Doctor Mercola

The knowledge of basic first aid is often taken for granted. But accidents often strike without warning at home or in the workplace. Injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults. Emergencies may occur when least expected. That is why it’s important for you to learn how to respond to these situations.

Your speedy response may help someone avoid a lengthy stay at the hospital or spell the difference between life and death.

How much do you know about first aid and proper emergency response?

If you think you already know a lot about first aid, think again. You might be surprised to find out that what you’ve learned may actually be myths that could do more harm than good.

Here are some of the most common first aid mistakes and what you should do instead:

1. Burns – When your child accidentally sticks his/her hand on a hot surface, don’t put ice, butter, mayonnaise or any type of grease on the burn because they may cause even more damage to the tender skin. Don’t hurriedly pull off the clothing or other materials stuck to the burn (especially if it’s a serious burn) because doing so could cause damage to the tissue or pull the skin off completely. Don’t cover the burn with a towel or blanket either because the fibers might stick to it. The right thing to do is to gently rinse the burn with cool water and coat it with antibiotic ointment. Head straight to the ER if the burn is on a sensitive area of the body such as the face, eyes, mouth or genitals, or if there are a lot of blisters. Do not pop the blisters. Seek medical attention immediately for electrical burns even if there are no signs of damage. Electrical burns can cause invisible (and serious) injuries deep inside the body.
2. Cut off finger or body part – Wrap the severed part in damp gauze, (you can wet the cloth with a saline solution) put it in a watertight bag and place the bag on ice before taking it to the ER. Apply ice on the wounded area to reduce swelling and cover it with a clean and dry cloth. Do not try to preserve the loose part by placing it directly on ice.
3. Knocked-out teeth – Put the tooth/teeth in milk and go straight to the ER; they could still be reimplanted. Even if it’s dirty, don’t scrub the tooth too hard. A gentle rinse would do.
4. Nose bleeding is not always an emergency. What you should do is to lean forward and pinch your nose close just underneath the bone for five to 10 minutes. Tilting your head all the way back is actually the myth and could be dangerous in cases of heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop quickly. Don’t blow your nose or bend over after you contain the bleeding. Go to the nearest clinic if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes.
5. Ankle sprains – are common injuries which don’t really need medical attention. Don’t use heat pads or apply heat because it will only increase the swelling and may slow down the healing process. It’s best to put the sprained ankle on ice.
6. Children overdosing on vitamins – Those Flintstones chewable vitamins are tempting for children. If your three-year-old gets a hold of the bottle and eats the entire bunch, don’t assume that he/she will be healthy for a couple of weeks. Children die each year due to iron overdose and children’s vitamins are a main source of iron. Call poison control immediately. Different actions will be taken depending on what was swallowed. Remain calm so you can clearly describe what was ingested and hear what you are instructed to do for your child. Seek medical help as soon as possible. Using Ipecac syrup is no longer considered a safe medical intervention because some poisons can actually be made worse by vomiting. Also, a patient vomiting can seriously interfere with treatment once they are at the hospital. Bring the container of the ingested substance when you go to ER.
7. Choking – Your response depends entirely on whether the person choking is still able to talk or cannot make any sound. It’s just a partial blockage if he/she is coughing violently and can still speak. If he/she is already turning blue and can only nod their head, it’s most likely a full blockage and will require the Heimlich maneuver, a series of under-the-diaphragm abdominal thrusts that will force air up through the body and help dislodge whatever is choking the victim. In the case of a partial blockage, encourage him/her to continue coughing. You do not need to take any action unless he/she starts to have trouble breathing trouble or turns blue. Do not give him/her anything to drink – this is a common mistake – because the fluid will take up what little space is left for air to pass through. Apply the Heimlich maneuver if it turns to a full blockage. However, do not attempt the Heimlich maneuver on a child less than a year old.
8. Extremely high fever – Put the child in a cool (but not cold) bath. If the child is old enough for medication, you can give him/her some Tylenol for children to help break the fever. Rubbing a child’s chest or forehead with rubbing alcohol is not a proper course of action. Your child may inhale the alcohol, which is not healthy for his/her young body. The old wives’ tale of sweating out a fever is also not a good idea. If you cannot get the fever down or if it rises to above 104 Fahrenheit, take your child to the nearest doctor.
9. Seizures – One of the most common first aid mistakes is trying to force the mouth of someone who’s just suffered a seizure open. Never put anything in the victim’s mouth. Also, prying open the victim’s mouth could lead to other injuries such as muscle tear. You should only move the victim of a seizure if he/she is in an unsafe place. The best thing to do would be to call 911 immediately and try to roll the victim to his/her side in an open space while waiting for help. You can also unbutton the top of the victim’s shirt to help him/her breathe. Try to time the seizure activity as well. If the victim is an epileptic, you only need to call 911 if the seizures last for more than five minutes.
10. Snake bites – We’ve seen a lot of this in action movies but avoid the urge to rip off your shirt and wrap the wound or suck out the poison and spit it on the ground. It’s also not a smart idea to cut the wound open to drain the poison.

These myths are all quite dangerous and could lead to more injury. You may slice tendons or nerves if you cut the wound even slightly. Tourniquets are also no good because they often lead to the blood circulation being cut off and could lead to the loss of a limb. The safest response is to immediately splint the wound or wrap it in something clean and take the victim to the ER as soon as possible.

Any of these emergencies could happen at any given time. You might be the only person around to help someone in need. Knowing the difference between treatment myths and legitimate first aid measures may help prevent further damage and permanent disability.

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