What to do in Emergency Situations
First Aid: The Do's and the Don'ts
Disclaimer: The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner. Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
Dr. Tom Scaletta, the president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and Denise King, president of the Emergency Nurses Association, provided recommendations pertaining to common emergency situations:
Call 911 / Emergency Services Immediately
Call emergency services when seeing or experiencing any of these symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Shortness of breath
- Electric burns (even if no damage is evident)
Handling Emergency Situations
Cut off finger / part of finger
What TO do:
Wrap the severed part in damp gauze (saline would be ideal), place it in a watertight bag and place the bag on ice. Apply ice to the wound to reduce swelling and cover with a clean, dry cloth.
Don't:
Don't place the severed part directly on ice.
Knocked-out tooth
What TO do:
Put the tooth in milk and go straight to the ER. There's a good chance the tooth could be reimplanted.
Don't:
Don't scrub the tooth hard (a gentle rinse is OK).
Burns
What TO do:
Wash and apply antibiotic ointment to mild burns.
Go to hospital for: Burns to eyes, mouth, or genital areas; burns larger than your hand; burns causing blisters or followed by fever.
Don't:
Don't apply ice, butter, or grease. Don't cover with towels or blankets. Don't break blisters or pull off stuck clothing.
Sprained ankle
What TO do:
Treat with ice. Go to ER if very painful to bear weight (might be a fracture).
Don't:
Don't use a heating pad.
Nosebleed
What TO do:
Sit upright, lean forward, and pinch nose (below nasal bone) for 5-10 minutes. Go to ER if bleeding persists 15+ minutes.
Don't:
Don't lean back. After bleeding stops, don't blow nose or bend over.
Bleeding
What TO do:
Apply steady pressure with clean towel/gauze and wrap securely. Go to ER if bleeding doesn't stop, wound is gaping, or caused by animal bite. Keep victim warm to prevent shock.
Don't:
Don't use tourniquets (could cause permanent tissue damage).
Ingestion of poison
What TO do:
Contact poison control center and bring the substance with its container to the ER.
Don't:
Don't induce vomiting or use Ipecac syrup (unless instructed by emergency personnel).
Being impaled
What TO do:
If possible, stabilize the object and go to the ER.
Don't:
Don't remove the object (could cause further damage or increase bleeding risk).
Seizures
What TO do:
Lay patient on ground in open space if possible. Roll victim onto their side. Call 911.
Don't:
Don't put anything in the victim's mouth.