When we talk about first aid, it’s so often reduced to a few simple activities, such as applying ice to a sprain or bandaging a cut, and those are important skills. The bigger problem is that most people don’t receive much first aid education beyond those elementary skills – anything more serious, and we’re simply told to call 911. What do you do, then, if you have to take care of someone with a serious injury while waiting for first responders? Would you know what to do?
While there will always be situations in which bystanders are ultimately helpless, most of the time there are at least a few simple steps you can take that will make a difference. By mastering these 3 important first aid skills, you’ll be better able to assess and respond to serious injuries or illnesses while you wait for help.
Seizure Smarts
About 10% people will have a seizure at some point in their lives, most often during childhood illness, and slightly more than 1% of Americans have active epilepsy. This may seem like a lot, but the good news is that most of the time, seizures aren’t serious. That doesn’t mean they aren’t scary for bystanders who are unfamiliar with them, though.
If you witness someone having a seizure, your first response should be to take a few simple steps. First, help them to the ground if they are upright; if you have a jacket or sweatshirt, put it under their head. Make sure to clear the area around them and, if possible, turn them on their side. Then, start timing the seizure and call 911. It’s also important that you don’t put anything in the person’s mouth or hold them down.
Finally, after the seizure is over, it can take people some time to become reoriented. Talk to them calmly and wait for them to become reoriented. If they don’t need emergency attention, then once they can communicate to you what they need, they’ll give you cues as to how you can help.
Bandage A Bleed
Even small children can treat minor scrapes and cuts, but more profuse bleeding can cause people to become upset or even faint. Panicking won’t help anyone, especially if someone has been injured in a particularly dangerous spot, such as near a major artery. If you are in or witness an accident and someone is experiencing major bleeding, then, what should you do?
Typically, the first line of response and the thing you’re most likely to have access to, are bandages or fabric that you can use to apply a makeshift pressure dressing. You’ll want to elevate the injury and then wrap it tightly to slow the bleeding, but not so tightly that you cut off circulation to the area. Even once it’s bandaged, you should keep the area elevated. You may even want to have the injured person lie down with the affected area elevated, since blood loss can cause them to feel dizzy or weak.
If the injury is very severe, a pressure dressing may not be enough to control the bleeding until help arrives. In such situations, you may want to apply a tourniquet – essentially a wrap that significantly reduces circulation to prevent a deadly hemorrhage. Most people don’t know how to do this, and it’s a skill best learned in a first aid class where you can practice treating wounds on a mannequin. It’s also important to have training or consult a 911 operator before applying a tourniquet, as improper use can seriously and unnecessarily damage the limb and even result in amputation.
Monitor Mental Health
Did you know that mental health first aid is as important as such interventions for physical health? It’s true, and proper mental health first aid training will give you skills above and beyond those you use to care for your mental health on a day-to-day basis. Rather, these are skills that you can use to assist someone having a major mental health crisis, such as a manic episode, suicidal ideation, or psychosis.
There is a growing movement to teach people the key skills involved in mental health first aid, but it’s still a new one with limited reach. Those who have learned the basics, however, are better equipped to provide initial mental health interventions, assess the crisis, identify community supports, and even diffuse potentially dangerous situations. Most importantly, like first aid for physical injuries, knowing what to do when someone else is having a mental health crisis could save a life.
First aid is much more complex than what we learn as children in scouts or through the Red Cross, and everyone should be encouraged to hone their first aid skills. In the face of an emergency, you’ll need all the knowledge and practice you can get to keep your cool and offer help.
Photo Credit
Image by hoangcuonghmu from Pixabay
Guest Author Bio
Jamie Lansley
Jamie is a freelance writer who covers trends in business, technology, and health. She loves to go skiing, camping, and rock climbing with her family.
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