Accidents, injuries and sometimes illness happen without warning. Often when they strike, medical help may not be immediately available. Our best defence against them is to know what to do when they strike. First aid is the initial treatment offered by a common man for any kind of illness or injury until a professional medical treatment is rendered. Certain minor illness or injuries may not even require further medical care after the first aid. The aim of providing first-aid is to prevent the illness or injury from worsening.

There are many types of accidents that happen around us in our everyday life like falls, cuts, burns, bites, stings, wounds, fatigue, attacks, collisions, etc. Some of these can be dangerous if timely treatment is not provided. Reaching a doctor or hospital may take time, which may prove fatal. Hence first aid becomes essential to gain time, until proper medical aid arrives. Each one of us should therefore learn to give basic first-aid and every home should have a good first aid kit. In case your family member suffers from high/low diabetes, asthma, heart problems then it is important to learn about these conditions, the symptoms of their attacks and what particular first aid should be administered in that case.

A first aid kit should contain:

• Antiseptic lotions and solutions
• Band aids and bandages
• Paracetmols
• Clean cotton
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Contact number of your family doctor, ambulance and nearest hospitals
• A list of prescriptions that family members may be taking

First aid kit tips

• If your local hospital, civic body, NGO or community organisation conducts a first aid training course attend it.
• Get a first aid manual and keep it in your first aid kit
• Keep the first aid kit within easy reach
• Keep it out of children's reach
• Keep a first aid kit in your car
• Carry a first aid kit on family outings and vacations
• Periodically inspect the kit and replace expired items or the ones that are over.

In an emergency:

• Keep yourself cool.
• Ask someone to call medical help while you administer the first aid.
• Do not move a person with serious neck or back injuries.
• Give psychological support to the patient.

A comprehensive training in administering first aid and a well-stocked first aid kit will enable you to handle an emergency in a moment's time. Just as first aid knowledge will help you in tackling accidents and injuries, knowing home remedies will help you in managing common ailments. Your kitchen holds a treasure of home remedies. Spices like ginger, cloves, garlic, pepper, etc. are used to cure a host of ailments; from acidity to indigestion. Home remedies are less costly, do not have any side effects and easily cure simple problems. The origin of home remedies lies in Ayurveda, which believes in using natural ingredients and techniques in managing the symptoms of an illness and curing it holistically.

Home remedies for some common ailments

Cough

• Drink hot milk with turmeric in it twice a day.
• Grind a few black pepper seeds and mix them with honey. Take the paste at frequent intervals during the day.

Common cold

• Boil grated ginger, pepper powder, coriander seeds powder, bel leaves and tulsi leaves in 4 cups of water. Add some sugar. Stain the decoction. Drink the decoction 3-4 times during the day.

Constipation

• Before going to bed drink a glass of cold water or milk with isabgol husk in it.
• Eat fibrous food like bananas, apples, carrots and leafy vegetables

Muscle pain

• Apply warm mustard oil of the affected area and gently massage

Indigestion

• Mix asafoetida, cumin seed powder and rock salt in butter milk. Add coriander leaves. Drink this flavoured butter milk twice a day.
• Chew a few ajwain seeds and then drink a glass of warm water.