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When performing CPR on an infant, use two fingers instead of your whole hand, and compress on the breastbone, just below the nipple line. For children, use two hands for chest compression. For infants and children, alternate five compressions and one slow breath, for a total of twelve cycles.

RICE

Use RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) for acute injuries like a sprained ankle or injuries due to overuse, like muscle strain.

R: REST

Rest the injured area until pain and swelling go away (usually 1-3 days)

I: ICE

Within 15 minutes of an injury, apply ice by placing a damp towel over the injured area and putting a cold pack, bag of ice, or a bag of frozen vegetables on top of that. Leave the ice on for 10-30 minutes, then take it off for 30-45 minutes. Repeat this ice on/ice off alteration as often as possible for the next one to three days.

C: COMPRESSION

Use a bandage to apply gentle but firm pressure until the swelling goes down. Beginning a few inches below the injured area, wrap the bandage in an upward spiral; if using compression in addition to ice, wrap the bandage over the ice pack.

E: ELEVATION

Try to keep the injured area above heart level to drain excess fluid for at least one to three days.

FOR BURNS, CUTS AND SCRAPES

Burns are classified by degree. First-degree burns are a reddening of the skin, as in a mild sunburn. Second-degree burns are when the skin blisters. Third-degree burns are when the skin is charred. Treatment for first- and second-degree burns is to immerse in cold water for 15 minutes, then apply sterile dressing. For a third-degree burn, cover the burn with a sterile dressing and treat for shock (calm and reassure the injured person, help her maintain a comfortable body temperature with a blanket or remove her from wind or sun, or have her lay down and elevate her legs 8 to 10 inches). NEVER apply ice, butter, oil or any other substance to a burn.

For cuts and scrapes, rinse the area with cool water. Apply firm but gentle pressure, using gauze, to stop any bleeding. If blood soaks through, add more gauze, keeping the first layer in place. Continue to apply pressure.

FOR CHOKING

The universal choking symbol is made by putting your hands around your throat. If you are choking and cannot talk, make this symbol to alert the people around you. If someone who is choking can still talk or is coughing, encourage her to cough more to expel the object. If she cannot talk, or if the cough is weak or ineffective, perform the Heimlich maneuver.

Heimlich Maneuver

Stand slightly behind the choking person and place your arms around her waist, below her ribcage. Make a fist with one hand, placing your thumb just above her belly button, and grab that fist with your other hand. Give five strong upward-thrusting squeezes to try to lift the diaphragm, forcing air from the lungs and provoking a cough. The cough should move and expel whatever is blocking the airway. If it doesn’t, perform the maneuver again to dislodge the object. If choking persists, call 911.

EMERGENCIES

Any practiced explorer can tell you that in an emergency, what helps most is being prepared. Make a list of important phone numbers and put them on the wall next to your kitchen phone, or on a notepad stuck to the refrigerator. That way, in the event of an accident, you’ll easily find the numbers to call your family doctor, poison control, the fire department, or the police.

The most important emergency number to know, of course, is 911. Calling 911 is free from any phone, even a pay phone. It can be scary to call 911, especially if you’re not sure whether or not what you’re dealing with is a real emergency, but it’s the right thing to do when someone is dangerously hurt, not breathing, or unresponsive. A good rule to remember is: when in doubt, make the call.

What to do when you call 911

Try to speak as calmly as you can.

Give the address you are calling from.

State the nature of the emergency (fire, accident, injury, etc.).

Listen to the 911 operator and follow any instructions you are given.