How to treat 3 common injuries at home

July 6, 2015  16:23

Quick—what's the best way to treat a burn? Or a sliced finger? Or a bad blow to the head?

The immediate steps you take in an emergency—whether you're miles deep in the wilderness or just a few blocks from a hospital—can be crucial.

"If you're not prepared, you'll feel stressed, and stress leads to poor decisions," said Reggie Bennett, founder of the Mountain Shepherd Wilderness Survival School in Catawba, Va.

You sliced your hand open
Grab a clean towel and press hard on the wound for 5 to 10 minutes with your hand elevated. When the bleeding stops, hold your hand under running water. Then apply an antibiotic ointment or cream and a bandage.

Warning: Don't peek! If you release pressure in the first five minutes, you should restart the clock.

Seek help if the bleeding doesn't stop, the wound is gaping or it's more than 1/2 inch long or spans a joint.

You burned yourself
Hold the injured skin under tepid water. Then dab on antibiotic cream and bandage loosely.

Warning: Ice may actually slow healing by reducing blood flow.

Seek help if the burn is larger than 2 centimeters or extends around a joint; the skin is broken or blackened or blisters immediately.

You got clobbered in the head by a softball
Ice the area and watch for signs of a concussion: headache, blurry vision, irritability, memory issues, sleepiness and sensitivity to light and noise.

Warning: Don't "shake it off." You're not out of the woods for a few hours.

Seek help if you vomit, pass out or just feel too dizzy to walk.

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