First-Aid Myths

By Christine Gorman Sunday, Aug. 03, 2003
    • THOM LANG/CORBIS

    Summertime is prime time for cuts and scrapes and other perils of outdoor activity. So although summer is already half over, it's never too late to dispel the most common myths and misconceptions associated with basic first aid. Some of the following tips, provided by the American Red Cross, may offer surprises to even the most well-informed parent or camp counselor.

    --CUTS AND SCRAPES Don't apply an antiseptic like hydrogen peroxide to minor cuts and scrapes; that can actually delay healing. Hydrogen peroxide kills pretty much everything in its path, including any immune cells that your body has rushed to the wound. All that's needed to treat most of these injuries is to wash them gently with soap and water — making sure dirt or any other foreign material is flushed out — and then to cover with a sterile bandage. It's O.K. to use a topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin the first day or two.


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    --CHOKING Don't slap someone who is choking on the back. You could force the offending object farther down the windpipe. As long as a person is coughing (or talking), he or she is still breathing, and coughing forcefully is usually the best way to dislodge a piece of food. Use abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver, only if the choking victim stops breathing.

    --TONGUE SWALLOWING Don't put a stick or spoon into the mouth of someone suffering a seizure. Lots of people still think this is necessary to prevent seizure victims from swallowing their tongue. In fact, "swallowing the tongue is an urban legend," says Greg Stockton, a health and safety expert at the Red Cross. Instead, remove hard objects from around the person and cushion the head. Sometimes the tongue will block the airway. In that case, tilt the head back, lift the chin and turn the person on his or her side. And as with all cases of unconsciousness, call 911.

    --BEE STINGS Speed is key. Scrape the stinger out with a credit card or fingernail. Using tweezers could force more poison from the venom sac into the skin. But if tweezers are the best you can do, use them. Then apply an ice pack and watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

    --OVERHEATING Don't apply rubbing alcohol to the skin to cool down. This closes the pores and makes it more difficult for the body to get rid of excess heat. Similarly, even cold drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine make it tougher for the body to cool off. Get to a cool place and stick with cold water and sports drinks. Heatstroke, in which the victim loses consciousness, requires immediate medical attention.

    --HYPOTHERMIA It's not just a winter problem. Kids in particular are prone to hypothermia after spending a lot of time in the pool. Being drenched in a rainstorm, especially in late summer or at higher elevations, can also cause the body temperature to fall dangerously low. Get out of your wet things and into some blankets or — in extreme cases — share someone's body heat.

    Visit www.redcross.org for more information or find your Red Cross chapter and sign up for a four-hour first-aid class