This is terrifying. Please get some of this shit for your home.
If you are renting, your landlord is supposed to provide a fire extinguisher (check local rental laws and your lease, and if you don't know where it is in your home, find out). You should keep it in the kitchen and/or near the fireplace if you have one. You can get these on amazon for $20. Check dates and make sure your extinguisher is not in need of replacement (again, if renting, replacement/reimbursement should be your landlord's responsibility).
They will save your ass and they are not "for rich people", oh my god, holy shit.
First, you should definitely invest in a first aid/CPR course (infant and adult classes cost the same and are more comprehensive, it's worth it). Red cross offers them regularly and all over, and they cost around $100 and take about 4 hours your first time. You renew every two years, and renewing takes less time and costs less because you can take them online at that point, but even taking it once is helpful (but attempting serious FA/CPR if your cert is out of date is a bad idea; you will forget shit and might do more harm than good). You can also put this on your resume! It's especially useful (and required) in childcare/education.
Some basic tips for pretty run-of-the-mill stuff:
- Mild cuts/scrapes/etc.: Hold a non-adhesive gauze pad (paper towels work in a pinch, or paper towels behind a gauze pad) to the wound with firm pressure and hold above heart level until bleeding stops. Wash with warm water and mild (preferably unscented) hand soap. Apply antibiotic and bandaid. Remove the band-aid after a day-ish, or at night, and let a scab form.
- If you don't have a bandaid: Use a non-adhesive gauze pad and medical tape. (Non-adhesive gauze prevents the gauze from sticking to the wound and re-opening it on removal).
- If it might need stitches: Go through the steps above, but don't wait for the bleeding to stop before getting to urgent care unless urgent care is closed. Don't wait over 24 hrs to get to urgent care (they can't help you after it's been too long).
- If it's very deep/severe: Go through the steps above, but don't wait for the bleeding to stop. Go to the ER.
- Do not wash a wound with hydrogen peroxide. You can wash around the wound with it, but never the wound itself. Use warm water and mild soap instead.
- Do not attempt a tourniquet unless you have been trained and have been practicing regularly since then. You can do serious harm if you do one even a little bit wrong.
- Burns: Hold burned area under cool, running water for 15 minutes, uninterrupted. Assess severity afterwards; if it blisters, go to the ER. Otherwise you can try burn cream and time.
- Bee/wasp stings: Mix baking soda with a bit of water to make a paste; apply to sting and let sit until long after the pain stops. This removes the venom and prevents any further spreading.
- Allergic reactions: For anything related to histamines (bee allergies, peanuts, anything involving immediate swelling usually) figure out if they have an epipen first, and let them administer it, help them if they need it, or follow the instructions on the label closely. If not, give them a dose of benadryl. Have someone call emergency services (911 in the US) while you do this, or call immediately after, in both cases. (Epipens buy time, they do not solve the problem entirely).
- Seizures: Do not attempt to restrain them. Remove anything from the area that they could potentially hit themselves on, and make sure others give them space as well. Place something soft under their head (like a folded-up jacket). Time the seizure. Call emergency services if: it lasts longer than 5 minutes, it's their first seizure, they have a second one soon after, they get hurt, it happens in water, or they have another health condition (like diabetes, heart disease, or are pregnant).
And some basic supplies to keep around, in a first aid kit or medicine cabinet:
If you know how to use others things, keep those other things around. Don't try to keep stuff around that you don't know how to use properly (like tourniquet kits), or if you do, make sure anyone using them does know what they're doing.
This list is also tailored to cover a variety of needs; you may not need some of this stuff personally, but if you have a friend over who has migraines, menstrual cramps, a bee sting allergy, or a latex allergy, it's a good idea to have some stuff on hand to help them out.
It's also a good idea to stock this stuff in your car if you drive, and definitely have them with you if you go hiking or camping (especially in a low-or-no-service area). You should also add a warm blanket, granola bars, water (in case you get stuck somewhere), and cat litter (for getting out of snow/mud) to that list for your car.
You should definitely also keep jumper cables in your car at all times, and consider getting a battery charger so you don't need to wait for someone else to show up and help you.
For the love of god, yall, please don't brush this stuff off as "rich people shit". I'm sorry you weren't taught this stuff, I'm sorry it wasn't normalized for you, but it's never too late to learn and make sure you're keeping yourself & those around you safe.
