19 First-Aid Myths

19 First-Aid Myths

#1. The most important frst step in frst aid is to do no further harm. The following list briefly outlines some of the more common first-aid myths.


#2. Never slap a choking person on the back—let the person cough and the object may dislodge itself. If the person stops coughing or breathing, then perform the Heimlich maneuver (View my earlier post).


#3. Never cut and suck the skin of or apply a tourniquet to a person with a snakebite. Sucking may introduce more bacteria and spread the venom, and a tourniquet will cut off blood supply to the area.


#4. Peeing on a jellyfsh sting won’t help the pain.


#5. Don’t breathe into a paper bag for hyperventilation.


#6. Don’t drink alcohol to warm up when cold, it will only lead to hypothermia in cold weather.


#7. Don’t drink alcohol for a toothache or any other pain.


#8. Don’t put butter, Crisco, or any other type of grease on a burn; grease can trap heat and lead    to  infection and scarring.


#9. Don’t put a raw steak on a black eye or any other injury; the bacteria on the meat may contaminate the wound or the eye.


#10. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, it may kill the body’s defensive cells that are rushing to the wound to take care of invading bacteria.


#11. People don’t swallow their tongues during seizures, so don’t try to hold the tongue or put anything in the mouth. Don’t restrain the person either.


#12. Don’t squeeze the stinger on a bee sting or try to pull it out with tweezers this will squeeze venom into the wound; use a credit card to scrape it away.


#13. Don’t throw your head back during a nosebleed it will cause blood to run down your throat and you may vomit. Instead, lean forward slightly and pinch your nose for ten full minutes.


#14. If you have something embedded in your skin, you should not pull it out if there is a chance the object is sealing a wound and preventing bleeding. Get medical help if you are not sure.


#15. Don’t continue to run with shin splints; running will increase your injury.


#16. Don’t put vinegar on a sunburn; instead, apply cool compresses.


#17. You can’t stop motion sickness by staring at a point on the horizon.


#18. Poison ivy is not contagious, but the oil is. If the oil is on you, it can be spread to others.


#19. Don’t use rubbing alcohol to cool down a fever it will absorb into the skin and may cause further illness.