First Aid Basics
Here are first aid basics for some common problems.
- On this page:
Cuts and Scrapes
What to Do
- Stop the bleeding. Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth for two to five minutes and elevate the area.
- Wash carefully with mild soap. Apply Bacitracin and cover with a bandage.
- Get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one within ten years.
- With puncture wounds, allow some bleeding to clean it out. Soak it several times a day for a few days.
- Note: If there’s dirt in an abrasion, scrub it thoroughly – otherwise you risk infection and the dirt may permanently “tattoo” your skin.
When to Get Help
- Your injuries are extensive.
- The wound gapes open (and requires stitches).
- The location is of cosmetic concern.
- You have severe pain.
- You suspect infection due to swelling, heat, redness, pus, or red streaks going toward the heart.
Burns
What to Do
- Immediately apply a cold compress for 20 to 30 minutes (it stops the burning).
- Wash in cool water, pat dry, apply a thin layer of Bacitracin, and cover with a bandage.
- Change the dressing every 24 hours (or more often if it gets wet or dirty).
Note: There’s no harm in leaving a blister intact (it’s a natural bandage).
When to Get Help
- It looks charred or is an electrical burn.
- Blisters are located in a sensitive area (face, hand or genitalia), or surround an entire extremity, such as a finger.
Nosebleed
What to Do
- Pinch nostrils closed for ten minutes (timed with a clock) while holding your head forward.
- Put a cold pack over the bridge of your nose.
- Don’t pick or blow your nose for 24 hours.
Prevention: Apply Vaseline or similar ointment to a cotton-tipped swab and gently swab inside your nose to keep it moist.
When to Get Help
See your health care provider if bleeding doesn’t stop after 30 to
45 minutes, or if it recurs.
Tick Bites
What to Do
- Remove the tick with tweezers. Grab it as close to the head as possible (close to your skin) while pulling back firmly and continuously.
- Wash and watch for signs of infection.
Note: Myths abound about tick removal. Don’t burn, smother or squeeze them between your fingers. Use the above method.
When to Get Help
See your health care provider if there’s infection or local rash.
Bee Stings
What to Do
- If there’s a stinger, remove it with a firm sweep of your student ID card or a credit card held perpendicular to the skin (do this ASAP since it’s the venom that causes pain).
- Elevate area, apply a cold compress, take Tylenol for pain, and Benedryl or other antihistamine for itching.
When to Get Help
- You have an allergic reaction.
- You suspect infection.
- Pain is not controlled by the above measures.
- You have multiple stings and feel ill.
- It’s been ten years since your last tetanus shot.
Splinters
What to Do
- Remove with tweezers (do not soak the area first).
- Wash with soap and water. Cover with an antibacterial ointment (e.g., Bacitracin) and a bandage (if it’s in a dirt-prone area).
- Get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in ten years.
When to Get Help
- See your health care provider if you can’t get the splinter out, the pain continues or if you suspect infection.