Workshop First Aid: What to Do Before the Doctor

None of what follows replaces medical attention. These are the first few minutes of response — what to do before help arrives or before you get to a doctor, not a substitute for either. Whenever someone is hurt, get professional medical care involved as soon as you reasonably can.

Deep cut or heavy bleeding

Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth. Dress it with a gauze bandage once bleeding slows. If it continues and there is no suspected fracture, raise the injured area above heart level while maintaining pressure.

Deep puncture wound

Clean with soap and water, then cover loosely with gauze. A cold compress or ice pack (never applied directly to skin) reduces swelling and pain. Watch for signs of internal bleeding, which is not always obvious from the entry wound alone.

Embedded object or stab wound

Do not remove the object. Stabilise it in place with clean cloth or gauze packed around it, and wrap to prevent movement rather than trying to extract it yourself — removal can restart or worsen bleeding that the object was partly containing.

Amputation or severed part

Maintain constant pressure on the wound with clean cloth. Wrap the severed part in gauze moistened with water or saline, seal it in a plastic bag, then place that bag in a second bag or container with water and ice — never direct ice-to-tissue contact. Get to emergency care immediately.

Burns

Anything beyond a minor first-degree burn needs immediate medical attention. For minor burns, cool the area in cold water for around five minutes, or apply a cold, damp cloth if the area cannot be immersed, changing it frequently as it warms.

Electric shock

Break contact with the current source first and safely — cut power at the switch or unplug the tool rather than touching the person while they are still part of the circuit. Treat every electrical burn as serious regardless of how it looks, since the visible mark rarely reflects the internal damage. Get emergency help for an irregular heartbeat, a strong jolt, unusual tingling, loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, unexplained fatigue or headache, or any visible burn.

Chemicals in the eye

Do not rub the eye. Flush continuously with warm water and get medical attention, particularly for anything beyond a brief, mild irritant.