How to Cure Minor Injuries: First Aid for Common Accidents at Home

It doesn't matter how cautious you are at home; there will still be instances when you or a loved one suffers common injuries from unprecedented home accidents, such as cuts and burns. Stay calm and follow these simple guidelines before seeing a doctor in such situations.

First aid provides immediate treatment or support to an injured individual to avoid further harm. It keeps an injury from growing worse before you seek medical attention or advice on treating it.

What do I need to have in my first aid kit at home?

An adequate first aid pack is essential for treating minor injuries at home and when traveling. If you don't want to purchase a first aid kit, you can make one yourself. Clear plastic containers are ideal for storing materials since they allow you to see what's inside without opening the lid.

There should be a first-aid kit within easy reach in every household. A tin or cardboard box will do as a basic first aid kit for many people, which is widely accessible in most retail establishments. Make sure that you also keep them in an immediately accessible location. In addition, please note that every time a drug's expiration date approaches, you should replace it. As a first aid kit, you should keep the following items on hand at all times:

• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic (Savlon or dettol)
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Band-aids (Plasters)
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Cotton (1 roll)
• Latex gloves (2 pairs)
• Moistened towels and clean dry cloth pieces.
• Needle
• Pen torch
• Scissors
• Small roll of absorbent gauze or gauze pads of different sizes
• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Thermometer
• Triangular and roller bandages
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricants
• Tweezers

Apart from these items, make sure to have a stock of non-prescription drugs or medicines in your first aid kit at home, such as:

• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antihistamine cream for Bee Stings.
• Aspirin or paracetamol pain relievers
• Laxative

Basic first aid tips for common household accidents

The treatment of a sickness or injury in the earliest stages is called "first aid." It is frequently done by non-expert but well-trained workers to an ill or wounded individual until they can obtain definitive medical care. In some instances, minor ailments or injuries may not need additional medical attention once the first aid treatment has taken place. It usually comprises a sequence of straightforward and, in some situations, potentially life-saving skills that may be learned by anybody, even without any specialized gear.

Here are some of the things that you must keep in mind and highly recommended basic tips for your family's safety and security at home:

1. Have a first aid kit in your home. It should be stocked with basic medications that are easy to get.
2. Keep all prescriptions, including over-the-counter remedies, out of children's reach, even those in your first aid kit.
3. Before helping a victim, ensure your safety. Determine whether there are any dangers present in the area. Wear gloves wherever possible to protect oneself from body fluids, such as blood.
4. Ensure the tongue does not block the injured person's airway and that the mouth is clear of fluids and foreign objects in an emergency. The individual must be able to breathe freely. And if it doesn't work, perform CPR as soon as possible.
5. To look for bleeding symptoms, ensure the injured person has a strong pulse and excellent circulatory health. If the patient is bleeding heavily, has eaten poison, or if his heart or breathing has stopped, you need to act quickly to save him. Remember that every second matters.
6. Not moving someone with major neck or back problems unless it's necessary is very crucial. If the victim has vomited and there is no risk of his neck being broken, move him away from the danger and keep him warm with blankets or jackets.
7. While you do first aid, have someone phone for help. Doctors should be called in the event of an emergency, and a phone call should be made to get advice on what to do until the ambulance arrives.
8. Maintain a cool demeanor and provide emotional support to the injured person.
9. When a person is unconscious or semi-conscious, please do not provide fluids to them. Fluids might go into his lungs and cause him to suffocate. When someone is unconscious, please don't attempt to wake them up by slapping or shaking.
10. Find out whether the victim is allergic to medications or has any major health issues that need special treatment by keeping an emergency medical identification card in your first aid kit at home.

Specific First Aid Tips for Minor Injuries

For more specific ways to provide first aid treatment, below are some of the usual accidents that could happen at home and the first aid methods that you can do to save your loved ones:

For cuts and abrasions

You need to clean them thoroughly with soap and warm water and carefully wash away any dirt for cuts. Then once the bleeding stops, apply direct pressure to the wound. Afterward, put a sterile bandage on the wound. If the cut is deep, get to a doctor as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, you must wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water for abrasions or scratches. If it bleeds or oozes, put a bandage to protect it from infection.

While providing first aid treatment, check for signs of an infected wound, including swelling, redness, pain, and pus, which sometimes may cause fever.

For poisons

Poisons are substances or gases that may cause injury or death if absorbed in large quantities in the body. There are three methods by which they might enter the body: the lungs, the skin, or the mouth.

Some poisoning incidents involve medicines. The general treatment for this kind of accident is as follows:

• They may be awake or unconscious; if they are cognizant, they may be able to assist you in some way.
• It's crucial to find out what the victim ate, how much, and when it was consumed.
• Keep any medications, empty bottles, or cartons around the poisoned person until the hospital can examine them for further testing and evaluation. This might assist in identifying the toxin that was consumed.
• The victim's mouth should be examined. The victim should be given as much milk or water as he can ingest if there is an indication of burns.
• When the victim vomits, collect the specimen in a plate or a polythene bag. Bring it to the hospital to be examined by doctors. It may also help determine the kind of toxin that was ingested.
• Get the poisoned person to a hospital or call some medical assistance as fast as possible if the casualty you're attending to is or becomes unconscious while you're with them.

For bleeding due to some foreign body in the wound

A piece of glass, wood, or metal might be an example of this thing attached to the wound. Place your fingers or thumbs along the wound's edge to apply pressure, but leave the foreign object within the wound.

You should not remove the foreign object. You must apply a dressing to the wound's edge and secure it with a tight bandage or clean cloth without removing the foreign object.

If the victim has a wound on an arm or leg that is oozing blood, elevate the afflicted limb above their heart's level. You may call for an ambulance or drive yourself or your loved one to the hospital.

For the bee, wasp, and other insect stings

Remove the stinger if it was left behind by the bug so that less of the venom enters your system. Using a credit card or a dull knife, you can scrape it with an edge. Do not squeak the stinger, as you can make it worse as the venom may seep deeper into the patient's skin.

Wash the area surrounding the sting with soap and water once the stinger has been removed. To prevent swelling, use an ice pack or a cold washcloth on the stung area. You may apply water and baking soda mixture or calamine lotion to the abrasion to ease the discomfort.

Use a hydrocortisone or antihistamine spray or cream to keep it from getting itchy.

For minor burns

You can treat burns such as first and second-degree burns at home.

To minimize or reduce swelling, run cold water over the burnt area for at least five minutes. Use an aloe vera lotion, antibiotic ointment, or antiseptic spray to calm the region. Afterward, cover the burn with a piece of gauze. Let the victim take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to ease their discomfort or pain.

For sudden unconsciousness

The loss of consciousness is usually a harbinger of trouble. The term "unconsciousness" refers to the condition in which a person cannot react in any manner to shaking, screaming, or pinching.

The common causes of unconsciousness are fainting, head injury, stroke, epilepsy – major fits or convulsions, minor fits, heart attacks, diabetes, drugs, drinking, severe bleeding, acute and severe allergy, electric shock, drowning, and gas poisoning.

Assume the following recovery position for the victim: turn them onto their back, then tuck their left arm under the left buttock. Place their right arm above their head.

Strike a pose in which you raise their left arm and shoulder, then bend the right leg to the bent position and the right arm to the bent position.

Also, ensure that the victim's airway is free of obstructions by removing anything stuck in the mouth or throat, including dentures. Lift the head up and backward to ensure the airway is free while releasing the left arm behind the body.

When choking

As long as the choking victim is coughing, you should not intervene. It's essential to swiftly inquire whether the patient is choked or if they look to be choking if coughing doesn't release what's stuck in their throat. A person who is choking will be able to nod yes, but they will be unable to speak. Despite the identical symptoms, a person with a heart attack will be able to talk. Thus it's vital to ask this question.

It would be best if you use the Abdominal Thrust only in the event of a life-threatening situation. You can do this by standing behind them with your arms around their waist. Using one fist, place it on the victim's abdomen, with the knuckle of the thumb resting on it, slightly above the navel but well below the breastbone. Position your thumb on the victim's abdomen, just above the navel but far below their breastbone, and then make a fist with it. Pull both hands together with an upward-and-inward jab, keeping your fist firmly in place with the other hand.

It is imperative that this method be repeated until either the item is removed or the patient is unconscious. The patient should be taken to a doctor immediately if you are unsure about your ability to handle the situation.

For electric shock

The victim is commonly found unconscious near an electrical device or cable, making recognizing this kind of accident easier.

Remember to turn off the electrical supply before attempting to touch the victim. Turn the victim into the Recovery Position if they are still breathing. If the victim has stopped breathing, you must begin the Kiss of Life and heart message as soon as possible and call for a doctor or ambulance.

A subdivision near hospitals and medical facilities

A situation like this might arise at any time in which you might need to provide some basic first aid to yourself or a loved one, and it's critical that you know what you're doing as this can help save someone's life, prevent further injury, and sustain health and resilience against disease.

But it would always be best if your community is situated near hospitals, clinics, or other medical facilities that you can rely on in case of an accident or emergency.

Lumina Homes communities, due to their strategic location in key cities and municipalities all over the country, can be found close to clinics, hospitals, and medical facilities in the area. That's why its residents as well as future homeowners can achieve peace of mind in terms of the safety, security, and health of their families as immediate medical assistance is just a few minutes away from home.

Discover the various home model units and project sites that we have in the country and be part of our practical, safe, and convenient community. Make your home reservations now!