Minor Cuts and Scrapes
These are superficial breaks in the skin.

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

  2. Calm and reassure the individual.

  3. Clean the wound gently with cool water and mild soap. Try to remove any dirt or debris.

  4. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or sterile gauze if there’s slight bleeding.

  5. Once bleeding stops, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment (if available and no allergies).

  6. Cover the wound with a sterile adhesive bandage or dressing.

  7. Change the dressing daily or if it becomes wet or dirty.

• When to Seek Medical Help:

  • Bleeding doesn’t stop after 10-15 minutes of direct pressure.

  • The cut is deep, gaping, or long.

  • There is dirt or debris that cannot be removed.

  • The wound is from an animal or human bite, or a rusty/dirty object.

  • Signs of infection develop (redness, swelling, warmth, pus, fever).

  • Tetanus immunization is not up to date.

Severe Bleeding
This involves significant blood loss from a deeper wound.

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Call for emergency medical help immediately.

  2. Wash your hands if possible and put on disposable gloves if available.

  3. Have the individual lie down to prevent fainting and elevate the injured part if possible (unless a fracture is suspected).

  4. Remove any obvious loose debris from the wound. Do NOT remove deeply embedded objects.

  5. Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth, sterile dressing, or even your hand if nothing else is available. Maintain pressure continuously.

  6. If bleeding soaks through the first cloth, add another one on top. Do NOT remove the first one.

  7. If direct pressure doesn’t control bleeding and it’s a limb injury, apply pressure to the main artery supplying blood to the area (pressure point) if trained to do so.

  8. Keep the individual warm.

• When to Seek Medical Help: Always for severe bleeding – this is an emergency.

Burns (Thermal, Scalds, Chemical, Electrical)
Damage to skin caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity.

• First Aid Steps (Thermal/Scalds):

  1. Immediately cool the burn with cool (not ice-cold) running water for 10-20 minutes. Do NOT use ice, butter, or ointments.

  2. Carefully remove any clothing or jewelry near the burned area, unless it’s stuck to the skin.

  3. Cover the burn loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing or clean cloth (cling film is good for scalds).

  4. Do NOT break blisters.

• First Aid Steps (Chemical Burns):

  1. Immediately flush the area with copious amounts of cool running water for at least 20 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing.

  2. If the chemical is a dry powder, brush it off carefully before flushing.

• First Aid Steps (Electrical Burns):

  1. Do NOT touch the individual if they are still in contact with the electrical source. Turn off the power source first if safe to do so, or use a non-conductive object (e.g., dry wood) to move the source away.

  2. Check for breathing and pulse; start CPR if needed and you are trained. Electrical burns can cause internal damage.

• When to Seek Medical Help (for any type of burn):

  • Burns are large (bigger than the individual’s palm).

  • Burns are deep (partial or full-thickness – look waxy, leathery, charred, or have many blisters).

  • Burns are on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over major joints.

  • Burns are circumferential (go all the way around a limb or the body).

  • Electrical or chemical burns.

  • There are signs of inhalation injury (cough, wheeze, facial burns, soot in mouth/nose).

  • The individual is very young or has underlying health conditions.

  • If unsure about the severity.

Choking
Occurs when an object blocks the airway.

• Signs of Severe Choking (Cannot cough, speak, or breathe):

  • Clutching the throat.

  • Blueish skin color (cyanosis).

  • Inability to make sounds.

• First Aid Steps (For a conscious individual who cannot cough, speak, or breathe):

  • For an Individual Over 1 Year Old:

    1. Ask “Are you choking?” If they nod yes, tell them you will help.

    2. Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

    3. If back blows don’t dislodge the object, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver): Stand behind the individual, wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand, place the thumb side against the middle of their abdomen, just above the navel and well below the ribcage. Grasp your fist with your other hand and give quick, upward thrusts.

    4. Alternate between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the individual becomes unresponsive.

  • If the Individual Becomes Unresponsive:

    1. Carefully lower them to the ground.

    2. Call for emergency medical help immediately.

    3. Begin CPR, starting with chest compressions. Before giving rescue breaths, look in the mouth for an object; if seen and easily removable, remove it. Do NOT do blind finger sweeps.

• First Aid Steps (Mild Choking – can cough or make sounds):

  1. Encourage them to keep coughing to clear the object.

  2. Do NOT interfere if they are coughing effectively. Stay with them and monitor their condition.

• When to Seek Medical Help:

  • If the object cannot be dislodged with first aid.

  • If the individual becomes unresponsive.

  • Even if the object is dislodged, seek medical attention if they have a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing, or feel something is still stuck.

Poisoning (Swallowed)
Ingestion of a harmful substance.

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Stay calm. Try to find out what was swallowed, when, and how much. Look for containers.

  2. Call the local Poison Control Center or emergency medical services immediately for specific advice. Have the container or label of the substance ready.

  3. Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by Poison Control or a medical professional. Some substances can cause more harm if vomited.

  4. Do NOT give anything by mouth unless instructed.

  5. If the individual is unconscious, having seizures, or difficulty breathing, call emergency services immediately. Check breathing and pulse; start CPR if needed and you are trained.

• When to Seek Medical Help: Always contact Poison Control or emergency services immediately after any suspected poisoning.

Head Injuries
Injury to the scalp, skull, or brain.

• First Aid Steps (Minor Bump/Bruise with no loss of consciousness):

  1. Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth to the injured area for 15-20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling.

  2. Observe the individual closely for any changes in behavior or symptoms for the next 24-48 hours.

  3. Allow them to rest, but they do not necessarily need to be kept awake if they are sleepy, unless advised by a doctor (you can wake them periodically to check on them).

• When to Seek Urgent Medical Help (for any head injury if these signs are present):

  • Loss of consciousness (even briefly).

  • Severe headache that worsens.

  • Repeated vomiting.

  • Drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking.

  • Seizures (convulsions).

  • Clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears.

  • Unequal pupil size.

  • Slurred speech or weakness in limbs.

  • Unusual behavior or irritability.

  • Any deep cut or visible damage to the skull.

  • If the injury was caused by a significant force (e.g., car accident, fall from a height).

Nosebleeds
Bleeding from the nose.

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Have the individual sit upright and lean slightly forward (this prevents blood from running down the throat).

  2. Pinch the soft parts of the nose (just below the bony bridge) firmly together with thumb and index finger.

  3. Hold continuous pressure for 10-15 minutes. Breathe through the mouth.

  4. After 10-15 minutes, release pressure slowly. If still bleeding, repeat pinching.

  5. An ice pack on the bridge of the nose may help.

  6. Discourage blowing or picking the nose for several hours after bleeding stops.

• When to Seek Medical Help:

  • Bleeding doesn’t stop after 20-30 minutes of direct pressure.

  • Bleeding is very heavy or recurs frequently.

  • The nosebleed started after a significant head injury.

  • The individual feels dizzy, weak, or has difficulty breathing.

Sprains and Strains

• Sprain: Injury to a ligament (tissue connecting bones at a joint).

• Strain: Injury to a muscle or tendon (tissue connecting muscle to bone).

• First Aid Steps (R.I.C.E. principle):

  1. Rest: Avoid using the injured area.

  2. Ice: Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours for the first 24-48 hours.

  3. Compression: Apply a snug (not too tight) elastic bandage to help reduce swelling.

  4. Elevation: Keep the injured part elevated above the level of the heart as much as possible.

• When to Seek Medical Help:

  • Severe pain or inability to bear weight on the limb.

  • The injured area looks deformed or very swollen.

  • Numbness or tingling in the injured part.

  • Symptoms do not improve after a few days of home care.

  • If you suspect a fracture.

Insect Bites and Stings (Non-allergic reaction)

• First Aid Steps:

  1. If a stinger is visible (e.g., from a bee), scrape it away sideways with a fingernail or a credit card edge. Do not use tweezers, as this can squeeze more venom in.

  2. Wash the area with soap and water.

  3. Apply a cold pack or cool compress to reduce pain and swelling.

  4. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching.

• Signs of a Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis): Difficulty breathing or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, dizziness, rash or hives all over the body, confusion, rapid heartbeat.

• First Aid for Anaphylaxis:

  1. Call for emergency medical help immediately.

  2. If the individual has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), help them use it or administer it if trained.

  3. Have them lie flat with legs elevated (unless they are having trouble breathing, in which case they may be more comfortable sitting up).

• When to Seek Medical Help:

  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction.

  • Multiple stings.

  • Sting inside the mouth or throat.

  • Known severe allergy to insect stings.

Fractures (Suspected Broken Bone)
(Refer to detailed lesson on Fractures for more)

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Call for emergency medical help if it’s a severe injury, or arrange transport to a medical facility.

  2. Do NOT try to straighten a deformed limb or push back any bone that is sticking out.

  3. Immobilize the injured area in the position found. Use splints (e.g., rolled-up magazines, pieces of wood) padded with cloth, and secure them above and below the suspected fracture site. Slings can be used for arm injuries.

  4. Apply a cold pack if available (do not place directly on skin).

  5. Control any bleeding with direct pressure if it’s an open fracture.

  6. Monitor for signs of shock (pale, clammy skin, rapid pulse, dizziness). Keep the individual lying down and warm.

• When to Seek Medical Help: Always for a suspected fracture.

Near-Drowning
Rescue from water after submersion.

• First Aid Steps:

  1. Remove the individual from the water safely (do not endanger yourself).

  2. If unresponsive and not breathing normally, call for emergency medical help immediately.

  3. If trained, start CPR immediately.

  4. If breathing, place them in the recovery position (on their side) to allow fluids to drain.

  5. Keep them warm.

• When to Seek Medical Help: Always, even if the individual seems to recover quickly. Complications can develop later.