Common First Aid Mistakes

Efficiency of first aid actions along with their correctness – the basic conditions in which you can save the health and even life of the victim. Mistakes in first aid sometimes do more harm than inaction. That is why estet-portal.com seeks to dispel the most common misconceptions that often cause the condition of the injured person to worsen, and also to tell you how to behave if the health and / or life of your neighbor is in danger.

First Aid Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Below, we'll look at common first aid mistakes that people often make when trying to help an injured person.

1. Importance of immobilization

Excessive body movements of the victim, for example, in an accident, a person can be fraught with disability. If you are faced with a case when a person fell from a height or had an accident, remember that you can drag such a person from the scene only in case of direct physical danger: fire, flood, hurricane, collapsing building, etc. If the person is not in danger, it is better to leave him in place until the ambulance arrives – otherwise, such an error in first aid can even be fatal, for example, in the event of a heart attack, stroke or serious injury.

2. What to do with dislocations and fractures?

Even if you are absolutely sure that the victim has a dislocated limb, you should not set it yourself. You cannot see what is really going on inside, and you cannot know for sure if you have corrected the position of the bones. Without an x-ray, no qualified specialist will start such actions. The most reasonable way out, which helps to avoid mistakes in first aid in such situations: call an ambulance or a trip to the emergency room.

As for the splints, they also need to be applied wisely: in case of a fracture, do not straighten the limb if it does not give in, and the victim is writhing in pain. It is better to immobilize the limb in a position convenient for the injured person. Do not forget that it is necessary to immobilize not only the fracture site, but also two (sometimes three) joints that are located closest to the injured area.

3. Harnesses

First aid errors often result in improper application of the tourniquet. In this regard, experts recommend in cases where there is no profuse arterial bleeding, apply a tight bandage, bend the limb in the joint located above the damaged blood vessel. And if the dressings are not changed, but applied to each other as necessary, doctors will be able to assess the amount of blood lost.

If the problem is worse – the same arterial bleeding, in which blood literally gushes, it is important to quickly pinch the injury site with your fingers, and not waste precious time looking for a tourniquet. If the tourniquet is at hand, remember that the time of its application should not exceed 1 hour in winter and 1.5 & ndash; 2 in summer. In general, it is better to loosen the tourniquet every 20 minutes so that blood can flow into the limb.

4. Nosebleed

With this kind of bleeding, people often throw their heads back. Why shouldn't this be done? First, it makes it difficult to see if the bleeding has stopped. Secondly, blood entering the stomach can lead to hematemesis. Therefore, when bleeding from the nose, it is better to tilt your head slightly forward and insert a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide into the nostril or nostrils.

5. Careful with medicines

Remember: if a person becomes ill, taking the wrong medication can make the situation worse. Doctors warn that the same medicine can affect different people in different ways: allergic reactions, intolerance to ingredients, side effects from the drug, as well as errors in diagnosis can lead to the most deplorable consequences. If the victim knows for sure that in the current critical situation he needs to take a certain drug – act, otherwise refrain from self-treatment if possible.

6. Should I induce vomiting?

Unlike poisoning with other substances or products, poisoning with caustic substances (acids or alkalis) cannot be vomited. In other cases, when vomiting, it is better to use ordinary warm water, without resorting to potassium permanganate and other auxiliary substances.

7. Burns and wounds

Common mistakes in first aid for burns:

• lubrication of the burn with oil or fat;
• treatment of the affected area with alcohol;
• treatment of a fresh burn with panthenol, etc.

What to do with a burn? Cool with cold water for 10-15 minutes.

In the case of deep wounds, it is not necessary to pour alcohol, iodine, brilliant green into the wound itself. Hydrogen peroxide works best for this.

8. If a person chokes

In such cases, it is better that the choked person, if possible, lean forward and take a few sharp exhalations. You can also, grabbing a person from behind under the armpits, put pressure on the solar plexus. Slapping on the back is not the best strategy, as there is a risk of a piece of food or other object getting deeper into the victim's airway.

9. Cardial massage

Chest compressions are used when a person's heart is not beating. In other cases, such a measure of first aid is absolutely not needed. If such an event is necessary, care must be taken not to overdo it and break the victim's ribs.

10. To extract or not to extract?

The first thought that comes to mind when a person sees a knife in the chest of a neighbor is – take it out. However, it is better not to remove objects from a serious wound on your own – bleeding may open, which you will not be able to stop. Better wait for the experts.

Remember that first aid mistakes, despite your best intentions, can cause even more harm to the victim. If you are not a qualified specialist, have not undergone special training, it is better not to make unnecessary movements and conclusions without extreme necessity – wait for the ambulance.