As careful as we try to be, accidents happen. Everyone gets a few scratches and bruises from time to time – but are you and your family prepared to deliver first aid if necessary? Depending on where you are when an emergency occurs, it could take a few minutes to several hours to get medical attention. In honor of World First Aid Day, we would like to share some basic yet vital skills for dealing with common injuries and minor accidents.
The most common injuries that we encounter in the Center for Family Medicine and Integrative Health Care are sprains and strains. These tend to happen when people land awkwardly on one foot while jumping. They can also occur frequently in winter as people play in the snow or slip on icy patches and use their wrist to break their fall. Sprains and strains generally cause swelling and pain, and there may be bruises around the injured area.
Best first-aid practices for sprains and strains follow the RICE guidelines. RICE stands for:- Rest the injured part of the body.
- Apply Ice packs or cold compresses to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time every few hours for the first one to two days to prevent swelling.
- Apply an elastic Compress bandage or a tight wrap that covers the injured area completely for at least two days to reduce swelling.
- Elevate the injured body part.
In most cases, you won't need to see a doctor for a sprain or strain. Simple pain relief such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the first few days of injury is usually the best course.
It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a sprain and a bone fracture. If you are unsure, or if the pain gets worse after a day or two, see your doctor – an X-ray can determine whether a bone is broken. Beijing United Family Hospital's (BJU's) Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day and is equipped to handle medical emergencies for adults and children.
Cuts and scrapes, while painful, are also very common. If the cut does not go all the way through the skin, it does not need stitches. If you are unsure, check with your doctor. For small and superficial cuts, follow these basic first aid steps:
Clean the cut by washing it well with soap and water. If there is dirt, glass, or anything in the cut that you can't get out after you wash it, see your doctor.Press a clean cloth or bandage firmly on the area for 20 minutes to stop the bleeding.
Elevate the cut above your heart if possible to slow down the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes, see your doctor. Put a thin layer of antiseptic or antibiotic ointment on the cut or scrape. Cover the cut or scrape with a bandage or gauze, keeping the bandage clean and dry.Change the bandage one or two times every day until the cut or scrape heals. Watch for signs of infection, which are fever, redness, swelling, warmth, increasing pain, pus, or red streaks around the cut area. See a doctor if these occur.
Most cuts and scrapes heal on their own within seven to 10 days. As the cut or scrape heals and forms a scab, be sure to leave the scab alone and not pick at it.You may need a tetanus vaccination if your last tetanus shot was more than five years ago or if the wound is dirty or deep. Doctors at BJU can evaluate a wound and determine whether any vaccinations or further treatments are necessary.
3: Animal bites
Management of animal bites in mainland China can be quite different than that in other countries, as China comes second only to India for the highest rates of rabies infections (China Daily, September 28, 2009). Once rabies symptoms occur, the condition is nearly always fatal to those who are unvaccinated. As a result, early management of animal bites to prevent the onset of rabies symptoms is essential here in mainland China. It’s important that everyone get their rabies vaccines, as being vaccinated improves your prognosis should you get exposed to rabies. BJU has a rabies vaccination package available now. Call 4008-919191 for more details.If you get bitten by an animal, wash the wound with lots of soap and water – even if it stings. You can put antiseptic cream on the wound and cover it with a bandage. If you are bleeding, apply pressure to the wound.
It is important to see a doctor immediately after being bitten, even if you have received your rabies vaccinations. Also, make sure that your pets are vaccinated against rabies. BJU recommends that all our patients get vaccinated against rabies while living in mainland China.
You can get burned by heat, fire, radiation, sunlight, electricity, chemicals, or hot water. Take the following first aid steps for a small, superficial scald:1. Hold the burned area under cold running water for at least five minutes.2. Remove jewelry and clothing from the burned area unless it is stuck to the burn.3. Treat the burn with a skincare product that protects and heals skin, such as aloe vera cream or antiseptic ointment.4. Cover the burn with a non-adhesive bandage.5. Take over-the-counter pain relief, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if pain becomes an issue.See a doctor immediately if:The burn is deep, even if you do not feel any pain.
The burn is larger than 5-8 cm.
The burn was from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals.
The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, joints, or genitals.
The burn looks infected (i.e. you see swelling, pus, or increasing redness).
You are unsure of the severity of the burn.
There are other emergency conditions that usually require immediate medical attention, such as anaphylaxis, near-drowning, smoke inhalation, and unconsciousness. It is always a good idea to make sure that you have first-aid kits at home just in case because, as we all know, accidents happen!