Home > Blog > November 2016 > Important First Aid Skills Every Caregiver Needs to Know

Important First Aid Skills Every Caregiver Needs to Know

Posted: 11/14/2016 8:55 AM by Interim HealthCare

Whenever you are caring for another human being, whether it is a child or older adult, knowing basic first aid skills could save a life in case of emergency. For example, if your elderly loved one has problems chewing or swallowing their food, this could lead to choking. Knowing how to dislodge the food in their throat could turn a near fatal situation into a minor one.

Knowing first aid skills does not mean you have to save your loved one in every situation. There may be serious occurrences that only calling 9-1-1 will help. Classes are available in order to train you how to handle the following situations when it comes to your aging parent.

Falling
Falling is one of the most common reasons older adults end up in an emergency room. This is especially true for those seniors who have problems with their balance, vision, have poor muscle mass, or has another medical condition that may cause them to fall easily. If a loved one falls, do not help them up right away. If they are injured, their injury could become worse if they are picked up too soon. If they seemed to have suffered from a stroke, broken bone, or head injury, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Choking
Some medical conditions or foods can make it difficult for aging adults to chew or swallow, causing them to choke. If you notice that your loved one is unable to speak, is grabbing their throat, is having trouble breathing, or is turning blue, call 9-1-1 and then perform the Heimlich maneuver. This technique can be trained in any first aid course.

Cuts or Tears
Since older adults lose collagen as they get older, their skin becomes more delicate and prone to bruising or other injuries. If a cut appears on their skin, but it is superficial, you should just be able to apply antibiotic ointment cream on the blemish. Once that is done, add a bandage to keep the wound clean.

However, if the cut is deeper and will not stop bleeding, a medical professional may be needed to assess the damage. Keep in mind that older adults who take blood thinners will bleed more and for longer periods of time than those who do not.

If providing these first aid techniques on your elderly loved one seems frightening, a professional elderly care provider can be hired. They are not only experienced in caring for older adults with various special needs, but many of them are also certified in first aid.

If you have an aging loved one in need of elderly care contact Interim HealthCare today.