Master the art of first aid!

Life’s unpredictable and there are always accidents and mishaps waiting to happen. Here are a few first aid basics that’ll help you minimize the consequences of an injury.

In case of an emergency, you must always adopt a 3-C strategy:

Check: Check the scene for danger to yourself and others. Do not proceed if your safety is at risk.

Call: Call for medical help.

Care: Care for the injured person. Remain with the victim until medical help arrives. Offer reassurance to help the person stay calm. Treat immediate life-threatening problems, such as the following:

1. Bleeding

If possible, cover wounds with clean bandages, and then apply direct pressure to the wound to control bleeding until help arrives. If a person is bleeding profusely, be on the lookout for symptoms of shock. Cold, clammy skin, a weakened pulse, and loss of consciousness can all indicate that a person is about to go into shock from blood loss.

2. Shock

Symptoms of shock typically include pale, bluish skin that is cold to the touch, vomiting, and thirst. You cannot reverse shock with first aid, but you can prevent it from getting worse. Help maintain an open airway by keeping the victim on their back with their mouth slightly open, control obvious bleeding, and elevate the victim’s legs about 12 inches if possible. Prevent loss of body heat by covering the victim in blankets. Do not administer any food or liquids, as this increases risk for vomiting.

3. Loss of conscious and problems breathing

Tap or shake them and ask loudly “Are you okay?” If the victim is breathing but unconscious, gently roll them onto their side (if possible) while keeping the head and neck aligned. If the victim is not breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.

4. Choking

Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades to dislodge the object.''

5. Burns

Cool the burn under cold running water for at least ten minutes and then wrap it with cling film or a clean plastic bag.

6. Seizures

There isn't much you can do to stop a seizure once it starts. But you can help protect someone from harm during one. Some seizures are more dangerous than others, but most aren't an emergency. If you want to do something for the person, focus on keeping them safe.

7. Broken Bones

If you suspect that there might be a case of broken bones, encourage the person to support the injury with their hand, and use a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.

8. Heat Stroke   

Move the person into a cool place, out of direct sunlight and remove unnecessary clothing. Try to bring down the body temperature by spraying water, wet towels, ice packs and fan the person.

9. Heart Attack

Have the person sit down, rest, and try to keep calm. Loosen any tight clothing. Ask if the person takes any chest pain medicine, such as nitroglycerin, for a known heart condition, and help them take it.

10. Asthma attack

Help the victim sit upright and allow him to administer his medication. Keep him warm. If he can’t use his inhaler or doesn’t have it with him, small amounts of a caffeinated drink can improve airways function in people with asthma.

11. Drowning

As soon as the casualty has been rescued from the water, check if they’re breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, give them five initial rescue breaths before starting CPR. Keep giving CPR until help arrives, the casualty regains responsiveness, or you’re too exhausted to keep going.