee sting
The pain from a bee sting only gets worse if it goes untreated. If someone gets stung by a bee, make sure you remove the stinger which is normally on the surface of the skin. Apply a cool cloth on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain. You should also have cream in your medicine cabinet to help with insect bites.

7. Water down the burn
Burns are also common accidents around the house. When we sustain a burn, mild or severe, many people do the wrong first-aid. You should never remove anything stuck to the burnt area or cool down using ide. Instead, place the injured part in lukewarm water for 10 minutes then cover the burn with a plastic wrap. Don’t put too much pressure as this may cause blistering.