Gastroenteritis is a condition when the stomach and intestines swell due to viruses, contaminated food and drinks, side effects of certain drugs and reaction to a new food. The general symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloated feeling, slight fever and diarrhea. Depending on the severity of the condition, the symptoms may last from one day to more than a week.

First Aid for Gastroenteritis
If you sense your stomach going uneasy with all the above symptoms, you would need to follow this regime:

• Avoid eating or drinking for a while to give your stomach some rest
• In order to prevent dehydration drink plenty of fluids
• Get eating gradually but on easy to digest foods such as rice, bananas, toast
• Acetaminophen can be taken for stomach relief but under due recommendations of a doctor and if you are not suffering from a liver disease
• You may feel very weak so get rest and sleep

For acute cases or no control of symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fainting or continuous abdominal cramps, get medical help immediately. For children, you would need to check for additional symptoms of gastroenteritis such as – vomiting blood, drowsiness, blood diarrhea and continuous fever (more than a day for children below 2 years and three days for 2 years and older).

An ensuing disease affecting the oral cavity can lead to bleeding gums and even tooth loss. Experts suggest many causes for bleeding gums – poor oral hygiene, vitamin C or K deficiency, hot food, pregnancy, leukemia, chemical irritants, oral abrasion and/or infection. Bleeding gums can be difficult to manage not forgetting that it could be painful in case of an infection and swelling.

First Aid for Bleeding Gums
Some first aid tips for bleeding gums are as follows:

• With the help of an ice pack apply pressure on the bleeding gums
• Rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water (to reduce swelling and to disinfect)
• For continuous bleeding of the gums visit a dentist
• Do not take aspirin
• Massage your gums regularly
• Poorly fitting dentures can aggravate or cause the bleeding so wear or reline it to not harm the peripheries of your mouth
• Vitamin supplements can help stop bleeding gums

Good oral hygiene and eating patterns can prevent bleeding gums. Avoid snacking, tobacco and also carbohydrate rich foods for healthy gums and teeth.

Though anyone could be familiar to earaches, they are more common in children especially toddlers. Earaches can result from cold or n infection caused to the inner ear. One resulting from cold can be discomforting and can cost you or your child some sleep. General symptoms of an earache include – mild to severe pain, fever and yellow mucus from the nose. Whether an infection or not, fluid trapped in the ear can exert a lot of pressure on the eardrum causing it to bulge and hurt.

Earaches start with a virus cold but can lead to an infection. In case of an infection, the nerve endings respond to the pressure with pain. If and when the eardrum stretches, the earache maybe eased.

First Aid for Earaches
Clear diagnosis is absolutely essential for an earache especially when there is an infection which can be determined only by a doctor. To treat a mild earache follow the first aid tips listed below:

• Try popping the ears first
• An over the counter decongestant can work
• Heat compression can help alleviate the pain and swelling
• Pour some warm oil down the ears

If an earache is accompanied with fever refer a physician. An untreated ear infection can lead to hearing impairment, facial paralysis and more. If your child complains of extreme fatigue, a stiff neck or if the fever and/or pain don’t subside within 48 hours after being administered an antibiotic, a child physician’s referral is needed pronto.

Vertigo is also known as dizziness or the feeling that everything around is moving when it is actually not. Fluid fluctuations present in the inner ear sends signals to the brain that the victim is moving whereas the eyes send a different message. As a result, the person feels dizzy. Clearly an indication of something going wrong with the brain or blood pressure, vertigo can be life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Vertigo First Aid
Self care is recommended only after being diagnosed by a doctor. First aid tips for sudden vertigo include:

• Take rest, lie down and avoid falling
• Do not work or climb great heights
• Avoid changing posture or head movements especially looking up

There are some ways to feel the severity of vertigo and thereby decrease its intensity. Do not practice these methods to treat vertigo without consulting a doctor.

• Sit on the edge of the bed with your legs dangling
• Turn head at angle of 45 degrees towards the right
• Lie down quickly on the left side with head still turned the other way with the area at the back of the ear rested on the bed
• Stay in this position for every 30 seconds
• Sit up again
• Lie down quickly to the right side doing the same now
• Sit up
• Repeat this 6-10 times and thrice daily

Normally pets don’t bite but accidents are just a way of life and you got to be prepared with the possible resources. Whether bitten by a domestic rat or a wild rat, you need to treat it pronto. First aid can help in making the condition better, but you may have to rush to the hospital. Most people associate a rat bite when a rat grabs the finger for food or play. But a rat bite is when the rat’s teeth sink into the skin. Rat bites can be quiet painful and may also cause bleeding.

First Aid for Rat Bites
First aid tips for a rat bite include the following:

• Keep the rat far from you
• Wash and clean the wound with warm water and an anti-bacterial soap
• Stop the bleeding by applying pressure over the wound with a clean gauze or a sterilized bandage or paper towel
• After the bleeding stops disinfect the wound with an anti-bacterial ointment or cream or alcohol
• If the bleeding still does not stop apply Neosporin over the wound after disinfecting
• Place a clean sterilized gauze and bandage the wound tight enough to stop the bleeding but not blood circulation
• Check for infection (redness and swelling) and if detected soak the affected area in Epsom salt water thrice daily
• Wash the wound daily with an anti-bacterial soap
• If the bleeding continues or for infection seek medical help immediately

A dislocated joint is a result of trauma (a blow or fall), but can also arise due to an underlying disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Joint dislocation is quiet common in contact sports such as hockey, football, downhill skiing and volleyball. Major joint dislocation occurs on the shoulders, hip, elbow, ankle, knee, finger, thumb or the toe.

First Aid for Joint Dislocation
Joint dislocation requires immediate medical assistance. Sudden joint dislocations can cause temporary deformation and immobility of the joint which can lead to swelling and pain.

• Call 911
• Don’t try pushing or forcing the joint back to its place ( surrounding ligaments, muscles, nerves or blood vessels can be damaged)
• Splint the joint to immobility
• If you are helping a person out with a dislocated joint then monitor his or her breathing and see that nothing is obstructing the airway
• Put ice on the dislocated joint to control internal bleeding and to prevent fluid build-up
• For an open wound at or around the dislocated joint cover with a sterile bandage or clean cloth to prevent infection
• Check for blood flow around the dislocation by applying pressure into the skin around the dislocated joint and see the skin changing its color from white to normal
• Keep the person warm (blanket cover, etc) till emergency services arrive

If you are helping someone with a dislocated joint, it is important for you to calm the person down. Since shock sets in after a few minutes from the injury, you need to stay very alert.

Frostbite is characteristic of a frozen skin surface and damage caused to the underlying tissues. Frostbites commonly affect the toes, fingers, nose, ears and chin. Though mild cases of frostbite can be dealt by warming the affected area, severe cases would require immediate medical help. Excessive exposure to cold and wet conditions results in frostbites.

Typical symptoms of frostbite are a white or graying yellow skin which is cold, hard and feels waxy. The affected area may also itch, feel numb and/or burn. Severe frostbites may cause redness, pain, blistering and hardening of the affected area.

First Aid for Frostbite
Immediate steps for frostbites include:

• Get away from the cold or wet conditions as quickly as possible
• Get indoors or seek shelter
• Take off wet clothes
• Warm and dry the areas affected by wearing adequate clothing such as gloves, etc
• Wrap with warm towel, blankets, cloth and remove cover with skin flush
• Avoid rubbing the area affected with snow
• Immerse affected areas in lukewarm water
• Once a little or sufficiently warm do not let the affected area freeze again
• Get immediate help anyway and if you notice that the numbness persists even with warming

Do not give any treatment if second exposure to cold is anticipated because treatment followed by freezing causes more damage to the skin and underlying tissues.

Most people associate dehydration with exposure to heat. But dehydration can be related to more serious problems sometimes such as diabetes, fever or even as a reaction to certain drugs. Dehydration therefore, does not necessarily mean that the victim is thirsty and if dehydrated a person can also lose consciousness. Fluid loss from the body is termed as dehydration. Mild cases of dehydration can be treated with soft drinks and water but moderate to severe cases of dehydration require immediate medical assistance.

Treating Dehydration
For mild dehydration:

• Drink water slowly
• Soft drinks can help in treating mild dehydration
• Avoid caffeine, soda or tea

For moderate to severe cases of dehydration:

• Avoid caffeine and soda drinks
• Drink water slowly
• Drink a rehydration liquid (at room temperature)
• Drink a mixture of salt, sugar and water to maintain the electrolyte balance
• Fluids should be taken till urine is clear
• Intravenous fluids can be administered for moderate to severe cases of dehydration
• Immediate action and medical help is essential for severe dehydration

Directions for fluids and food intake would differ for kids suffering from dehydration as against adults, which would depend on the specific cause and intensity of dehydration. A pediatrician’s opinion has to be sought before administering any kind of solid or fluid treatment for children.

Trauma is usually a situation inflicted by a fall, a knock or some kind of an awkward body movement. Generally painful, head traumas can lead to serious complications. Researches have proved that almost 60 percent of the trauma cases are on account of accidents and 25 percent by a fall. Crania trauma is specifically very dangerous and can lead to serious outcomes such as brain relapse or even death. Common symptoms of a serious cranial trauma are drowsiness, severe headache, blurred vision, memory problems, vomiting and convulsions.

First Aid for Trauma
This is how you must react to the different kinds of trauma affecting a person:

• Back/Head/Neck Trauma: Do not let the person move and call for medical assistance immediately. Standing behind the afflicted person, hold the head and neck straight by placing your hands on his temple.
• Limb Trauma: Do not let the person move the limb affected and call for medical help. Talk to the person and do not allow him or her to lose consciousness. Ensure that the person is well protected against both, heat and cold till the emergency services arrive.
• Cranial Trauma: Do not let the afflicted person move his body and hold the head firm with your hands. Ensure that the head, neck and trunk of the person are in perfect alignment. If the person becomes unconscious, ensure that he or she stays in a lateral but safe position.

Tooth decay is the most probable cause for a toothache. Bacteria present in sugary and starch foods cling onto the surface of the teeth and eat into the teeth enamel causing toothaches. The very indication of tooth decay is a tingling sensation or pain while eating something sweet, very hot or cold.

First Aid for Toothache
Before consulting a dentist, follow this regime at home:

• Warm water rinse for the mouth can provide some relief from the toothache
• Try removing all kinds of particles stuck between you teeth by using dental floss
• Take an over the counter pain killer to ease the pain
• Apply an antiseptic to the gum and teeth area affected to get relief from the pain
• Direct application of clove oil also helps ease a toothache

You must seek immediate dental assistance if you notice a foul-tasting discharge, pain while biting, infection or swelling around the gums and tooth. Toothaches accompanied with fever with difficulties in breathing, swallowing and that which lasts for more than a day or two should also be immediately brought to the notice of a dentist.