Summer first aid instructions

Five children outdoors in summer practicing dressing a wound.

Photo: Teemu Ullgrén / Suomen Punainen Risti

Remember to prepare for accidents also in the summer

Most accidents leading to an injury occur at home or during free time. You can avoid accidents by acting calmly and concentrating on one thing at a time.

By acquiring first aid skills and equipment, we can all increase our ability to act in sudden everyday situations.

Unconscious and lifeless patient

Find out whether you can wake up the patient by talking to them and shaking them. If the patient doesn't wake up, call 112 immediately. Clear the patient’s airways by tilting their head back. Check whether they are breathing by checking if you can feel the air flow on your cheek.

If the patient is breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. Monitor the patient’s condition until professionals take charge of the situation.
Read more about first aid for an unconscious person

If the patient is not breathing normally or you are unsure about it, start cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Press down in the middle of the sternum 30 times and give breath twice so that the chest rises. Continue with the rhythm of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until the professionals give you permission to stop.
Read more about resuscitation

If a person saved from water is not breathing or you are unsure about it, call 112 and start CPR by giving 5 breaths. Then continue with the rhythm of 30 compressions and 2 breaths. This is also the method for resuscitating a child.
Read more about resuscitating a person saved from water

Poisonings

In the event of poisoning, consult the Poison Information Centre, open 24 h/day, tel. +358 (0)800 147 111. In case on an emergency, call 112. Do not leave an intoxicated person alone.

Swallowed poison: Identify the situation. Do not try to make the person vomit. Administer activated charcoal as instructed by professionals. Alcohol and intoxicants can cause confusion or unconsciousness. In poisonings caused by intoxicants, always place the patient in the recovery position.

Inhaled poison (carbon monoxide poisoning): Make sure you are not exposed to the toxic substance yourself. Move the person to fresh air and place them in a semi-seated position. Call 112 if breathing difficulties or other symptoms occur.

Poison on the skin or in the eyes: Rinse with plenty of water for a long time (at least 13–30 minutes) and seek medical treatment.

Wounds

Heavily bleeding wound

Apply pressure on the bleeding area with your fingers or palm. Apply a pressure bandage. If necessary, help the patient lie down and call 112.

Small wound (e.g. stepping on a nail or a shard of glass)

Stop the bleeding and clean the wound area with water. Close the edges of a cut with surgical tape and cover the wound with a gauze pad. Keep the wound clean.

If a foreign object is lodged in the wound, the wound requires stitches or shows signs of inflammation, seek medical treatment. The foreign object must not be removed if it does not come loose while rinsing the wound.

Infected wound

Symptoms of local inflammation include redness, swelling, warmth and pain. Clean the wound more carefully. If this doesn’t help, seek medical treatment.

Check if the patient’s tetanus vaccine is still valid and remember that the infection risk of wounds increases in the summer.

Burns

Be careful and supervise the use of fire. If an accident occurs and someone gets a burn (redness, swelling, pain and blistering of the skin), cool the burn area with water for about 20 minutes. Cover a blistered burn with a protective bandage. If the burn area is larger than the patient’s palm or a small burn exhibits symptoms of infection, seek medical treatment.

The risk of hypothermia must be considered when cooling an extensive burn, so make sure that the patient stays warm also indoors.

Sprain or strain

Apply pressure to the injured area. You can also apply pressure with something cold for about 20 minutes. Tie a tight bandage around the injured area. If necessary, seek medical treatment.

Fracture

If you suspect a bone fracture, support the area so that it stays immobile. Seek medical treatment.

Sunstroke

Prevent sunstroke with suitable clothing, a light headdress and by making sure you drink enough.

Recognise the symptoms: headache, nausea and weakness. Seek shade, rest, cool yourself down and drink some liquids (not alcohol). If the symptoms persist, contact a doctor.

Sunburnt skin

Prevent sunburn by protecting yourself. Recognise the symptoms: hotness, redness and pain of the skin. Protect your skin from the sun and cool it with cool water. If the burnt area is extensive, very painful or the patient is a small child, seek medical treatment.

Fishing hook stuck to skin

See if the hook can be easily removed. If you cannot safely remove the hook yourself, see a doctor. Clean and protect the wound. Monitor for any signs of infection.

Blister

Clean and dry the wound. Protect with a plaster or bandage, if necessary.

Dirt in the eye

You can attempt to remove a visible piece of dirt by rinsing the eye with water. If this does not work, seek medical treatment. Do not rub the eye.

Insect stings and snake bites

Insect sting symptoms include itching, pain, swelling and bumps. Cool the area and use hydrocortisone cream, if necessary.

Snake bite symptoms include swelling of the bite area, bruising and small bitemarks on the skin. There may also be some general symptoms such as nausea. As first aid, avoid moving the affected limb. The hydrocortisone pills used for treating adder bites may mitigate the allergic reaction.

If necessary, call 112 or seek medical treatment. Always call the emergency number in the case of a snake bite and a serious allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis

If an insect sting or snake bite leads to a life-threatening anaphylactic hypersensitivity reaction, it always requires immediate medical attention. The reaction may start with itching, tingling, redness and swelling in the facial area. Always call the emergency number 112. If the patient has an adrenaline auto-injector prescribed by a doctor, assist them in injecting the medicine.

Ticks

Protect yourself with clothing. If you find a tick on your skin, remove the tick with a tick removal tool or tweezers. A cold wrap will help with any swelling or pain. If you see a red ring forming on the skin around the bite or if you suffer from fever, joint issues or nausea after the bite, see a doctor.

First aid equipment for holidaymakers