First Aid Home Remedies: 10 Facts and Myths

Can these home remedies treat injuries effectively?

Should you tilt your head back to stop a nosebleed? Can you soothe a burn with butter? Is rubbing a hard-boiled egg over a bruise a good home remedy? No, replies Dr Lim Chin Siah, Associate Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group, to these first aid questions. Here are the facts, and the right solution, regarding some common first aid problems:

Myth 1: Soothe a burn with butter, toothpaste or ice:

Fact: Applying butter or an oily substance to a burn injury can make it difficult for a doctor to treat the burn later. The butter will also increase the risk of infection. Toothpaste can also increase the risk of infection since it becomes unhygienic once the cap is removed from the tube. Ice may cause a sudden drop in temperature and shock the victim. It can also damage the skin tissue.

What to do: The burned skin can be soothed by running cool tap water over it for about 10 minutes. An antiseptic cream can then be applied to the burn. If the burned skin starts to blister, see a doctor.

Myth 2: Rub a hard-boiled egg over a bruise to ease blood circulation

Fact: Rubbing a hard-boiled egg over a bruise may cause even more internal bleeding.

What to do: The best home treatment is to apply an ice pack on the bruise; this will reduce the internal bleeding. The ice should not touch the skin directly since this can cause ice burn, similar to sunburn.

Myth 3: Squeeze the stinger to treat a bee sting

Fact: Squeezing the stinger will cause more toxins to flow into the bloodstream.

What to do: Quickly pull out the stinger with a pair of tweezers, then apply an antihistamine cream to the affected area.

Myth 4: Tilt your head back to stop a nosebleed

Fact: If you tilt your head back when you have a nosebleed, the blood may go into your throat and your stomach, which may lead to nausea and vomiting.

What to do: Tilt your head forward and press the fleshy part of your nose, the part you would hold for a bad smell, for a full 10 minutes, while breathing through your mouth. If you are still bleeding after half an hour, seek emergency help.

Myth 5: Use onion or garlic to revive a person who has fainted

Fact: There is no known medical benefit from doing this.

What to do: If you see somebody faint, let the victim lie down with the face up, and raise the legs to increase the blood flow to the brain.

Myth 6: Clear a choking child’s throat with your fingers

Fact: Placing your fingers in a child’s throat can cause damage, or push the obstruction further down.

What to do: Stand behind the child and smack him or her between the shoulder blades with your hand, checking the mouth after each blow for the obstruction. Stop once you see the obstruction and remove it. You can do this up to five times. If this exercise doesn’t help, clench your fist and give up to five abdominal thrusts, thrusting above the navel in an upwards stroke, until the obstruction is dislodged from the throat.

Myth 7: Treat a black eye with a raw steak

Fact: The raw meat will only serve to infect the eye with any germs in the meat.

What to do: Apply ice wrapped in a clean towel to the eye area to reduce the swelling. Don’t place ice directly on the affected area since this can cause an ice burn, similar to a sunburn. See a doctor to check for head injuries.

Myth 8: Place a metal spoon into the mouth of a person having a seizure

Fact: This is intended to prevent the person from biting their tongue but it can do more harm than good; the metal spoon can cause damage to the teeth, palate or gums.

What to do: Place a blanket or coat on the floor and lie the person on it, turning the body sideways to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. Keep the person in this position until the seizure stops.

Myth 9: Tie a tourniquet on an injured arm to stop bleeding

Fact: A tourniquet tied on an arm or leg will cut off the blood supply not just to the injured area but to the whole limb, which may cause tissue damage.

What to do: Apply direct pressure to the injured area with your hand, placing your hand over a sterile gauze or a clean towel, so that you disturb the wound as little as possible. Seek medical attention if the bleeding doesn’t stop.

Myth 10: Apply heat to a sprain or fracture

Fact: Heat increases swelling and can prevent the injury from healing.

What to do: Apply an ice pack to the injury, and make sure the ice doesn’t touch the bare skin.