When it comes to handling life-threatening situations demanding urgent care from lay responders, we often think it’s easy, as in movies or shows. That’s one of the most common first aid misconceptions lay responders have that makes them unsuccessful in giving urgent care to patients in need. However, performing first aid care as the primary source of urgent care in real life can be scary. It demands attention and gentleness in urgent care to the patient as the first helper in sight.
First aid or urgent care procedures change over time. Certain illnesses, wounds, or afflictions need precise first aid, especially when the victim has to be treated at home. Unfortunately, because of the first aid myths, that help does not come easy to the injured person. That’s why we want to try debunking myths about first aid today. The facts about first aid treatments will improve your chances of saving lives, even in the most life-threatening situations.
Most Common First Aid Emergencies
Know the typical first aid emergencies below to treat the patient right when you encounter one. Additionally, after a First Aid Certification Online course, you can remain calm in most critical medical emergencies. Those learnings from a nationally accepted course help you save lives like a savior. Here are the most common first aid emergencies:
- Burns
- Heart attack
- Major cuts
- Heat stroke
- Fractures
- Snake bite/insect stings
- Choking
- Seizures
10 First Aid Myths That Cost Lives And What You Should Do?
Debunking myths about first aid is necessary. You can then treat a patient accurately, even for severe wounds and medical emergencies listed above. Read the first aid misconceptions below with the right solutions.
Myth 1: Butter works best on burns
What should you do?
Run cool water over the burn. It will ease the pain. After the cooling sensation starts, switch off the water. Dry the burnt area. If the blisters over the burn change color, you need immediate/emergency treatment.
Myth 2: Mouth-to-mouth is necessary for performing CPR
What should you do?
The AHA concludes that chest compressions work as fine as mouth-to-mouth CPR with chest compressions for rescue breathing. The trainers call it hands-only CPR.
Myth 3: Heat the sprain to treat it better
What should you do?
Heat is soothing to ache muscle pain. But it isn’t right for sprains. Putting heat on the sprain will increase the swelling. Instead, apply an ice pack or cube for 20 minutes. Use a towel or cloth to protect the affected area from the direct impact of the cold.
Myth 4: Alcohol brings down fever
What should you do?
Rubbing alcohol on the skin of children and infants can cause alcohol poisoning. Instead, call your medical healthcare provider for prescribed medicine.
Myth 5: Rub eyes to get rid of a thing that makes them itch
What should you do?
You might have dirt or dust in your eyes slipped down from the bridge of the nose. Rubbing any such particle can damage the eye and its parts. Instead, cleanse your eye with lukewarm water. Seek emergency treatment when the itching doesn’t stop.
Myth 6: Coffee grounds can stop the bleeding
What should you do?
Coffee grounds make the wounded area harder to clean. That’s why this is one of the common first aid misconceptions to debunk. Instead, you need to apply downward pressure with a thick and sterile gauze on the wound. Wrap the gauze around the wound when the bleeding stops.
Myth 7: Use hot water on the frozen skin
What should you do?
Hot water has risks of damaging the skin. Instead, move the limb around and let the skin thaw naturally. Get a warm water bath for better results. Avoid hot water.
Myth 8: Tilt the head to stop the nosebleed
What should you do?
Tilting the head leads the blood to flow directly into the airway and the digestive tract. That causes nausea and leads to choking. Instead, lean forward. Pinch your nostrils slightly and apply cold at your nose bridge. It will slow down the bleeding.
Myth 9: Put raw meat on a black eye
What should you do?
An injured person with a black mustn’t use raw meat slab. It’s the home for bacteria and can lead to further medical emergencies. Instead, put a cold compress on the blackened eye of the injured person and let the swelling thaw naturally.
Myth 10: Stick your finger inside the mouth of a person who is choking
What should you do?
If you do that, the airway will swell, and breathing becomes a challenging task for the patient. This could be an extremely dangerous step. Instead, bend the patient forward from the waist. Give them 4-5 back blows using your hand’s heel. This will help open the airway and get the thing out of the mouth causing the person to choke.
Conclusion:
Learning the first aid basics is important to deal with first aid medical emergencies listed above, especially when the patient has no option but to be treated at home. You need to be prepared to save their life and help them recover fast before advanced medical help arrives.
Enroll in our First Aid Certification Online course to find the right and accurate information. All our courses offer group discounts. Our OSHA-certified trainers ensure to debunk common first aid misconceptions with this comprehensive course. All chapters in the first aid course by American HealthCare Academy are easy to learn at your own pace. Register today and learn this course. You never know when somebody needs a little help from you to save their life.
