Mistakes We Make When Trying To Give First Aid

Be very careful with these common mistakes when trying to apply first aid to help someone who has an accident or injury:

Take a person out of the car in a hurry

It is true that in many cases there is a danger that the loss of fuel will cause an explosion and this makes us want to remove those trapped in a car.

However, the rule in this situation is to wait for the ambulance to arrive. This is because we don’t know if someone has cervical damage or if movement will make the condition worse.

If the injured person was riding a motorcycle, you should not take off the helmet unless it is making breathing difficult. If the person is on their stomach, you should leave them in that position. If you have no other option but to move it, it is better to do it together with other people very carefully.

Put a burn under the faucet

It’s actually not a “complete” error. What we should do, in cases of burns on the stove, with hot oil or boiling water, is to introduce the affected area in a container with water, as cold as possible (if it is with ice cubes, better).

Soak the burned area in water for at least 15 minutes.

The medical explanation is provided by a representative of the United States Red Cross: “the heat from the burn reaches the subcutaneous tissue. When we wet a little with tap water, we relieve the pain and the superficial wound. But we don’t pay attention to the deeper layers of the dermis”.

bow your head when we get dizzy

It is common that as soon as the symptoms of our dizziness begin, the first reaction is to put our head between our legs so that the blood goes to the brain. But this is not recommended as it does not help the vestibular system, which is in charge of maintaining stability and balance.

If the dizziness was produced by a drop in blood sugar levels, it is advisable to lie down and put your legs up so that the blood flows better to the heart.

Cover your nose when it bleeds

It’s a very common practice and we’ve been taught this since we’re children. Many believe that putting a piece of cotton in your nose will prevent bleeding. But that’s not right.

When a nose bleed starts, we have to lean forward a little so that the blood comes out and doesn’t continue its way through the airways. Covering with a cotton wool retains the fluid but does not stop the bleeding.

Blow your eye when something enters

We’re walking down the street in winter and we don’t have sunglasses. The wind makes many particles of any size fly. Small ones can get into the eyes and cause discomfort and irritation.

What is our first reaction when something comes into view of the person with us? Blow!
A mistake… Although we have the best intention in the world, we can cause more serious injuries or even permanent damage to such a sensitive area of ​​the body.

Instead, it is  recommended to splash water immediately so that the particle, dust or hazardous agent will escape out of the eyes on its own. If the person wears contact lenses, it is suggested to take them off as soon as possible or put on a suitable eye drop.

Put a spoon in the mouth of an epileptic

Theory suggests that this action is done to prevent the person suffering from the seizure from biting their tongue. Doctors say this is not correct for several reasons.

First, because a spoon (or any similar object) has no antiepileptic effects. Second, because it can cause choking, especially with small elements. The most convenient thing is to  lay the person with epilepsy on their side on the floor, away from furniture or things that could hurt them.

Unbandage a bleeding wound

When we cut ourselves and put gauze on, it’s likely to get wet with blood. A common mistake is to take it off and put on a new, clean one. Doctors assure that you just put it on the stained one.

For what? To prevent further bleeding, to help with clotting and to prevent the entry of infectious agents that are permanently in the air while the wound is “outdoors”.

Induce vomiting when swallowing a small object

If you have young children, you need to know why this is a mistake. If the child ingests a round, pointless object, he will expel it through the stool.

In case you have swallowed a sharp, elongated or square element it is vital to take it to the nearest medical service, but never make yourself vomit as this could hurt you or the object could get stuck in your throat. 

Hitting the back when someone chokes

You have possibly seen the movie where Robin Williams disguises himself as a woman to be close to his children. During a family dinner with his ex’s new boyfriend, he tries to keep the man from choking on a piece of food.

What was your reaction? Take it from behind and start squeezing it to expel the food.

Although the scene is pure fiction, we must do the same in similar situations. Do not hit the back or make the person raise their arms. Another very effective technique is to tap 5 times between the shoulder blades and wait for the episode to pass.