Basic first-aid skills are essential. Watch our short how-to first-aid videos and you will
- be able to react in emergency situations,
- know about the Five Ws during an emergency call,
- learn how to treat a small wound in everyday life.
How to react when accidents happen
Accidents usually happen when you least expect them. And if you have to think long and hard about what to do, you might lose valuable time. That is why it is crucial to have the relevant steps for first aid in mind. For that reason, we prepared the most important first-aid information on how to react:
1. Stay calm and seek help from a guardian person
Are there any adults or guardians nearby? Tell them what happened and ask them for help. Make sure they understand the urgency of the situation.
2. Protect yourself and secure the area
Whatever the nature of the accident, don’t put yourself in danger and make sure that by securing the area others won’t get hurt – without putting yourself at risk, of course.
3. Make an emergency call if needed
Learn more in our video ‘How to make an emergency call’.
4. Take care of the injured person
Evaluate the situation and see how you can take care of the situation. Maybe the injured person needs a plaster, can be helped into a more comfortable position or have somebody to calm them down and assure them that everything is going to be OK.
5. Inform the emergency services upon their arrival
Once the ambulance arrives, briefly inform the paramedics about the condition of the injured person and how the accident happened.
How to make an emergency call
In dangerous situations or in the event of serious injuries, it is important that, in addition to first-aid measures, you make an emergency call immediately and get medical help. For your first-aid learning, it is most important that you follow the Five W questions to ensure that the control centre really has all the information it needs to provide optimal care for the injured person.
1. Where?
Where exactly did the emergency occur? The better and more precise the description is, the sooner emergency services can be at the scene. Someone should also direct emergency services to the right location.
2. What?
Briefly describe the circumstances of the accident, so that the appropriate emergency task force and vehicles can be selected.
3. What is the number of people affected?
State the number of injured persons, so that the call centre can provide a sufficient task force and enough emergency vehicles.
4. Which injuries?
Describe the type of injury, so that the right emergency vehicle (ambulance or rescue helicopter) can be selected.
5. Wait!
Do not hang up. Wait for any follow-up questions the call centre may have. There may be some issues that have not yet been clarified. The conversation will only be ended by the call centre, once all the questions have been answered. The call centre dispatcher may provide you with instructions to assist emergency services.
How to treat an everyday wound
Small wounds and minor injuries can happen every day but it is important to react accordingly and ensure that even smaller wounds do not become infected. That is why Elastoplast has prepared the most important first-aid information for the correct treatment.
1. Comfort the injured
Talk calmly to the injured person and offer your help.
2. Take care of the wound
"Get a first-aid kit, wash your hands and put on disposable gloves. Clean the wound to protect it from dirt and bacteria. Cover the wound with a dressing or a plaster. Important: A minor wound will soon stop bleeding. If it continues, apply more gauze pads, keep pressure on the wound and seek medical advice.
Learn more about how to treat common injuries correctly here."
3. Inform a guardian
Take further care of the injured person and always inform a guardian.