Easy First Aid for 3 Common Household Injuries

This Old House Magazine


Let's face it: we all get a little dinged up as we hammer and saw our way toward finishing that latest project. Nadine Saubers, a registered nurse and author of The Everything First Aid Book, helped us create this cheat sheet of fast fixes for cuts, bumps, and bruises. Keep it handy so you'll know exactly what to do the next time a tool plays target practice with your extremities.

SEE ALL OF TOH'S FIRST AID TIPS FOR COMMON HOUSEHOLD INJURIES








1. Hammered Thumb First Aid
Ice the area with a towel-covered ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day to combat swelling. Take a painkiller containing ibuprofen, like Advil or Motrin, as needed. Ibuprofen helps reduce inflammation, unlike acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, which is most useful for general aches and pains. For any bruise or internal injury that swells, avoid taking aspirin, which thins blood and can worsen bleeding.

MORE: 6 LADDER SAFETY ACCESSORIES






2. Blister First Aid
Don't pop the blister, which can slow healing and lead to infection. Cover small blisters with an adhesive bandage and larger ones with a porous, plastic-coated gauze pad that will absorb moisture while letting the skin breathe. (If the blister breaks on its own, apply antibiotic ointment before covering it.) It should clear up in a few days.

MORE: FIND THE BEST SAFETY GOGGLES









3. Cut Hand First Aid
Apply pressure with a sterile cloth or bandage and elevate your hand above your heart until the bleeding stops. If the cut bleeds for longer than 10 minutes, or is deep enough that you can see fatty tissue, seek medical attention. Otherwise, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse the wound with saline solution or tepid water and pat it gently with a clean cloth to dry. Apply antibiotic cream and dress the wound with a nonstick bandage. Replace the dressing daily or whenever it gets wet or dirty.

MORE: 12 TIPS FOR A SAFE BACKYARD BARBEQUE





SEE EVEN MORE COMMON HOUSEHOLD INJURY FIRST AID TIPS AT THISOLDHOUSE.COM!