Whether the medical community is changing the consensus about the most effective way to save someone’s life, or just misconceptions that have been passed down through the generations, much of what we think we know about providing first aid is outdated or completely wrong.
The following seven mistakes in customer care first aid they range from snake bites to seizures, and some can be the difference between life and death.
First sin in first aid care
move someone hurt: If you see someone who has fallen to the ground, been in a car accident, or been injured in some other way, do not move them unless they are in imminent danger. Don’t put a jacket under his head to make him more comfortable. Don’t try to help him up. Moving an injured person isn’t likely to help, and if they have a spinal injury, it could cause paralysis or even death, so it’s best to wait for the professionals.
Sin number two in first aid care
Rushing to help without checking if it’s safe: When faced with an emergency situation, many brave people jump right into action to save someone else. This may seem noble, but it often does more harm than good. If you jump into the ocean after a drowning victim, there could be two people caught in a rip current for lifeguards to rescue. The same rule applies to houses on fire, highways with heavy traffic, and any other place where there may be danger. Make sure it is safe before taking any action.
Sin number three in first aid care
Sucking out snake bite venom: Should you suck out snake bite venom? Should you make a small cut above the bite first? Should you apply a tourniquet? Should you put ice? Should you try to catch the snake so its venom can be identified? No, you shouldn’t do any of these things. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), If someone has been bitten by a snake, follow the steps below in the following order:
- Lie or sit with the bite in a neutral position of comfort.
- Take off your rings and watches before the swelling starts.
- Wash the bite with soap and water.
- Cover the bite with a clean, dry bandage.
- Mark the edge of the swelling/pain on the skin and write the time next to it.
Sin number four in first aid care
Insist on “word of mouth”: If you think of CPR as a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions, your first aid knowledge is out of date. In most situations, compressions-only CPR is the right thing to do.
According to the American Heart Association, “Hands-only CPR performed by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as breath CPR in the first few minutes of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest.”
The exceptions are drowning victims and people who pass out with breathing problems, but the most common cause of collapse and skipping a heartbeat is cardiac arrest, and for that situation, compressions-only CPR is the way to go.
You don’t even have to know how to do it right: laying someone on their back and pressing their chest to the beat of the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” is better than doing nothing, even though the CPR you learned in a first aid class is Even better.
Sin number five in first aid care
Perform the Heimlich maneuver without patting the back: Another relatively recent change in first aid best practices involves what to do if someone is drowning. Instead of grabbing them from behind and doing the Heimlich maneuver, he starts with back punches. He bends the victim at the waist, stand behind her and deliver five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If that doesn’t dislodge whatever is blocking the windpipe, do the Heimlich maneuver. Repeat the back blows followed by the Heimlich maneuver until you are successful or help arrives.
Sin number six in first aid care
Putting anything in the mouth of a person who is having a seizure: The old response when someone had a seizure was to try to get something into their mouth so they wouldn’t bite their tongue, or to try to hold and immobilize them in some way. Don’t do any of these things. Putting something in the mouth of a person who is having a seizure can result in you being bitten, or the object breaking off and lodging in the victim’s throat, turning a frightening situation into a life-threatening one.
Instead, move furniture or other objects away from the victim and call the Police. People experiencing a seizure may or may not be conscious, so talk to them calmly to reassure them.
Sin number seven in first aid care
Inducing vomiting in a case of poisoning: if someone around you has ingested poison, do not try to induce vomiting. Depending on the type of poison, the vomit can cause more damage, especially if it is strong acid or alkaline. Instead, call poison control or the police, and then try to determine what poison was taken so you can report it to them. If the victim loses consciousness, make sure their airway is clear while you wait for help to arrive.
