Bandaids and Broken Bones: 5 Basic First Aid Techniques Everyone Needs to Know

Ouch! Did you get a boo boo? While minor emergencies are nothing to fret over, they still require proper care. This ensures the minor injury heals. Even bacteria can get into the smallest cut, causing serious infections such as staph and MRSA.

Don’t worry – there’s no need to be afraid. All you need is a first aid kit.

Do you know how to make the most of a first aid kit?

Everyone should understand how to use a first aid kit. Continue reading to know some basic first aid kit tips and techniques.

Common Supplies in a Basic First Aid Kit

All first aid kits are different, but a traditional first aid kit has the same supplies. This includes:

  • Gauze
  • Bandages
  • Compresses
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Burn ointment
  • Antibiotic cream
  • Cold pack
  • Breathing mask
  • Reference guide (includes local phone numbers, instructions, etc.)
  • Eyeshield and wash

Understanding all of the supplies and their uses is essential to first aid success.

First Aid Kit Techniques

Gaining some Emergency first aid training and knowing the best first aid kit techniques will help heal the injury and prevent any infections or illnesses. Here are some techniques to follow.

Wash Your Hands

The first step in any first aid treatment is washing your hands. Whether you’re treating your own wound or someone else’s, hand washing prevents any bacteria from entering the wound.

You have two options for hand cleansing:

  • Soap and water
  • Hand sanitizer

It’s helpful to keep hand sanitizer in your first aid kit to ensure your hands are clean before administering the treatment.

Here’s how to properly wash your hands:

Wet your hands first in warm water and then generously apply soap. Preferably, the soap should be antibacterial. Rub the soap into your hands for about 20 seconds. Rinse your hands.

Wear Gloves

If there are no gloves in your first aid kit, then make sure you stick a box of gloves in your kit.

Wearing gloves is the next step in first aid kit best practices – especially if you’re treating someone else. Wearing gloves ensures you don’t come in contact with any blood or other bodily fluids.

After you wash your hands, put a pair of gloves on. Tend to the wound. Take them off immediately when done.

Take a Class

It’s easy to apply ointment to a cut and cover it with a bandaid. But what if your loved one stopped breathing? Do you know how to administer CPR? What if you or a loved one has a life-threatening allergy?

Classes from a major first aid brand will teach you little-known but life-saving tricks. You’ll learn all of the necessary skills and have the equipment on-hand if an emergency situation occurs.

Don’t Fret If You Get a Boo Boo

If an injury or wound doesn’t require emergency service, you can treat the issue with a basic first aid kit. Remember these tips in case you get a cut!

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Melissa Thompson writes about a wide range of topics, revealing interesting things we didn’t know before. She is a freelance USA Today producer, and a Technorati contributor.