Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death in the United States.
An accident doesn’t have symptoms or warning signs leading up to the death, it all happens in an instant. Knowing a few basic first aid skills could help prevent someone’s death, at any moment.
Having good first aid skills can be very useful. Keep reading to learn about all the skills that everyone should be familiar with and have.
1. Performing CPR
One of the most common first aid questions is, “Will I break someone’s ribs during CPR?”. That little doubt and question could make you hesitate, risking someone’s life. That’s why everyone must be comfortable performing CPR.
To perform CPR, follow these steps:
- Access the scene for safety and have someone call 911.
- Lay the person on their back and clear the airway.
- Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the person’s chest and press down hard, repeating at a fast pace.
- Then tilt the person’s head back, pinch their nose shut, place your mouth over theirs and blow until you see their chest rise. Do this twice.
- Repeat the process until you see signs of breathing or medical help arrives.
Remember that CPR certification is an officially licensed skill and if you’re serious about first aid you should take a class.
2. Stop Excessive Bleeding
Every year, 60,000 people die from excessive blood loss, so knowing how to stop bleeding is an important basic first aid skill.
To stop or slow the bleeding, first, figure out where the blood is coming from. Rise the body part so that it’s positioned higher than the heart. But, if the person’s head or back is injured, do not move them at all.
Then, find a bandage, gauze, or a piece of fabric and apply medium pressure to the wound.
If the wound is on a limb, such as a leg or an arm, you can also apply a tourniquet. To do this, find a belt, rope, or cord. Tie the object tightly around the limb above the wound. This prevents circulation to the area of the wound, resulting in less blood loss.
3. Doing The Heimlich Maneuver
Choking is the fourth most common unintentional death causes, killing thousands each year. The Heimlich maneuver is one of the best methods to save someone from choking to death.
To start, stand behind the victim with one of your legs between their two legs. Wrap your arms around the person’s abdomen and create a fist with one hand at the navel.
Then, grab your fist with the other hand and thrust upward and inward. Do this quickly and strongly until the person coughs up what they’re choking on.
Knowing These First Aid Skills Can Save a Life
Knowing how to do these three simple first aid skills can save someone’s life. A little bit of knowledge makes all the difference in an emergency.
If you’re interested in learning more about administering first aid, consider taking a basic first aid class. Many schools, hospitals, and governments offer these classes for residents.
And for more great tips on helping everyone in your life stay healthy, visit the Health section of this site.
