3 BASIC FIRST AID AND SURVIVAL SKILLS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Basic first aid and survival skills deliver long-lasting benefits, as they allow you to provide instant support in life-threatening situations. Furthermore, these skills empower individuals to take action, and ultimately, may help an ordinary person become a life-saver in an emergency. So which basic first aid and survival skills are essential? Here’s a closer look at three basic first aid and survival skills you need to know.
1. CLEANING AND DRESSING WOUNDS
Scrapes, gashes and cuts may seem unavoidable at times. Fortunately, you can learn how to clean and dress wounds to stop bleeding and minimize the risk of infection.
Although a first aid kit typically includes bandages, gauze and other materials to help you put pressure on a wound to stop bleeding, this kit may lack instructions that explain how to apply these materials properly. However, basic first aid and survival training ensures you’ll know exactly how to clean and dress a wound, instantly reducing the possibility of infection. Whether it’s applying pressure to a wound,
adding disinfectant or warm water to an injured area or performing other treatments, basic first aid and survival training empowers you with actionable information you can use to help a friend or family members who suffers a scrape, gash or cut. As a result, understanding how to clean and dress wounds delivers immediate and long-term value and may help you make the most of a first aid kit, too.
The first step in treating any injury is to examine it closely. You'll need to determine the nature and severity of the wound. Take a close look at the injury and pay attention to the following: -The amount of blood. How rapidly is the person bleeding? Does the blood come out in a steady flow, or is it pulsing? -Foreign objects in the wound. This might be the cause of the wound itself, like a fishhook, or a piece of glass. -Dirt or debris in or around the wound.
You can often treat minor wounds at home. But, in the case of a serious wound, the injured person should see a doctor immediately. Seek medical attention if: -The wound is bleeding a lot, the bleeding is pulsing, and/or it won't stop. -The wound is more than one centimeter deep. This may require stitches. -There is any significant head trauma. -There is evidence of a bone fracture or internal bleeding.
After cleaning the wound, wrap it in a clean bandage. Bandaging restricts mobility so that wound edges can come together and heal. It also protects from further injury and infection.
The first step in treating any injury is to examine it closely. You'll need to determine the nature and severity of the wound. Take a close look at the injury and pay attention to the following: -The amount of blood. How rapidly is the person bleeding? Does the blood come out in a steady flow, or is it pulsing? -Foreign objects in the wound. This might be the cause of the wound itself, like a fishhook, or a piece of glass. -Dirt or debris in or around the wound.
2. HANDS-ONLY CPR
Hands-only CPR serves as a life-saving skill, empowering you to provide instant support in a cardiac emergency. Understanding how to perform hands only CPR ensures you can assist a victim at any time and improve his or her chances of survival.
3. PREPARING A FIRST AID KIT
A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment's notice.
