7 Common First Aid Myths Debunked (What to Do Instead)

Seizure First Aid Myths

• 💡 Myth: Put something in a seizing person's mouth to prevent them from swallowing their tongue.
• ⚠️ Reality: Swallowing one's tongue is anatomically impossible and doesn't block airways. Putting objects in the mouth can cause injury, choking, or aspiration.
• ✅ What to do: Guide the person to the ground, clear the area of hazards, and if no spinal injury is suspected, place them in the recovery position (on their left side, mouth down) to keep the airway clear.
• 🚨 Seek medical help if the seizure is prolonged, if the person has difficulty breathing, or if they sustain injuries.

Pepper Spray and Milk Myth

• 💡 Myth: Milk can soothe the burning sensation from pepper spray.
• ⚠️ Reality: While milk's fats and proteins can bind to capsaicin in the mouth, it's not sterile and can cause eye infections. It's also ineffective against other chemical agents like tear gas.
• ✅ What to do: Wash the affected area with plenty of plain sterile water or saline and move away from the deployment area.

Concussion and Sleep Myth

• 💡 Myth: Someone with a concussion must be kept awake to avoid falling into a coma.
• ⚠️ Reality: A coma would occur regardless of sleep. Sleep is crucial for brain healing, and preventing it can worsen concussion recovery.
• ✅ What to do: If there are no signs of severe head injury (like disorientation, unequal pupils, or unconsciousness), the person can and should sleep.
• 🚨 Seek medical attention immediately if severe head injury symptoms are present.

Spinal Immobilization Myth

• 💡 Myth: All victims of blunt force trauma need their spine immobilized to prevent paralysis.
• ⚠️ Reality: The fear of delayed paralysis is largely overblown, and evidence suggests immobilization doesn't always help and can sometimes worsen injuries.
• ✅ What to do: If the person reports no neck or back pain and can move their limbs, there's no need for spinal bracing.
• 🚨 Seek medical advice if there are signs of spinal injury.

Defibrillator and Flatline Myth

• 💡 Myth: A defibrillator can restart a flatlining heart.
• ⚠️ Reality: Defibrillators work by pausing electrical signals, but a flatlining heart has no signals to pause. A stopped heart requires active pumping.
• ✅ What to do: For a flatline, CPR is essential to pump blood and oxygenate the body. Modern defibrillators can advise if a shock is appropriate for other types of cardiac arrest.

Dislocated Shoulder Myth

• 💡 Myth: You can easily pop a dislocated shoulder back into place yourself.
• ⚠️ Reality: Dislocated joints, especially shoulders, can involve significant damage to muscles, ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels. Attempting to fix it without proper training can cause further injury.
• ✅ What to do: Unless specifically advised by a doctor (e.g., for certain medical conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), seek professional medical help at an ER.

Tourniquet and Amputation Myth

• 💡 Myth: Using a tourniquet inevitably leads to amputation.
• ⚠️ Reality: Tourniquets are life-saving tools for severe bleeding. Amputation is a risk primarily if they are used incorrectly or left on for too long, but they are crucial for preventing death from blood loss.
• ✅ What to do: First, try to control bleeding with direct pressure. If that fails, apply a tourniquet a few inches above the wound, closer to the heart, and do not remove or loosen it yourself.
• 🚨 Seek immediate medical attention for severe bleeding requiring a tourniquet.