First aid mistakes are common among people who have never practiced first aid before. First aid mistakes can be very dangerous for the person who is receiving it and the person providing first aid. It can also be bad for the reputation of first responders and medical staff as they take on more time helping people who have made a bad first aid mistake than people who did it right. This article will cover some of the most common first aid mistakes that people make when trying to help someone else in need. You might think that these mistakes are obvious but they still happen frequently enough for them to be addressed here.
Not recognizing signs of a serious injury or illness
One of the most common first aid mistakes is not recognizing signs of a serious injury or illness. Signs that someone has been injured can vary based on the type of injury or illness. For example, someone who has been stung by a bee, scorpion, or other insect may look and feel like they have been bitten by a poisonous insect. Someone who has suffered a cardiac event may look like they have been experiencing a heart attack, but the signs are different for each. It is important to know the signs of the different types of injuries and illnesses so that you can recognize them when they occur and know what to do next. Some of the more general signs of injuries or illnesses are:- Loss of consciousness- Unresponsiveness- Breathing difficulties- Bleeding- Black or blue skin, especially around the face or neck
Forgetting to monitor or document the incident
Another important part of first aid is to monitor and document the incident. This can include taking photos, recording the incident, or documenting the first aid instructions that you provide to the person who is injured or ill. You should always take photos or record the incident whenever possible so that there can be a record of what happened in case the injured or ill person is unable to communicate. You should also review the incident with the injured or ill person at a later time if possible so that they can tell you what happened and help you to determine any other information that could help with the treatment. If the injured or ill person is unable to communicate, you should still perform the monitoring and documentation.
Forgetting to treat pain
Pain medication can be essential for treating a wide variety of injuries and illnesses. However, if first aid is being provided to someone who may have been drinking alcohol, the person providing the pain medication will need to be careful not to administer too much. It is important to treat pain properly in order to prevent it from becoming more severe, but it is also important to be careful not to provide too much medication. This can be difficult when the person providing the pain medication is also the one taking care of the injury or illness. It can help to have someone else help you to monitor the amount of pain medication that you are providing. If the person who is injured or ill is under the influence of alcohol, it may be necessary to wait for the alcohol to leave their system before providing pain medication.
Forgetting to treat the underlying cause of the injury or illness
First aid mistakes can also occur when people forget to treat the underlying cause of the injury or illness. For example, if someone is suffering from a burn, they should be treated for the burn itself. They should not be treated for burns to other areas of their body or treated for burns that are not caused by the fire. In addition to the burn itself, it is important to take care of the person who is injured or ill by providing pain medication, checking for signs of shock, and keeping them warm. If the person who is ill or injured is under the age of 18, they should also be provided with a safe sleeping space. Keeping the person warm and providing them with pain medication will help them to recover from the illness or injury more quickly.
Wrapping up the first aid too soon or not long enough
Another common first aid mistake is to wrap up the first aid too soon or not long enough. If the person who is ill or injured is under the age of 18, it is important to not only treat the illness or injury but also to protect them from further injury. This can include keeping them in a safe sleeping space, providing them with a barrier against any further injury, or keeping them from falling. If the person is over the age of 18, it is important to provide them with appropriate pain medication and to check for signs of shock.
Summing up
As you can see, there are many important aspects to know when providing first aid to a person who is ill or injured. It is essential to learn these so that you can provide helpful and timely first aid without making any mistakes. There are many ways to learn these skills and most people can benefit from practicing them regularly. If you want to become more comfortable with your first aid skills and techniques, consider taking a first aid course or becoming a first aid instructor. This will give you the opportunity to practice these skills while also helping others to learn them.