Electric burn is not common but when it occurs it can cause the most severe injuries possible. For instance, a person with an electric burn is sometimes thrown over or falls. As a result, he or she bears several fractures and other related injuries. Experts suggest that electric burns are not to be treated as minor ever because though they nothing would be visible on the surface, an electric burn can cause severe damages to the tissues lying underneath the skin. An electric burn for example, can also cause cardiac arrest sometimes.

First Aid for Electric Burn
First aid for an electric burn means extending a hand of support to the victim while the emergency services arrive.

• Call 911 if the victim appears confused, is in pain or if you notice changes in the heartbeat or consciousness
• Avoid touching the victim for a while because the current can also pass on to you
• Try switching off the source of electricity and if that is not possible try pushing away the source of electricity from you and the victim by using an object (a dry and non-conductor of electricity) like one made of plastic, wood or cardboard
• Monitor the victims breathing, coughing and movements till the emergency arrives (if all and of these are absent you would have to administer the cardiopulmonary resuscitation – rhythmic pressing of the chest of the victim to restart the heart or to manually force blood flow through the heart, at once)
• So that the victim does not go into a shock; make him or her lie down with the head slightly below the trunk and the legs raised up
• If you notice that the victim is still breathing, cover the burned areas with a sterile gauze or clean cloth. NEVER use a blanket or towel as loose fibers can stick to the affected burns.

Under normal circumstances, what is swallowed generally passes into the stomach but sometimes foreign objects can enter the respiratory tract. Coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulties and choking is the obvious result of the latter case. Therefore, it is always recommended to chew solid particles of food slowly and properly to avoid choking, etc. But accidents happen, and if a foreign object enters the respiratory tract, you would need medical assistance immediately.

First Aid for Swallowing Foreign Objects
If it is a pointed object it will have to be removed immediately to avoid injury to the esophagus. Tiny objects such as a piece of the calculator, buttons, etc should also be removed immediately before causing tissue damage.

• Strike the person from behind the shoulder blades with the heel of your hands
• Do the abdominal thrust on the victim by standing right behind, holding him or her with a closed fist above the navel and lifting quickly
• Back strikes and abdominal thrusts should be alternately done five times each
• Call 911 or the nearest emergency services
• To do abdominal thrust on yourself, place a closed fist above your navel and holding it with the other hand bend over a hard surface or chair pushing the fist inwards and upwards

If the foreign object passes into the stomach, symptoms such as vomiting, local tenderness and coughing needs to be attended to. The stool has to be observed and x-rays may become necessary if the object does not pass away naturally through stool for the next 4-5 days.

A jammed finger or toe is also called the mallet finger or toe and is caused when the finger or toes hit against something or when it is hit at with something with force. A very common sports injury, jammed fingers are frequent outcomes of contact sports such as football or basketball where one could land on the floor or ground with a sudden thud on his or her fingers or when the ball hits straight on at the fingers. Whatever be the reason, jammed fingers is extremely painful and requires medical help immediately.

First Aid for Jammed Finger
Common symptoms of a jammed finger are a drooping finger, redness, swelling and pain. It is recommended to keep the fingers immobile with the help of a splint. X-rays and sometimes surgery may seem crucial for treating a jammed finger.

• Ice helps reduce swelling and muscle-tissue damage. Apply for 15-20 minutes in every hour for a day or two
• Apply heat to the jammed finger after the first or second day
• For 48 hours, the affected finger or toe should be kept above the heart level
• Wear the finger or toe splint till advised by the doctor
• Try moving the finger once the swelling and pain subsides
• The doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain reduction

You would need to see a physician if the pain and swelling persists. Mild jammed finger or toe injuries heal completely but in case of a dislocation or fracture it can take as long as 4 to 8 weeks to heal.

Eyes are one of the most delicate parts of the body and probably the most exposed. Eye injuries are often the result of a blow, foreign object and chemicals. Common symptoms for an eye injury include redness, pain, swelling, bleeding, sensitivity to light, and discoloration around the eyes. Accidents happen and it is important to know how to handle them. Chemical exposure can cause vision impairment if not treated in the correct way.

First Aid for Chemicals in Eyes
First and foremost, all contact lens wearers should remember to remove their lenses immediately or else the chemicals will remain seated against the cornea and cause both pain and damage. For chemical exposure follow the first aid tips listed below:

• Splash water in your eyes for at least 15-20 continuous minutes (try keeping your eyes open while doing so)
• Do not let water enter the unaffected eye while flushing the affected eye
• Do not wear an eye cup
• Remove lens
• Do not rub your eyes
• Avoid covering or bandaging the affected eye/s
• Keep the affected person still and monitor his or her breathing and observe for shock
• Call 911 or rush to an emergency room (carry a sample of the chemicals your eyes got exposed to if possible)

Knowing what to do for an eye injury can save both, time and vision.

Hamstring injuries are very common among athletes especially those involved in field and track events or sports such as soccer, tennis, football and basketball. A hamstring injury is also known as a muscle strain that results from a forceful pulling action that causes the muscles and/or tendons to stretch or tear. Poor strength and flexibility of the hamstring muscles cause injuries which commonly arise due to fatigued muscles.

First Aid for Hamstring Injuries
For all degrees of hamstring injuries (first, second and third), the RICER regime holds good.

• Rest the limb
• Ice should be applied to affected area
• Compression should be provided with a bandage
• Elevate the limb
• Refer a doctor or physiotherapy

This treatment should continue for 48-72 hours. Medical help should be sought right after the first 72 hours for a proper rehabilitation program which would involve a great deal of strength and stretching exercises, massage therapy and ultrasound.

Sprains can be discomforting, painful and is marked by symptoms such as inflammation and bruising. A sprain is when there is an injury to the ligament which cushions two bones, and usually occurs around the knee, ankle or wrist joints. Sprains if severe, show symptoms of a fracture and can be very painful especially with movement. Sometimes, sprains take as long as a broken bone takes to heal. It is therefore advisable to treat a sprain like a fracture in the initial doubtful phase.

First Aid for Sprains
Most often than not, a person is able to tell whether it is broken bone or simply a sprain. This also happens when a person has dealt with similar injuries in the past and is therefore familiar with the symptoms. If sure of a sprain, the injury should be treated in the following ways:

• Give the injured joint and limb some rest by making the person lie down
• Cool the area first and then apply ice to reduce swelling and pain
• Compress the injury by wrapping it with a gauze that will provide more support and comfort to the sprained area
• Raise the sprained joint to an elevated level to reduce the pain and swelling
• Get medical assistance immediately

Frozen peas or water soaked flannel can also work as cold compressors for sprains. Apply over the sprain for 2-3 minutes and remove when the material gets warm and repeat.

The inseparable bond between humans and canines makes dog bites a common phenomenon, especially among children. Though not always fatal, a simple scratch, graze or bite that opens up the skin makes the human body susceptible to infection (not necessarily of the rabies infection but tetanus for instance). Dogs may bite when they feel threatened or sometimes when they are generally aggressive by nature and can be simply provoked. Whatever be the reason, in case of a dog bite, you need to respond immediately.

A dog infected with the rabies virus increases the possibility of transmitting the infection to the bitten person. However, the risk of additional infection cannot be ignored. Hence, the aim of first aid for dog bite should include – preventing rabies infection, reducing the risk of infection and getting immediate medical assistance.

First Aid for Dog Bite
Listed below are some first aid tips for dog bites:

• Carefully wipe saliva away from the bitten wound with a clean cloth or handkerchief and take precaution not to come in contact with the saliva.
• If the wound bleeds, control it by applying pressure over the wound with a dry clean cloth.
• Once both the blood and saliva is wiped off the bitten area, wash thoroughly with running water and soap.
• Cover the bitten wound with a sterile dressing and do not apply anything from top.
• Get medical help or rush to the hospital immediately.

Depending on the severity of the dog bite; antibiotics, rabies vaccination and tetanus shots may become imperative for the victim.

For the common man, it may be difficult to differentiate between a fracture, a sprain, a strain or a possible dislocation and therefore the first aid treatment dispensed with to the injured person in any similar condition is that given for a fracture. A fracture refers to any break in the continuity of a bone and they are known to cause total disability, or in some cases, death. If attended to in a timely and correct manner, most fractures can be treated so there is complete recovery. Here is where the value of proper first aid that the individual receives before he is moved plays a significant role. First aid includes immobilizing the fractured part and also applying lifesaving measures, including the basic splinting principle used to immobilize the joints above and below any fracture.

Signs and symptoms of a fracture: first aid assessment guide
The conditions mentioned above have a common symptom of a grating sensation felt by the affected person, similar to bones rubbing together, pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising and an inability to move the injured part. Other indications of a fracture are deformity, tenderness, protruding bone, bleeding or discolored skin at the injury site.

First Aid measures for bone injuries: fracture and immediate help facts
The most important thing to do in such a situation is to control any visible bleeding that is present around the spot of the suspected fracture or any other part of the victim’s body.

• The first aid treatment for fracture consists of the measures taken for caring for shock.
• Any further movement of the affected limb/body part needs to be curtailed and the person immobilized to prevent further damage. This can be done by putting a splint on the affected area if it does not cause too much pain to the victim.
• A cold pack (easily available commercially) or a packet of frozen vegetables from the freezer helps to reduce pain and swelling that is a result of fractures.
• Fracture victims who were part of an automobile accident or those who have suffered a freak injury/fall or any such similar trauma need to only be attended to by trained rescue workers/paramedics.
• Since the head, neck and back injuries are always the most serious; these areas require special care for movement and transport of victims with these conditions. Therefore, unless the circumstances can cause further damage to the fracture victim, he should be immobilized and the first aid worker should help stabilize the victim’s head and neck with minimal flexing of either part or spinal cord.

Understanding the purpose of immobilizing a victim of fracture
It is very important for the person dispensing first aid to a fracture victim to keep the chances minimal for the victim developing any further complications. The reason why the fracture victim should be immobilized is to prevent the sharp edges of the bone from moving and cutting tissue, muscle, blood vessels and nerves. This lessens pain and helps prevent/control shock.

Resist rubbing the eye and first wash hands thoroughly before examining the eye or the skin around it.

First aid measures for foreign body in the eye: considerations
An injury to the eyelid may be a sign of severe injury to the eye itself and while a foreign body may threaten the person’s vision, if the object enters the eye, it can also lead to corneal damage or mar the lens. Usually, foreign bodies propelled at high speed by machining, grinding or hammering metal on metal present the highest risk but equally at risk are everyday exposure to dust and foreign matter that is emitted from nature. If the foreign body is small in size, like an eyelash or sand particle, the eye usually clears itself of these when one blinks or cries. However, if does not happen, the following is useful:

• To minimize risk of any possibility of spreading of infectious disease, have the injured person apply direct pressure to the wound whenever possible. This is a necessary precaution in the face of fatal diseases that are highly infectious in nature, be it AIDS or hepatitis, which are transmitted by the exchange of bodily fluids.
• Shift the person who is suffering from a foreign body in the eye to a well-lit place and then proceed to carefully examine the object, if visible. This is easier if the person is asked to look up and down, then from side to side.
• If it is speck of dirt, eyelash, fine fiber or thread, it may cause a slight itching around the surface of the eye but this usually goes away in a day or so. Even after the foreign body is dispelled, many persons may feel it is still lodged in the eye as a minor scratching sensation lingers, which is normal.
• The first aid giver can pull the affected person’s upper eyelid over the lower eyelid and repeat this procedure a few times to help dislodge the foreign body in the eye. A gentle flushing with clean water or artificial teardrops is also helpful in washing it away.
• If neither technique is helpful and the foreign body is visible and floating freely on the white of the eye/corner of the eye/on the inside of the lower lid, one can carefully try to remove it by wetting the tip of a cotton bud with water and gently touching it with the tip.
• The foreign body should cling to the moistened tip and then the eye can be flushed with clean water for easing any irritation.
• Health experts warn first aid helpers to resist trying to remove an object that is embedded or appears in front of the colored part of the eye.
• If the foreign body in the eye does not get dispelled after trying all these methods, it is prudent to cover the eye with a clean pad and see a doctor at the first instance.

Wounds and bleeding are everyday accidents that can happen within the home or outside. Knowing the basics of first aid can help prevent further damage to the victim and save lives too. The most important thing to remember when dispensing first aid for wounds and bleeding is that for open wounds, it is essential to first stop the bleeding. Most bleeding can be controlled with a combination of direct pressure over the wound and elevation of the limb.

Hygiene and first aid tips for tending to wounds and bleeding
The first aid giver needs to wash his/her hands thoroughly before beginning treatment to avoid risk of infection to the victim or self. If latex gloves are handy, don these before touching the injured person and wear protective glasses/mask if tending to wounds where blood is spurting.

• To minimize risk of any possibility of spreading of infectious disease, have the injured person apply direct pressure to the wound whenever possible. This is a necessary precaution in the face of fatal diseases that are highly infectious in nature, be it AIDS or hepatitis, which are transmitted by the exchange of bodily fluids.
• If the necessary safety gear is not available, the first aid giver can improvise by using a plastic bag to cover hands and tie a bandanna over the mouth.
• Pressure and elevation are the two most crucial steps when tending to wounds and bleeding and packing the opening of the wound with sterile gauze, if wound is large and wide, is the first step in treatment.
• Direct pressure should be applied to the wound by pressing with the hand and a piece of sterile gauze/ clean cloth and this pressure needs to be steadily maintained for about 5 minutes, then released slowly to check for bleeding. Most minor wounds stop bleeding within 2 to 5 minutes.
• The affected limb should be raised above the heart when pressure is being applied only if the wound is on a limb and fracture is ruled out.
• If bandages become blood-soaked, it is better to layer the wound with additional sterile bandages on top instead of attempting to remove the gauze already in place as this can disrupt the clotting.

If bleeding does not stop after half an hour, immediate steps must be taken to reach him/her to a medical facility for further assistance.

Overview of first aid measures for wounds and bleeding
The first aid giver, when tending to a victim with wounds and bleeding, needs to ensure all possible efforts are in place to first stem the bleeding as serious bleeding can become fatal in just a few minutes. The primary aim of giving first aid for wounds and bleeding is to stop the bleeding, prevent infection and stop the victim from going into shock. The role of a pressure bandage is essential in stopping bleeding and helping blood clot and therefore it is necessary to do this steadily.