Myths about first aid, which can harm you

A quick and correct first medical aid can have a huge impact on the speed of recovery. Nevertheless, many people follow common myths and make mistakes in case of injuries, burns or other unexpected health problems. We decided to debunk these misconceptions once and for all.

Insufficient burn treatment time

Forget about oil or ice. The best way to soothe the burnt skin is to use cool water. However, it is worth doing this not for a few seconds, as we all are used to, but at least 10-20 minutes. The fact is that a few seconds will not be enough to alleviate your condition, since the heat from the burn penetrates deep into the skin and can continue to destroy the tissues even if you have already cooled the surface. So you need cold to prevent further damage. If the burns are severe enough, after first aid should be consulted a doctor.

Head tilting during nosebleeds

This can lead to clumping of blood in the back of the throat, which, in turn, causes a cough and makes breathing difficult. What should I do instead? Pinch your nose and hold your head in the normal position, so that the line of the chin remains parallel to the ground. Try to relax. Since nosebleeds often occur in young children, teach them how to act in such a situation.

Use of heat at the site of stretching or fracture

If for some reason you have sprained ligaments or fractured bones, always use cold to ease your condition. Ice helps reduce inflammation, while heat increases blood flow, which can lead to swelling. Heat can be used to relieve, for example, spasms in the back.

Trying to remove contamination from a wounded eye

If you are trying to get rid of the debris that got into the eye, you can only worsen the situation and even provoke serious problems with vision. Instead, close the injured eye to prevent any debris from entering the interior, and immediately contact a professional. The only exception is if any chemical substance has entered your eye. In this case, rinse your eyes with cold water for at least 15 minutes.

Removing a bandage from a bleeding wound

If the bandage that you use to stop the bleeding is soaked with blood and stuck to the wound, do not try to remove it yourself. All you have to do is use a new piece of bandage, attaching it from above. The fact is that our blood has the ability to coagulate on the surface of the wound, and this helps stop the bleeding. If you try to remove the old bandage, you will also remove the coagulated blood along with it, and this will lead to the restoration of bleeding. If this does happen, you should press the cut until the bleeding stops, then rinse the wound (to prevent infection), apply the ointment with the antibiotic and bandage.

Refusal of medical care after a car accident

If you are involved in a car accident in which your car has been seriously damaged, you should immediately go to the hospital, even if you are feeling well. The adrenaline rush that occurs during an accident can temporarily block the pain. In fact, you can begin to feel the consequences of the accident even after 10-12 hours after it. Sometimes, due to the release of adrenaline, the victim may not notice hemorrhages in the brain or broken bones.

An attempt to cope with the situation alone

Imagine that in the backyard you were bitten by a bee, and this caused a serious allergic reaction. What should be done? To start, call an ambulance, and then head to the driveway so that doctors can find you as soon as possible. Have you begun to choke in a restaurant? Do not run to the toilet. A person can die indoors from suffocation simply because he does not want to disturb other visitors. After all, it is quite possible that no one will notice that you have become ill. Stay where others can help you.