Everyone should learn at least some basic first aid techniques because you never know when you could be the difference between life and death. The techniques mentioned in this post will give you the confidence to act in a serious situation because you never know when you might need them.

And, for those who are already aware of basic first aid, some of the guidelines for what to do and what not to do have changed in recent years.

Starting with this edition, our blog will occasionally publish recommendations about common [or frequent] healthcare issues prepared by the nursing team of Assisting Hands Home Care. Assisting Hands is a leading provider of customized home-care solutions, from basic companionship and housekeeping needs to complex post-surgery or dementia cases. Total Access Medical has invited Assisting Hands for this editorial collaboration due to both companies’ shared values and customer-centric approach to their services.

Here's a look at the best (and worst) ways to treat various injuries:

Burns

• Do: "Place the burned area under cool running tap water or apply ice wrapped in a towel to the area to decrease swelling and pain; continue this at regular intervals for 24 to 48 hours. If you have a burn at home, first determine if it is a superficial burn that does not require medical attention. A superficial burn is usually red, painful, and will blister 24 hours after the incident. If a large area is burned and it is not superficial, seek medical attention. If you have a superficial burn, rinse the burn area under cool water or place in cool water until the pain stops ¹."
• Don't: "Use ice because this can cause tissue damage. Bandaging the area is not necessary unless the area has open blisters. If there are open blisters, apply a clean bandage. Keep area clean and dry ²."

Bruises

• Do: Apply ice right away to the area for 20 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours. This will help constrict the blood vessels that are leaking and causing the bleeding under the skin that leads to a bruise. It also helps to elevate the injured area above your heart to reduce swelling.

• Don't: Take a hot bath or shower or apply a heating pad.

Splinters

• Do: Use tweezers or a small needle to get it out ASAP. But if you can't, see a doctor. (If you soak a wood splinter in water first, it can absorb water, become softer and break apart under your skin, which can lead to infection.) Once you get the splinter out, wash the area in soap and water and apply an antibacterial ointment.

• Don't: Ignore it or soak it in water.

Cuts and Lacerations

• Do: The most important thing to do is flush it out with running water to remove bacteria and dirt in order to prevent the cut from becoming infected. Wash the cut carefully with soap and running water and not alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. After rinsing the cut with soap and water, pat the cut dry and apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage if it's bleeding or oozing. If the cut is longer than half an inch, jagged or deep and bleeding than it may need to be closed with stitches, glue or staples, which requires surgery.

• Don't: Use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Alcohol can burn the injury and hydrogen peroxide can actually inhibit some of the wound healing as it kills bacteria by rupturing the cell membranes.

Sprains and Strains

You've stretched a muscle, tendon or ligament beyond its natural tensile strength and torn fibers in those tissues. This can lead to some leakage of blood and fluid into the surrounding area, which can contribute to the swelling.

• Do: Apply ice and elevate the injured area above your heart at regular intervals for 48 hours to decrease the inflammatory response and leakage of fluid.

• Don't: Put heat on it right away as heat can increase inflammation.

Nosebleeds

• Do: "If you have a nosebleed, sit up straight and tilt you head forward. Pinch the soft parts of your nose together, pressing firmly toward the face. Hold for 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure you breathe through your mouth. Apply ice, wrapped in towels, to the nose area³.”

• Don't: Tilt backward: this causes blood to run back into the sinuses and throat. If you do have blood in your mouth or throat, spit out to avoid gagging or inhaling it.

Heavy Bleeding

• Do: Put pressure on the wound with a sterile cloth. It is essential to put pressure on the wound right away, add cloth if the cloth you use soaks through, and do not remove the pressure for any reason until medical professionals arrive. Raise the wounded limb over the heart to slow down heavy bleeding.
• Don't: Apply a tourniquet to control bleeding, except as a last resort. Doing so may cause more harm than good. A tourniquet should be used only in a life-threatening situation and should be applied by an experienced person.

Choking

• According to Injury Facts 2017, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death.

• Do: Heimlich maneuver. Stand behind the victim, wrap your arms around their upper waist, place a fist between the person’s ribcage and belly button, and place your other hand over the fist. Deliver a quick thrust upward, and keep doing this until the foreign object is dislodged. Knowing the Heimlich could potentially help you save someone’s life. This technique is only for adults; there is a special technique for children and infants.

Hypothermia

• Do: Move the person out of the cold. Place the person in a room-temperature spot indoors. If going indoors isn’t possible, protect the person from the wind with other clothing, especially around her neck and head. Bring the person to the hospital if he/she is unconscious and has a weak pulse. It’s important to call emergency services right away.Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat.

You can get hypothermia if you are exposed to cold weather or are immersed in a cold body of water. You can also get hypothermia if you are exposed to indoor temperatures below 50°F (10°C) for an extended period of time. According to the CDC, "From 1999 to 2011, a total of 16,911 deaths in the United States, an average of 1,301 per year, were associated with exposure to excessive natural cold."

The risk of developing hypothermia increases if you are exhausted or dehydrated. If left untreated, hypothermia can be life-threatening. When a person develops hypothermia, their core temperature drops to a dangerously low level and their muscular and brain function will be seriously impaired.

Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, bad coordination, drowsiness, or abnormally slow breathing, cold or pale skin and slurred speech. This is a life-threatening situation.

Expert FAQ

If you're by yourself and you start choking on food, what techniques / actions are recommended? 

The nursing team of Assisting Hands Home Care recommend that “If you are by yourself and you start choking on food, first try coughing as hard as you can. If this doesn’t work, try performing Heimlich maneuver. Make a fist with one hand and place this hand below your rib cage and about the navel. Wrap your fist with your other hand. Press your fist into the area with a quick upward movement. You can also try pushing your body into the top of a counter, back of a chair, corner of a table to try to dislodge the object.”