• An event as insignificant as frying an egg has the potential of becoming a fire hazard. To treat a 2nd degree burn in a non-lethal place, you should:

1) Cool burn by immersing it in cool water for 10-15 minutes or by using a cool compress (DO NOT use ice).

2) Do not break blisters or apply lotions, creams, ointments, butter, etc.

3) Cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage.

4) Prevent shock by laying the victim flat, elevating their feet about 12 inches, elevating the burn area above heart level, and covering them with a blanket. Lastly, see a doctor as soon as possible.

• If a foreign object is lodged in the windpipe or the throat, this could lead to the person’s flow of air getting blocked and causing them to choke. The indications of a choking person include the inability to talk, difficulty breathing, coughs, skin and lips turning bluish, and loss of consciousness. To save a choking person, follow the “5 and 5 approach” by standing behind the person, placing your hand on their chest, tilting them forward so that their face is parallel to the ground, and delivering 5 blows using your hand between their shoulder blades. Afterward, perform the Heimlich maneuver, by performing 5 abdominal thrusts. Continue until the person can breathe again.
  

• This next one requires a visit to the ER, but here are the things you should do until you get there. In the case of a severed finger, one must:

1) Lightly rinse the attached appendage with water and sterile saline.

2) Cover it with sterile gauze.

3) Elevate it above heart level to limit bleeding and swelling.

4) Apply slight pressure to the wound.

Now let’s cover how to treat the severed digit:

1) Do not remove any jewelry or clothing from the finger.

2) Gently wash it with sterile saline.

3) Cover it with a damp gauze wrap.

4) Put it in a waterproof bag.

5) Put the bag in an even larger waterproof bag, then place it on ice. This will help the severed digit to not die until an ambulance arrives, which will help it get reattached later on with surgery.

We have covered a lot of emergency protocols and necessary facts that could have the potential to save a life – or even just spare you a bad day. We urge all members of the community to continue to further their knowledge on what to do if faced with any kind of emergency.