What would be your first reaction if faced with an emergency at home or work? Let’s say your kid has had a burn or a colleague at work has just collapsed? It is true that your first action will be to call 911. But before they arrive, you must take the necessary action to help the casualty. In the medical arena, this is referred to as the “golden hour” since the actions you take at this moment can help to save the life of the individual or worsen the condition. It is therefore important to know basic life-Saving tips that will assist you to know what to do in case of an emergency.

These are life saving tips that every individual must know.

Stop bleeding

Heavy bleeding can result in death, if you want to stop bleeding, do this safely. First, you should judge the severity of the cut, if the injury isn’t severe don’t try using a tourniquet. The best remedy would be to exert pressure on the cut to stop the bleeding. You will achieve this by using sterile gauze or if not available improvise by using a clean piece of cloth. Another trick you can use to stop the bleeding is elevating the injured part above the level of the heart. This will reduce blood flow in the region and prevent further blood loss. Allsaved is one site with excellent tips on life saving tactics.

Reacting to fires

If a fire sets out, you should observe fire protection rules to avoid further loss of lives. If there is smoke in the building, crawl or crouch as you exit. You must recognize that when a house is on fire smoke moves to the ceiling. Keep your head low as you move out. Fire saving equipment or trash should not block the exits since all people crowd this area as they move to safety.

CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED)

These are two basic life saving tricks everyone must know. More than half a million people suffer from cardiac arrest every year in the US. And over 80% of these cases occur at home. If cardiac arrest occurs, you should perform CPR as you wait for the ambulance. This will increase the person’s survival chances. You can easily learn AED or CPR by enrolling for classes at the American Heart Association or the Red Cross.

Managing shock

Shock occurs when there is decreased blood circulation in the brain. A person with shock may faint; they start by feeling dizzy and appear disoriented. Shock results in heavy blood loss, accident, allergy or infections. To manage shock, allow the person to lie on their back and raise their feet. Do not offer any drink to the individual since this can result in choking. If the victim is bleeding or vomiting from the mouth, allow them to lie on the side.

Treating burns

Burns are one of the common accidents that occur at home.Immediately run cold water on the area for around 10-20 minutes. You can then follow by cooling the skin with a wet cloth. Never put ice, flour, and butter on the burn. If the injured part is large, you should not cover with any dressings. You can give a painkiller to the victim if available.

The main goal of first aid is to avoid further injury and save lives. As you rush to save lives, your safety should come first. This is critical in case of fires or collapsing buildings. These simple life-saving tips can help in your home and work. Make sure you enroll in lifesaving classes to know more tricks and tips that will be valuable to your family and the society.