Knowing First Aid Can Save Lives!

First aid

Life is never a bed of roses, so that’s why you try and provide the cushions to break the fall and prevent the pain as much as you can, especially when your loved ones are concerned. But why take a chance at all by waiting for accidents to happen to them and then you running helter shelter for remedies! Know your first aid tips and be ready for any and every accident. Be it a normal cut or a burn wound or even a broken bone –This knowledge is something, which will never go waste once you acquire it. Kids get hurt while playing, your grandpa starts choking over a small piece of mutton, your mum may suffer burns while cooking, you may clip yourself to the file accidentally instead of the papers – a lot might happen in fraction of seconds. Don’t be caught in a situation where a little general knowledge of first aid could have saved a lot of distress but was not the case since you didn’t know what to do.

Steps to be followed

The basic stipulation for first aid is to have a ‘First Aid Kit’. You should know what to stock in your Kit. Here’s a list to give you an example of how your first aid kit should be stocked:

* First Aid manual.

* Sterilized gauze.

* Adhesive tape and bandages in several sizes for various cuts and wounds.

* Antiseptic lotions soap and wipes.

* Superfluous recommended medicines.

* Tweezers.

* Sharp scissors.

* Safety pins.

* Calamine lotion.

* Flashlight, extra batteries and rope.

* Plastic gloves.

* List of emergency phone numbers

* Ample of tissue papers or hand towels.

The above list will be sufficient for starters. But once you get to know through experience on family outings, which member has what specific phobias it will become mandatory for you to include that explicit medicine in your kit for the person.

Kit specifications

Make sure the box, which you use for your First Aid Kit, is preferably a plastic one. It should be big enough to contain all the indispensable items and compact enough to fit into your car or your picnic back. It should be durable, strong, easy to open, offer generous space and be light weight. Do not forget to keep updating the kit at regular intervals. You should keep a regular check on the expiry dates of the medicines you have amassed in it. Refreshing the stock is of utmost important to maintain a fully stocked kit.

Below are more articles to help you

Asthma
Most with asthma have extra- sensitive airways. Triggers like dust, pollens, animals, tobacco smoke and having a work out may make their airways swell and contract, causing wheezing, coughing and difficulty in breathing. Make the person sit comfortably upright. Be calm and supportive to them....more

Basic First Aid
The right treatment at the right time can save a life.

Life is full of uncertainties. Accidents happen uninvited. Providing the right response at the right time can save the victim. Every person should be prepared to face all such incidents. The simple way to handle them is to have he knowledge of the first aid....more

Bee Stings
If you have been stung by a bee, one should follow these instructions. Bees go away leaving behind a stinger attached to a venom sac. Do not try to pull it out as this may discharge more venom;....more

Bleeding
First aid for bleeding is intended to stop the bleeding, prevent infection, and prevent shock. Apply direct pressure on the injury. Use a dressing, if available. If a dressing is not accessible, use a rag, towel, piece of clothing or your hand only. If bleeding continues, and you do not suspect a fracture, raise the wound above the level of the heart and carry on to apply direct pressure....more

Blisters
Most blisters cause no pain unless they crack, exposing tender skin underneath. The burning often associated with these skin lesions is usually not really from the blisters themselves, but from the irritated skin immediately surrounding the blister. Things that should be done is not break open the blister. This can lead to a skin infection. Once the blister opens on its own, antibiotic ointment should be applied on it until it is healed.....more

Bruising
Bruises can last from days to months, with the bone bruise being the most harsh and painful. Bruises are frequently caused by falls, sports injuries, car accidents, or blows received by other people or objects. If you taking a prescribed blood thinner, like aspirin or warfarin, you are expected to bruise more easily....more

Burns
There are many factors to be considered when assessing the severity of a burn and the method of treatment, including the cause of the burn, the depth of the burn, and its extent. The greater the degree of the burn, the more severe the shock will be. Burns also carry a severe risk of infection, which increases according to the size and depth of the burn....more

Choking
Free breathing needs to be restored within four minutes or brain damage could result. As a person will most likely die if breathing is not restored within 8 minutes or less, so there is rarely time to wait for help to arrive. Immediate first aid techniques need to be administered to clear the airway as quickly as possible....more

CPR
CPR (treatment): Another name for Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR (treatment): Emergency resuscitation of both heartbeat and breathing Cardiac arrest and the heart attack are not the same. cardiac arrest is the stoppage of the heart where as a heart attack can result in cardiac arrest, but not all heart attacks do so (e.g. it may cause chest pain instead). Both cardiac arrest and heart attack need emergency immediate professional medical attention....more

Course
In the instance of any calamity every human being should be equipped with the basics of life saving techniques. And this can be only provided by a first aid course....more

Cuts
1. First step is to wash gently around the wound with warm water and soap to remove dirt.
2. Cover the wound with a bandage or a piece of sterile gauze.

Cuts and scrapes can all result in bleeding. Take aspirin or ibuprofen for pain. Be careful when you take the bandage off. Don’t take aspirin everyday because it will cause to blood clotting....more

Electric Shock
The human body conducts electricity, if any part of the body receives an electric shock, the electricity will flow through the tissues without any obstruction depending on the length and severity of the shock.
Everyone has received minor electric shocks sometime or the other, which are not a cause for concern. But once in a while, a lose wire or a faulty household appliance can be very dangerous. Most of the fatal electric shocks happen at home....more

  Fractures
A fracture is any break in the continuity of a bone. Fractures can cause total disability and in rare cases death. They can usually be treated so there is a complete recovery. A great deal also depends upon the first aid the individual receives before they are moved. This includes immobilizing the fractured part in addition to applying other lifesaving measures....more

Poisoning
All poisonings are serious. Some poisonings require immediate attention before calling for help. Check labels for first aid information, and follow it immediately. Speed is crucial....more

Shock
The signs of shock may appear right away or not show up for an hour or more. The signs of shock are: (1) Pale, cool, clammy skin; (2) Weak and rapid pulse and; (3) General body weakness.....more

Snake Bite
Medical professionals may not agree on every point of what to do for snakebite first aid but they are almost unanimous in their opinions of what not to do. Some of them are:

1 Tourniquets should not be applied to affected area. This completely stops blood flow and can result in loss of limb.
2 No cold compressors or ice cubicles should be applied.
3 Never try to draw out venom through mouth.
4 No application of razor or knife should be used on the wound.
5 Nothing should be given to the victim through mouth....more

Travel Kit
When we travel around the world, especially in developing countries, it is always important to have your own sterile first aid equipment as well as standard bandages and dressings. Having these items means that if you have to be treated by a doctor or a dentist you know that they will be operating with surgically sterile needles....more