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Most of us usually have a box or two of plasters
at home in the bathroom cupboard but do you have what you need in case of a
real medical emergency? There are a few basic essentials that every home should
have to be prepared to deal with an incident. It’s also important to keep
everything in one place so you’re not having to rummage through drawers and
boxes to find that bandage and safety pins.
If someone is bleeding from a deep cut, knowing
what to do and having some essential basic first aid equipment can have a big
impact. Here is some of the most basic first aid equipment every home should
have and why:
Disposable gloves: These are one of the items included as standard in
first aid kits. Gloves should always be worn when giving
first aid treatment as they help to prevent cross-contamination or infection to
both the patient and yourself.
Dressing: For a large open wound a dressing helps
to stop bleeding by putting pressure on the wound and can prevent infection.
When putting on a dressing, wear disposable gloves and avoid touching the part
of the dressing that will be in contact with the wound. If blood seeps through
the first dressing, don’t remove it but instead place another dressing over the
top. If the bleeding is to an arm or leg the limb should be raised above heart
level to help slow the bleeding. If the wound has something embedded in it, you
should leave it in place until you seek medical advice.
Saline wipes: These are used to clean the wound
before putting on a plaster or dressing. Again, wear disposable gloves before
using the wipe to gently cleanse the area affected.
If you do not have a saline wipe, the
NHS advises to clean the wound under running tap water, make up a salt water
solution or use an alcohol-free wipe. It is advised not to use antiseptic as
this can damage the skin.
Bandage: Roller bandages can be used to hold
dressings in place and support injured limbs. Triangular bandages can be used as
large dressings or as slings to support a limb, such as an arm, wrist or
shoulder injury. The advice from St John Ambulance is that
when putting on a bandage start bandaging from the front and from the side
of the body or limb that is injured. Apply bandages firmly but not so tightly
that it restricts circulation. Use spiral turns to gently wrap it, working from
the inside to the outside of the limb. Use pins or tape to secure a roller
bandage, or tuck the bandage in as securely as possible.
Assorted plasters: It’s important to make sure you
have a variety of sizes of plasters for dealing with more minor cuts. As always,
clean the wound well and make sure it is dry before applying the plaster. It
might be useful to also keep some waterproof plasters in the first aid kit.
While some injuries can be dealt with at home, you
should always seek medical advice if the injury doesn’t stop bleeding, is very
large or deep or has something embedded in it. The NHS also says to seek advice
if the injury is caused by a bite such as an animal or human, is to an artery or
on a joint crease, is red, sore and painful and looks like it may be infected.
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