Five common emergencies and how to handle them

An emergency refers to any circumstance that may constitute or lead to damage of lives, health, property or an environment.

Practically any emergency requires a swift response to prevent it from getting worse; this explains why it’sessential to understand and know ways in which one can curb emergencies.

First aid training for emergencies and CPR certification are conventional ways of curbing emergencies, it is also critical to know some frequently occurring emergencies and how you can handle them.

This is why I have provided a list of five of the most common emergencies and how to handle them. Without wasting much of your time let’s delve in.

  • Scalds and burns

A burn is any skin damage that happens when a person comes in contact with dry heat.This dry heat may be from hot metals, fire, high electric current, friction or corrosive chemicals (Acids or Alkalis).

On the other hand, scaldsare skin injuries that occur when a person comes in contact with moist heat, like boiling water, hot oil or tar, steam and many more.

Burnsand scalds have the same effect, which includes skin reddening, the formation of blisters and the destruction of the skin and other vital tissues.

Treating a burnt or scalded person can is done when you follow the simple steps listed below.

  • Try not to touch affected areas
  • Make sure you apply no kind of lotion
  • Ensure that you do not break blisters
  • Cover the burnt or scalded area with dry and sterile dressings only
  • Apply a firm bandage, but if there are blisters,make use of a lighter bandage.
  • Wounds or cuts

A woundis an injury that is caused by a blow or impact which results in breakage of the skin or deep-seated tissues.

There are a few types of wounds, and they include lacerated wounds, contused wounds, incised wounds, and puncture wounds.

The general ways of handlingwound or cut emergencies include:

  • Ensure the patient is placed in a position that elevates the wounded bleeding part.
  • Ensure not to disturb blood clot formation
  • Expose the wound
  • Ensure to extract any foreign body that is seen.
  • Apply pressure
  • Now apply a clean dressing and bandages.
  • Fractures

A fracture refers to a break in the continuity of a bone, which is caused by a high exertion of physical force.

The types of fracture include stable fracture,compound fracture, an oblique fracture, comminuted fracture, transverse fracture, and others.

Treating Fractures can be done by following the steps listed below

  • Ensure to immobilize fractured parts, and it is also essential that you treat the injury on the spot.
  • Use splints or bandages to give additional support to the fractured part.
  • Choking

Choking results from the blockage of the windpipe or throat by a foreign body.

Choking can be very harmful when left unattended to, and the various steps to follow when it comes to choking includes:

  • Try to induce vomiting
  • Bend the shoulder and head of the patient forward
  • In choking cases involving children, you are advised to turn them upside down as you hit their back between the shoulder blades.
  • Electrocution

The dangerous movement of electricity causes electrocution through the body. The severity of an electric shock ranges from mild to extremely dangerous.

An electric shock usually accompanies burning, and how one can handle electrocution includes:

  • Ensure the current is switched off from the primary source. In a case where this is difficult or impossible, try breaking the electric cable with a wrench.
  • Carefully take the victim or patient out of the electricity source making use of dry and insulated materials only.
  • Now, lay the patient with his head lowered, turned to a particular side and on his back.
  • Lastly, wrap him in a comfy blanket or rug and give him water or any other liquid besides alcohol.

Bottom – Line.

Most times, common emergencies that happen around us mayworsen or lead to the death of loved ones if not handled appropriately. 

This explains why it is very crucial to understand some critical steps in dealing with any form of common emergencies before the arrival of emergency medical attention.

The main reason for writing this article is just to make sure that you are provided with adequate information on how to deal with common emergency situations. And I sincerely hope that every single question you had going on in your head has answered.