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What to Do When an Accident Happens at Home? A Complete Guide to Home First Aid

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Someone suddenly collapses, gets cut, scalded, or a child chokes at home—many people have no idea how to handle these moments. Correct first aid can save lives while waiting for help, while incorrect treatment can worsen injuries. This guide covers the most common home accident treatments.

1. Basic Principles of First Aid

The First Step Is Always: Assess Safety

  • Confirm the environment is safe (risk of collapse, exposed wires, gas leaks)
  • Do not rush to touch someone who has been electrocuted (cut the power source first)
  • When rescuing a drowning victim, ensure your own safety

Don't Wait to Call for Help

When to call 120 (emergency services):

  • Any instance of unconsciousness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
  • Chest pain, abnormal heartbeat
  • Suspected fracture
  • Large-area burns or scalds

Information to prepare before calling 120:

  • Exact location of the incident
  • Patient's main symptoms
  • Your contact number

Important: Immediately after calling 120, send someone to wait downstairs/at the intersection to guide them. The ambulance won't wait while you slowly find the door number.

2. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

When is CPR Needed

  • Unconscious (no response to calls)
  • Not breathing normally (observe for 10 seconds, no chest rise and fall)
  • Both conditions met → Start CPR immediately

Standard CPR Steps (Adult)

Check for responsiveness:

  • Tap both shoulders and shout loudly
  • No response → Have someone call 120

Position the patient:

  • Lay the patient flat on their back on a hard surface
  • The rescuer kneels to the right of the patient

Chest compressions:

  • Location: Lower half of the breastbone (midpoint between the nipples)
  • Place one hand over the other, lock fingers, and press vertically with the heel of your hand
  • Depth: At least 5-6 cm
  • Rate: 100-120 compressions per minute
  • Allow full chest recoil after each compression (do not lean on the chest)

Rescue breaths (if trained and willing):

  • 30 compressions + 2 rescue breaths (30:2 ratio)
  • If unable or unwilling to give rescue breaths: compression-only CPR is acceptable

Continue until:

  • Emergency personnel arrive
  • The patient regains spontaneous breathing
  • You are physically exhausted (have someone else take over)

Infant CPR (Under 1 Year)

  • Compression location: On the breastbone, just below the nipple line
  • Use two fingers (middle + ring finger)
  • Compression depth: Approximately 4 cm
  • Compression rate: 100-120 per minute
  • 30:2 ratio (with rescue breaths)

3. Airway Obstruction (Choking/Suffocation)

Heimlich Maneuver for Adults/Children (Over 1 Year)

Recognizing the signs:

  • Suddenly unable to speak
  • Hands clutching the throat (universal sign of choking)
  • Unable to cough or coughing silently

Procedure:

  1. Stand behind the patient, placing one foot between their feet for stability
  2. Wrap your arms around their waist
  3. Make a fist with one hand, placing the thumb side against the abdomen, just above the navel (about two finger-widths above)
  4. Grasp your fist with your other hand
  5. Perform quick, upward and inward thrusts into the abdomen
  6. Repeat until the object is expelled

If the patient loses consciousness:

  • Begin CPR immediately, and check the mouth for any visible object before each set of chest compressions

Airway Obstruction in Infants (Under 1 Year)

Do NOT use abdominal thrusts (can damage internal organs)

5 Back Blows + 5 Chest Thrusts:

  1. Position the infant face-down along your forearm, with the head lower than the body
  2. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand
  3. Turn the infant over, face-up on your other forearm
  4. Perform 5 chest thrusts using two fingers
  5. Repeat until the object is expelled or the infant loses consciousness

4. Burn and Scald Treatment

The Correct "Rinse, Remove, Soak, Cover, Send" Method

Rinse: Immediately flush the burned area with cool running water for 15-30 minutes (cooling is the most important step) Remove: Carefully remove any clothing from the burned area (do not pull if stuck; cut around it) Soak: Continue to soak in cool water or apply cool compresses for 10-30 minutes (not ice water) Cover: Gently cover with a clean, non-stick gauze (not cotton balls) Send: Go to the hospital (for large areas or if depth is unclear)

Common Incorrect Treatments

❌ Applying toothpaste, soy sauce, or butter:

  • Does not cool the burn and increases the risk of infection
  • Can interfere with the doctor's assessment of burn depth

❌ Using ice water or ice cubes:

  • Ice water can cause frostbite, complicating the injury
  • The correct method is cool water (15-25°C)

❌ Popping blisters:

  • Blisters are a natural protective layer
  • Popping them increases the risk of infection
  • If a blister is very large, seek sterile treatment at a hospital

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

  • Large burn area (larger than the palm of the hand)
  • Burns to the face, neck, hands, feet, or genitals
  • Deep burns (skin appears white, charred, or has no sensation)
  • Any significant burn in infants, children, or the elderly

5. Bleeding and Hemostasis

Treating External Bleeding

General Cuts and Lacerations:

  1. Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or gauze
  2. Maintain pressure for 5-10 minutes (do not lift to check frequently)
  3. For small wounds: Clean with antiseptic (povidone-iodine or 75% alcohol) and cover with a bandage
  4. For deep wounds or those with poor edge alignment: Seek medical attention (may require stitches)

Note:

  • Povidone-iodine (less irritating) is preferred over hydrogen peroxide for wound cleaning
  • Hydrogen peroxide, while antibacterial, can also damage wound tissue

Severe Bleeding (Cannot Be Stopped):

  • Continue applying pressure, adding more gauze on top (do not remove blood-soaked gauze)
  • Elevate the injured limb (above the level of the heart)
  • Seek immediate medical attention or wait for 120

Nosebleeds

  • Lean the body slightly forward (not backward; tilting back allows blood to flow into the throat)
  • Pinch the soft part of the nose (the cartilage, not the nasal bone)
  • Maintain pressure for 5-10 minutes
  • Do not check repeatedly (this disrupts clot formation)

When to Seek Medical Attention:

  • Bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure
  • Nosebleed accompanied by headache or high blood pressure (could be a hypertensive crisis)
  • Unexplained, recurrent nosebleeds

6. Initial Fracture Management

Signs of a Fracture

  • Deformity at the injury site (abnormal angle)
  • Severe pain and swelling
  • Inability to bear weight or move the limb

Important Principle: If you are unsure whether it is a fracture, treat it as one (immobilize + transport to hospital)

Initial Immobilization

Do NOT attempt to realign (put the bone back in place):

  • This can worsen the injury
  • Fracture reduction must be done in a hospital setting

Splinting Method:

  • Use a splint (stiff cardboard, wooden board) to immobilize the fracture site
  • The splint should immobilize the joint above and below the fracture
  • Secure with bandages or cloth strips (not too tight, to avoid restricting blood flow)

Spinal Fracture (Most Dangerous):

  • If a cervical or spinal injury is suspected
  • Do not move the patient unnecessarily
  • Immobilize the head and neck, and wait for rescue
  • Moving the patient requires 3 or more people working together to maintain spinal alignment

7. Common Poisoning Treatments

Food Poisoning

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea within hours of eating

Treatment:

  • Drink plenty of water (to replace lost fluids)
  • Save a sample of the suspected food (bring it to the doctor)
  • Do not take anti-diarrheal medication on your own (it prevents the body from expelling toxins)
  • For severe symptoms (high fever, bloody stool, altered consciousness): Seek immediate medical attention

Chemical Exposure

Skin Contact (Acids/Alkalis):

  • Immediately flush with copious amounts of water for 15-30 minutes
  • Do not attempt to neutralize first (acid + base = exothermic reaction, which can worsen the burn)

Eye Contact:

  • Immediately flush the eye with water for 15-30 minutes
  • Continue flushing until you receive medical care

Ingestion:

  • Do NOT induce vomiting (corrosive substances can cause secondary damage to the esophagus)
  • Call the poison control hotline immediately: 120 or 010-83132345 (Beijing Poison Control Center)

8. Home First Aid Kit Configuration

Basic First Aid Kit Contents

Item Use
Povidone-iodine Wound disinfection (not iodine tincture)
Bandages (various sizes) Covering small wounds
Gauze / Rolled bandages Wrapping wounds
Medical tape Securing gauze
Scissors (blunt-tipped) Cutting gauze, clothing
Tweezers Removing foreign objects
Disposable gloves Protecting the rescuer
Face mask / Pocket mask For hygienic rescue breaths
Instant cold pack Cold compress for sprains
Thermometer Taking temperature

Advanced Configuration (Optional):

  • Blood pressure monitor (if a family member has hypertension)
  • AED (Automated External Defibrillator, for households that can afford it)

9. Summary

Basic First Aid Principles:

  • Safety first (protect yourself)
  • Call for help early (120)
  • Follow standard procedures; do not attempt complex operations without training

The Three Most Important Skills:

  1. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
  2. Heimlich Maneuver (Airway Obstruction)
  3. Burn/Scald "Rinse, Remove, Soak, Cover, Send"

Recommendation: Attend a formal first aid training course (offered by the Red Cross Society of China and other organizations). Hands-on practice is far more effective than learning from text alone.