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Lifesaving Lessons for Everyday Emergencies
Written by Mason Booth, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
August 1, 2003 —
Each year, the American Red Cross trains more than five and a half million people in lifesaving skills such as First Aid, CPR and AED use. The organization’s purpose is twofold: to prepare residents across the country in the event of an emergency, and to ensure not only that people are ready to respond, but that they are ready to respond correctly.
It is a common myth that patting the back of a person who is choking will dislodge the obstruction. Instead, a responder should encourage coughing and, if necessary, continue with the Heimlich Maneuver.
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As an American Red Cross instructor, Health and Safety Expert Greg Stockton continually hears myths regarding emergency response believed by many to be household truths.
“People often think they know a lot of First AID and CPR responses before they sign up for the class,” Stockton said. “Then when they come to training they are surprised to learn that many responses they’ve been conducting have actually been wrong all along.”
Some of the more common errors include pounding on the back of someone choking, using tweezers to remove stingers after a bee sting and putting butter on a burn to soothe the pain.
”The first rule of responding is to cause no further harm,” Stockton explained. “Performing the wrong procedure or doing the right procedure incorrectly could induce more pain or even injure the victim more severely.”
For example, if a person is choking, patting them on the back could cause the object to lodge further in the victim’s throat. Instead, a responder should encourage the victim to continue coughing and, if the victim cannot breathe, abdominal thrusts, sometimes called the Heimlich Maneuver, should be administered.
In the event of a burn, butter should never be used because it traps the heat, causing the victim more pain. Rather, all sources of heat should be removed and dressings and bandages should be applied.
As for bee stings, gripping the stinger with tweezers will only force more venom into the body. Instead, responders should use a credit card or fingernail to scratch the stinger out, thus releasing the least amount of venom possible.
Preparation Crucial to Emergency Response
Dispelling common response myths and teaching lifesaving skills are just a few of the ways the Red Cross is readying families across the nation for emergencies.
In February, the organization launched its Together We Prepare campaign, a bold commitment to make individuals, families, communities, schools and workplaces in America safer.
The Together We Prepare campaign challenges people to take five proactive steps to help them make their families and neighborhoods safer, including:
Make a plan -The Red Cross is challenging every individual, family member, business or school to know what to do and where to go in the event of disaster. We recommend that individuals identify potential disaster scenarios and practice what to do if evacuation is needed. It is also important to identify an out-of-town person that each family member will contact in case of emergency.
Build a kit - Whether evacuating or sheltering in place, a disaster supplies kit can save lives. The contents should be placed in an easy-to-carry container such as a large backpack, duffle bag or plastic bin. It is important to pack enough water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food items, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, special items such as medications, diapers, infant formula, etc.
Get trained-The Red Cross offers training and courses that literally teach people to save lives. These courses include first aid, CPR and use of automatic defibrillators - AEDs. To contact your local chapter, please visit www.redcross.org and look for the zip-code finder on the front page.
Volunteer-The Red Cross is a volunteer-driven organization with approximately 1.2 million volunteers totaling 97 percent of all staff. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities in Red Cross chapters and blood regions nationwide. If you’re worried about time commitments, your local Red Cross can work with you whatever your schedule and to offer you an assignment that matches with your interests.
Give blood - Every two seconds a person in the United States needs a blood transfusion, yet only five percent of the eligible U.S. population donates. And blood inventory needs to be replenished constantly. Recent inclement weather has left certain parts of the country with less than a one-day supply.
For more information on the preparing your family, call the toll-free Red Cross national preparedness information hotline 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636) .
To sign up for lifesaving training today, please contact your local Red Cross chapter .
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All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
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