Is that a bone sticking out of your arm?

Let’s say your three year old son is bouncing joyfully on the bed. You know that’s what he’s doing because the creaking springs give it away. You head in that direction to administer proper parental justice when you hear the spring noise stop and the sickening thud of a small body hitting the floor. The screams start before you even round the corner. Little Timmy’s arm cocked an unnatural angle is all the clue you need to make a top speed detour to the phone and call 9-1-1.

If only all emergency first aid situations were so easy to decipher.

What else should you be on the look out for? Choking on food is pretty obvious to spot. In that case, just make sure you know how to deliver the Heimlich correctly. How about a stroke? It’s a pretty amazing statistic but more than half all stroke victims do not arrive at the hospital by ambulance. That means no one was able to recognize what was happening! Look for symptoms like an inability to speak, paralysis along one side of the body, or a facial droop.

In the event of a heart attack, do you know how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)? Ah ha! Trick question. You don’t have to know how to use one. Many have voice prompts that tell you what to do each step of the way. They’re almost idiot proof so don’t stand around nervously playing games on your cell phone when you’re elevator neighbor has keeled over facedown on the floor with a heart attack. With more and more of these devices showing up in public areas, there’s no reason to be afraid to use them.

What first aid training do you need? Find out next time.

The Holistic Survival Team