First-Aid Hacks

Every hack is checked against a cited source · open the link to see where it comes from.

• 🩹

  Wash your hands properly for 20 seconds

  The CDC 5-step routine - wet, lather, scrub 20 seconds, rinse, dry - removes germs and helps prevent illness.

  1. 1💧Wet hands
  2. 2🧼Lather with soap
  3. 3⏱️Scrub 20 seconds
  4. 4🤲Rinse and dry

  Steps

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds (hum 'Happy Birthday' twice).
  4. Rinse well under clean, running water, then dry with a clean towel or air dryer.

  Why it works

  Clean hands stop germs from spreading to your eyes, nose, mouth, food, and other people, lowering the chance of getting sick or spreading illness.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. Handwashing reduces but does not eliminate risk; use soap and water when hands are visibly dirty, and see a clinician for any illness.

  Source: CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• 🩹

  Cool a minor burn under running water

  Run cool water over a minor burn for about 20 minutes and remove tight items - never use ice, butter, or creams.

  1. 1🚱Move from heat
  2. 2🚰Cool ~20 min
  3. 3💍Remove tight items
  4. 4🧈No ice or butter

  Steps

  1. Stop the burning - move away from the heat source.
  2. Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for about 20 minutes, as soon as possible.
  3. Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burn, but do not move anything stuck to the skin.
  4. Never use ice, iced water, creams, or greasy substances like butter; once cooled, lay cling film over it (do not wrap).

  Why it works

  Cool running water lowers skin temperature and limits tissue damage and pain, while ice, butter, and creams can worsen the injury or trap heat.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. Call emergency services for large, deep, or facial burns, chemical or electrical burns, or burns on a baby or older person. Do not pop blisters; see a clinician if unsure.

  Source: NHS
• 🩹

  Hands-Only CPR for a collapsed adult or teen

  If a teen or adult suddenly collapses, call 911 first, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

  1. 1📞Call 911 first
  2. 2🫳Center of chest
  3. 3⬇️Push hard, fast
  4. 4🎵100-120/min

  Steps

  1. Call 911 first (or send someone) if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse.
  2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
  3. Keep a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute (the beat of a familiar 100-120 bpm song).
  4. Keep going until help or an AED arrives.

  Why it works

  Hands-Only CPR keeps blood flowing to the brain and heart until help arrives, and is as effective as conventional CPR in the first few minutes of an adult cardiac arrest.

  Good to know: Life-threatening emergency: call 911 FIRST. This is general information, not a substitute for hands-on CPR training; take a certified course. Hands-Only CPR is for teens and adults, not infants.

  Source: American Heart Association
• 🩹

  Stop bleeding with firm direct pressure

  For a bleeding wound, press firmly with a clean cloth and raise the area - call emergency services if severe.

  1. 1🩹Press with cloth
  2. 2💪Raise the area
  3. 3⏳Hold pressure
  4. 4📞Call 999 if severe

  Steps

  1. Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound with a clean pad or cloth.
  2. Raise the injured part above the level of the heart if you can.
  3. Keep pressing until the bleeding stops.
  4. Call 999 (or local emergency services) if bleeding is severe, spurting, or does not stop.

  Why it works

  Firm direct pressure helps the blood clot and slows blood loss, which is the most important first step in controlling external bleeding before help arrives.

  Good to know: Life-threatening if bleeding is heavy: call emergency services FIRST. General information only, not a substitute for first-aid training. Avoid contact with someone else's blood where possible and seek care for deep or dirty wounds.

  Source: NHS
• 🩹

  Spot a stroke with F.A.S.T.

  Use Face, Arms, Speech, Time to spot a stroke and call 911 right away - even if symptoms go away.

  1. 1🙂Face drooping?
  2. 2💪Arm weakness?
  3. 3🗣️Speech slurred?
  4. 4📞Time - call 911

  Steps

  1. Face: ask the person to smile - does one side of the face droop or feel numb?
  2. Arms: ask them to raise both arms - is one arm weak, numb, or drifting down?
  3. Speech: ask them to repeat a simple sentence - is speech slurred or hard to understand?
  4. Time: if you see any of these signs, call 911 immediately - even if the symptoms go away.

  Why it works

  Stroke is a time-critical emergency, and fast recognition plus a 911 call lets responders start treatment sooner, improving survival and lowering disability.

  Good to know: Life-threatening emergency: call 911 immediately, even if signs disappear. This is general information, not a diagnosis - only medical professionals can confirm a stroke.

  Source: American Stroke Association / American Heart Association
• 🩹

  Help a choking adult or child over 1

  If someone is severely choking, give up to 5 back blows and up to 5 abdominal thrusts, alternating.

  1. 1👋5 back blows
  2. 2🤜5 abdominal thrusts
  3. 3📞Call 999
  4. 4🔁Repeat cycles

  Steps

  1. Lean the person forward and give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
  2. If that fails, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts: arms around the waist, fist just above the belly button, pull sharply inwards and upwards.
  3. If the blockage is still there, call 999 (or local emergency services) and ask for an ambulance.
  4. Continue cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until help arrives.

  Why it works

  Back blows and abdominal thrusts create pressure that can dislodge an object blocking the airway, restoring breathing before the person loses consciousness.

  Good to know: Life-threatening emergency: if the blockage does not clear quickly, call emergency services. Not a substitute for first-aid training. Not for babies under 1; anyone given abdominal thrusts should be checked by a professional afterwards.

  Source: NHS
• 🩹

  R.I.C.E. care for a minor sprain

  For a minor sprain, use Rest, Ice (no more than 20 minutes at a time), Compression, and Elevation.

  1. 1🛌Rest
  2. 2🧊Ice 20 min max
  3. 3🩹Compress
  4. 4🦵Elevate

  Steps

  1. Rest the injured area and avoid putting weight on it for the first day or two.
  2. Ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, with a thin towel between ice and skin - do not ice for more than 20 minutes.
  3. Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage to help keep swelling down.
  4. Keep the injured area raised on a pillow above heart level whenever possible.

  Why it works

  Rest, ice, compression, and elevation together reduce swelling and pain and protect a minor sprain while it begins to heal.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. See a professional if you cannot bear weight, the joint looks deformed, there is numbness, or pain and swelling do not improve. Do not apply ice directly to skin or for more than 20 minutes at a time.

  Source: Mayo Clinic
• 🩹

  Rehydrate gently when mildly dehydrated

  For mild dehydration, sip fluids and gradually drink more - water or diluted sugar-free squash are good choices.

  1. 1🥤Sip fluids
  2. 2🔼Gradually more
  3. 3💧Water or squash
  4. 4🍺No alcohol

  Steps

  1. Drink fluids when you feel dehydrated.
  2. If you feel sick or have been sick, start with small sips and then gradually drink more.
  3. Choose water or diluted sugar-free squash; avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
  4. Ask a pharmacist about oral rehydration solutions if you are losing fluids from vomiting or diarrhoea.

  Why it works

  Replacing lost fluids early helps the body recover from mild dehydration and prevents it from becoming more serious.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. Contact a doctor for warning signs such as unusual drowsiness, dizziness on standing, dark or reduced urine, or rapid breathing; call emergency services for signs of shock.

  Source: NHS
• 🩹

  Soothe sunburn safely

  Get out of the sun, cool the skin with cool water, moisturise, and stay covered - never put ice on sunburn.

  1. 1🌥️Out of the sun
  2. 2🚿Cool the skin
  3. 3🧴Moisturise
  4. 4🧊No ice

  Steps

  1. Get out of the sun as soon as possible.
  2. Cool your skin with a cool shower, bath, or damp towel (do not put ice or ice packs on sunburn).
  3. Apply aftersun or an unperfumed moisturiser.
  4. Drink plenty of water, take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, and cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until it heals.

  Why it works

  Cooling and moisturising ease the pain of sunburn while keeping the skin out of the sun and hydrated supports healing and prevents further damage.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. Do not pop blisters or peel skin. Get medical advice for severe sunburn, blistering over a large area, or signs of heat exhaustion; sunburn on a baby always needs medical advice.

  Source: NHS
• 🩹

  Stop a nosebleed the right way

  Sit down, lean forward, and pinch the soft part of your nose for 10-15 minutes while breathing through your mouth.

  1. 1🪑Sit, lean forward
  2. 2🤏Pinch soft nose
  3. 3⏱️10-15 minutes
  4. 4👄Breathe by mouth

  Steps

  1. Sit down and lean forward, with your head tilted forward and your mouth open.
  2. Pinch your nose just above the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Breathe through your mouth while you pinch.
  4. Spit out any blood in your mouth rather than swallowing it.

  Why it works

  Leaning forward and pinching the soft part of the nose applies pressure to the bleeding vessels and keeps blood from running down the throat, helping the bleed stop.

  Good to know: General information, not medical advice. Get urgent help if bleeding lasts longer than 10-15 minutes, is very heavy, follows a head injury, or you feel weak or dizzy or have trouble breathing.

  Source: NHS