First Aid changes over time. This is due to research, changes in the prevalence of certain illnesses in society and as a review of best practice. Some myths – and old advice – still persist though and we’d like to address some of these in this blog.
Myth 1: If someone has swallowed a poison, make them vomit. 
It is better NOT to make someone vomit who has swallowed a poison e.g. bleach. Any substance doing damage on the way doen to the stomach will do more damage on the way back up if you make them vomit. If the substance hasn’t affected the airway on the way down, it may irritate the airway as it as the substance is vomited up mixed with stomach acid. The best treatment is to call 999 or take the casualty and a sample of the substance they have swallowed, (or the packet) to A&E.Â
Read our blog on a wide range of poisons and first aid here. Read more about alcohol poisoning a first aid here.
Myth 2: A first aider can’t give medicationÂ
This used to be the case but is no longer – but with restrictions. First aiders are not pharmacists – we don’t have the medical level training to assess a casualty and prescribe medicines. However, experience and research now considers it reasonable to allow the use of three medicines by a first aider. All medicines have a use by date so always check that before use.
These are the three medications we may give to a casualty as a first aider:Â
Asprin – It would be reasonable to offer aspirin (150-300mg) to a casualty that you suspect is having a heart attack.  Always check first they have had asprin before and they are not allergic to it. Read more in our blog about heart attacks here.
In Educational settings, you can keep spare asthma inhalers and epi-pens for specific children who rely on them, Find out more about this legislation here.
Asthma inhalers – Inhalers can be shared between sufferers if needed – just wipe the mouthpiece with a medi-wipe before hand. For more information about asthma, read our blog on Understanding and helping someone with asthma.
Epi-pens (Adrenaline Auto Injectors)– These are specific to a person and cannot be shared. Check with your Educational Authority on use in your setting as some local guidance varies. Someone suffering an anaphylactic shock needs their medication immediately. They should be carrying 2 injectors with them at all times. For more information on Anaphylaxis and how you can help, read our Anayphlaxis blog here. Â
Myth 3: If someone is having a heart attack, ask them to cough
There is no medical evidence to support ‘coughing’ as a way to manage a heart attack. If we suspect a heart attack we need to call 999, this is a medical emergency. Check out our blog on Heart Attacks here or see what the British Heart Foundation say here about ‘coughing’. A heart attack is a life threatening emergency and many years of research has gone into the advice we give on First Aid courses. Don’t believe the myths and hearsay in an emergency. Go with the science! If coughing worked, it would have appeared on the First Aid course syllabus by now.
Myth 4: A first aider can’t use an AED
Public access AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) or just ‘defibrillators’ as they are commonly called, are designed for non health care staff to use. They can be used by untrained people in a life saving situation to save lives. An AED is needed when someone has stopped breathing because of a cardiac arrest. The quicker an AED is used the better the casualties chances of being revived.  They are easy to use as they talk you through what is needed.
If you are doing CPR and an AED is available, open up the box, press the green button and follow the instructions. Watch our YouTube video on how to use an AED below and see how easy it is.
Myth 5: Put butter on a burn to cool or soothe the burn
The oil in the butter may itself heat up and make the burn worse. The best treatment for a burn is to cool it with running tepid or cool water for at least 20 minutes, or until there is no further pain. Cover with a dressing to keep out infection and seek medical help if it covers more than 5% of their body area or has broken through the skin. Read our extensive blog on treating burns here.
Myth 6: Never move a casualty with a spinal injuryÂ
This is great advice in general, but there may well be times when a casualty with a potential spinal injury does need to be moved. If the casualty is in life threatening danger they need to be moved to a safe area. If a casualty is unconscious and vomiting they need to be placed carefully in the recovery position.  The risk with vomiting is that their airway becomes blocked and they cannot breath. This is why A- airway is always at the top of all first aid training A-airway, B-breathing C- circulation. D-damage to spine or other injuries comes after these first three. Damage or injuries can be repaired afterwards – a blocked airway cannot.
Myth 7: If someone has a nosebleed, tilt their head back
Current best practice is to lean the casualty forward and let the blood drain from the nose rather than tilt their head back, where the blood could run down their throat and cause them to vomit. It would also be good practice to pinch the soft part of the nostrils and ask the casualty to breathe through their mouth.  If a nosebleed doesn’t stop after 10 minutes, call for an ambulance or take them to hospital.
Myth 8: Use a tourniquet for a big bleed from an arm or leg
Although we now teach the use of tourniquets by first aiders, in appropriate circumstances, the best way to manage a bleed is still by applying direct pressure. Other options include Haemostatic dressing which have a special agent within them that can stop big bleeds in minutes. They still need direct pressure though. Only when this is not working should a first aid consider using a tourniquet. For more information, you can see the range of products available in the video below or read more in our blog about dealing with big blood loss here.
Myth 9: If someone is choking on an object, try to remove it from their throat
Putting your fingers down someone’s throat to remove a foreign object may well push the object further down. Also, they may bite you and you then have an infected finger wound and your blood in their mouth. Correct first aid is to get them to try and cough it up followed by a combination of back slaps and abdominal thrusts which should remove the blockage. Adult and child or infant choking requires slightly different approaches due to the size of their airway and their body frames.
Watch our video on helping an adult who is choking here. Watch a video on dealing with choking in a child or infant here.
Myth 10: You can’t use plasters on childrenÂ
Of course you can! Some people, including many children, are allergic to plasters. Stock your first aid kit with Hypo-allergenic plasters and there should be no problem. The most important thing is to check, clean and cover that wound to prevent infection. See what the Health and Safety Executive says here about plasters.
Get up to date with First Aid – get trained!
Our range of first aid courses are all up to date and we pride ourselves in the shared knowledge and skills within our training team. Our systematic approach to teaching first aid helps your learning and understanding of many illnesses and injuries. Practicing first aid techniques reinforces your learning too. Find our more about our full range of First Aid Courses here.
Every client on our courses receives a FREE Digital First Aid Manual relevant to the course they come on. You can also buy our manuals in our online shop. In addition, we have our own YouTube channel with over 40 practical first aid videos.
