It can take four hours to be seen by
Britain's A&E departments longer than some people's relationships.
Life-saving experts tell us how to cope with a medical emergency before help
arrives
Pot-holed pavements, questionable meat
products on supermarket shelves and more STDs down your local than you could
shake a (hopefully) very long stick at. Your daily life is more dangerous than
you might realize. In fact, 59% of us wouldn't know what to do in an emergency
before paramedics arrive. So in the name of duties to mankind, we asked the
experts what to do in the four most common health SOS situations
Cushion a nasty fall with fashion
If you've ever fallen off a stiletto, then
you'll know what true pain feels like. Before you figure out whether it's a
break or sprain, do not remove your shoe, even though your instinct will be to
do just that. "Your shoe, especially if it's a boot, will be providing
support," says Isobel Kearl, training and development officer at St John
Ambulance. "If you take it off, the joint is going to swell and then you
won't be wearing it again anytime soon." Wrap your foot securely from
joint to joint, especially around the front. "You can always use a cardigan
or your tights as a temporary bandage, and elevate the leg to heart
level," says Kearl. Then sit nice and still like a big girl and try not to
cry.
If
you've ever fallen off a stiletto, then you'll know what true pain feels like.
Heal a bad burn with honey
Disaster. At a crucial moment, your
straighteners slip and you have a hot date with a potential suitor in just 40
minutes. "Five minutes under a cool, gently running tap is the absolute
minimum, no matter how pressed for time you are," says Chemist Direct
pharmacist Omar El-Gohary. "And don't apply a cream afterwards – it will
seal the heat into the wound and cause more damage." To avoid infection,
turn to your kitchen cupboard for inspiration. That crusty pot of honey from
Kavos circa 2001 will do. "The antibacterial properties of honey can
prevent infection," says family doctor and survival expert, Dr. James
Hubbard"'. Just beware of those pesky bees.
At
a crucial moment, your straighteners slip and you have a hot date with a
potential suitor in just 40 minutes.
Tame bites with toothpaste
The moment you’re stung may feel more
uncomfortable than a night in with Mick Hucknall. “The stinger (not the singer,
keep up) contracts and pumps in the venom on its own for a minute after the
sting,” says Dr. Hubbard. His advice? “Scrape out the stinger as soon as you
can with a credit card.” If you’ve got a drink, get the ice and hold it over
the sting to reduce swelling. Smoker? Wet tobacco has the same effect (hey,
it’ll be the only time smoking’s classed as a health benefit). If it’s a muzzy
bite and you’re not near a chemist, get yourself to the bathroom. “Mint
toothpaste generally contains menthol, which calms temperature-sensitive
nerves, producing a cooling sensation that helps relieve the itching.” Look out
for the antibacterial ingredient Triclosan, which reduces the size of welts and
prevents infection. Cool indeed.
Look
out for the antibacterial ingredient Triclosan, which reduces the size of welts
and prevents infection. Cool indeed.
Drink right and hold on tight!
There comes a time in every woman’s life
when a close call with the holiday buffet has you running to the toilet every
five minutes. “In this situation, the number one mistake people make is to
drink lots of water,” says Dr. Hubbard. “But you’re going to vomit it right up.
Wait a few hours. Then start sipping. Slowly. Your stomach tolerates smaller
amounts much better.” While sports drinks are recommended for those who are
feeling green around the gills, they contain too much sugar, which can make
diarrhea worse. Try diluting with one part water, one part sports drink, or mix
one teaspoon of salt with eight teaspoons of sugar in water to replace lost
minerals and to rehydrate your body. “Replenish your strength and start the
BRAT diet as soon as your stomach has calmed down. That’s Bananas, Rice,
Applesauce, Toast,” says Hubbard. Gee, yummy.
“In
this situation, the number one mistake people make is to drink lots of water,”
says Dr. Hubbard.
Beat asthma with a brew
Asthma attacks, like cellulite and spots,
strike when you least expect or need them. If you’re breathless while out
shopping (and it’s not because that coat you had your eye on now has 70% off),
pop into your nearest fast food chain, pick up a coffee cup and punch a hole in
the bottom of it, just big enough to fit your inhaler, advises Dr. Garry Savin,
medical director at Preventicum UK Ltd. “The cup acts as a nebulizer, meaning
your medication will stick around for longer if taking a deep gulp of air is
proving impossible,” he says. And while you’re in the restaurant, Dr. Hubbard
suggests grabbing a quick brew once your breathing has become a bit easier. “A
warm liquid will relax your airway, and tea and coffee contain a chemical
similar to the old asthma medicine theophylline. Coffees all round then -
that’s doctor’s orders.
“A
warm liquid will relax your airway, and tea and coffee contain a chemical
similar to the old asthma medicine theophylline.
