Brush up on first aid skills for Christmas

Burns and scalds

Most minor burns and scalds can usually be treated at home. Here are some dos and don’ts.

Do

• Cool the burn or scald immediately by putting it under a cool, running tap, long enough to thoroughly cool the area. You can also place it in a bowl of water or use a spray or a sponge. Wet towels don't work as well, because they warm up when next to the skin. The water you use should be tepid, not too cold.
• If the burn is on a leg or an arm, keep it raised. This will help prevent swelling.
• Take off any rings, bracelets or watches near the burnt area. They could get too tight if the area swells up.
• Take off any clothing on the burnt area after you have cooled it down.
• Put a special dressing for burns over the affected area. This will keep it clean and dry. You can buy these dressings from a pharmacy.
• Use clingfilm as a dressing if you don’t have anything else. But don't wrap it around your arm or leg. It will get too tight if the area swells up. Layer the clingfilm on piece-by-piece and hold it in place.
• Take some painkillers if your burn is painful. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Some over-the-counter medicines are only suitable for children over certain ages, so check the packaging.

Don't

• Use ice to cool the burn. Ice could cause more damage to the skin.
• Put any cream or ointment on the burn. This won’t help it heal and can stop the doctor seeing what’s happened to the skin if you need medical treatment.
• Pull off clothing that is stuck to the skin.
• Cover the burn with anything sticky (such as sticking plaster) or fluffy (such as cotton wool).
• Burst any blisters at home.

If the burn or scald seems serious then get medical help straight away. Burns are more serious if they affect your face, hands, feet, genital area or any large joints. If you are worried about the size or severity of a burn, it is safer to get it seen in an NHS minor injury unit or an accident and emergency department (A&E).

Cuts and scratches

Before you deal with someone else’s cut or scrape, clean your hands and put on a pair of disposable gloves if you have some. Then, do the following.

• If the cut is dirty, clean it under running water. Pat it dry with something that's clean but not fibrous (don’t use cotton wool as bits of it can stick to the wound).
• If the cut is deep, try to raise it so it's higher than the heart (this will reduce bleeding).
• Cover the cut temporarily while you clean the area around it with soap and water. Pat it dry.
• Cover the cut completely with a plaster or sterile dressing.
• If the wound is deep, you will need to put pressure on it with your fingers or a sterile cloth. Lay the person down. Bandage the dressing in place firmly (but not so firmly that it stops blood getting to other parts of the body). If blood seeps through the dressing, put another dressing on top and cover again with another bandage. If blood still seeps through, then remove the bandage and apply another one. Check the person for shock (see below) and call 999 for an ambulance if you think they need medical help.
• If there’s an object in the wound, then don’t try to remove it. Put pressure around the object with your fingers or a clean cloth. Loosely cover the wound with a bandage and build up the padding around it until it is higher than the object. Cover the whole thing with another bandage. Depending on how bad the wound is, take the person to the accident and emergency department (A&E) or call an ambulance.
• If you are at all worried that a wound may need stitches, it is best to go to a minor injury unit, or A&E.

Sprained ankles

The first thing to do is called RICE. This stands for:

• Rest to take pressure off the affected ankle
• Ice to help reduce the swelling
• Compression with a bandage, if you have one (although doctors now think this isn’t always necessary)
• Elevation: put your foot on a stool.

These steps will help to bring down the swelling and reduce pain. The sooner you do them the better. Taking a painkiller, such as aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen, may also help at first. Once the pain and swelling isn't so bad, then try moving around with your ankle strapped up. This can help you recover more quickly.

Nosebleeds

• Sit the person down and ask him or her to lean forward. Don't let them lie down, because blood might drip down their throat and make them feel sick.
• Gently squeeze the soft part of the nose, near the nostrils. The bleeding is most likely to be coming from the front part of the nose, so this is the best place to apply pressure to stop it. Don't squeeze the bony part of the nose that is nearer the top.
• Keep squeezing for five minutes and then check whether the bleeding has stopped.
• If it hasn't stopped after five minutes, squeeze again for another 10 minutes.
• Do not put anything into the nose, such as tissues or cotton gauze.

Get medical help straight away if:

• The bleeding does not stop after 15 to 20 minutes
• The bleeding seems very severe
• The bleeding was caused by an injury (the nose may be broken or there may be other injuries that are not easy to see but which need immediate treatment).