What is first aid

Call 911 or seek immediate care for major burns, which: • Are deep, involving all layers of the skin • Cause the skin to be dry and leathery • May appear charred or have patches of white, brown or black • Are larger than 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) in diameter • Cover the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks or a major joint, or encircles an arm or leg • Are accompanied by smoke inhalation • Begin swelling very quickly Until emergency help arrives: • Protect the burned person from further harm. If you can do so safely, make sure the person you're helping is not in contact with the source of the burn. For electrical burns, make sure the power source is off before you approach the burned person. Don't try to remove clothing stuck in the burn. • Make certain that the person burned is breathing. If needed, begin rescue breathing if you know how. • Remove jewelry, belts and other tight items, especially from the burned area and the neck. Burned areas swell quickly. • Cover the burn. Loosely cover the area with gauze or a clean cloth. • Raise the burned area. Lift the wound above heart level if possible. • Watch for signs of shock. Signs and symptoms include cool, clammy skin, weak pulse and shallow breathing. For minor burns: • Cool the burn. Hold the area under cool (not cold) running water for about 10 minutes. If the burn is on the face, apply a cool, wet cloth until the pain eases. For a mouth burn from hot food or drink, put a piece of ice in the mouth for a few minutes. ...

If a blister isn't too painful, try to keep it intact. Unbroken skin over a blister may provide a natural barrier to bacteria and decreases the risk of infection. Cover it with a bandage or moleskin. Cut a piece of moleskin into a doughnut shape and place the pad so that it encircles and protects the blister. Then cover the blister and moleskin with gauze. To relieve blister-related pain, drain the fluid while leaving the overlying skin intact. Here's how: • Wash your hands and the blister with soap and warm water. • Swab the blister with iodine. • Clean a sharp needle with rubbing alcohol. • Use the needle to prick the blister in several spots near the edge. Let the fluid drain, but leave the overlying skin in place. • Apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly to the blister and cover it with a nonstick gauze bandage. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment. • Follow-up care. Check the area every day for infection. After several days, use a tweezers and scissors sterilized with rubbing alcohol to cut away the dead skin. Apply more ointment and a bandage. To prevent friction blisters on your feet, wear shoes that fit well. It also helps to use moisture-wicking socks. Try the various socks, shoes and insoles that are designed specifically to help reduce blistering. You might also try attaching moleskin to the inside of your shoes where it might rub. Or you can dust the inside of your socks with foot powder. Gloves help prevent blisters on your hands. • Kermott CA, et al....

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. Don't use this information to diagnose or develop a treatment plan for a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified health care provider. If you're in a life-threatening or emergency medical situation, seek medical assistance immediately.

Save Time and Money. Personalized, Flexible Learning. Be prepared to act when emergencies arise with First Aid courses from the American Red Cross. Developed and taught by experts, our training satisfies OSHA, workplace or other regulatory requirements. From personalized learning to interactive scenarios to peer-to-peer learning and hands-on skill practice, you will be prepared to provide care when it's needed most. Online + Classroom • Combines the flexibility of online training with instructor-led skills check • Start taking your online portion immediately • Convenient locations and times for in-person or virtual skills check with experienced instructors • Satisfies OSHA workplace safety certification requirements First Aid Training Whether you take an instructor-led class, an online course, or take advantage of our blended learning experience, which combines online coursework with instructor-led training, you'll learn from some of the best in the industry. Knowledgeable, understanding and able to deliver information suited to a wide range of learning styles, American Red Cross first aid instructors will help ensure that you not only understand the steps for performing first aid, but that you have the confidence and skills necessary to perform them correctly. Performing First Aid At the Red Cross, first aid training prepares you to provide care to children, adults, and pets during times of crisis. However, like many things, if you don't use your skills frequently, they'r...

Burns fall into three categories based on severity. The types of burns are: • First-degree (superficial): Affects only the • Second-degree (partial thickness): Affects the epidermis and • Third-degree (full thickness): Affects the outer layers of skin as well as fat and other tissues, with the skin darkening or becoming white and tough looking. Third-degree burns may not hurt, as nerves may have been damaged. What to Do Immediately After a Burn If you or someone around you gets burned, these are some general steps you should take immediately: • Step away from the source of the burn. • Gently flush the area with cool water to reduce the temperature. Never use ice. • Remove clothing from the wound unless it's sticking; in that case, leave it for medical professionals to remove. Take off any jewelry before the area can swell. • Cover the burn with a clean cloth or a gauze pad if you have it. • Do not use any greases, sprays, butter, or ointments on a burn, as they keep the heat in. Seek medical attention if the burn area: • Blisters • Is larger than 2 inches • Is on the face, hands, or genitals • Has pain lasting for more than a few hours • Looks white or charred If you see charred or white flesh after a burn—or in the case of any large and severe burns—call 911 immediately. This can be a life-threatening emergency. Do not attempt to treat the burn but do cover it with a sterile or clean cloth. If the person is unconscious or not breathing, and it is safe to do so, The follow...

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Share on Pinterest Credit Image: Fokusiert / Getty Images First aid is the immediate care that’s given to someone who’s ill or injured before emergency medical services (EMS) arrive on the scene. In an emergency situation, prompt first aid can be vital in helping to save a life. When you’re faced with an emergency situation, there are some important things to remember as you give first aid. These are often referred to as the “ABCs of first aid.” Read on below to learn more about the ABCs of first aid and what to do in an emergency situation. The ABCs of A = Airway A blocked airway can hamper a person’s ability to breathe. You can help open someone’s airway by doing the following: • Place one hand on the person’s forehead. • Gently tilt their head back. • While tilting their head, use two fingers from your other hand to carefully raise their chin. B = Breathing Breathing supplies the body with life-giving oxygen. That’s why it’s crucial to determine whether someone is breathing or not. To determine if a person is breathing normally, take these steps: • Place your ear directly above the person’s mouth while looking down at their body. • Check for the following signs of breathing: • sound of their breaths • feeling of their breath on your cheek • their chest moving up and down • Continue to do this for no more than 10 seconds. You can perform rescue breaths on someone who isn’t breathing. This helps you temporarily breathe for the other person. Rescue breaths, along with ches...