Being prepared is the first step in being ready for a medical emergency. When you are prepared it will be easy to remember how to stay Cool, Calm and Collected.
Doing a little preparation ahead of time can save precious minutes when you are facing what could be a life or death situation. Printing out a list of phone numbers and putting them next to your phones or on the refrigerator so they are easily accessible is one of the most important things you can do.
Important Phone Numbers Include:
- Family Physician
- Local Police
- Fire Department
- Hospital Emergency Room
- Ambulance
- Poison Control
Make sure that every family member is aware of where the numbers are located, as well as babysitters and caretakers. Do routine checks so that the phone numbers are always up to date. Program all emergency numbers into your cell phone as well. When you need urgent care, knowing who to call is essential.
Making A First Aid Kit
Having a first aid kit will help you provide temporary aid until professional help is available or you can get to your Urgent Care center or Primary Care Physician. There are many first aid kits available commercially, but if you want to put your own together the following are items you may consider:
- Acetaminophen and/or aspirin
- Latex gloves to protect you from blood and/or bodily fluids
- Antibacterial ointment
- Bandages and gauze in different shapes and sizes
- Tape for the gauze
- Safety pins
- Tweezers for removing splinters, ticks, snake fangs, etc.
- Disinfectant wipes
- Distilled water for cleansing wounds
- Scissors to cut the gauze, rope, clothing, seat belt of car, etc.
- Hydrogen peroxide
If you want to make a small first aid kit, the Top 5 items to include are:
- Bandages
- Antibiotic cream
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Latex gloves
Consider yourself lucky if you never have to use your first aid kit, but don’t forget about it! Make periodic checks to make sure it’s up to date by checking expiry dates, etc.
CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Learning how to perform CPR has many benefits. Call your local Red Cross or talk to your family physician to find out where you can take a class to become certified. CPR training has many advantages. You will learn how to assess the scene of an emergency and when to call 911. You will learn what the symptoms of a heart attack are, how to control bleeding and much more. You can even list this as a skill on a job resume!
Remember the AID Rule:
Ask for help
Intervene
Do no further harm
Always remain calm. Take a deep breath, count to ten, gather your thoughts and call for help. Remain on the phone with the operator until help arrives. If you suspect that the injured party has a head or spinal injury, do not move them unless there is a secondary life-threatening danger.
Keep the injured party warm and safe and use your knowledge of first aid to help in any way you can until help arrives, but do not exceed your training.