A medical emergency arises, and aside from calling 911, you are unsure what to do to help your friend. Of course one of the most important things is to remain calm. Help will be on the way shortly, so just do your best to make the injured person and/or yourself at ease. If the 911 operator remains on the line, they will give you instructions to follow. If, however, you are alone and have no way of contacting anyone for help, you might be able to control the situation yourself, depending on the type of wound. The following is a list of common medical emergencies and what you can do to make the best of it.

Bleeding Wounds

If supplies are available, you must protect your hands and the injured person's cuts by wearing gloves. This will reduce chances of bacteria or any diseases from being transmitted to either person. Next, keep the victim as still as possible, lying down. If there are any objects in the wound, KEEP THEM THERE. If you take it out you risk making the damage worse. Apply direct pressure to the laceration using gauze or any other sterile cloths you can find. If there are no fractures in the wounded area from what you can tell, gather some pillows or something to elevate it above the injured person's heart level. Once the bleeding is controlled, keep the victim as warm as possible. Be sure to watch them closely, in case they go into shock.

Animal Bites

For wounds of this nature, follow the same steps you would in the "Bleeding Wounds" section, along with cleaning out the injury with soap and water.

Eye Injuries

Once again, if the wound is impaled by an object, DO NOT remove it. Cover both of the victim's eyes with sterile dressings or eye cups so that the eyes don't move. From there you must seek medical attention from a professional.

Burns

Severe burns that are labeled as 3rd degree must be cared for by a medical professional immediately. DO NOT try to remove any clothing from the area or apply any gels or creams, as they may only damage the skin even more. Aside from getting help, the best thing you can do for the victim is to cover the area with sterile bandages or a clean sheet.

Chemical Burns

Flush the wound with cool running water for 15 minutes. If the victim experienced a chemical burn in their eyes, flush them out continuously until help comes. Remove any clothing or objects that have been in contact with the chemical.

Choking

If someone appears to be choking,

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