The Most Useful Basic First Aid Skills

First Aid skills are an invaluable asset for any citizen to have, but which skills would be the most useful to have in everyday life? First Aid can be as simple as a bandage on a cut to keeping a person alive with CPR. But without further ado, here are a few of the most useful basic First Aid skills a person could and should know.

Cleaning/Dressing Wounds
Cuts. Scrapes. Gashes. Knowing how to properly disinfect and bandage wounds is a valuable First Aid skill indeed. It's not enough to just slap a bandage on; wounds need to be cleaned and disinfected to prevent infections. Cleaning wounds with warm water and a disinfectant can prevent complications. In the case of bigger wounds, knowing how to stop bleeding quickly is basic First Aid knowledge that everyone should also know. This would include applying pressure on a wound, and lifting the body part the wound is on above the level of the heart so the blood flows downwards and away from the wound. More in-depth instruction on this can be found here.

Making a Makeshift Sling or Splint.

Another useful First Aid skill would be the knowledge of how to make your own sling or splints for broken bones. These are use to immobilize the injured area, and therefore protect it against any other damage during the healing process. This is invaluable if it is necessary to move a person with a broken bone. A splint can be made from everyday objects, as long as the object is hard and straight. You can find detailed instructions on how to make your own Splints here.

CPR & The Heimlich Maneuver

Performing CPR may be a tad above a basic First Aid skill, but it truly does save lives. Note that CPR itself won't save the person, but is designed to keep the person alive for as long as possible until paramedics can take over. Concerned citizens can get certification and training in CPR from medical organizations like the Red Cross or the American Heart Association. The Heimlich Maneuver, on the other hand, is a useful basic First Aid skill that everyone should know. It is used to expel objects blocking the airway in the event of choking by performing abdominal thrusts on the person in question. It is very important to know the proper method, because the force applied will very likely cause injury. Links to more detailed information and instructions on CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver can be found here and here respectively.

Having knowledge of these useful basic First Aid skills will give you the tools you need to treat minor injuries and wounds, and perhaps even save a life. Accidents and injuries happen, and sometimes having a little basic First Aid skill can prevent a minor problem from turning into an extended hospital visit.