Eight first aid methods for common minor injuries in the home

1. Nose bleeding

Do it now: Lean forward slightly and pinch your nose for 5-15 minutes, or put an ice pack on the bridge of your nose.

Don't: Tilt your head back (blood can be easily swallowed and may enter the lungs, causing danger).

When to seek medical attention: If nosebleeds persist after 20 minutes; or are accompanied by headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, or vision problems.

2. There is a foreign object in the eye

Do it now: Blink a few times to dislodge the foreign object. If that doesn't work, pinch your eyelids and rinse your eyes with tap water.

Don't: Rub your eyes (even a small foreign object can scratch the cornea and cause infection).

When to seek medical attention: If chemicals such as bleach splash into your eyes; after rinsing, your eyes still have stinging, swelling, or blurred vision.

3. Sprain

Do it now: Change the ice pack every 20 minutes. Wrap the injured joint with an elastic bandage, elevate the injured area, and do not move it for at least 24 hours. Afterwards, apply hot compress to promote blood circulation in the affected area.

Don't: Work while injured (can lead to more serious injuries, such as ligament tears, etc.).

When to see a doctor: If your injury doesn't get better after a few days, you may have a broken bone, torn muscle, or torn ligament and should see a doctor right away.

4. Burns

Do it now: Rinse the burn with cool water or apply a cold compress with a wet washcloth. First-degree injuries (redness of the skin) or second-degree injuries (blisters) can be bandaged loosely.

Don't: Put ice packs on the burn (ice can damage the skin and make the injury worse); pop blisters or apply antibiotics to the burn (can easily cause infection).

When to seek medical attention: Second-degree burns that are larger than the size of your palm; third-degree burns (skin burned or charred), electrical burns, chemical burns, and patients with coughing, excessive tears, or difficulty breathing.

5. Heavy blow to the head

Do it immediately: If the injured person is unconscious, call emergency services immediately; if the injured area is bleeding, temporary hemostasis should be performed, but follow the doctor's instructions as there may be brain injury; small lumps on the head can be cooled with ice packs.

Don't: Leave the injured person alone, especially if they are asleep. The correct approach is to wake him up every 3-4 hours and ask him to answer some simple questions to make sure there is no damage to his brain.

When to seek medical attention: If the victim experiences convulsions, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.

6. Suffocation

Do it now: Call emergency services immediately. If the patient is over 1 year old, ask him to lean forward and tap between his shoulder blades 5 times with your palm. If it doesn't work, let the patient lie flat, place one fist above the navel, clench the other fist, and press up and down 5 times.

Don't: Give the person something to drink or eat while they are coughing.

7. Poisoning

Do it now: If the person is unconscious or having difficulty breathing, call emergency services immediately. Be sure to clearly state the cause of the poisoning, the time and dosage, the patient's age and weight, etc.

Don't: Use emetics lightly; give the patient food or drink casually.

8. Trauma

Do it now: Apply pressure with gauze to the wound to stop the bleeding. For minor cuts or scrapes, wash with soapy water, apply a layer of Vaseline or antibiotic ointment, and then cover with a Band-Aid.

Don't: Clean and apply medicine to large, deep wounds that bleed a lot; easily pull out puncture objects from the wound.

When to seek medical attention: If there are foreign objects such as nails in the wound; if the wound is deep and accompanied by fever, redness and swelling.