Would you know what to do in an emergency?
Would you know what to do if you saw someone suffer a burn, start choking or stop breathing? Here, Mark Smith and NHS Direct Wales give a comprehensive guide to first aid
Accidents and injuries are an inevitable part of life. None of us are immune to getting hurt at work, at home, on holiday, at sports events or when out with friends and family.
But while most workplaces offer training and have designated first aiders, there are concerns many members of the public lack the basic skills to treat someone.
In more serious circumstances, administering first aid could prove the difference between life and death.
Here, NHS Direct Wales gives their expert advice on how to react in certain situations. Stop any bleeding before applying a dressing to the wound. Apply pressure to the area using a clean and dry absorbent material – such as a bandage, towel or handkerchief – for several minutes. If the cut is to your hand or arm, raise it above your head to help reduce the flow of blood. If the injury is to a lower limb, lie down and raise the affected area above the level of your heart. When the wound has stopped bleeding, clean it and cover it with a dressing to help stop it becoming infected.
FBefore dressing the cut or graze you should:
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly
Clean the wound under drinkingquality running tap water. Avoid using antiseptic as it may damage the skin and slow healing
Pat the area dry with a clean towel
Apply a sterile adhesive dressing, such as a plaster
Keep the dressing clean by changing it as often as necessary. Keep the wound dry by using waterproof dressings, which will allow you to take showers.
You can remove the dressing after a few days, once the wound has closed itself.
If the wound is painful for the first few days, you can take over-thecounter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or visit your local minor injuries unit or GP surgery if there’s a risk your wound could become infected, or you think it’s already infected. If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe.
In situations like this, a person will usually be able to clear the blockage themselves. You should:
Encourage the person to cough to try to clear the blockage
Ask them to try to spit out the object if it’s in their mouth
Don’t put your fingers in their mouth to help them because they may accidentally bite you If choking is severe, the person won’t be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and without help they’ll eventually become unconscious. To help an adult or child over one year old:
Stand behind the person and slightly to one side. Support their chest with one hand
Lean the person forward so that the object blocking their airway will come out of their mouth, rather than moving further down
Give up to five sharp blows between the person’s shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (the heel is between the palm of your hand and your wrist)
Check if the blockage has cleared. If not, give up to five abdominal thrusts. Abdominal thrusts shouldn’t be used on babies under one year old, pregnant women or obese people How to perform abdominal thrusts: Stand behind the person choking Place your arms around their waist and bend them well forward
Clench one fist and place it just above the person’s belly button
Place your other hand on top of your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards Repeat this up to five times The aim is to get the obstruction