FirstAidStore.com™ Featuring First Aid Only® CPR, First Aid, Disaster & Safety Supplies Online! . First Aid Kits], First Aid Products First Aid Supply - First Aid Store.com is THE Source for CPR, First Aid, Disaster, Preparedness & Safety Supplies. Address: 11101 NE 37th Circle, Vancouver WA 98682 US Phone: 877-534-7782 Email: FirstAidStore.com Info Website Categories: First Aid , First Aid Kit, Safety

Reading this ad? Why not put yours here. Reach more than 8,000,000 unique readers a month. Get the scoop and reserve your spot today. Click here now!

First aid means 'to provide immediate care to a victim with an injury'

An injury can be caused by many things and usually requires immediate attention. First aid is administered by a lay person, who, given the situation, will determine the course of action. It is normally performed until the injury or illness is satisfactorily dealt with (such as in the case of small cuts, minor bruises, and blisters) or until the next level of care, such as an ambulance or doctor, arrives.

edit The ABC's and P's of First Aid

Importance

Providing "First Aid" can mean the difference between life and death in certain situations.

First Aid is guided by the 3 P's which are

• Prevent further injury
• Preserve life
• Promote recovery

Additionally, all First Aiders follow the ABC's of First Aid. These ABC's are, in truth, checklists for the First Aider.

• Airway
  • Always check to see if the patient is breathing. Also check if the breathing passageway is blocked in any way.
• Breathing
  • If the patient is not breathing, immediately perform CPR.
• Circulation
  • Check if the patient is bleeding or has any obstruction in blood flow.

edit How to REALLY Save a Life

There are many misconceptions surrounding first aid, some of which can cause serious harm.

Call Emergency

Call Emergency Services ASAP

First aid misconceptions:

1. Misconception: You should put butter or cream on a burn.
   • The only thing you should put on a burn is cold water - keep the butter for cooking.
2. Misconception: If you can't move a limb, it must be broken / If you can move a limb, it can't be broken.
   • The only accurate way to diagnose a broken limb is to x-ray it.
3. Misconception: The best way to treat bleeding is to wash the wound in water.
   • If you put a bleeding wound under a tap you wash away the body's clotting agents and make it bleed more.
4. Misconception: Nosebleeds are best treated by putting the head back.
   • If you tilt the head back during a nosebleed, all the blood goes down the back of the airway.
5. Misconception: A tourniquet is the best way to treat serious bleeding.
   • It's harmful to stop the blood flow to a limb for more than 10-15 minutes.
6. Misconception: If someone has swallowed a poisonous substance, you should make them vomit.
   • If you make someone sick by putting your fingers in their mouth, the vomit may block their airway.
7. Misconception: If you perform CPR on someone who has a pulse you can damage their heart.
   • The evidence is that it isn't dangerous to do chest compressions on a victim with a pulse.
8. Misconception: You need lots of training to administer first aid.
   • You don't - what you need most is common sense. You can learn enough first aid in ten minutes to save someone's life.
9. Misconception: You need lots of expensive equipment to do first aid.
   • You don't need any equipment to do first aid, there are lots of ways to improvise anything you need.

edit First Aid Kit Contents

First Aid Kit

Here is a list of items recommended by the Department of Homeland and Security for your first aid kit:

• Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex)
• Sterile dressings to stop bleeding
• Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect any open wounds
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
• Burn ointment to prevent infection
• Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
• Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general decontaminant
• Thermometer
• Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers

You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.

Good items to have on hand:

• Cell Phone
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Non-prescription drugs:
  • Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
  • Anti-diarrhea medication or Antacid (for upset stomach)
  • Laxative

edit Tips about your First Aid Kit

• The first aid kit should be kept in a clearly marked bag or container in an easily accessible location.
• Homes, vehicles and work places should all have a first aid kit.
• The size and nature of the first aid kit should be in proportion to the distance from help.
• Keep in mind a workplace with heavy machinery will require different first aid supplies than an office.
• Store the first aid kit in a place that is out of reach for children but easily accessible to adults.
• Regularly check the first aid kit, replacing the missing items or medicines that may have expired.
• Once you've stocked your kit, make sure to read the entire first-aid manual ahead of time so you'll understand how to use the contents.
• Tape a list of emergency phone numbers on the outside or inside the lid; it is also helpful to list the items in the kit so you know what's there and what needs to be replaced.

edit Related Categories