When accidents and emergencies happen, having emergency medical gear training, as well as a knowledge of basic first aid, can be life-saving. There are many common accidents and emergency situations that have simple solutions which can help someone survive until professional medical help arrives.
These five simple first aid tips should help anyone act in an emergency, and could be the difference between life and death for a loved one, or a stranger.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a vital first aid skill that is responsible for saving countless numbers of lives. Learning CPR is a part of every first aid course, and successfully applying CPR can be the difference between life and death.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation is often used when someone has suffered a heart attack, or cardiac arrest, and can be used to keep their heart beating and blood oxygenated while waiting for professional medical help. Chest pains can often be a sign of heart problems or an imminent cardiac arrest, but there are also some more common causes of chest pain that people should be aware of which can be treated before CPR becomes necessary.
The Heimlich Maneuver
Choking is a very common problem and causes many deaths every year, often in social settings like parties, cookouts, and restaurants.
The Heimlich Maneuver can quickly and simply save lives and prevent choking deaths when applied correctly. It is suitable to use on both adults and children, though other techniques are more suitable for small children and infants.
Stopping Bleeding
For small cuts, pressure and elevation are the best treatment. By applying pressure to a wound, you reduce the amount of blood loss while the body begins clotting the blood and helping to stem the flow of blood naturally. Elevating the wound also helps this process by making it harder for blood to reach the wound and flow outside the body.
Deeper cuts and lacerations may require a tourniquet to be applied to prevent blood from reaching the affected area and therefore prevent a large amount of blood loss.
Learn How to Use an ‘EpiPen’
Many people suffer from allergies to all kinds of things, and when they suffer an allergic reaction it may put them in a state of ‘anaphylaxis’, which is a severe allergic reaction that can cause death in minutes.
People who have these types of allergies, such as a nut allergy or bee-sting allergy, will carry an EpiPen with them in case of emergencies. This simple device contains a dose of epinephrine, which can stop anaphylaxis in seconds. While suffering an attack, however, they may not be able to administer it to themselves, so knowing how to do it for them can be life-saving.
Knowing first aid and what to do in an emergency, while acting calmly and effectively, is a skill that can save lives. Whether you are a concerned parent or someone who works in public spaces, you should know some basic first aid skills so you can act in an emergency and help keep someone alive until professional medical help arrives. Hopefully, these four tips will help you know what to do if an accident happens.
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