5 First Aid Myths

There are many myths and old wives' tales still firmly believed when it comes to first aid. TV shows and movies do not help with confusing the reality of what we should be doing when it comes to real first aid treatment. Here are 5 of the more common first aid myths we commonly hear:

Myth 1- Putting butter on a burn

This myth has been around for centuries. The belief was that the grease would protect the burned appendage from the outside like a skin-tight bandage. The goal was to actually reduce the risk they’d have to amputate it, it was not to prevent scarring, stop the pain, promote healing, or other benefits we’d look for today.

What is the treatment for a burn?

• Run tepid water over the body part for a minimum of 20 minutes

• Remove any clothing or jewellery that is not stuck to the burn

• Wrap with an appropriate dressing (Non-sticky) - Cling film is ideal (Providing you get rid of the first few inches)

• Treat for shock

• Seek medical assistance if appropriate

Myth 2- Tilt the head back on a casualty with a nosebleed

This was based on the science of the time. It was likely that the blood flow slowed when someone tilted their head back. But the issue is what you don’t see, and that blood is still pouring out of the wound at the same rate. But instead of coming out the nose, it goes into the digestive tract and the airways, causing choking and nausea. Tilting the head back actually makes choking more likely because it opens the airway.

What is the treatment for a nosebleed?

• Sit the casualty down

• Place a bowl under the casualty's nose

• Lean forward and gently pinch the nostrils.

• Hold the nostrils for five to 10 minutes, then check to see if it has stopped. do this for a maximum of 30 minutes

• If it is still bleeding after 30 minutes medical assistance should be sought

• If the blood is thin and watery this could be an indication of a skull fracture, and the fluid is likely to be CSF. Medical assistance MUST be sought immediately.

Myth 3- Put Something in the Mouth of a Seizure Victim

People with seizures don’t swallow their tongues. The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body, not a floppy appendage. It also tenses and gets out of the way during a seizure, so they’re not going to bite it off.

When putting something in a seizure victim’s mouth could cause them to suck it down their windpipe or swallow it. It could also cause them to break their teeth, which would create another issue for you to deal with.

What is the treatment for someone having a seizure?

• Help the person safely get onto the ground.

• Move any objects away that they could grab and hurt themselves with

• Move bystanders out of the way

• Support their head with a small pillow

• Loosen tight clothing around the neck area

• Time the seizure, if it is their first seizure, they have multiple seizures, they injure themselves, it takes place in water or the seizure last for longer than 5 minutes you MUST phone 999 or 112.

Myth 4- Apply a hot compress to a sprained ankle.

Sometimes physical therapists do recommend alternating hot and cold for certain types of injuries. Heat increases blood flow, which can promote healing whereas cold should reduce the swelling.

So the idea of applying heat to a sprained ankle probably came from this thinking. But in the case of a sprained ankle, the swelling is the problem you’re trying to address so heat could actually worsen the inflammation of the injury.

What is the treatment for a sprained ankle?

• For ankle sprains, apply a cold compress for a full 10 minutes and then continue to apply cold as needed.

• For severe sprains, strains, and fractures, always seek immediate attention in the emergency department.

Myth 5- Suck snake venom out of a snake bite victim

Many basic first-aid and survival myths arise from clever authors and screenwriters who are trying to find some unique way for the protagonist to overcome the odds and save the day -Everyone loves a hero story!!

There are several reasons this is bad advice. Firstly the venomous snake’s venom is designed to be immediately effective. What use would it be for them to inject venom if it didn’t immediately do its work?

As soon as the snake bites, that venom is already in the victim's bloodstream. Sucking on a bite site would only improve the blood flow in that area, which would then increase the rate venom moves out into the blood.

What is the first aid treatment for a snake bite?

• Stay calm – most snake bites in the UK are not serious and can be treated

• Keep the part of your body that was bitten as still as you can

• Lie in the recovery position if you can

• Try to remember the colour and pattern of the snake to tell the doctor

• take off any jewellery and loosen clothes near the bite, in case the skin swells

Dynamo Training Solutions provides comprehensive first aid training courses throughout London, Kent and the South East.