Accident and Emergency

| 29 July 2025

Overview of First Aid

When someone gets hurt, having the right knowledge is crucial, as it serves as the first defense against further injury. It's essential to learn how to properly care for common injuries to prevent any lasting or serious damage. To assist you in this preparation, we have put together a guide featuring basic first aid tips for accident injuries. These treatments will rely on simple first-aid techniques and essential supplies.

Always try to get professional medical help for anyone who is hurt. First responders may not always be nearby in emergencies, so do your best to provide care until they arrive. Remember that serious injuries need expert treatment, and it's important to take the injured person to trained medical professionals as soon as possible, if condition get more serious you can approach our Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre well for being best emergency medical hospital in Mumbai. However, basic first aid knowledge can be very helpful for someone who is hurt, and you can use items from your survival kit to provide the right care. Just make sure to apply them correctly.

Importance of First Aid

Being ready to help someone in an emergency, which is the main idea behind first aid for accident injury. When someone is hurt or in trouble, it’s important to stay calm and think clearly. First, you should quickly figure out what happened and how serious the situation is. For example, you need to check if they can breathe or if they have a painful injury. After you assess the situation, you have to decide what to do next. This could include:

• Giving CPR if they are not breathing.
• Calling for emergency help.
• Removing any tight clothes that could restrict their movement.
• Laying them down or helping them stay still if they are injured to prevent further injury.

Having basic knowledge of first aid for accident injury is valuable because it can help you save someone’s life, stop their condition from getting worse, and make you feel more capable in tough situations. Knowing what to do in emergencies can give you the confidence to act effectively when someone needs help.

First Aid for a Stopped Heart

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It's a critical emergency skill that helps save lives. If you know how to do CPR, you can help someone whose heart has stopped.

An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator, a device that can help restart a person’s heart. These machines are often found in public places, and they are designed to be simple to use, even if you haven’t had training.

 What To Do In Cardiac Arrest

• Get Help: If you see someone collapse and think they are in cardiac arrest, look for someone nearby. Make eye contact with them, point, and say, “Call 911.” This gets emergency help coming.
• Perform Chest Compressions: Start chest compressions immediately. Place your hands on the center of the person’s chest and push down hard and fast. Allow their chest to rise back up between compressions. This helps circulate blood to their vital organs.
• Keep Going: Continue compressions until help arrives or someone trained takes over.
• If Trained, Do More: If you are trained in CPR, in addition to compressions, you can also give rescue breaths.
• AED Use: If there is an AED nearby, use it if you can, but don’t stop chest compressions just to go get it. If you can, ask someone else to find the AED and bring it to you.

 First Aid for Bleeding

• If you have disposable gloves, put them on first to protect yourself from diseases that can be transmitted through blood, like hepatitis and HIV.
• If it’s a puncture wound, rinse it with clean water to remove dirt and bacteria.
• Use a clean cloth or piece of gauze to cover the injury.
• Press down directly on the wound with your hand or the cloth to stop the bleeding and help the blood clot.
• If possible, lift the injured part of the body above the person’s heart. This can help slow the bleeding.
• If the cloth or gauze becomes soaked with blood, don’t take it off. Removing it might make the bleeding worse. Instead, add more layers on top to keep applying pressure.
• Once the bleeding has stopped, put a clean bandage over the wound.

 Treating Cuts and Scrapes

For minor injuries, you should find a clean cloth or bandage, apply gentle pressure for 20 to 30 minutes, and then clean the wound with clean water, avoiding soap. After that, apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin and cover the wound with a bandage. If someone has a nosebleed, they should lean forward and press a cloth against their nostrils until the bleeding stops. For deeper wounds, apply pressure to control bleeding, do not use ointments, cover the wound with a loose cloth to keep it clean, and seek medical attention as soon as possible, as they may require professional care.

Treating Sprains

If someone has a sprain, which is a common injury usually caused by twisting a joint, there are several important steps to help them heal and reduce swelling. First, it's crucial to keep the injured limb still and avoid putting weight on it. Applying ice to the area can greatly help, as it cools the injured spot and limits blood flow, which reduces swelling. Remember to wrap the ice in a cloth or use a plastic bag to prevent frostbite. Elevating the limb can also assist with swelling by allowing fluids to drain away. Additionally, you can use a bandage or a brace to compress the injured area, but be careful not to wrap it too tightly. Alternating between icing and compressing the injury is effective; for example, ice for 15-20 minutes, then compress. Having this knowledge for first aid for accident injuries can significantly ease discomfort and promote faster healing for the sprained joint.

 Treating Burns

When treating a burn, the first step is to stop whatever is causing the burn, which may involve moving away from heat, cleaning off chemicals, or turning off electricity. Burns are classified into three types:

• First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of skin, causing redness and swelling
• Second-degree burns affect deeper layers, causing blisters and significant swelling, especially if large or on sensitive areas.
• Third-degree burns damage even deeper layers, resulting in white or blackened skin that may be numb.

For serious burns, it's crucial to call emergency services (911) immediately. For minor burns, cool the area with running water (never ice), cover it lightly with a bandage, consider applying ointment like aloe vera, and take pain relief medication if needed, but do not pop any blisters that form.

Treating Fractures

If you think someone has broken a bone, it's important to handle the situation carefully. First, don't try to straighten the broken limb, as doing so could cause more pain or injury. Instead, use a splint or some padding to keep the area stable and prevent movement. To help with swelling and pain, apply a cold pack wrapped in a cloth or placed in a plastic bag, avoiding direct contact with the skin. If you can, elevate the injured area above the heart level to further reduce swelling. Lastly, consider giving the person an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen to ease their discomfort. These first aid tips and steps can help keep the person comfortable and safe until they can receive professional medical treatment.

Being equipped with first aid knowledge is essential for anyone, as it empowers you to respond effectively to common accidents and injuries. Quick action can often prevent minor issues from escalating into more serious health concerns. Remember the key techniques we've discussed—from managing cuts and burns to recognizing the steps needed for choking—that can make all the difference in a critical moment. However, it’s important to acknowledge that some situations require professional medical attention. For serious injuries or if you feel unsure about the best course of action, don’t hesitate to seek help from an emergency medical hospital in Mumbai at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre. Their dedicated team is always ready to provide the necessary support and care when you need it most. By staying prepared and informed, you can play a vital role in safeguarding the health and well-being of those around you.