Basic First Aid.

This thread is to offer some very basic medical advice for self harm injuries. However we are NOT medical professionals so this is not an alternative to seeking medical help if required. We urge you to seek medical attention if you are in the least bit concerned.

In an emergency please don’t hesitate to attend your local a & e department, local walk in centre or GP surgery.

You can also contact NHS direct on 0845 46 47 for help and advice.

Cuts

*Apply pressure to the cut and hold the affected area above the heart if that is possible until the bleeding eases.
*If the bleeding does not stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes then seek medical attention
*Rinse the cut under running water and make sure there is no dirt in the cut which could cause infection
*Gently dry the affected area
*Add steri strips to close the edges of the wound, if needed, and then add a sterile dressing.

Please seek medical attention if you think the cut may have become infected, or is not healing properly.

Please see the following links for further information;

http://www.sja.org.uk/firstaid/info/bleeding.asp (St Johns Ambulance)

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1048 (NHS direct)

Burns and scalds

*Superficial burns (surface burns) MAY in some cases be treated at home, although we always recommend that you DO get them seen to by a professional.
*You need to cool down the burn and the surrounding area as quickly as possible. Run the affected area under cold water for approximately 10 minutes, or 20 minutes if it is a chemical burn.
*Remove all clothing and jewellery from the affected area, unless it is sticking to the burn.
*Wrap the affected area in clingfilm to try and prevent the area getting infected.

*Do not add any creams or lotions

For deep burns, please seek urgent medical attention.

Please see the following links for more information;

http://www.sja.org.uk/firstaid/info/burns.asp (St. Johns Ambulance)

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1047 (NHS direct)

Overdoses

*Please seek urgent medical attention without delay!

*One tablet over the prescribed amount is too many.

*What may not harm one person may kill or seriously damage another. Everyone is different. The damage an overdose will cause can depend on many factors eg. Your height, weight, how much you have eaten, alcohol consumption, and your general health (eg. any previous known or unknown damage to your internal organs)

*You may not seem to be affected by x number of tablets one time but that doesn’t mean you won’t be affected if you do it again with the same number. You don’t know how much unseen damage you have already caused to your liver etc.

------ NSHN Forum

for burns... after a fue days... what cream would help it not scar so bad... it is still blistering... should i not use ceam?

I would recommend not using creams or lotions on the burn if it's still blistered hun; it may just make it worse.