First Aid for Summer
Stacey Colino

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When it comes to summer bummers like splinters, scrapes and burns, the tricks your mother used may not be best. In some cases, old wives’ tales have been deemed ineffective; in others, doctors have simply found better, science-based ways to treat these injuries. Whatever the case, if your first-aid techniques aren't on target, you could end up adding insult to your injury. Here’s the latest:

You’re walking barefoot and get a splinter in your foot

Old thinking

Leave it alone if it's not bothering you.

New thinking

Pull the splinter out with tweezers, then wash your foot thoroughly.

Why the switch

“Wood is an organic substance, and your body’s attack on [the splinter] creates a lot of problems with inflammation,” explains Robert Shesser, M.D., chair of the department of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. This can set the stage for an infection. Your best bet is to use a sterilized needle to open a little tract around the splinter, then pull it out with tweezers, Dr. Shesser says. Once it’s out, clean the area with soap and water and watch for such signs of infection as redness, swelling, increased pain or pus. If any of these develop or if you can’t remove the splinter on your own, see a doctor.

You fall off your bike and scrape your knee

Old thinking

Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or an iodine solution.

New thinking

Wash the cut with plain ol’ water and a mild soap.

Why the switch

While strong solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or an iodine preparation can kill bacteria in the wound, they can also “hurt normal tissue in the body, which slows the healing process and makes the damaged skin more vulnerable to infection,” Dr. Shesser explains. Instead, thoroughly clean the abrasion with water and soap, making sure you get all the dirt out. Since this can hurt, you may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) first. Once the wound is clean, apply an antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) and a no-stick bandage to keep it clean and dry.

You’re grilling burgers and burn your finger

Old thinking

Put vitamin E on it.

New thinking

Run cold water over it.

Why the switch

“The first thing you need to do is cool it to stop the burning process and relieve the pain,” says Richard O’Brien, M.D., a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and an emergency physician at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pa. To do this, put the area under cold, running water or apply cold compresses or a bag of frozen peas for five minutes at a time until the burn begins to feel better. Then clean the area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment (vitamin E won’t kill bacteria). To help with the pain, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. “If you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the last ten years, get one within a day or two,” adds Dr. Shesser. And if the burn blisters, wait for it to pop naturally, then continue to keep the area clean and reapply an antibiotic ointment until it has healed.

While tossing a flying disc, you twist your ankle

Old thinking

Walk it off.

New thinking

Follow the RICE advice.

Why the switch

Sure, it’s a good sign if you can walk, because if you can’t or if your ankle looks deformed, you should have it X-rayed to make sure it’s not broken. But to avoid aggravating the injury, it’s best to keep your weight off it. What else? “If it’s just pain and swelling, the RICE acronym [Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation] works beautifully,” says Michael Carius, M.D., chairman of the emergency department at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut and a past president of the ACEP. Rest your ankle (by staying off it), apply ice (for 20 minutes at a time for the next 24 hours), use a compression bandage (but not too tightly) and elevate the ankle (above your heart) to decrease swelling and pain. Ibuprofen can also help reduce pain and swelling, but if the pain gets worse or you have trouble moving your ankle after 24 hours, see a doctor.

You got whacked in the nose while playing soccer, and now your nose is bleeding

Old thinking

Tilt your head back and pinch your nostrils until the bleeding stops.

New thinking

Lean your head slightly forward and pinch the bridge of your nose.

Why the switch

If you hold your head back, the blood will go down your throat. This could cause you to gag, or it could irritate your stomach and make you vomit. Instead, lean forward and apply pressure to the bridge of your nose for 15 minutes without stopping, Dr. Carius advises. “You can also apply an ice pack, which will constrict the blood vessels and decrease blood flow around the nose.” Most nosebleeds can be stopped without medical attention, but if it’s still bleeding after 20 minutes, head to the ER.

So there you have it -- the latest thinking in first-aid treatment. Now that you know how to keep summer bummers from turning into summer spoilers, go out and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts!

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