Basic First Aid for Small Emergencies

First aid is just the helpful thing you do in the first few minutes, before a small problem gets worse or while you decide if you need more help. You don't need training to handle the common ones. The most important tool is staying calm – take a breath, then act step by step.

For a small cut or scrape, first wash your hands if you can. Press a clean cloth on the wound to stop the bleeding – steady pressure, not peeking every few seconds. Once it stops, rinse the cut with clean running water to clear out dirt, pat it dry, and cover it with a clean bandage. Change the bandage daily and keep it clean while it heals.

For a minor burn – say, touching a hot pan – cool it right away under cool (not ice-cold) running water for about 20 minutes. This is one of the most useful things you can do, and the sooner the better. Then cover it loosely with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or bandage. Don't put butter, toothpaste, or ice on a burn – those old tips can make it worse.

For a nosebleed, sit up and lean slightly forward, not back – leaning back just sends blood down your throat. Pinch the soft part of your nose, just below the bony top, and hold steady for about 10 minutes without checking. Breathe through your mouth. Most nosebleeds stop this way.

Know the line where home care stops. Get medical help for: a cut that's deep, gaping, or won't stop bleeding after about 10 minutes of steady pressure; a burn that's large, blistering badly, or on the face, hands, or private areas; or any wound that later turns red, swollen, warm, and more painful, which can mean infection. A small home kit – bandages, gauze, tape, clean cloth – makes all of this easier.