First Aid

As warm weather returns humans head into the wilderness to camp and hike. Encroachment by humans into rapidly shrinking bear habitats have led to more frequent confrontations between bears and...

When treating a sprained wrist, elevate the injury above the chest, apply a cold compress and apply pressure to the affected area with an elastic bandage to support the sprain. Reduce swelling and...

Chiggar bites are recognized as small red bites with intense itching. Identify chigger bites with tips from a firefighter in this free first aid video.

When removing a tick, grab its head with a pair of tweezers. Prepare for a camping trip by watching this free first-aid video from a professional fireman.

Contact lens wearers sometimes have the misfortune of having a lens slide out of place on the eyeball. This is not a pleasant experience! There are some things you can do to remove the stuck or...

By donating blood, you can save a life. That's a powerful and true fact. Blood donation is needed more than ever, and it's needed in every city and town in the country. No matter where you are,...

Habañeros, jalapeños, Thai peppers --while they add a delicious kick to your meal, they can leave behind a burning sensation that lasts for 10 hours or more. Hot peppers contain...

Heart attacks are a common cause of death. While nothing may be able to prevent an impending heart attack, a quick course of action from a bystander may help prevent death. Take immediate steps...

Hypoglycemia is a condition of low blood sugar. It affects many people, not just those with diabetes. Knowing how to properly treat hypoglycemia will help keep you and those around you safe.

With over 20 years experience as a firefighter/paramedic, I came across many patients who seemed unconsious but were found to be either sleeping or having behavioural issues. Here's a few easy...

Learn how to use a tourniquet for injured, bleeding areas in this free video clip about basic first aid training.

Learn how to stop bleeding in this free online video clip on basic first aid & emergency medical treatment.

Learn how to clean a wound in this free online video clip on basic first aid & emergency medical treatment.

Learn how to know different burn types and the proper techniques for caring for burns and get expert tips and instruction for applying basic first aid, CPR, and other emergency medical treatment...

Learn how to create an anatomical splint to treat a fracture or broken bone and get expert tips and instruction for applying basic first aid, CPR, and other emergency medical treatment in this...

Learn how to follow basic rules when calling 911 after a medical emergency and get expert tips and instruction for applying basic first aid, CPR, and other emergency medical treatment in this free...

When a person sustains a head injury, swelling of the brain can result. If the injury is severe enough, a person could experience contusions (brusing) or even a blood clot otherwise called a...

Here you will learn how simple it really is to fix a burnt tongue. Whether its from biting into a piece of fried chicken that smelled so good you couldn't wait for it to cool down- or because you...

Got a splinter? Can't find tweezers? I've got an idea that may be just what you need. It works better with my kids than tweezers.

Maybe Fluffy didn't really mean to do it. Maybe Tiger was a bit temperamental today and before you knew it, zas!, you go ouch when you feel a sudden pierce on your skin. Here are a few simple...

Ouch! You or your child hurt yourself and now there is blood and skin and someone is about to swoon. This is not the time to panic. Slow down, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself and prepare...

Cuts and scrapes happen often, especially to active children and sometimes to clumsy adults. Generally cuts can be treated at home effectively, but more severe cuts may require medical attention....

Chemicals are very dangerous substances that can have untoward effects when used improperly or when they are involved in an accidental spill. Some chemicals may not cause instant harm but can...

When treating any minor cut or laceration, you must first and foremost stop the bleeding. In most cases, a minor wound will begin to clot with steady pressure and a little time. Use the following...

From small children to elderly grandparents, cuts and scrapes are a fact of life. Knowing how to take care of them is vital when you're trying to fight infection.

If someone faints in your presence, you should know how to react to prevent injury and address first aid needs. Once you secure the person, you can ascertain if professional assistance is needed.

The world moves at a grinding pace and emergencies happen in the blink of an eye. Whether they're weather related, the result of an accident or a deliberate act, civilians are working with...

Whether you are a trained professional or a good Samaritan bystander, when you respond to the scene of an accident, you must remember your ABCs. A: Establish an airway for the victim. B: Check for...

Sleeping on a hot night without air-conditioning can be tough. As you toss and turn in the futile pursuit of a more comfortable position, you only become increasingly restless, and hence, hotter....

Bee stings hurt, but they’re more annoying and painful than anything else, and won’t cause additional complications unless you’re allergic to them. If you’re allergic to bee stings, immediate...

It's amazing how much a tiny sliver of wood, glass or fiberglass can hurt when it lodges in your skin. Remove a splinter promptly to reduce discomfort and the chance of infection.

A meal can turn into a sudden emergency when a food particle becomes trapped in a person's airway, making it impossible for him to breathe or speak. Sometimes the individual will put his hand on...

Information about illness or injuries can be gathered by asking the injured person a series of questions regarding things that can't easily be observed. Pass this information on to medical...

Properly dressing and bandaging a wound will aid in the healing process and help prevent infection and scarring.

Do not remove objects that are impaled in the body unless the object is obstructing the airway. Removing the object may cause severe bleeding. The wound from an impaled object can still be treated...

Amputation is the complete severing of a body part from the body. This is a major traumatic injury, and the injured person must be treated for shock and evacuated from the backcountry immediately....

Sharp objects such as nails or fishhooks cause puncture wounds when they penetrate the skin. Puncture wounds require special attention because bleeding is usually minimal and the risk of infection...

If you recognize someone as severely hypothermic, his or her life is in serious danger. Begin treatment right away to prevent worsening of the condition.

A baby needs a bulb syringe when the nose is too congested to allow nursing or taking the bottle, or if milk or mucus in the baby's mouth causes gagging or choking. Follow these easy steps to...

If someone who you suspect has a spinal injury (see "Rule out a Spinal Cord Injury") needs to be moved onto an insulating pad or litter, logrolling is the easiest and safest way to do so.

Once a rescuer has deemed an emergency scene safe (see "How to Maximize the Safety of an Emergency Scene"), he or she should identify and fix the most serious problems before moving on to the...

If you are the only rescuer of an unconscious person and have to leave for whatever reason, put the person in the recovery position in case he or she vomits while you are away.

Dislocations of fingers and toes are common, but very painful. It's often relatively easy for a rescuer to put these digits back into place ("reduce"), bringing quick relief to the injured person.

In a wilderness setting, the secondary survey provides crucial diagnostic information for an injured person.

It's scary to see someone having a seizure. Although the person is usually unconscious during a generalized seizure, there are many ways you can offer assistance. Your physical and psychological...

Treating cuts right away lessens the chance that an infection will start.

It doesn’t matter whether you've jammed a finger blocking a spike or just stubbed your toe on the stupid coffee table—now all it really takes is a little bit of ice, a simple wrap and some...

A seizure is a sudden abnormal discharge of electrical activity in the brain. It can be caused by epilepsy, which is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizure activity. Diabetes,...

All open wounds are contaminated to some extent and are potential sites for infection. The best way to prevent infection is to remove all debris from the wound and discourage further growth of...

When a person is immobilized from a serious injury in the wilderness, breathing is more difficult and the lungs can accumulate fluid. Minimize the danger of pneumonia with the following...