6 Basic First Aid Procedures You Need To Know

Basic knowledge of first aid could be a lifesaver at the time of crisis, either outside or at home. It can buy you time until the paramedics arrive and can administer professional medical treatment. First aid could be as simple as placing a person in the correct posture to facilitate breathing or could require a little more skill, such as providing CPR to someone who has stopped breathing. 

Here are six important first aid procedures that everyone should know.

First aid for cardiac arrest

Whether you are trained or not, begin chest compressions, hard and fast in the centre of the chest with recoils in between compressions. The most important medical procedure of all is Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A person suffering from a cardiac arrest will die if CPR is not performed. Therefore, it is important to review the basics of CPR.

As the procedure has changed many times over the past few years, it’s strongly recommended to take a CPR class. A hands-on class is the best way to learn how to perform CPR. You can also perform CPR using an automated external defibrillator (AED), which is available in many public areas.  Taking American Heart Association ACLS Certification Courses Near Me could help you perfect your understanding.

First aid for bleeding

Irrespective of the severity, you can control bleeding of all types. So, make sure to focus on this aspect first in case of any accident involving blood loss. Uncontrolled severe bleeding could lead to shock and even death if not dealt with promptly.

You can apply these first aid techniques to anyone who might be bleeding:

• Use a piece of cloth or gauze to cover the wound.
• Apply pressure on the wound to restrict blood flow.
• Without removing the cloth, add more layers, if needed. The cloth will reduce the blood flow and aid in clotting.

First aid for burns

The first thing to do while treating a burn is to reduce the burning. In the case of heat-related burns, apply running water to cool the affected area. For sunburns, take the victim indoors or use a cover to protect the victim from the sun. You should see a doctor or call emergency services for serious burns. 

First aid for fractures

Until you can get an X-ray, it is advisable to treat all extreme injuries like fractures or broken bones. Since we don’t have X-ray vision it’s best to treat it like it’s broken. Follow these steps for a suspected fracture:

• Do not try to straighten the injured body part.
• Use a splint or padding to stabilise the affected area, but do not move it.
• Use a cold pack to reduce swelling and relieve pain, though do not place ice directly on your skin.
• Keep the affected body part elevated.

First aid for sprains

First aid for sprains should be the same as for broken bones as the symptoms for both are exactly the same. Stop moving the affected area and apply a cold pack. If it’s a limb elevate it, apply a cold pack and take an anti-inflammatory drug. Make sure to see a doctor for further treatment.

First aid for nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are common and can happen due to many reasons — trauma from a bump or fall, an infection of the nasal lining, nose picking, and so on.  

To stop a nosebleed, you should follow these first aid tips:

• Do not lean back. Rather, lean slightly forward.
• Make sure you pinch the bridge of your nose and not lower down at your nostrils.
• If bleeding does not stop in five minutes, continue pinching the bridge of your nose and check again after 10 minutes.
• Pinch your nose while you apply a cold pack to the bridge of your nose.

From a minor injury to a major one, the need for first aid and presence of mind can go a long way in saving lives. Through first aid, you can revive or stabilise a person, or buy precious seconds for the victim until help arrives. This is why a first aid course could save a life and help you in more ways than one.

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