25 Jun
I was reading an article on MedicineNet.com about first aid myths the other day, and I thought it would be interesting to present a few of them here. I for one was surprised by some of the cures that I used and I shouldn’t have.
1. Myth: Putting Butter On A Burn
Applying butter on a burn will just add unclean, foreign proteins to your wound. If they’re 2nd or 3rd degree burns you should go to a doctor. If they’re 1st degree burns (when the skin is red but the feeling still normal), then you can treat it at home. Run cold water on the burn for at least 10 minutes then apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. Then put a cloth on it, and a cold compress over it. Don’t put ice directly on the skin, use a bag of frozen veggies instead.
2. Myth: Throwing Back Your Head When You Have A Nosebleed
This one surprised me, as I’ve been doing it for ages. Tipping your head back can apparently bring the blood into your lungs or into your stomach, which will make you vomit. Instead, grab your nose on the fleshy part, as you would if you would try to stop a bad smell. Press firmly for 10 complete minutes on the clock. Don’t take your hand to see if you’re still bleeding. If the nosebleed goes on for more then 15 minutes, it comes after a serious injury or results in serious blood loss, go to a doctor or the emergency room.
3. Myth: Getting The Venom Out Of A Snakebite As Soon As Possible
Using suction to get out the venom can bring in more germs and bacteria. Don’t let the victim run for help either, as it accelerates the speed of the tissue-destroying and nerve-paralyzing venom. Remove tight clothing and rings from the victim and get them to a hospital. Keep the affected area immobile and below the level of the heart. What I’m curious though, what if you’re camping and a hospital is hours away. I guess using suction to get the venom out is better then nothing?
4. Myth: People Can Swallow Their Tongues During A Seizure
Another one that surprised me. Apparently people can control their own airway and we shouldn’t stick anything in there. Holding him down can also result in injury and we should let the person to roll around on the ground. Just remove any objects that can injure him. I don’t know about this one. Anyone has any opinion on this? I mean, if I see someone having a seizure, I’m going to be really pissed off if he injures himself because I was just waiting around for him to finish it, doing nothing as this doctor says.
5. Myth: A Cold Steak Can Bring Down A Shiner
Putting a cold steak over an injured eye will just introduce grease and foreign proteins in it. Use a frozen bag of veggies instead.
You can read the rest of the article here. There are couple more first aid myths mentioned there.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
2 Responses for "First Aid Myths You Should Avoid And What To Do Instead"
I was once walking through a shopping centre when a lady dropped in front of me and had convulsions. What amazed me was
1) That there were not one but TWO people right there to help who knew first aid - it was really cool because I was clueless and freakedout.
2) That the 2 first-aiders actually argued over whether or not to stop her from swallowing the tongue. It was like there were different schools of thought on the subject.
What did they do in the end?
Leave a reply