At the club, on the trail, or at home, small accidents happen: a cut, a minor burn, an insect sting, a twisted ankle. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes, calmly and safely, helps take care of the injured person until specialized help arrives. This guide covers basic, safe guidelines, the kind a Pathfinder can learn and practice. But note right away: this is educational content and it does not replace an official first aid course or care from a health professional.
First things first: stay calm, stay safe, and call for help
The first rule of first aid is simple: stay calm and make sure the area is safe for you and for the injured person. Becoming a second casualty helps no one. Look around before approaching (fire, traffic, wires, water), and only then attend to the person who needs help.
Whenever possible, protect yourself: use disposable gloves or a clean plastic bag over your hands before touching blood or wounds. This protects both you and the injured person from contamination.
And the single most important step of all: knowing how to ask for help. In Brazil, the number for SAMU is 192 (the Mobile Emergency Care Service, run by the Ministry of Health), and the Fire Department is 193. Both calls are toll-free. When you call, speak calmly: explain what happened, how many people are hurt, the exact address, and the injured person's condition. Don't hang up before the dispatcher lets you go, they may give you instructions to follow while the ambulance is on its way.
Cuts and bleeding
For a bleeding cut, the main step is to apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, gauze, or compress. Firm, continuous pressure helps stop the bleeding. If possible, elevate the injured area (for example, raising an injured arm) to help reduce blood flow.
Keep up the pressure for a few minutes without repeatedly lifting the cloth to 'check if it stopped', that only gets in the way. If the cloth becomes soaked, place another one on top without removing the first. For small cuts, after cleaning with water, you can protect the area with a clean bandage.
Seek medical help if the wound is deep, large, or dirty, if the bleeding won't stop with pressure, if it was caused by something rusty or by an animal bite, or if the person's tetanus vaccination isn't up to date. If the bleeding is heavy and won't let up, call 192.
Minor burns
For a minor burn (red skin, stinging, sometimes a small blister), the first thing to do is cool it with room-temperature running water from the tap for about 10 to 20 minutes. This stops the heat from spreading in the skin and eases the pain. Do not use ice-cold water or ice directly on the skin.
Afterward, cover the area with a clean cloth or gauze, without wrapping it tightly. Remove rings, bracelets, or watches near the area before it swells.
There's a list of things you should never apply to a burn: butter, oil, toothpaste, coffee grounds, egg white, dental cream, or homemade pastes. These 'old wives' remedies' don't help, they can trap heat, interfere with medical assessment, and increase the risk of infection. Don't pop blisters.
"For a burn, running water for about 10 to 20 minutes. Butter and toothpaste, never."Summary of first aid guidelines
Stings and bites
Stings from bees, wasps, or ants usually cause pain, redness, and swelling at the site. For most people, the care is simple: wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress (ice wrapped in a cloth, never directly on the skin) to ease the pain and swelling. If a stinger is visible, it can be carefully removed.
The major warning sign is a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). It can happen even after a single sting and is an emergency. Watch for: difficulty breathing, a feeling of tightness in the throat or chest, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, blotches on the body, dizziness, or fainting.
If any of these signs appear, call 192 immediately. If the person already knows they're allergic and has medication prescribed by a doctor, help them use it as instructed, and call for help all the same.
Sprains and twists
For a twisted ankle, knee, or wrist, a simple and safe way to provide care in the first moments follows four steps, remembered by the acronym RICE: Rest (stop using the limb), Ice (a cold compress wrapped in cloth, for 15 to 20 minutes), Compression (a firm elastic bandage, not so tight that it cuts off circulation), and Elevation (keep the limb raised, above heart level when possible).
These steps help reduce pain and swelling. Never apply ice directly to the skin, and avoid applying heat, massaging firmly, or trying to 'pop it back into place', that can make the injury worse.
See a doctor if there is a lot of pain, if the person can't put weight on the foot or move the joint, if the area becomes very deformed, or if you suspect a fracture (broken bone). If there's obvious deformity or intense pain, don't force anything and seek care.
Fainting
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness, often caused by a drop in blood pressure, heat, hunger, or fright. If a person is about to faint or has just fallen and is breathing, lay them on their back and raise their legs (about 30 cm / 12 in), which helps blood flow back to the brain. Loosen tight clothing and make sure the area is well ventilated.
When the person regains consciousness, don't have them stand up right away. Let them rest lying down for a few minutes and offer water only once they're fully alert.
Call for help (192) if the person doesn't regain consciousness quickly, if they fainted after hitting their head, if they have chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, or if they faint frequently. If you notice the person is not breathing, this is a serious emergency, call 192 immediately and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
"If they're breathing, lay the person down and raise their legs. If not, call 192 right away."Summary of fainting guidelines
Put together a basic first aid kit
Every club, camping backpack, and home closet benefits from a well-organized basic kit, stored somewhere easy to reach and protected from moisture. Useful, safe items to include: disposable gloves, sterile gauze and compresses, bandages and an elastic wrap, medical tape, adhesive bandages (band-aids), blunt-tip scissors, saline solution for cleaning wounds, antiseptic, a thermometer, and tweezers.
Round it out with practical items: a flashlight, an emergency thermal blanket, drinking water, a notepad and pen to record what happened, and a clearly visible list of emergency phone numbers (192, 193). Check the kit periodically and restock anything expired or used up.
About medication: medicine should only be given with guidance from parents/guardians or a health professional, never on your own, especially with children. At a club, any medication use should ideally be recorded on the Pathfinder's health form, with authorization from their guardians.