When it comes to first aid, we associate it with emergency situations like car accidents, stings or bites from dangerous animals, or someone having a heart attack. But first aid can also help with common injuries and illnesses in non-emergency situations. Many of these injuries or illnesses are easily treatable if given the right care in the right way quickly.Emergency first aid is not the same as medical care. While it does help people in an urgent state of need, it is not meant to replace actual medical care once an emergency has ended. Rather, emergency first aid is meant to help stabilize someone who is suffering from an imminent threat. In other words, if someone calls for emergency help because they are having a stroke or are drowning and need help immediately, that’s when you would use first aid – not when they have a headache and you can’t find the aspirin bottle.

Why is knowing these injuries important?

The more you know about first aid, the more prepared you are for any first aid situation. When you are fully trained in first aid, you can assist people who are suffering from any injury or illness anywhere at any time. Knowing these injuries helps you to determine the best way to treat someone in case you come across them in your everyday life.If you know how to help someone who has a head injury, you can provide assistance even if you are not at home and don’t have the right tools. If you know how to help someone who has trouble breathing, you can help them even if you’re in the middle of the desert.

Sprains and Strains

If someone has a sprain or strain, you can use splints or bandages to support the injured area. You can also use ice or hot water treatment depending on whether the injury is an acute sprain or a more chronic strain. If the sprain or strain is in the lower back, you can use a backboard to transport the person to a medical professional.

Cuts and Lacerations

You can use gauze or a bandage to cover a cut or laceration to help stop the bleeding. You can also cover the wound with petroleum jelly or moleskin to keep the wound from getting irritated or infected. It’s best to leave a cut or laceration untreated until you can properly clean it and disinfect it. This will help prevent the wound from getting infected.

Breathing Problems

If someone is having trouble breathing, you can use the “5-2-1” method to help them. Count to 5 in your head to calm them and put them in a comfortable position. After a few moments, if they are still struggling, ask them if they can feel you touching their chest. If they say yes, you can give them two breaths. If they continue to struggle, ask them if they can feel you give them one more breath. If they can’t take the breath, you should call EMS immediately.

Exposure to Cold

If someone is exposed to the cold for a sustained period of time, you can help warm them up by using electric heating pads, hot baths or hot water bottles. If the person is suffering from hypothermia, you can wrap them in a warm blanket or place them in a sleeping bag. The best way to warm a person who is not hypothermic is to wrap them in a blanket and have them sit by a heat source.

Cardiac Arrest

If someone has a cardiac arrest, you should call 911 immediately. You can use compressions to the chest to help force blood back up into the heart. You can also give the person artificial respiration to help the heart to continue pumping blood. You can try to use an AED if you have access to it.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, there are many injuries and illnesses that can be treated with first aid. However, you should always check with a medical professional before treating someone if you suspect that they are having a more serious emergency. It is important to know these injuries so that you are prepared in case they happen to you or someone you know.