Injuries are damage or harm caused to the body by an outside force. Common injuries include cuts, bruises, and broken bones. Sports injuries occur during exercise and include sprains, strains, and knee injuries. Basic first aid techniques include RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) treatment for soft tissue injuries and CPR for more serious conditions. It is important to avoid common misconceptions about first aid treatments.

1. INJURIES AND FIRST AID

11. The RICE treatment is the general treatment for most acute soft tissue injuries (bruises, strains, sprains, tears) as it helps to prevent, stop and reduce swelling. When soft tissue is damaged it swells or possibly bleeds internally. This swelling causes pain and loss of motion, which limits use of the muscles. Other treatments can include: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Immobilization (Slings, splints, casts), Rehabilitation or Physiotherapy.

12. R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) Rest. Reduce your regular activities. If you've injured your foot, ankle, or knee, take weight off of it. A crutch can help. If your right foot or ankle is injured, use the crutch on the left side. If your left foot or ankle is injured, use the crutch on the right side. Ice. Put an ice pack to the injured area for 20 minutes, four to eight times a day. You can use a cold pack or ice bag. You can also use a plastic bag filled with crushed ice and wrapped in a towel. Take the ice off after 20 minutes to avoid cold injury. Compression. Put even pressure (compression) on the injured area to help reduce swelling. You can use an elastic wrap, special boot, air cast, or splint. Ask your doctor which one is best for your injury. Elevation. Put the injured area on a pillow, at a level above your heart, to help reduce swelling.

15. 5) If someone has swallowed a poison you should make them sick. If you make someone sick by putting your fingers in their mouth, the vomit may block their airway. Also if the poison burnt on the way down, it will burn on the way up. Get medical advice and if possible find out what poison was taken, at what time and how much. 6) If you perform CPR on someone who has a pulse you can damage their heart . The evidence is that it isn’t dangerous to do chest compressions on a casualty with a pulse. 7) You need lots of training to do first aid . You don’t - what you mostly need is common sense. You can learn enough first aid in a few minutes to save someone's life. 8)You need lots of expensive equipment to do first aid . You don’t need any equipment to do first aid, there are lots of ways to improvise anything you need. Remember: anyone can save a life