First Aid: Punctures

A break in the skin is an open door, inviting dirt and germs to enter your body and cause infection. Follow these instructions to care for a puncture in the skin.

First Aid: Heart Attacks

A heart attack is an emergency, but the condition that causes it usually takes years to develop. Over time, fatty substances collect on the walls of the heart's arteries. As these arteries become narrower, it's more likely that one will become fully clogged, causing a heart attack.

First Aid: Cold Exposure

Intense cold can freeze the water in the body's cells (frostbite). In addition, exposure to cold may cause the body's overall temperature to drop (hypothermia). The result can be death.

First Aid: Head Injuries

A strong blow to the head may cause swelling and bleeding inside the skull. The resulting pressure can injure the brain (concussion).

First Aid: Electrical Shocks

Information on when to seek medical help and what to do while you wait after someone receives an electrical shock.

First Aid: Sprains and Fractures

A sprain happens when the ligaments, or fibrous tissue, connecting bones at a joint pulls or tears. Most sprains hurt, and some take even longer than a broken bone to heal. A fracture may happen when a bone is hit with more force than it can bear.