Additionally, having the right supplies can help you handle medical emergencies better. A well-stocked first aid kit can help treat minor injuries like cuts and burns. You can buy a first aid kit or put together one by yourself. Either way, make sure to regularly check and refill its contents by purchasing medical supplies. Also, you can buy online medicine as soon as you run out of them so you’re always ready to treat different injuries.
While you build your first-aid kit, it’s a good idea to learn some basic first-aid techniques. Here are five that you can start with.
Cleaning a Wound
Scrapes or cuts are quite common, and the first step to treat them is to clean the wound to prevent infection. If the wound becomes infected, it can cause inflammation and slow down the healing process. And when left untreated, the infection can spread into the deeper tissues under the skin and make the person feel unwell. In some cases, it can lead to a fever.
Clean your hands with soap and water before touching a wound to prevent the spread of bacteria. Apply pressure to the cut using a gauze pad or clean cloth to stop the bleeding. Hold the pressure for a few minutes, then rinse the wound.
Stopping Severe Bleeding
Unfortunately, some accidents and emergencies can cause deep wounds and excessive bleeding. In this situation, the most important thing to do is to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, the person could bleed out, which if not addressed could lead to death.
If someone at work suffers from profuse bleeding, apply pressure on the wound. Ideally, use a sterile cloth. But a t-shirt or other piece of garment could also work during an emergency. As a secondary measure, raise the wounded limb over the heart to slow down the bleeding. Do these steps until medical professionals arrive.
Burn Treatment
Burns are also common injuries in the workplace, even in an office setting. Someone might grab a hot pot of coffee or get splashed by boiling water on their skin. Regardless of how a person gets a burn, you need to check what type of it as each degree will require a different treatment. If it’s a first-degree burn, it can be painful but a minor injury. It can be treated using a topical remedy and placing loose gauze on the burned skin. On the other hand, a second-degree burn form blisters. It can also feel very painful and turn red. The best way to treat such a burn is to run the affected area under cool water and apply topical treatment.
At worst, you might encounter someone getting a third-degree burn. This can make the skin look white and charred. The person might not feel hurt because their nerves have been damaged. Such an injury must be immediately treated by a doctor.
Heimlich Maneuver
If someone is choking, the best way to dislodge whatever it’s that’s blocking their airways is to perform the Heimlich maneuver. If done in a timely manner, it can prevent potential brain damage from asphyxiation and save someone’s life. But it must be administered with caution because sometimes coughing can be mistaken for choking. If an individual who’s choking on food or a foreign object is unable to talk, it’s best to administer the Heimlich maneuver.
Begin with wrapping your arms around the choking adult and place your fist in between their ribcage and belly button. Then, apply a quick upward thrust. Repeat the process until the foreign object has been dislodged.
CPR
Among these first-aid techniques, the most popular is cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. This technique provides artificial ventilation to help someone breathe and preserve their brain function as well as blood circulation. During an emergency, knowing how to perform CPR can be a lifesaver. However, learning the proper methods to do CPR can be an intensive process. Often, it requires a day-long class by a certified instructor. Fortunately, you can take one of the Philippine Red Cross’ CPR certification classes in any of their branches in the country.
When you encounter a medical emergency at work or in any place, call for medical assistance. But sometimes, your immediate action can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Having said that, consider learning the basic first-aid techniques discussed here. You’ll never know when you might want to need to do them.