A little bit of preparation and some handy first aid knowledge can be enough to prevent a tragedy in an emergency, should one arise. And as every mom knows, boo-boos and minor injuries abound in the lives of children, so being first aid-ready is a necessity for all parents. A simple first aid kit is usually all you need – stocked with bandages, gauze, disinfectant and antibacterial products. You can easily assemble your own kit, or buy a pre-packaged kit stocked full of supplies. And if you’re unsure about how to administer first aid or CPR, there are a number of classes you can take to be prepared to handle any situation - from small cuts and bruises to the worst case scenarios.
In an emergency, all you need to do is stabilize the person until professional medical help can arrive on the scene, you are not expected to have the training of an EMT. This article will give you the basic skills to perform minimal first aid and keep an emergency situation under control.
There are three areas of first aid: Breathing, bleeding, and bones. These are the things you should check when you are assisting a patient. Always be sure the person is breathing before moving on to stop any bleeding, then tend to broken bones. The first thing you should upon discovering an emergency situation is to call 911 and request assistance. Then, while help is on the way, you can take time to help the person breathe and stabilize their injuries.
If the patient is not breathing, you will have to perform some basic first aid techniques to help them. Remember the ABC method for dealing with breathing issues: Airway, breathing, and circulation. The first thing to do is check the person’s airway for any debris that may be obstructing it. Make sure he is not choking on his own tongue, which is a common reason for a blocked windpipe. If this is the case, tip the patient’s head backward. This motion will lift the tongue and clear the airway. Otherwise, look around for food or any other items that may have lodged in the victim’s throat.
After clearing the airway, there may be additional first aid required if the patient is still not able to breathe on their own. Here it is best if you have had some CPR training, as it can be dangerous to the victim if you perform it incorrectly. If you must attempt CPR without professional training, keep the B and C parts of your first aid ABCs in mind. You are trying to breathe for the patient and circulate their blood by pumping on their chest. The idea is that you are acting for the parts of their body that are normally automatic, but incapacitated by the emergency.
Once you are sure the patient is breathing and stable, inspect for any signs of bleeding. Of course, you do not want to move an injured person, but you can try to apply a tourniquet to any major wounds. Apply gentle pressure to any minor wounds to stop the bleeding until first aid professionals arrive at your location. You can splint broken bones if it is a simple fracture, but do not move a compound fracture. The sharp ends of the bone may sever arteries and nerves and cause further damage to the patient.
By now, help should be on its way to the scene and your first aid skills should have stabilized your patient. If the person is conscious, try to keep them calm until the medical team arrives. Do not let them stand up and attempt to move, even if they insist they are fine and do not need assistance.
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