First Aid Basics
With the holidays approaching, this is the perfect time to brush up your first aid skills. Burns, cuts, choking, and accidents account for over 10,000 visits to emergency rooms every November and Deccember. First Aid refers to help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available. By administering immediate care, you can help before Emergency Medical Services arrive. Here is a general overview on how to handle an emergency situation.
1. Assess the situation. Be aware of and consider potential safety issues.
2. Secure the scene and call 9-1-1 if necessary.
3. Offer to help the person and check them over carefully for injuries.
4. Gather supplies and assist with bandaging wounds, giving the Heimlich maneuver, tending to burns, performing CPR, or stabilizing injuries.
Here is a link from the American Red Cross with more details on how to administer First Aid. You can also find information on their website with regard to training classes and situation-specific advice. It’s always good to have a first-aid kit handy for emergencies. Here is a link from the CDC on how to stock your first aid kit.**While this information is meant to be helpful, it is a very general overview and by no means a substitute for proper First Aid training/certification. There are many places in the Charlotte metro area to obtain training. The American Red Cross, CPR Works, and the American Heart Association are offer great training and the chance to be certified.
