What are the basic first aid skills?

For ordinary people without a medical background, the basic first aid skills that are commonly used and can save lives do not need to be too complicated to memorize. First, the three skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation + AED (automated external defibrillator) operation for sudden death, the Heimlich maneuver for foreign objects in the throat, and pressure hemostasis for traumatic bleeding can already cover the handling needs of most fatal emergency scenarios.

I have been a community first aid volunteer for almost three years, and I have come across too many cases where the best treatment time was missed because people did not know how to give first aid. Last summer, I was enjoying the cool air in a community square, and I met a grandmother crying while holding her grandson with a whole grape stuck in it. At that time, everyone around me was panicking and patting her on the back. Fortunately, I brought my first aid certificate with me, so I quickly lifted the child up and patted the middle of the shoulder blades three times. The grape was spit out immediately, and it only took ten seconds. If I had to wait for 120 to come, it would take at least seven or eight minutes, and something serious could really happen. There are also different opinions on the Internet. Some people say that you should not lift the Heimlich upside down for fear of hurting the spine. In fact, this depends on the situation. If the child has lost consciousness, it is not recommended. However, the child has already turned purple from holding it in. The first priority is to expel the foreign body. Minor soft tissue injuries are nothing compared to suffocation.

What is more dangerous than a foreign object stuck in the throat is sudden cardiac death. The golden rescue time is only 4 minutes after the onset of the disease. After this time, even if the patient is rescued, there is a high probability of irreversible brain damage. A few months ago, a 27-year-old guy in our office building suddenly fell to the ground while working overtime. His colleagues around him didn't dare to do anything, so they only called 120. By the time the ambulance arrived, 12 minutes had passed, and he still couldn't be saved. In fact, there was an AED next to the front desk in the lobby. If someone dared to go up and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and then brought the AED and followed the voice prompts, the probability of survival would increase by at least 40%. Many people are afraid of being held responsible for breaking ribs during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There is really no need to worry about this. The "Good Person Law" in the Civil Code has long made it clear that those who voluntarily perform first aid and cause damage to the recipient do not need to bear civil liability. Some people say that you cannot get started without a first aid certificate. In fact, both domestic and international first aid guidelines encourage ordinary people to take action when encountering sudden death. Even if the action is not standard, it is much better than waiting for first aid at the place.

Traumatic bleeding is more likely to be encountered on a daily basis. The last time I went hiking with my travel companions, a girl was scraped by a falling rock on a vein in her calf, and the blood gushed out immediately. The people traveling with her were so panicked that they took mineral water to wash it off, and wrapped it twice with coats, but it couldn't be stopped. Fortunately, I packed an elastic bandage in my bag and pressed it on the bleeding point and tightened it tightly. By the time we walked for more than half an hour and got off the mountain to the ambulance, the bleeding had basically stopped, and there was no hemorrhagic shock. Here are different views: In the past, we all thought that bleeding in limbs should be quickly tied with tourniquets and loosened every half hour. In fact, the latest clinical guidelines recommend using pressure to stop bleeding. Tourniquets can easily cause limb necrosis due to improper banding position and too long time. Tourniquets are only needed for major arterial bleeding that cannot be stopped by pressure. You must remember the specific time of bandaging and inform the treating doctor as soon as you arrive at the hospital.

The rest of the treatments for burns, minor sprains, and food poisoning are non-fatal but highly practical skills. For example, if you have a burn or a burn, just flush running cold water for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not apply messy things like toothpaste, soy sauce, and plant ash, which may easily cause infection.； If you twist your foot, apply ice first and don’t rub it, then apply heat after 24 hours. ； Don't induce vomiting if you eat something wrong, especially if you drink corrosive liquids with strong acid and alkali. Inducing vomiting will burn the esophagus and throat. Call 120 first to explain exactly what you ate and how much you ate, and just follow the dispatcher's instructions.

Every time I give training, I tell everyone that these skills are really not difficult at all. Find a practical video from an official organization and you can figure out the ropes in half an hour. If possible, go to the local Red Cross for a half-day practical class. Practice it twice on a simulated man and you will be familiar with it. Maybe one day you will be able to save the life of someone around you if you encounter an accident.