In an emergency, the instinct to help can sometimes lead to actions that unintentionally worsen a person’s condition. Moving someone after a serious accident, giving food or water to a drowsy person, restraining someone during a seizure or applying household remedies to a burn can create additional risks. Emergency specialist Dr Mohammad Nadeem of Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, stressed that the first priority should be ensuring safety and seeking professional medical help.

One common mistake is unnecessarily moving a person after a major fall, road accident or other high-impact injury. If a spinal injury is suspected and there is no immediate danger at the scene, the person should generally be kept still while medical assistance is arranged. Warning signs can include severe neck or back pain, weakness, numbness or difficulty moving. However, if the person’s airway or breathing is compromised, maintaining breathing takes priority.

Giving food, water or medicines to someone who is unconscious, very drowsy or having a seizure can also be dangerous because they may be unable to swallow safely. This can result in choking or aspiration. If an unconscious person is breathing normally and there is no suspected spinal injury, placing them in the recovery position can help keep the airway clear. During a seizure, bystanders should also avoid restraining the person or putting anything in their mouth, instead protecting them from nearby objects and allowing the seizure to pass.

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Burns are another situation where commonly used home remedies can cause harm. Ice, toothpaste, butter and other household substances should not be applied directly to a fresh burn. For a thermal burn, the affected area should instead be cooled with cool running water, while clothing or jewellery can be removed if it is not stuck to the skin. Severe, deep, extensive, electrical or chemical burns require urgent medical attention.

For serious bleeding, repeatedly lifting a dressing to check whether the wound has stopped bleeding can interfere with clot formation. Firm, continuous pressure should be applied with a clean cloth or dressing, while additional material can be placed over the original dressing if blood soaks through it. An object embedded in a wound should not be pulled out; pressure should instead be applied around it while emergency assistance is arranged.

Experts also caution against assuming that an emergency has passed simply because symptoms temporarily improve. First aid is intended to stabilise a person until trained medical professionals take over, not replace medical evaluation. In India, 112 is the pan-India emergency number for medical, police and fire emergencies. The safest approach is to protect yourself, assess the situation, seek help early and provide only appropriate first aid rather than improvising treatment.

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