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Complete Guide to Home First Aid: Wound Treatment & Emergency Response

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Does applying toothpaste to a burn help? Should you tilt your head back for a nosebleed? Do you ice or heat a sprained ankle first? What do you do for a choking victim? These life-saving skills are things you hope you'll never need, but you absolutely must know. This guide explains the correct treatment for common household emergencies from an emergency medicine perspective.

I. Basic First Aid Principles

The DRABC Process

  1. D (Danger): Ensure the scene is safe → First, ensure your own safety
  2. R (Response): Check for consciousness → Tap shoulders and call out
  3. A (Airway): Open the airway → Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
  4. B (Breathing): Check for breathing → Look, listen, feel
  5. C (Circulation): Check circulation → Pulse / bleeding

Key Points for Calling 120 (Emergency Services)

  • Location (most important, give a clear address)
  • Injury (what kind of injury / how many casualties)
  • Current status (consciousness / breathing / bleeding)
  • What treatment is being performed
  • Do not hang up first → Wait for the dispatcher to confirm

Essential First Aid Kit Checklist

  • Sterile gauze / bandages
  • Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
  • Iodine / alcohol wipes
  • Triangular bandage
  • Medical tape
  • Scissors / tweezers
  • Disposable gloves
  • Thermometer
  • Elastic bandage
  • Cold pack (instant type)
  • Pocket mask for rescue breathing

II. Wound & Bleeding Management

Identifying Bleeding Types

  • Arterial bleeding: Bright red, spurting, most dangerous
  • Venous bleeding: Dark red, flowing steadily
  • Capillary bleeding: Oozing, most common

Bleeding Control Steps

  1. Direct Pressure:
    • Cover the wound with sterile gauze
    • Apply firm, continuous pressure for 10-15 minutes
    • Do not lift to check repeatedly → This disrupts clotting
  2. Pressure Bandage:
    • After direct pressure, apply a pressure bandage
    • Bandage should be snug enough to stop bleeding but not cut off circulation
  3. Elevate the Injured Limb:
    • Raise the bleeding site above the level of the heart
    • Reduces blood flow to the area
  4. Tourniquet (Last Resort):
    • Only for severe arterial bleeding in a limb when other methods fail
    • Position: 5-10 cm above the wound
    • Note the time of application
    • Loosen for 1-2 minutes every 40-50 minutes

❌ Common Mistakes

  • Do not apply tobacco or herbs to the wound → Risk of infection
  • Do not cover with dirty cloth → Risk of infection
  • Do not remove an embedded object → May worsen bleeding
  • Do not use rope or wire as a tourniquet → Causes tissue damage

III. Burns & Scalds

Burn Depth Classification

Degree Appearance Healing Time
First-degree Red, painful, no blisters 3-5 days
Superficial second-degree Blisters + severe pain 1-2 weeks
Deep second-degree Blisters + reduced pain sensation 3-4 weeks
Third-degree Charred, leathery, painless Requires skin graft

Correct Treatment Steps (Cool, Remove, Soak, Cover, Transport)

  1. Cool: Flush with cool running water for 15-30 minutes
    • Water temperature: 15-25°C
    • Do not use ice water → Risk of frostbite
  2. Remove: Carefully remove clothing while flushing with water
    • If clothing is stuck to the wound → Cut around it, do not pull
  3. Soak: Continue soaking in cool water for 10-30 minutes
  4. Cover: Cover with clean gauze or a cloth
  5. Transport: Seek immediate medical attention for severe burns

❌ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Applying toothpaste → Traps heat + causes infection
  • ❌ Applying soy sauce or cooking oil → Irritates wound + causes infection
  • ❌ Applying egg white → Risk of bacterial infection
  • ❌ Popping blisters → Risk of infection + slower healing
  • ❌ Applying ice directly → Freezes tissue
  • ❌ Covering directly with cotton → Fibers stick to the wound

IV. Fractures & Sprains

Signs of a Fracture

  • Severe pain + tenderness
  • Deformity / abnormal movement
  • Swelling + bruising
  • Bone grating sensation or sound (do not test for this intentionally)

First Aid Principles for Fractures

  1. Do not attempt to realign → May damage blood vessels and nerves
  2. Immobilize the limb:
    • Use available materials (splint from a board, cardboard, magazine)
    • Immobilize the joints above and below the fracture
    • Pad with soft material to prevent pressure sores
  3. Check distal circulation:
    • Check color and temperature of fingers/toes
    • Check sensation and movement
  4. Apply cold pack → Reduces swelling
  5. Seek medical attention promptly

Sprain Management (RICE Principle)

  1. R (Rest): Stop activity and rest the injured area
  2. I (Ice): Apply ice
    • Use a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel
    • Apply for 15-20 minutes at a time
    • Allow 1-2 hours between sessions
    • Continue icing for the first 48 hours
  3. C (Compression): Wrap with an elastic bandage
    • Wrap from the distal end towards the body
    • Ensure it is snug but not too tight
  4. E (Elevation): Elevate the injured limb above the heart → Reduces swelling

❌ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Applying heat immediately after a sprain → Worsens bleeding and swelling
  • ❌ Continuing to walk on a sprained ankle → Worsens the injury
  • ❌ Vigorously rubbing the swollen area → Worsens bleeding
  • ❌ Applying topical pain relief creams (e.g., for blood circulation) within 24 hours → Worsens bleeding

V. Choking (Heimlich Maneuver)

Adults / Children (Over 1 Year Old)

  1. Stand behind the person
  2. Locate the point: Two finger-widths above the navel
  3. Make a fist: Place the thumb side against the abdomen at the location
  4. Grasp the fist with your other hand
  5. Perform thrusts: Deliver quick, inward and upward thrusts to the abdomen
  6. Repeat until the object is expelled or the person becomes unconscious

Infants (Under 1 Year Old)

  1. Back Blows:
    • Place the infant face down along your forearm
    • Keep the head lower than the chest
    • Deliver 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand
  2. Chest Thrusts:
    • Turn the infant face up
    • Place two fingers on the lower half of the breastbone and deliver 5 chest thrusts
  3. Alternate: 5 back blows → 5 chest thrusts → Repeat
  4. ❌ Never use your fingers to sweep the mouth → May push the object deeper

Self-Rescue (When Alone)

  • Make a fist with one hand and place it against your abdomen
  • Grasp the fist with your other hand
  • Deliver quick, inward and upward thrusts
  • Or, lean over a firm object (chair back, table edge) and thrust your abdomen against it

VI. Nosebleeds

Correct Treatment

  1. Sit upright, lean your head slightly forward
  2. Pinch the soft part of your nose (the nostrils) for 10 minutes
  3. Breathe through your mouth
  4. Apply a cold pack to the bridge of your nose → Constricts blood vessels
  5. After 10 minutes, release → If still bleeding, pinch for another 10 minutes

❌ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Tilting your head back → Blood flows into the throat → Causes coughing/nausea
  • ❌ Stuffing the nose with tissue paper → Abrades the wound site → Causes re-bleeding
  • ❌ Lying down → Blood flows backward
  • ❌ Applying heat → Dilates blood vessels → Increases bleeding

When to See a Doctor

  • Bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure
  • Heavy bleeding (fills the mouth)
  • Accompanied by high blood pressure
  • You are taking anticoagulant medication
  • Frequent, recurring nosebleeds

VII. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Adult CPR Steps

  1. Confirm unresponsiveness + no normal breathing
  2. Call 120 and get an AED
  3. Chest Compressions:
    • Position: Lower half of the breastbone (center of the chest, between the nipples)
    • Rate: 100-120 compressions per minute
    • Depth: 5-6 cm
    • Allow full chest recoil after each compression
  4. Rescue Breaths (if willing and able):
    • 30 compressions + 2 breaths
    • If unwilling to give breaths → Perform compression-only CPR
  5. Continue CPR → Until an AED arrives / emergency personnel take over / the person recovers

Child CPR (1 Year Old to Puberty)

  • Compression depth: 5 cm (approximately 1/3 of the chest depth)
  • Use one or two hands
  • Ratio: 30:2 (single rescuer) / 15:2 (two rescuers)

Infant CPR (Under 1 Year Old)

  • Use two fingers to compress the lower half of the breastbone
  • Compression depth: 4 cm (approximately 1/3 of the chest depth)
  • Rescue breaths: Gentle puffs (only enough air to make the cheeks puff out)

Using an AED

  1. Turn on the AED
  2. Attach the electrode pads (follow the diagram on the pads)
  3. Follow the voice prompts
  4. Ensure no one is touching the victim during the shock
  5. Immediately resume CPR after the shock

VIII. Poisoning & Allergies

Food Poisoning

  • Keep a sample of the suspected food
  • Do not induce vomiting (for corrosive substances → vomiting worsens the injury)
  • Note the time symptoms started
  • Bring the suspected food or its packaging to the hospital

Drug Overdose / Accidental Ingestion

  • Do not induce vomiting → Call a poison control center
  • Bring the medication packaging to the hospital
  • Note the time of ingestion and estimated amount

Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylactic Shock)

  • Symptoms: Difficulty breathing + facial swelling + hives + drop in blood pressure
  • Management:
    • Call 120 immediately
    • If an epinephrine auto-injector is available → Use it immediately
    • Lay the person flat and elevate their legs
    • If they have difficulty breathing → Place them in a semi-sitting position
    • Do not give oral medication (risk of choking)

Bee Stings

  • Scrape the stinger out (do not pinch it → squeezes more venom in)
  • Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling
  • Monitor for signs of an allergic reaction
  • Multiple stings / history of allergies → Seek medical attention

IX. Other Common Emergencies

Heatstroke

  • Move the person to a cool, shaded area
  • Loosen or remove clothing to help cool down
  • Apply cold packs / spray with water + fan them
  • Give fluids containing salt if they are conscious
  • If unconscious → Do not force fluids → Place them in the recovery position (on their side)

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

  • If conscious → Immediately give a sugary food or drink
  • Recheck blood sugar after 15 minutes
  • If unconscious → Do not give food → Apply honey or glucose gel to the inside of the cheek → Seek medical attention

Seizure

  • ✅ Protect the person's head
  • ✅ Move dangerous objects away from them
  • ✅ Note the duration of the seizure
  • ✅ Place them in the recovery position (on their side) after the seizure ends
  • ❌ Do not put anything in their mouth
  • ❌ Do not restrain their convulsing limbs
  • ❌ Do not try to wake them

Animal Bites

  • Immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes
  • Disinfect with iodine
  • Seek medical attention to assess the need for a rabies vaccine
  • Deep bites → May require antibiotics and a tetanus shot

Summary: Remember the key points for first aid — direct pressure for bleeding, cool water for burns, ice for sprains, lean forward for nosebleeds, the Heimlich maneuver for choking, and chest compressions plus defibrillation for cardiac arrest. The biggest danger isn't not knowing what to do, but doing the wrong thing. Remember the correct methods, and don't hesitate to call 120 when needed.