First Aid

First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can prevent injury and death during disasters and everyday medical emergencies. Teaching these techniques multiplies their success, thus...

There is little that can ruin a pleasant outdoor activity like an emergency situation that results in someone getting injured. While you should always be prepared with a first aid kit if you are...

Every family should have a first aid kit of some kind in their home and in their cars. It should include medication for the simple problems (head ache, papercuts) to more serious injuries...

Many of us may know how to treat a burn—but what about the blister that so often follows a burn? Because it’s important to treat the burn before the blister, this article will show you how to...

The neck is a part of the body that people often take for granted until it sustains some kind of injury. After an emergency--such as a fall (the leading cause of neck injury) or a car...

Proof of the germ theory of disease in the late 1800s set off a search for "the magic bullet" that would kill pathogenic microorganisms without harming the patient. That anti-bacterial...

Some hobbies are inherently more dangerous than others, and any hobby that includes power tools with sharp saw blades certainly should be in that category. Many times a woodworking shop is in a...

The cold has been around so long that it is even named the "common cold." However, it can hold dangers, so take it seriously when you or someone you know catches one.

Nosebleeds can be a pretty common mishap, and they're fairly to care for and stop.

When an individual chokes, a foreign object can become lodged in their windpipe or throat. This blocks the flow or air and can cut off oxygen to their brain or kill them. So it's important to act...

The kitchen is full of ways to burn yourself. Touch a hot stove, drop the coffee pot, or stand too close to a saucepan about to boil over, and you could get a serious burn. Some kitchen burns are...

Tearing a contact lens is a terrible feeling. It distorts your vision, interrupts whatever you were doing and causes pain and sometimes even panic. Torn lenses are useless, and removing them...

According to UAB Medicine, a medical journal, there are more than 10 million sports-related injuries each year. About 95 percent of these injuries are minor, consisting of sprains, scrapes, cuts,...

You've got the sore, tender feeling and the great story about fending off a dozen ninjas, but your bruise just doesn't look impressive enough. Everyone knows a bruise can make you look tough -...

Lifeguards are responsible to oversee the waters, whether that's the ocean or a swimming pool. It is their duty to recognize an emergency as quickly as possible and when noticed, they need to know...

A first-aid kit is one of the most simple, yet essential, tools for the car, workplace and home. You can buy a first-aid kit, especially if the kit is approved by a body like the Red Cross, or you...

When wrapping a leg in an Ace bandage, use an overlapping technique for added support and check the victim's toes for warmth to make sure it is not wrapped too tightly. Support a leg injury using...

Begin above the injury when wrapping a hand with an Ace bandage to ensure the injured area is thoroughly supported. Wrap a hurt wrist securely, but avoid wrapping it too tightly, with help from a...

Wrapping a foot using an Ace bandage is appropriate when the foot is merely sprained and does not require medical attention. Wrap the Ace bandage securely around the injured area with help from a...

An Ace bandage might be wrapped too tightly around a hand or foot if there is skin discoloration around the edges of the bandage or if the fingers begin to get cold and tingly. Master wrapping an...

Using an Ace bandage to wrap a wrist helps to limit movement and offers support for the joint to heal. Include the wrist and forearm when wrapping a wrist with help from a certified health and...

Wrapping a shoulder using an Ace bandage requires that the victim remain completely still while wrapping the bandage around the shoulder and under the arm, across the chest and around the back....

Athletic tape is used to wrap an injured wrist, and keeping the victim's wrist in a neutral position while wrapping ensures that the injury will heal properly. Use an overlapping technique with...

When wrapping a knee using athletic tape, it is important to first apply a thin layer of pre-wrap to protect the skin from the sticky side of the tape. Protect a hurt knee by wrapping it securely...

Treating a pulled quad with athletic tape supports the muscle and help it heal quicker. Wrap a thin layer of pre-wrap around the thigh underneath overlapping layers of athletic tape with help from...

Wrapping up an injured ankle using athletic tape keeps the ankle stable and prevents further injury. Apply a layer of pre-wrap or foam before applying the tape around the ankle with help from a...

To treat a fractured wrist, wrap the arm in something that acts as a splint, such as a magazine, which keeps the arm from moving and causing further injury. Keep a fractured wrist still until...

When treating minor burns on the skin, use ice, cool water or a cold pack to cool down the affected area. Understand the different burn degrees of severity with helpful information from a public...

The main objective when treating a knife wound is to stop or slow the bleeding until EMS arrives. Use sterile gauze and direct pressure to stop the bleeding from a knife laceration with helpful...

Cleansing wounds is important to prevent infection and promote thorough healing. Use clean water, mild soap and an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to completely clean and protect a wound with...

If a finger is severed, first aid treatment should include recovering the finger, applying gauze to the hand to stop the bleeding, cleaning the severed finger and putting it on indirect ice....

The best first aid treatment for someone who may be suffering from a heart attack is to call 9-1-1 immediately and keep the patient comfortable until EMS arrives. Get a heart attack victim in an...

When making a first aid kit for the home or inside a car, be sure to include gauze pads, Band-Aids, dull-pointed scissors and hot or cold packs. Create a basic kits for minor emergencies with...

When a diabetic requires first aid, the treatment depends on whether he is hypoglycemic, meaning low in sugar, or hyperglycemic, meaning high in sugar. Understand the two distinct first aid...

Basic first aid treatments for cuts and lacerations include rinsing the wound with mild soap, blotting the area dry, applying pressure with a gauze pad and wrapping the pad and wound using medical...

The different types of dressings and bandages used in first aid include large absorbent pads, gauze squares, Band-Aids, adhesive wraps and Ace bandages. Identify various wound dressings found in a...

Becoming a certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor involves first becoming certified as a rescuer, followed by contacting a variety of instructor certifying agencies like the American...

When treating any kind of poisoning, the best first aid procedure is to call 9-1-1 and the national poison control hotline immediately, where a poison control specialist will offer treatment...

The most effective first aid treatment for a choking victim is the Heimlich maneuver, which helps to push the esophagus and trachea upward and expel any obstruction. Perform the Heimlich maneuver...

The first aid treatment for wounds varies depending on the type of wound, as bruises, cuts, lacerations and scrapes each require different treatment. Discover the different ways to treat a wound...

A seizure can be recognized as the entire body shaking violently, one side of the body shaking, a single extremity shaking or the eyeballs jerking back and forth. Identify the various types of...

The proper first aid treatment for hypothermia involves calling 9-1-1 immediately and keeping the patient as warm as possible. Use warm, dry towels, blankets and sheets to keep a hypothermia...

The proper first aid for a seizure is to eliminate obstacles and obstructions that could cause secondary injuries, place something soft under the patient's head, monitor the patient's breathing...

Treating a mini-stroke revolves around keeping the patient comfortable, leaning his head back to facilitate better airflow and calling 9-1-1. React properly if someone exhibits symptoms of a...

The job of an emergency medical technician consists of performing CPR, splinting injuries, using hydraulic and other pressurized equipment, deliver babies, control bleeding and a variety of other...

An air ambulance transfer might be necessary for a life-threatening emergency, and medical helicopters require at least a 100-square-foot area to land during daylight hours. Call an aeromedical to...

The first signs of a stroke include overall weakness, confusion, loss of control on one side of the body and drooping facial features. Call 9-1-1 after identifying a stroke with helpful...

The proper first aid treatment for someone in shock includes calling 9-1-1, keeping the patient still in case of any spinal injury, elevating the feet to keep the blood circulating through the...

IV lines deliver liquids and medications to the body. They are made from small, flexible tubing that's attached on one end to a bag of fluid and to a small needle inserted into a vein on the other...

This is a quick way to get someone to throw up if there is an emergency such as someone swallows something that could poison them or even pills that could make them overdose. It should take less...