First Aid for Nausea

Thankfully, nausea doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to throw up. Nausea is the sensation that accompanies the urge to vomit. Other feelings that may show up with nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) can include: feeling weak or sweaty and having too much saliva in your mouth. Sometimes, nausea (and vomiting) is a sign of some other illness. Common causes for nausea can include: a virus, food poisoning, stress and other mental health issues, some medications, migraines, inner ear issues, drug and/or alcohol abuse, and pregnancy. Occasional nausea can often be treated at home. Here are some things to try: … Continue reading →

Accidental Poisoning: Common Culprits

An accidental poisoning can be a life or death situation. Knowing the symptoms of poisoning can help you get treatment quickly… but knowing the most common household hazards can help you prevent the situation entirely. A poison is any substance that disrupts the normal function of the body. Poison can be eaten or drunk, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Keep your local poison control center phone number handy! Put a copy of that number (and other emergency numbers) in your first aid kit AND post an emergency phone list by your house phone. You don’t want to have … Continue reading →

Symptoms of Accidental Poisoning

An accidental poisoning can be a serious, life-threatening emergency. Knowing the signs of poisoning can help you take action quickly… and maybe safe a life. A poison can be ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. A person who has been poisoned may become suddenly ill, or unconscious. You may notice a person who has been poisoned acting strangely. Common symptoms of poisoning can include: vomiting, stomach pain, trouble breathing, headache, fever, chills, dizziness, drowsiness, pain and swelling in the throat. If you suspect an accidental poisoning, you may also notice other signs. There may be burns or stains … Continue reading →

How to Remove a Splinter

Growing up, we had hardwood floors. I bet you can see where this is going: I ended up with a lot of splinters thanks to those floors! Many a tortured hour were spent under the bright lights in the kitchen while my dad dug splinters out of my feet and I squirmed and complained. Okay, maybe it wasn’t actually HOURS, but it sure felt that way! Something so small as a sliver of wood (or glass, or metal) can be a huge pain when it gets stuck under the skin. There are different things you can try to get a … Continue reading →

The Ocean’s Sting: Jellyfish

The summer is filled with amazing activities. Picnics, playgrounds, boating, outdoor barbecues, swimming and more. It is a great chance to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. However, when dealing with nature there are some hazards mixed into the fun that we need to be careful of. A trip to the ocean will probably be on one of your family’s destination vacation spots sometime in your life. Maybe you live close by the ocean and are a frequent visitor. When you are enjoying the beauty of the sand and surf this is also a typical spot where danger … Continue reading →

First Aid: Puncture Wounds

I moved to a new apartment in the middle of January. It’s got new everything, including carpeting. The other night, I found a carpet nail that wasn’t quite nailed all the way down… with the bottom my foot. You know what that means: it’s time to learn about first aid for puncture wounds! Minor puncture wounds generally don’t bleed a whole lot. The big danger with puncture wounds is the risk of infection. Whatever caused the wound may be full of bacteria — especially if the object has been in the dirt, like a nail or tack. Animal bites are … Continue reading →

Treating a Black Eye

Most of the time, a black eye doesn’t need a whole lot of help. Here are some things you can do to help ease pain and swelling. Apply cold. Use an ice pack for ten minutes every two to four hours — especially if your eye is swollen shut. Cold will help reduce swelling and decrease internal bleeding from damaged blood vessels (this is what causes the colorful bruising). Try putting crushed ice or frozen veggies in a small plastic bag. Tape the bag to your forehead so you don’t put pressure on the injured eye. You can even use … Continue reading →

Caring for Your Cast

If you’ve broken a bone, you may end up needing to spend some quality time wearing a cast. Here are some tips to help care for your cast! Keep the cast dry. It’s going to be a pain, but you’ve got to do your best. Wrap the cast in plastic if you want to bathe — a bath may be easier than a shower, depending on where the cast is. When I had nine stitches in my palm and had to keep them dry, I had a heck of a time washing up. A bath was easier because I could … Continue reading →

First Aid: Broken Bone

I’ve got lots of weird and funny broken bone stories — usually fingers and toes. I broke a toe in gym class playing soccer when I missed the ball and kicked a classmate instead. I broke a finger when a friend threw a brick at me. Nearly seven million Americans see an orthopedic specialist for a broken bone each year. I saw one for one of my broken fingers… but used the plain old emergency room or family doctor for the others. The average citizen can expect to suffer two broken bones over a lifetime. I guess that makes me … Continue reading →

First Aid: Pulled Muscle

A pulled muscle — or muscle strain — is when a muscle is stretched too far, and small tears develop. Pulled muscles are graded by severity. Grade I: mild discomfort that does not limit activity. Grade II: moderate discomfort that can limit ability to perform some activities. You may experience swelling and/or bruising at the site. Grade III: severe discomfort that can limit activity. You may experience swelling, bruising, and muscle spasms at the injury site. For Grade I and Grade II sprains, you may be able to treat the injury at home. (More severe sprains may need temporary immobilization, … Continue reading →