HealthyLife Articles

Category: First Aid

Fainting & Unconsciousness

First Aid

Signs & Symptoms

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. It can last from seconds to 30 minutes. Just before fainting, a person may feel a sense of dread, feel dizzy, see spots, and have nausea.

If a person falls and can’t remember the fall itself, he or she has fainted.

An unconscious person is hard to rouse and can’t be made aware of his or her surroundings. The person is unable to move on his or her own.

Causes

Fainting is due to a sudden drop in blood flow or glucose supply to the brain. This causes a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical reasons for this include:

* Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This can occur in diabetics, in early pregnancy, in persons on severe diets, etc.

* Anemia. Eating disorders.

* Conditions which cause rapid loss of blood.

* Abnormal heart rhythm. Heart attack. Stroke.

* Head injury. Heat stroke. Heat exhaustion.

Other things that can lead to feeling faint or fainting include:

* A sudden change in body position like standing up too fast. This is called postural hypotension.

* A side effect of some medicines. Drinking too much alcohol.

* Anxiety or sudden emotional stress or fright.

* Being in hot, humid weather or in a stuffy room. Standing a long time in one place.

* Extreme pain.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

For Unconsciousness

* Check for a response. Call 9-1-1! Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, or treat for Shock, as needed.

* Check for a medical alert tag or information. Call the emergency number if there is one. Follow instructions given.

* Don’t give the person anything to eat or drink, not even water.

For Fainting

* Catch the person before he or she falls.

* Lie the person down with the head below heart level. Raise the legs 8 to 12 inches to promote blood flow to the brain. If the person can’t lie down, have him or her sit down, bend forward, and put the head between the knees.

* Loosen any tight clothing.

* Don’t slap or shake a person. Don’t give anything to eat or drink.

* Check for a medical alert tag. Respond as needed.

To Reduce the Risk of Fainting

* Follow your doctor’s advice to treat any medical problem which may lead to fainting. Take medicines as prescribed. Let the doctor know about any side effects.

* Get up slowly from bed or from a chair.

* Avoid turning your head suddenly.

* Wear loose-fitting clothing around the neck.

* Don’t exercise too much when it is hot and humid. Drink a lot of fluids when you exercise.

* Avoid stuffy rooms and hot, humid places. When you can’t do this, use a fan.

* If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

For a Low Blood Sugar Reaction

* Have a sugar source, such as: One half cup of fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda; 6 to 7 regular (not sugar free) hard candies; 3 glucose tablets; or 6 to 8 ounces of milk.

* If you don’t feel better after 15 minutes, take the same amount of sugar source again. If you don’t feel better after the second dose, call your doctor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Objects In The Ear Or Nose

First Aid

A foreign object stuck in an ear or the nose needs to be removed. If not, an infection could result. Damage to structures in the nose or ear could also occur.

Signs & Symptoms

A child may be able to tell if an object was put in a nostril or an ear and didn’t come out. If not, signs and symptoms can help identify this problem.

For an Object Stuck in an Ear

* Feeling of fullness in the ear.

* Ear pain or discomfort.

* Hearing loss and/or feeling dizzy.

* Foul odor from the ear and/or drainage from the ear.

* Bleeding from an ear.

For an Object Stuck in the Nose

* Constant nasal discharge from one nostril.

* Foul odor. Pus or blood drains from a nostril.

* Pain, swelling, and/or tenderness.

Causes

* An object or substance is placed in the ear or nose on purpose and won’t come out.

* Objects get stuck in the nose or ear by injury or by accident.

* An insect flies or crawls into an ear.

Treatment

Medical care is needed for foreign objects that can’t be removed with self-care. After an object is removed, an antibiotic may be needed if an infection is present. Small, button-sized batteries need to be removed to prevent burns.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

To Remove an Insect from an Ear

* Kill the insect before you try to remove it. To do this, tilt the person’s head to put the ear with the insect in an upward position. Pour warm (not hot) mineral, olive, or baby oil into the ear. As you pour the oil, straighten the ear canal. In a child, pull the earlobe gently backward and downward; backward and upward in an adult.

* The goal is to suffocate the insect and cause it to float out.

To Remove Objects Other Than Insects

* Don’t use oil.

* Tilt the head toward the side with the foreign object. Gently shake the head toward the floor to try to get the object out. Do not shake a baby. Gently pull the ear up and back.

* Don’t use a sharp tool, cotton swab, etc., to try to locate and remove the object. This risks pushing the object farther into the ear. Doing this could damage the middle ear.

* Remove the object with blunt tweezers if it is easily seen and can be grasped and pulled out.

To Remove Objects in the Nose

* Don’t use a sharp tool, cotton swab, etc., to try to locate and remove the object.

* Breathe through the mouth until the object is removed.

* Apply gentle pressure to close the other nostril and gently try to blow the object out.

* Remove the object with blunt tweezers, if it is easily seen and can be grasped and pulled out.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fire & Burn Awareness

First Aid

Fires & burns are a leading cause of unintended home injuries & related deaths.

Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher mounted securely and in plain sight.

Install smoke detectors. If you use space heaters, keep them 3 feet away from items that can catch fire. Never smoke in bed.

Loose-fitting clothing can easily catch on fire if it gets too close to burning candles or hot burners.

If your clothes catch on fire, don’t run. Motion fans the flames. STOP where you are. DROP to the ground. ROLL back and forth, again and again, until the flames go out.

To use a fire extinguisher, think of the acronym PASS:

Pull the pin. Aim the nozzle or barrel at the base of the fire, not at the flames. Squeeze the handle. Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Poisoning

First Aid

Poisons are harmful substances that are swallowed, inhaled, or that come in contact with the skin. Each year about 10 million poisonings occur; 80% of them are in children under five years old.

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on the substance. They include a skin rash, upset stomach, and more severe problems. Some poisons can cause death.

Causes

Things Not Meant to Be Swallowed or Inhaled

* Household cleaners, such as bleach, drain cleaners, ammonia, and lye.

* Insecticides. Rat poison.

* Gasoline. Antifreeze. Oil. Lighter fluid. Paint thinner.

* Lead.

* Airplane glue. Formaldehyde.

* Rubbing alcohol. Iodine. Hair dye. Mouthwash. Mothballs.

* Some indoor and outdoor plants.

* Carbon monoxide. This has no color, odor, or taste.

Things That Are Poisonous in Harmful Amounts

* Alcohol. Drugs. Over-the-counter and prescribed medicines.

* Medicinal herbs.

* Vitamins and minerals. Iron in these can be deadly to a small child.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the poison and its effects. Information to give the Poison Control Center, emergency department, etc.:

* The name of the substance taken.

* The amount and when it was taken.

* A list of ingredients on the label.

* Age, gender, and weight of the person who took the poison. How the person is feeling and reacting. Any medical problems the person has.

Prevention

* Buy household products, vitamins, and medicines in child-resistant packaging. Keep these and all poisons out of children’s reach.

* Put child-resistant latches on cabinet doors. Follow instructions for use and storage of pesticides, household cleaners, and other poisons.

* Keep products in original containers. Don’t transfer them to soft drink bottles, plastic jugs, etc.

* Teach children not to take medicine and vitamins unless an adult gives it to them. Don’t call these “candy” in front of a child.

* Wear protective clothing, masks, etc., when using chemicals that could cause harm if inhaled or absorbed by the skin.

* Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and garage.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / First Aid

For Swallowed Poisons

1. If the person is unconscious, shout for help. Call 9-1-1!

2. For a conscious person, call the Poison Control Center (800.222.1222). Follow instructions. Do not give Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting unless the Poison Control Center tells you to. {Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents don’t give Syrup of Ipecac to children.}

3. Lay the person on his or her left side to keep the windpipe clear, especially if the person vomited. Keep a sample of the vomit and the poison container.

For Inhaled Poisons

1. Protect yourself. Move the person to fresh air (outdoors if you can). Try not to breathe the fumes yourself.

2. Follow steps 1 and 2 above for Swallowed Poisons. Get medical care.

For Chemical Poisons on Skin

1. Protect yourself. Flood the skin with water for 5 or more minutes. Remove clothing that was in contact with the person.

2. Gently wash the skin with soap and water. Rinse well. Get medical care.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
First Aid Checklist

First Aid

Keep basic tools handy for those little emergencies.

Mom’s kisses are great, but some boo-boos need a little more care to keep infections away. A well-stocked first-aid kit may be all you need for life’s little emergencies. Keep one at home, but out of the reach of children. Store a second one in the car. And if you hike, camp, or bike, take a kit with you.

First-aid kit items:

The first-aid kit should have a first-aid guide that includes step-by-step instructions for each item.

* Acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen

* Adhesive bandages of different sizes. Sterile gauze pads, a roll of gauze, and tape.

* Antibiotic ointment or spray. Antiseptic ointment or wipes.

* Antihistamine tablets or syrup

* Calibrated medicine spoon and dropper

* Cold pack

* Cotton-tipped swabs

* Elastic wrap and closures

* Flashlight and extra batteries

* Hydrocortisone ointment

* Scissors

* Sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)

* Tweezers

Extra items for a car or boat:

* Clean, folded sheet and blanket

* Large flashlight. Extra batteries. Rope. Flares.

* Protective clothing and footwear

* Plastic bottle of water, tightly capped

Learn how to handle common injuries & wounds:

* Rinse cuts and scrapes with cool water.

* To stop bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure, using gauze. If blood soaks through it, add more gauze, keeping the first layer in place. Keep applying pressure until the bleeding stops.

* Do the Heimlich maneuver for people who are choking.

* Know CPR basics to help someone who collapsed due to cardiac arrest.

Action Step

Take a basic first-aid course for hands-on practice in giving first aid and CPR. Check with your local Red Cross, police and/or fire department to find locations and dates.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Recovery Position

First Aid

The recovery position may need to be used in many conditions that need first aid, such as unconsciousness. It should not be used when a person: Is not breathing; has a head, neck, or spine injury; or has a serious injury.

To Put a Person in the Recovery Position

1. Kneel at his or her side.

2. Turn the person’s face toward you. Tilt the head back to open the airway. Check the mouth if the person is unconscious and remove false teeth or any foreign matter.

3. Place the person’s arm nearest you by his or her side and tuck it under the person’s buttock.

4. Lay the person’s other arm across his or her chest. Cross the person’s leg that is farthest from you over the one nearest you at his or her ankles.

5. Support the person’s head with one hand and grasp his or her clothing at the hip farthest from you. Have him or her rest against your knees. See image A.

6. Bend the person’s upper arm and leg until each forms a right angle to the body. Pull the other arm out from under his or her body. Ease it out toward the back from the shoulder down. Position it parallel to the person’s back. See image B.

7. Make sure the person’s head is tilted back to keep the airway open.

Image A

Image B

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026