When you find yourself in a situation where help is needed quickly, it can be difficult to think of the best ways to respond. Fortunately, there are a number of first aid tricks you can use to help yourself before professional help arrives. Most of these tricks involve using everyday items in new and unexpected ways. These first aid tricks might seem obvious, but they can be lifesavers in desperate situations where time is of the essence and access to professional help is limited. It can be difficult to know which of these tricks are helpful and which ones are simply common misconceptions that aren’t helpful at all. This article will provide insight into 13 helpful first aid tricks. Let’s begin!
Cup for pressure point
A pressure point is a specific point on the body that is easily accessed and can be used to temporarily relieve pain. To find the right pressure point for your situation, locate the main nerve in the area where pain is occurring. You can use a wide variety of common items to identify and relieve pain from a pressure point. A common example is a cup full of water. If you find that you are having difficulty locating the pressure point, try dipping a washcloth or other fabric into the water. This will create a barrier between your fingers and the water, making it easier to find the exact location of the pressure point.
Kitty litter for burns
If you are handling an extremely hot substance or are experiencing extreme heat that has caused a chemical reaction with your skin, you may end up with a burn. Fortunately, a simple kitty litter box can be used to treat a burn by removing the heat and cooling your skin. The box should be partially filled with kitty litter. You can also use an old pillowcase or other fabrics that are easy to remove and clean. You can then apply cold water to the burn until it stops hurting.
Sand for pressure points
For many of the same reasons that a cup can be used to identify and relieve pressure points, sand can also be used as a barrier between your fingers and the skin. Sand can be used to create a barrier to relieve pain from a pressure point, as well as to protect your hands from a chemical reaction with the skin. You can use the sand to build a barrier between the tips of your fingers and your skin or to create a barrier between your palms and the skin. Sand can be especially useful if you are handling a substance that could be harmful if you touch it directly with your hands.
Baking soda for burns
Baking soda is an effective home remedy for many types of burns. It can be used to treat small burns as well as deep chemical burns. To use baking soda to treat a burn, first remove any clothing or other materials that could come in contact with the burn. Next, mix the baking soda with water and apply it to the burn as a thick paste. Let the baking soda sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off. You can also use a clean cloth or gauze pad to cover the burn and apply pressure to it.
Toothpaste for bites/stings
Like baking soda, toothpaste can be used to relieve pain from bites/stings. To use this remedy, apply a thick layer of toothpaste to the bite or sting, then cover it with a thin layer of duct tape. Let the tape dry, then peel it off. You can also use a small piece of gauze or a clean cloth to cover the bite or sting and apply pressure to it.
Toothbrush for splinters
If you’re dealing with splinters, you can use a toothbrush to remove them. The teeth on a toothbrush are thin and sharp, which is the best way to remove splinters. You can use the head of the toothbrush or the handle, depending on the location of the splinters. You can also use the bristles of the toothbrush to remove splinters if there is a larger one that you cannot remove with the teeth.
Glass for small cuts
If you have a small cut, you can use a piece of broken or smooth glass to cover it. You can use the broken piece on a small cut on your hands or feet. You can use the smooth piece on a larger cut that covers more of your hand or foot. You can also use a piece of metal such as a paper clip or a key to cover a small cut.
Paper towel for cuts
A paper towel can be used as a barrier over a small cut to protect it from dirt and germs. You can also cover a small cut with a piece of tape. The paper towel and tape can be used as general sterile covering to prevent dirt and germs from entering the wound. This is especially important if the cut is on a dirty part of the body, such as your hands.
Copper for poison ivy/poison oak
If you are dealing with poison ivy or poison oak, you can use a piece of copper to cover the affected area and prevent further contact with the poison. The copper will slowly absorb the poison and prevent it from spreading further.
Aloe vera for sunburn/dehydration
If you are dealing with sunburn or dehydration, you can use aloe vera to treat it. You can either use the gel directly or mix it with water to make a thick paste. Apply the aloe vera to the sunburn or apply the paste to the skin around the eyes if you are dealing with dehydration.