Myth 1
If someone is having a heart attack, ask them to cough
There is no medical evidence to support ‘coughing’ as a way to manage a heart attack. If we suspect a heart attack we need to call 999/112.
Check out what the British Heart Foundation say about ‘coughing’. A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency and needs medical assistance.
Myth 2
Put butter on a burn to cool or sooth the burn
Butter is a fat and all this is going to do is make the burn worse. The best treatment for a burn is to cool it with running cold water for at least 20 minutes, or until there is no further pain. Cover with a non-fluffy dressing to keep out infection and seek medical help if it covers more than 5% of their body area or has broken through the skin.
Myth 3
If someone has a nosebleed, tilt their head back
Tilting the head back is going to send the blood down their throat, into their stomach and cause them to vomit. The best practice is to tilt the head forward and get them to pinch the fleshy part of their nose for 10 minutes (Up to 3 times). If the bleeding hasn’t stopped then it’s hospital for them.
Myth 4
If someone has swallowed a poison, make them vomit.
Making someone vomit who has swallowed a poison e.g. which could have caused damage on the way down to the stomach will do more damage on the way back up. If the substance hasn’t affected the airway on the way down, it may irritate the airway on the way up, as the substance is mixed with stomach acid. The best treatment is to call 999 or take the casualty and a sample of the substance they have swallowed, (or the packet) to A&E.