Seven First Aid Training Myths
American Heart Association First-aid
Accidents will happen – that is unavoidable. What people can do is to make sure that they are prepared to handle any accidents that can conceivably come up. However, there are a lot of first aid myths out there that can cause more harm than good. They may have come from old wives’ tales, rumors, or a tragic misapplication of common sense, but those myths are out there.
- “Burns can be treated with butter or cream.” This is tragically inaccurate. Butter or cream might feel nice for a little bit due to how cold it feels, but the oil in them will trap the heat and make things worse. Infections can also result from applying foodstuffs to burns. It is better to put the afflicted area under still and cool water to remove heat
- “If you have a nosebleed, tilt your head back.” Tilting your head back during a nosebleed doesn’t do anything productive. All it does is let blood flow down your throat, which can result in choking or vomiting, if it gets to be stomach. Tilting it forward and pinching your nose is far more beneficial.
- “Only trained personnel can properly perform first aid.” Untrue – first aid can be used by anyone. Most of the time, people just need to know what to do, and in many cases, all that is required is some common sense. Don’t move a broken bone. If someone is vomiting, make them lie on his or her side to make sure that no choking occurs. For slightly more complex situations, there are plenty of guides available online. A few minutes brushing up on your first aid could potentially save a life. However, the American Heart Association recommends taking a certified CPR and First-aid course in Sacramento so you can be well prepared.
- “Sucking the snake venom out of a wound with your mouth will save someone.” Snake poisons contain hemotoxic and myotoxic venom. The former destroys red blood cells, and the latter will cause paralysis. Both will severely damage muscles and tissue, as they are meant to aid in the digestion of the afflicted. Trying to suck it with your mouth out might only result in two people being poisoned, at best. However, there are devices that are meant to suction poison from a wound.
- “Specific equipment is required for a proper application of first aid.” Nope. While proper equipment or a well-stocked first aid kit would help, in most situations people don’t need equipment to help someone out.
- “Urinating on a jellyfish sting will help.” Not only is urinating on a sting awkward, it might not even help. Depending on your diet, your urine may or may not be acidic – and it is only helpful if it is acidic enough. To lessen awkwardness and to make sure that the sting is treated, just go with vinegar.
- “Putting wounds under running water will help.” Running water only washes away the body’s efforts to clot the wound, resulting in further bleeding. It’s better to create pressure on the wound to slow down or stem the bleeding.
Anyone can perform basic first aid if they know what to do, and what not to do. Knowing whether something is fact or fiction will help people respond appropriately in case an accident or mishap occurs. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association in Sacramento provide official CPR and First-aid Certification courses to the public at low prices. Learn from the experts and take a training course.