10 Common First-Aid Mistakes

Picture this: You’re walking through the woods behind your house and are bitten by a rattlesnake. What would you do?

John Wayne probably would have pulled out his penknife, sliced the bite wound, sucked out the venom, and tied on a tourniquet. But that’s the wrong approach for anyone except a silver-screen cowboy.

Taking Care of Cuts and Scrapes

1. Myth: Cut a snakebite
“The safest thing to do for snakebite is just splint the limb and go to the hospital,” says Christopher P. Holstege, M.D., an emergency medicine doctor and toxicology expert. “Cutting the bite wound could sever tendons, nerves or arteries or increase the risk of infection, and tourniquets are risky,” Dr. Holstege explains.

Dr. Holstege recommends the right approaches for the following first-aid myths.

2. Myth: Put butter on a burn.
Reality: If you apply butter or another substance to a serious burn, you could make it difficult for a doctor to treat the burn later and increase risk of infection.

The right approach: “It’s usually OK to cool the burn with cool water, but burns with significant blistering need to be seen at a health-care facility,” says Dr. Holstege. Keep the burn clean and loosely covered. Don’t pop the blisters.

First Aid For Pet Burns

Common First-Aid Mistakes originally appeared on Caring.com.

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Read more: Babies, Caregiving, Children, Family, General Health, Health, bee stings, burns, cuts

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

LMj S.

11:10PM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

thank you

send a green star

Patricia G.

6:31AM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

Thanks for the article :)

Carole K.

9:52PM PDT on Mar 31, 2012

Reviewed article on Daily Action. Left reaction comments previously. I believe everyone should keep abreast on first aid techniques bc one never knows when you are going to need to practice these skills to benefit yourself or others. Might avert critical situation by having recent refresher info. Thanks for this helpful piece..................

Veronica C.

9:32PM PDT on Mar 31, 2012

Some tips worth trying to remember.

Valerie A.

7:54PM PDT on Mar 31, 2012

Thanks

Elizabeth O.

12:23PM PDT on Mar 31, 2012

Useful information.

James M N.

11:40PM PDT on Mar 30, 2012

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/9131

This petition on change.org: Womens History Mth Act:

https://www.change.org/petitions/womens-history-mth-act

http://www.change.org/petitions/womens-history-mth-act-2

Goodbye. reality