When the world is full of uncertainty, it is better to be equipped with the skills that help you navigate those hard times. You! takes a look…
life skills
Many things can happen because of the unpredictability of life. Anything can occur within the blink of an eye, from car accidents to heart attacks, from choking hazards to burning. Although, we all hope that we don’t find ourselves in any life-threatening situations, there is still a possibility that we may find ourselves facing our worst nightmare. And what’s more frightening than witnessing our loved ones needing help when they struggle with a life-and-death situation? Well, one thing that is way scarier than encountering our worst fears is not knowing how to help our loved ones when they need your help the most. The feeling of dread spreads over your heart as the helplessness seeps inside when you watch your loved one struggling for their life and all you can do is wait for someone to come and help them. But it always doesn’t have to be this way. When the world is full of uncertainty, it is better to be equipped with the skills that help you navigate those hard times rather than only focusing on skills that will be of no use when facing those scenarios. One’s house is the safest place on the earth for them, but still, this doesn’t mean it is actually safe. So, everyone needs to learn basic first-aid techniques that might benefit their household and save others from some great misfortune as well. Skills like the Heimlich maneuver, preventing blood loss, treating a burn, making a splint, and CPR are essential life-saving skills that everyone must know. Knowledge of first-aid techniques not only assists during life-threatening situations but can also aid in alleviating physical pain and stopping the injury from becoming worse. These skills are quite easy to learn and recall when the time demands; however, the only important thing is to approach every situation with a calm and composed mind instead of panicking. Here are some essential life-saving methods that everyone in the household should know…
Heimlich maneuver
Choking hazards can happen anytime while eating - however, the chances of choking accidents increase in a household with minor children, as they may accidentally swallow something that blocks their airways. The Heimlich maneuver is a technique that can easily dislodge whatever is blocking the airway and save a person’s life. Normally, there is only a five minutes window to clear the airways to protect someone from potential brain damage because of the lack of oxygen when the airways are blocked. So, it is essential to act swiftly if you find someone suffering from a choking accident.
In a household, there are numerous times when we or others cut ourselves. In such situations, tourniquets will help stop the bleeding and provide better first-aid. Tourniquets are tight bands wrapped around the injured area to stop excessive bleeding from a severe wound. Learning to make tourniquets is another important life-saving skill, as you can save someone’s life by preventing blood loss. You can improvise and use bandages, scarves, belts, rope, or anything available as tourniquets. If you don’t have any tourniquets available; the objective is to stop bleeding by decreasing the blood flow in the injured area until proper medical assistance is provided.
There are different degrees of burns - ranging from first to third, and the care for each burn is different from the other. Topical ointments and remedies can treat first-degree or minor burns, whereas second-degree burns require a little more attention as they are more serious than minor burns. However, only doctors can treat third-degree burns as they are severe kinds of burns. The knowledge of burn treatment can help you understand the severity of the burn and provide appropriate aid to the burn victim, and assist in alleviating their pain.
The splint is a kind of support provided to the fractured bone to stabilise it. You can make a splint with any stick, household items, or even clothes if you have nothing else available. If you notice someone with a broken bone and there is no help around, then you need to make a splint before moving that person anywhere. It is not ideal to move a person involved in an accident without stabilising them, as this may increase the chances of aggravating the injury, especially if it is a spinal one. It is crucial to know how to provide first-aid when you are in a scenario where you are dealing with fractured bones, as it can easily worsen the injuries or increase the pain if not handled carefully.
Most cardiac arrest happens suddenly and mostly , when the patient is at home. When the heart goes into cardiac arrest, it stops pumping blood to the body and other organs, which can result in death within minutes if left untreated. CPR is the only thing that may help keep that person alive until proper medical assistance arrives. CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the most known and vital life-saving skill. Performing CPR timely and correctly, may make the difference between life and death situations, whether it is a cardiac arrest or a heart attack. CPR mimics heart pumping by giving chest compressions to keep the blood flowing throughout the body. This is one of the most important life-saving skills that almost everyone in the household must know because you never know when your skills can rescue someone’s life. By learning CPR, you are likely to save the life of a family, friend, or loved one rather than a stranger, as most cardiac arrest happens in a person’s home.
Lastly, first aid skills are not limited to life-threatening situations; they can also be utilised in day-to-day life. Everything requires knowledge of first aid, from treating a scraped knee to removing a splinter from the finger, checking a concussion to treating a sprained ankle; even helping someone regulate their breathing during a panic attack is also part of first aid. Once you learn the basics of first aid, you will realise how significant and valuable they are in everyday life. You don’t need to wear a cape to be a hero; however, little presence of mind and life-saving methods might make you one.
