Health – Family First Aid

If you have kids, it’s no surprise that you will have your share of thrills and spills, and unfortunately that often comes in the form of assorted accidents and mishaps.

After nine years of voluntary and professional surf lifesaving, I got my fair share of first aid training and experience, which was then put to good use after having two children, both of whom are active and adventurous.

So, here’s my top 10 list of first aid tips for families:

1 Homeopathic Arnica 30c
The best starting point for nearly any injury. Especially good for soft tissue injuries, also good for broken bones and burns, too. Arnica also helps with shock, both emotional and physical.

2 Ice
AKA a bag of frozen peas in the freezer. Great for most soft tissue injuries. Peas are perfect as they mould to the body well. Use some cloth between the skin and the peas to prevent any burn occurring. Ten minutes is enough every hour. Any longer and the body starts sending more blood to the area to warm up the cold, which is counterproductive.

3 Ledum 30C
The leading remedy for puncture wounds from nails, animal bites or similar. The other type of puncture wound comes from insects like mozzies, sandflies, and so on. Great to ‘take the sting’ out of the itch. Old school homeopaths from the late 1800s and early 1900s claimed the effectiveness of ledum in preventing tetanus.

4 Cold running water
For burns. Run over burn for 10 minutes maximum every hour. If clothes have stuck to the skin when burnt, don’t rip the clothes off or the skin may come off, too. Just saturate with water to make sure it doesn’t continue to burn. However, don’t apply water if it’s an electrical burn and the electricity is still running, otherwise everyone will get fried.

5 Cantharis 30c and Urtica Urens 30c
Homeopathic remedies for burns.

6 Hypericum 30c
Excellent for nerve injury, including injuries to fingers and toes, as well as spinal injuries.

7 Cuts and lacerations
Stop the bleeding ASAP. Applied pressure and elevation of a limb are important. Arnica can be helpful here, too. If blood is spurting out, then an artery may be damaged, which means urgent medical help is needed. Try to stop the bleeding with direct pressure.

8 RICE
A a great reminder for injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The Rest part is good to remember for all injuries and could also include Reassurance to calm an anxious patient.

9 Choking
Few people actually choke. Choking is when no air can get in and out of the lungs. When people are really choking they can’t make any noise with air from their mouth. The Heimlich maneuver has been replaced these days by five quick thumps with a flat palm on the upper third of the patient’s back.

10 If in any doubt, call 111
and ask for an ambulance. It is better to talk with the experts and have them decide if you need urgent help.