BONFIRE night is full of fun for adults and kids alike – but it also can cause plenty of injuries and accidents.
It’s good to know what you should – and more importantly – shouldn’t do if you end up needing to leap into action.
Bonfire night is one of the busiest nights of the year in the UK’s A&E departments.
There are plenty of old wives’ tale and myths surrounding how to deal with burns and choking.
But we have busted the traditional treatments and explained what you should really do.
Here we’ve collated some first aid tips and myths from St John Ambulance trainer Clive James to keep everyone safe this weekend…
Child choking on a hotdog
Myth: Put your fingers in their mouth or hang them upside down by their feet.
Clive said that this could actually make the problem worse, as by putting fingers into the throat could push it down further.
He said: “Hanging a child upside down is not only can it be very traumatic, it could also result in head injury if the child is dropped.”
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Fact: Stand or kneel behind the child and slap sharply on the back up to five times
Clive explained: “If back slaps fail, move on to abdominal thrusts, stand or kneel behind the child, put both arms around them and place one fist between the belly button and the end of the breast bone.
“Pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. If the child is still choking, call an ambulance and alternate between back blows and thrust until the blockage is removed.”
Burn from lighting bonfire with paraffin
Myth: The best thing to put on a burn is butter.
Clive revealed: “Putting butter or margarine on a burn could make the burn even worse as it effectively cooks it.”
Ice also won’t help – it can actually add a cold burn on top of the hot burn.
And don’t apply ice either, which can produce a cold burn on top of the hot burn.
Fact: Place the burned area under running cold water for ten minutes to reduce pain and distress.
Then wrap it loosely in cling film to reduce the risk of infection, and allow the area to continue cooling.
“As a general rule, we advise anyone with a deep burn, or larger than a 50p piece to go down to casualty,” says Clive. “If in doubt call NHS direct on 0845 4647.”
Be extremely careful when using paraffin to light a bonfire…
Child runs into closed patio doors – and bounces back
Myth: Treat a nosebleed by tilting the head back and pinching the nose.
“Tilting the head back will encourage the blood down the back of the throat and possibly into the stomach, inducing vomiting,” Clive says.
Fact: Sit your child down, reassure them and pinch the soft part rather than the hard bit of the nose for 10 minutes, he advises.
Discourage them from coughing or swallowing until the bleeding stops.
He added: “Place a bowl on the floor for the blood to drip into, as the sight of the blood itself can cause shock.”
Child runs into closed patio doors – and goes through
Myth: Remove an object embedded in a wound as soon as possible.
“The glass in the wound could be blocking further blood loss, so if you pull it out you could be dealing with a major haemorrhage,” Clive warned.
Fact: “Your aim is to try to build a “bridge” over the object while keeping pressure on the wound,” says Clive.
Apply padding to either side of the object, then bandage over without pressing on it. Call for an ambulance straight away.
Grandparents collapses playing games with the kids
Myth: Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should have immediate results.
CPR used to include the “kiss of life”, but due to Covid the SJA now only recommends chest compressions – either way, people rarely respond immediately to CPR, says Clive.
“However, this does not mean you’re not possibly helping to save their life.”
Fact: Call an ambulance straight away and then do CPR if you know how.
Clive said: “CPR helps to keep the key organs alive until the ambulance turns up, so don’t give up.”
Before you start CPR, use a towel or piece of clothing and lay it over the mouth and nose of the casualty.
Then start the CPR process by kneeling beside the casualty and putting the heel of your hand in the middle of their chest.
Put your other hand on top of the first, interlocking your fingers, making sure they don’t touch the ribs.
Keep your arms straight and lean over the casualty. Press down hard, to a depth of about 5-6cm before releasing the pressure, allowing the chest to come back up.
The beat of the song ‘Staying Alive’ can help you keep the right rate until the ambulance arrives or the person starts to breath normally for themselves.
Firework fright cause someone to become hysterical
Myth: Throw water in their face or hit them to ‘pull them out of it’.
“If they’re hysterical they’re probably hyperventilating – they are panicking and breathing too quickly,” Clive says.
“Throwing water over them, or slapping them will only make the situation worse.”
Fact: Encourage them to sit and calm down in a quiet place and ask them to copy your own breathing or count slowly for them.
Reassure them and make them as comfortable as possible. If they feel faint they should be on the floor with their legs raised so the circulation to their brain is increased.
“If they don’t come round quickly put them in the recovery position and call an ambulance,” he says.