You've taken the stairs, and you're feeling proud of yourself for having steered away from the escalator, when suddenly your shoe catches on a tile, you lose your balance and you fall down a flight of stairs. Or you're preparing supper for some friends when you slice your finger instead of the cucumber. Life is full of nasty surprises and accidents happen. But if you know these basic first aid tips, you needn't panic. Simply print this page out and keep it in a handy place, for the next time life throws you a curve ball.

Insect Bites: Carefully remove the sting by carefully flicking it out with a knife, instead of using tweezers which may result in bursting the little poison sac in the sting, releasing more toxins into the skin. Rub an ice cube on the sting to reduce swelling. For bee stings, clean the area with bicarbonate of soda. For wasp stings, clean the area with vinegar.

Burns: Don't apply any greasy ointments, butter or other fats to the area as this will intensify the burn. Run some cold water over the burn to cool the area. If the burn is over a large area, give the person cool water to drink, to replace lost fluids. Then apply a bit of honey to the burn, which is a natural antiseptic. When the burn begins healing, start applying vitamin E creams to reduce scarring.

Fainting: Don't try to lift the person right having fainted. Help them to remain flat with their legs slightly raised as this helps the blood flow to the brain. If possible give them peppermint tea to sip, if not possible, water will do.

Nosebleeds: Help the person sit down, leaning slightly forward. Pinch the bridge of the nose firmly for a few minutes. Apply an ice cube or cold compress to the bridge of the nose or a tissue to stop the bleeding. If the person experiences very heavy bleeding, consult a doctor.

Cuts and Scrapes: Stop bleeding by applying pressure to the cut, raising the limb higher than the heart, is bleeding is a bit heavy. Then clean the wound to avoid infection. Rinse with soap and water. Apply a gauze soaked in a bit of petroleum jelly, to keep the wound moist thereby preventing a scab from forming. Then wrap the wound firmly (but not too tightly) in an elastic bandage.

Bruises: Apply ice to the area, at 15 minute intervals, allowing your skin to warm naturally in between applications. After 24 hours, apply heat to the area to improve circulation. Keep the limb raised. Increase your vitamin C intake by taking 500 milligrams, three times a day.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, edited by Debora Tkac, Rodale Health Books. The Guide to Natural Living, Mark Evans, Hermes House.

Source: www.a1articles.com