A Beginner's Guide To First Aid

Useful Emergency First Aid guidance for Beginners at the Gym and during Workout Sessions. ...

Time is of the essence when medical emergencies occur, which is why it's imperative to have a first aid kit handy or at least know the basics of first aid. Your very first step should be calling 911 or your local emergency hotline when you witness someone faint, have an asthma attack, an epilepsy episode, etc. Even though time Is still crucial while waiting for professionals to arrive on scene, there are some things you can do in order to help prevent further injury and assist the person until help arrives.

Fainting, Fits, or Cardiac Arrest

If the patient has fainted or collapsed, please check their ABCs. Checking a person's ABCs stands for:
Airway: Check if the person has something stuck in their throat, which is preventing them from breathing properly.
Breathing: Check if the person is breathing or not, and at what rate. If they are not breathing or have a below average rate of 12 breaths per minute, change the person's position to comfortable seating and give them rescue breaths if you know how to perform those correctly.
If you notice that the person's circulation is below normal, check their pulse and heart rate. If it is indeed below normal, pump their chest and perform CPR if you know how to do so. Immediately call an ambulance or 911.

Bleeding

Before you do anything else, check what kind of bleeding the person has.
If the blood is dark and drips steadily from the wound, that means it's from a vein. If the blood is bright red and spurts out in pulses or jets, it's arteries Bleeding from an artery is more dangerous and can be fatal quickly.
Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer . Disinfect the wound site by scrubbing with soap and clean up as much blood as possible to see where the bleeding originates..
Apply pressure to the wound with a bandage in order to make the blood clot. If necessary, wrap the bandage around multiple times. If you are unable to stop the bleeding or if you believe stitches may be required, it is best to call an ambulance or take them to the hospital as soon as possible.

Burns

Before you start treating a burn, check how severe it is by looking for these signs:
If it's a first-degree or minor burn, hold the area under cold water for 10 minutes and then put on a cooling ointment or lotion.
Don't burst any blisters that develop.
If you have a first-degree burn, lightly bandage the area and see a doctor if it is more painful. If you have a second or third-degree burn, immediately call an ambulance.

Choking

To save someone who is choking, make them face upwards and have them cough forcefully. If the object doesn't come up, go to their back and give 5 back blows and abdominal thrusts alternatively. If this still doesn't work, give the person chest compressions and call an ambulance immediately.

Fractures

If there's any bleeding, apply pressure and bandage the wound. To stabilize the broken area, keep it immobile and use whatever you have: a sling or a necktie tied around both ends of a long stick placed on either side of the arm (or leg) can help secure makeshift splints in place until medical professionals arrive. While waiting for an ambulance, put ice packs on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain.

Sprains

When you sprain a joint, it can be really painful. The first thing you should do is put an ice pack on the area to help with swelling and pain. Try not to put any weight on the joint and keep icing it until the swelling goes down. If the swelling doesn't improve, go to hospital to see if there are any fractures. You can also apply a splint or brace at night to stop movement while you sleep. Take some over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen tp help with pain relief as well

Nosebleeds

When you get a nosebleed, lean your head forward so the blood doesn't trickle down and clot in your nose or throat. Pinch your nostrils shut with your thumb and forefinger until the bleeding stops. Rinse out your nose with cold water to shrink the blood vessels, then dunk your head in cold water. If the bleeding persists, call an ambulance right away.