5 Common First Aid Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

You probably have come across many First Aid tips and tricks whether it is from the internet or your next-door neighbor. However, you can’t just believe everything you hear. Even with the best intentions, people can make some common first-aid mistakes that can worsen the situation. Here are 5 common first-aid mistakes that you may have heard of. By avoiding these mistakes you can ensure you are providing the best possible care in an emergency. 

• Putting hot water on frostbite

When you encounter a patch of frozen skin, it may seem like a smart option to run hot water over the area. However, this could damage your skin tissues and even lead to burns. The best way to treat frozen skin is to slowly thaw the skin in warm water. It is important to ensure that the water is warm enough. After the skin is thawed make sure to avoid exposure to cold temperatures to prevent refreezing.

• Leaving a bandage on for days

After bandaging a cut, it may be tempting to leave it on for a few days, thinking that it will speed up the wound’s healing process. However, this slows the healing process and puts the wound at risk for infection. The best way to treat a wound is to clean it and allow it to heal in fresh air. If a bandage is needed, it is important to change the bandage twice daily to keep the wounded area clean.

• Tilting your head back during a nosebleed

Tilting your head back during a nosebleed might be a common instinct; however, this can cause blood to drip back to the throat and cause choking. The best way to respond to a nosebleed is by tilting your head forward and applying pressure on the bridge of your nose for 20 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

• Applying a tourniquet on a snake bite

You may have heard that the best way to treat a snakebite is to tie it off blood flow to prevent the venom from spreading to the rest of your body. However, this is a false information. Poison concentrated in one area can cause significant unwanted damage. When the tourniquet is removed, the sudden release of the venom can also cause complications. The best way to treat a snakebite is to wash the area and cover it with a cool compress. Learn more tips to treat snake bites here.

• Inducing vomiting after indigestion poison

Vomiting after drinking poison might sound like the best option to remove the poison. However, this can cause esophageal rupture and can compromise your airway. Vomiting doubles your chance of throat burn as the throat is exposed to the poison twice and can also interfere with more effective treatments. The best way to respond is to call poison control immediately. 

Knowing how to provide First Aid is an important skill that can help save lives. However, it is equally important to know what not to do. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can be part of building a safer community. Keep learning and Stay Safe!

SOURCES CITED:

“Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.” Stanford Medicine Children’s Health - Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=common-first-aid-mistakes-1-4543.  Accessed 16 Jan. 2024.

“Frostbite - Maryland Department of Health .” Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response, 2019, health.maryland.gov/preparedness/Documents/Frostbite.pdf. Accessed 16 Jan. 2024. 

Marusinec, Laura. “How to Treat Frostbite: 13 Steps (with Pictures).” wikiHow, wikiHow, 1 July 2021, www.wikihow.com/Treat-Frostbite. Accessed 16 Jan. 2024. 

“How Often Should I Change Bandages? - IPPF.” IPPF -, 7 Aug. 2020, www.pemphigus.org/how-often-should-i-change-bandages/#:~:text=Leaving%20bandages%20on%20too%20long,be%20changed%20before%20this%20occurs. Accessed 16 Jan. 2024. 

 Nguyen, CT. “Once and for All: Here’s What to Do When You Have a Nosebleed.” Houston Sinus & Allergy, 2017, houstonsinusallergy.com/once-and-for-all-heres-what-to-do-when-you-have-a-nosebleed/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2024. 

Grand Strand Health. “8 Common First Aid Mistakes.” Grand Strand Medical Center, 18 Apr. 2018, mygrandstrandhealth.com/blog/entry/8-common-first-aid-mistakes. Accessed 16 Jan. 2024.

“Experts Say Tourniquets Should Not Be Used for Snake Bites.” NPR, NPR, 2 May 2019, www.npr.org/2019/05/02/719737139/experts-say-tourniquets-should-not-be-used-for-snake-bites. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. 

“Vomiting - First Aid for Poisoning? An Incorrect Assumption.” First Aid " National Poisons Centre, poisons.co.nz/articles-and-info/first-aid/view/vomiting-first-aid-for-poisoning-an-incorrect-assumption/#:~:text=Vomiting%20doubles%20the%20chance%20of,be%20absorbed%20into%20the%20body.  Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. 

Written By: Shifa Shanofer