Common first-aid mistakes are often the result of outdated or unfounded information. This can be dangerous as misconceptions and improper techniques can inadvertently cause more harm than good.
Keeping up to date with the latest first-aid advice ensures you have the knowledge and confidence to provide safe and effective care in an emergency. This, alongside the right equipment to deal with an emergency medical situation, empowers you to save lives even in the most critical situations.
1. Failure to Act Decisively in an Emergency
The number one mistake a bystander can make when witnessing a medical emergency is to do nothing or hesitate to give life-saving treatment. Every second is important in critical situations, making even lay bystanders’ actions decisive in the outcome of the emergency.
Swift action is especially crucial in bleeding emergencies and cases where CPR is required, such as when a person is suffering cardiac arrest. Starting CPR quickly is essential as every minute of delay in providing it is associated with a 7-10% decrease in survival rates.
Similarly, decisive action is also vital in cases of traumatic bleeding. Brian Graddon, ex-SWAT medic and firefighter and CEO of True Rescue explains that a wound that damages an artery is a highly critical situation that can lead to catastrophic consequences:
“The heart continues to pump blood out of the wound even after the artery is broken which, if left untreated, can lead to shock, organ failure, and death in a matter of minutes. A significant amount of blood loss can happen rapidly without prompt medical treatment.”
Knowing how to act in an emergency is vital knowledge that saves lives. Having the tools you require on hand to administer emergency care is also key to obtaining positive outcomes.
Having a bleeding control kit with equipment like wound packing gauze for deep wounds and a tourniquet to stem bleeding from extremities allows bystanders to act decisively and play a crucial role in saving a life while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
2. Not Using a Tourniquet for Severe Bleeding
Tourniquets are a critical life-saving tool in severe bleeding emergencies caused by an injury or accidental amputation of an extremity. When used appropriately, tourniquets control hemorrhages by occluding the artery. This occurs through applying constant and robust pressure between the bleeding site and the heart.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness and safety of tourniquet use in civilian pre-hospital settings found that tourniquet use before reaching the hospital significantly decreases the mortality rates of patients with trauma to an extremity. Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the lengths of hospital stays or the risk of amputation.
Avoid Using a Tourniquet on Minor Injuries
Tourniquets are designed for use on severe bleeding, not for treating minor or non-severe bleeding. Using a tourniquet on a minor injury isn’t only unnecessary; it can also lead to unintended health consequences for the casualty.
Tourniquets shouldn’t be used on minor bleeding due to:
- Risk of tissue damage: Tourniquets restrict blood flow to the entire limb. Prolonged use (over six hours) can lead to tissue damage, nerve damage, or even an increased risk of the need for amputation. These risks significantly outweigh the benefits of using a tourniquet in cases of minor bleeding.
- Unnecessary pain: Tourniquets work by constricting blood flow to one area of the body. This inevitably causes the casualty pain and discomfort. This is only acceptable in bleeding emergencies.
- Focus on appropriate first aid: The appropriate first aid response is direct pressure on non-severe bleeding from an extremity. Applying direct downward pressure to the wound with a clean cloth is usually sufficient to control bleeding.
Avoid Tourniquet Use on Snake Bites
Around 7-8,000 people are bitten each year by venomous snakes in the United States. Seeking medical help quickly helps keep the mortality rate (around five per year) low.
Using a tourniquet is one of the several common mistakes people make when treating a snake bite. A tourniquet can cause more damage in this situation as it sequesters all the toxins in one place and gives the venom more time to cause damage.
Other mistakes to avoid when treating a snake bite include:
- Picking up or attempting to trap the snake
- Delaying seeking medical attention
- Slashing the wound with a knife
- Sucking out the venom
- Applying ice on the wound
- Drinking alcohol or taking pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen
3. Using a Fake Tourniquet
Using a fake tourniquet usually reduces the effectiveness of life-saving bystander action. This is because fake tourniquets are typically made from flimsier and less reliable materials. Only genuine tourniquets subject to extensive research and development will be fully effective in extreme situations.
Brian Graddon warns that: “Counterfeit (tourniquets) sold on platforms like eBay and Amazon lack the rigorous testing required, making them prone to failure in critical moments.”
How to Know Your Tourniquet Is Genuine
There are various ways to know if your tourniquet is genuine. The best way is to purchase it directly from the manufacturer or a trusted and reputable supplier known for their expertise in bleeding control products.
Additionally, check upon delivery that the tourniquet has all of the original brand markings as depicted on the manufacturer’s website and a price tag that reflects the expertise that goes into developing and producing them.
4. Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a Choking Person
The Heimlich maneuver shouldn’t be the first course of action to help an adult or a child who’s choking. Instead, the American Red Cross recommends a “five and five” approach that includes but doesn’t start with, the Heimlich maneuver.
How to Help a Choking Person Effectively
The first step in helping a person who’s choking is to recognize the signs. These are:
- Holding their throat with one or both hands
- Panicked or confused expression
- Inability to cough, speak, or cry
- High-pitched squeaking sound
- Red skin, which turns pale or blue
These signs indicate a medical emergency. Call 911 and proceed to perform life-saving care:
- Stand slightly behind the choking person (or kneel if it’s a child).
- Use the heel of your hand to strike the person 5 times between the shoulder blades.
- If there are no signs of improvement, stand the person up straight. Stand behind the person, bending your knees slightly for extra balance and support.
- Give 5 abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). Pull your hands inward and upward.
- Keep switching between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts.
- Continue until the person improves or becomes unresponsive.
- If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them to the floor and begin CPR.
If you can see the object while performing CPR, attempt to remove it with your finger. However, you should never do this if you can’t see the object.
5. Administering Ipecac Syrup to Induce Vomiting
Using ipecac syrup is no longer recommended as a solution for accidental ingestion of poisonous or hazardous substances. Experts think that bringing some substances up again can cause even more damage than the original ingestion. If you keep a bottle of ipecac syrup at home for such incidents, it’s best to throw it away.
What to Do When Someone Has Swallowed a Poisonous Substance
Immediately call the National Poison Control Center free at 1-800-222-1222, which will connect you to your local poison center. This is important because every case of poisoning is different.
Their treatment advice will vary depending on the type of poison that was ingested. The individual’s age, weight, and medical history will also impact how to treat them.
Equip Yourself to Administer Critical First Aid
Non-critical events can become more serious due to well-meaning but poorly informed first-aid care. Keeping yourself trained and up-to-date on how to respond to common incidents at home or at work will protect yourself and the people around you.
Getting emergency medical aid is always the priority when bystanders encounter a critical health situation. However, your actions—and having the right equipment to respond effectively—can prove critical in saving lives when disaster strikes.
