IN THE know
THE ABILITY TO APPLY FIRST AID IS A SKILL THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE
Do you know what to do if someone needs urgent medical treatment? Can you confidently deliver first aid?
Anyone can find themselves dealing with an emergency, so it’s crucial to know how to at least do the basics. The crucial things to know (and general guidelines on what to do) are:
• How to resuscitate someone if they have stopped breathing. (Give them CPR, 30 chest compressions followed by two breaths.)
• What to do if someone is choking. (Hit them firmly between the shoulder blades, and if that doesn’t work, carry out the Heimlich manoeuvre.)
• How to stop bleeding. (Press gently on a deep cut to stop the bleeding, then bandage. If someone is bleeding from an artery, press down hard and keep the pressure on until medical professionals arrive.)
• What to do if someone has an allergic reaction. (Give them their prescribed medication, for example, an EpiPen and call an ambulance immediately.)
• How to treat a burn. (Cool the skin under running cold water for 20 minutes.)
• How to treat a broken bone. (Stop any bleeding, immobilise the injured area, splint it if you can and apply an ice pack, but not directly to the skin.)
First aid courses are the best way of learning exactly what to do. These are available via organisations like St John and Red Cross – see stjohn.org.nz or redcross.org.nz. Even if you did one years ago, it is worth doing a refresher course.
It’s also a good idea to put aside an hour or so every now and then to bone up on first aid techniques – the internet is full of helpful advice, and it is far better to know beforehand what to do than trying to google it when someone urgently needs your help. Often there is no time to read instructions.