1 hr ago
First-Aid Mistakes Can Worsen Emergencies Before Professional Help Arrives
When someone is badly hurt or suddenly becomes ill, first make sure the place is safe and call for medical help.
First aid helps keep the person safe until trained helpers arrive.
Do not move someone who may have hurt their neck or back unless they are in immediate danger.
Do not give food, drink or medicine to someone who is not fully alert.
If someone has a seizure, move nearby hazards away and never put anything in their mouth.
Cool a fresh burn with cool running water, not ice or home remedies.
Press firmly on a bleeding wound and try not to lift the dressing to check it.
Even if the person seems better, they may still need professional medical care.
Check that the scene is safe, call emergency services early and avoid unnecessary movement when spinal injury is suspected.
Do not give food, water or medicine to someone who is unconscious, drowsy or having a seizure because they may choke.
During a seizure, protect the person from nearby hazards but do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
Cool fresh thermal burns with cool running water; avoid ice, toothpaste, butter and other household substances.
For severe bleeding, apply firm, continuous pressure without repeatedly lifting the dressing, and treat first aid as a bridge to professional care.
- Who
- People providing first aid and people experiencing an emergency.
- What
- Advice on common first-aid mistakes and safer immediate responses.
- Where
- The guidance is general; the article notes that 112 is India's pan-India emergency number.
- When
- During an emergency, before professional medical help takes over.
- Why
- Some common actions can cause additional harm, while first aid is meant to stabilise someone until professional care arrives.
Key facts
- Emergency number in India
- 112, the government's pan-India number for medical, police and fire emergencies.
- Suspected spinal injury
- Avoid unnecessary movement unless there is immediate danger; maintaining breathing takes priority if the airway needs attention.
- Impaired consciousness
- Do not give food, water or medicines because swallowing may be unsafe and choking or aspiration can result.
- Seizure response
- Protect the person from nearby objects; do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
- Fresh thermal burn
- Cool with cool running water and avoid ice, toothpaste, butter, pastes, oils and other household substances.
- Severe bleeding
- Apply firm, continuous pressure; if blood soaks through, generally leave the original dressing in place and add material over it.
- Purpose of first aid
- Keep the person safe and prevent worsening until trained medical help takes over; it does not replace medical evaluation.
Quotes
Dr Mohammad Nadeem
Head of Emergency at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon.
“In an emergency, the intention to help is usually immediate, but some commonly followed first-aid measures can unfortunately make the situation worse. The most important principle is to first ensure that the person and the surroundings are safe and then call for professional medical help without delay.”
NDTV
“Perhaps the biggest mistake is delaying professional care because the person appears to be improving temporarily. First aid is meant to stabilise a patient until medical help arrives; it is not a substitute for emergency medical evaluation.”
NDTV
Sources
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