Basic first aid everyone should know at home
Simple, calm first-aid steps for common emergencies — cuts, burns, choking, fainting, fever and more — plus what to keep in a home first-aid kit, written for ordinary Nepali households.
Accidents and sudden illness happen at home, on the road, and at work. Knowing a few basic first-aid steps can reduce harm, calm a frightening situation, and sometimes save a life in the minutes before professional help arrives.
This guide covers the most common situations a household faces. It is not a substitute for proper first-aid training or for medical care — if you can, take a hands-on first-aid course from a recognised organisation such as the Nepal Red Cross Society. But knowing these basics now is far better than knowing nothing.
The golden rule of first aid is: stay calm, keep yourself safe first, and get the right help quickly. You cannot help others if you are also hurt.
Build a simple home first-aid kit
Keep a basic kit in a known place that everyone in the house can find. Check it a few times a year and replace anything used or expired.
- Clean gauze pads, bandages, cotton and adhesive plasters of different sizes
- Antiseptic solution or wipes, and a clean cloth or sterile dressing for wounds
- A pair of scissors, tweezers and disposable gloves
- A thermometer and oral rehydration solution (ORS / Jeevan Jal) sachets
- Common over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol (and any prescribed medicines a family member needs), kept out of children's reach
- A torch, and a written list of emergency numbers and family medical details
Cuts, wounds and bleeding
For most small cuts, the goal is to stop bleeding and prevent infection.
Wash your hands or wear gloves if possible. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding, and raise the injured part if you can. Once bleeding slows, clean the wound gently with clean water and cover it with a dressing.
Seek medical care if the bleeding is heavy and will not stop after firm pressure, if the wound is deep, gaping or from a dirty or rusty object, if it was caused by an animal bite, or if there are signs of infection later (increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus or fever). Ask a health worker about a tetanus injection for dirty wounds and animal bites.
Burns and scalds
Burns from cooking fires, hot oil, gas stoves and hot water are very common at home.
Cool the burn immediately under cool (not ice-cold) running water for about 20 minutes. Remove rings, watches or tight clothing near the burn before it swells, unless they are stuck to the skin. Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or cling film.
Do not apply toothpaste, butter, oil, ash or ice — these old remedies can cause more damage and infection. Get medical help for burns that are large, deep, on the face, hands, feet or genitals, or any burn on a baby or elderly person.
Choking, fainting and seizures
These frightening situations have clear, simple responses.
- Choking (adult or child who cannot cough, speak or breathe): give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts (stand behind, hands above the navel, pull sharply inward and upward). Alternate until the object comes out or help arrives. For a baby, use back blows and chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts.
- Fainting: lay the person down and raise their legs slightly. Loosen tight clothing and give fresh air. Most people recover quickly; if they do not wake within a minute or two, get help.
- Seizure (fits): keep the person safe — move hard objects away, cushion the head, and do not put anything in their mouth or hold them down. After the seizure, turn them on their side. Get medical help if it is their first seizure, lasts more than 5 minutes, or one follows another.
Fever, dehydration and heatstroke
Fever is the body fighting infection. Keep the person cool and comfortable, give plenty of fluids, and use paracetamol for comfort if needed (follow the dose on the packet and weight-based dosing for children).
Dehydration — common with diarrhoea, vomiting or hot weather — is treated by sipping ORS (Jeevan Jal) frequently. This is especially important for children and the elderly. Seek care for a baby with fever, a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade, severe or persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration (very little urine, sunken eyes, extreme drowsiness), or any fever that is very high or will not come down.
Heatstroke (very hot, confused, may stop sweating) is an emergency: move the person to shade, cool them with water and fanning, and seek urgent help.
When to call for emergency help
Some situations need professional help immediately — do not wait. Save important numbers in your phone now, and know the location of your nearest hospital or health post.
Call for urgent help or go straight to a hospital for: chest pain or pressure, difficulty breathing, suspected stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech — act FAST), heavy uncontrolled bleeding, unconsciousness, a serious injury or fall, suspected poisoning, or a snakebite. For snakebite, keep the person still and calm, keep the bitten limb below heart level, and get to a hospital quickly — do not cut, suck or tie a tight tourniquet.
Key takeaways
- ✓Stay calm, keep yourself safe first, and get the right help quickly.
- ✓Keep a stocked, accessible home first-aid kit and check it regularly.
- ✓Stop bleeding with firm pressure; cool burns under running water and never use toothpaste, oil or ice.
- ✓Learn choking response (back blows + abdominal thrusts; different technique for babies) and how to handle fainting and seizures.
- ✓Use ORS (Jeevan Jal) for dehydration, and treat heatstroke and snakebite as emergencies.
- ✓Take a hands-on first-aid course (e.g. Nepal Red Cross Society) — reading is good, but practice is better.
Basic First Aid Everyone Should Know (Home Guide for Nepal) — FAQ
What should a basic home first-aid kit contain?+
Gauze, bandages and plasters, antiseptic, scissors, tweezers, gloves, a thermometer, ORS (Jeevan Jal) sachets, paracetamol and any prescribed family medicines kept away from children, plus a torch and a list of emergency numbers.
Should I put toothpaste, oil or ice on a burn?+
No. Cool the burn under cool running water for about 20 minutes and cover it loosely with a clean cloth or cling film. Toothpaste, butter, oil, ash and ice can worsen the injury and cause infection.
How do I help someone who is choking?+
If they cannot cough, speak or breathe, give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts above the navel, alternating until the object comes out or help arrives. For babies, use back blows and chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.
What should I do for a snakebite?+
Keep the person calm and still, keep the bitten limb below heart level, remove tight items like rings, and get to a hospital as fast as possible. Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, or apply a tight tourniquet.
When is a fever an emergency?+
Seek urgent care for fever with a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under pressure, difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, signs of serious dehydration, fits, or any high fever in a young baby. When in doubt, get the person checked.
Sources & data note
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