First aid techniques you should know by heart

First aid is the basic treatment that you can give before proper medical help arrives. Often administering first aid before help arrives can make a big difference by saving somebody’s life. Here are some first aid techniques that one must know.

Accidents can happen anywhere, in the house, in the street, or in the workplace. In case of cuts the first step would be to stop the flow of blood. For minor ones, you can wipe the wounded area clean with some antiseptic liquid and then put some antiseptic cream to seal the wound. If the wound is more severe, keep the wound pressed with a clean cloth to arrest the flow of blood. These wounds may need treatment, so get medical attention as soon as possible.

If an artery has been severed, blood will ooze out more  with every heart beat, you will have to press hard to stop the flow. If you have bandages tie them around tightly at the area of the wound. If the bandage gets soaked, do not remove the bandage; instead tie another one around it. Do not let the wounded person to lose his consciousness or fall asleep. If possible keep the wounded area higher than the rest of the body by keeping it on a raised platform. This may arrest some of the blood loss.

Nosebleeds are also common and can be dealt with by using proper first aid. Do not let the patient lie down, for then the pressure on the head increases, and so is the flow of blood. Hold the two nostrils tight with your fingers, at least for ten minutes, so that blood may accumulate in the nostril and facilitate the clotting of blood on the wound.

Choking is also very common especially in young children who tend to talk while they eat. Place your arms around the person’s waist and make a fist on his naval. Place the other arm on the back. Ask the person to bend forward and then press your fist inside the naval. Do it as long as the choked material is not out.

For breathing problems, it is necessary to give a life support. This involves pressing the chest with the heal of your hand. The other hand must be on the top of your hand and you will have to push real hard. You will have to do it at a speed of hundred per minute, and after doing thirty, you will have to give the patient mouth to mouth breathing.

The following lines describe the technique for mouth to mouth breathing .Lift the patients chin so as to open the airway. Close his nostril with your fingers, then sealing your mouth with his mouth, breathe slowly in. Do this twice, check if the chest is rising and falling. Quickly get medical attention for the patient.

Shocks can arrest the flow of blood to the brain. There is no first aid to be given to that kind of a patient, but you can make him lie down to facilitate the flow of blood to the brain. If the patient vomits turn him to the sides, so that he might not choke. If there are burns, you can put some water to treat the burns.

Emergency is a situation where you may not get time to read guidelines. So in that case you must always be prepared, patient and poised.