Can you help?

You are playing in the woods when your friend cries out. She has been stung by a bee. What do you do?

You are running around the block when you slip and cut your knee. What do you do?

Your little brother touches a hot pot and burns his fingers. What do you do?

The best answer, of course, is to get Mom, Dad, or another adult. They know what to do. They know just the right medicines to use. And you should never use any medicine without their permission.

But what if no adult is nearby? Then you need to know a few Simple ways to treat minor accidents. Here are some safe things you can do when someone needs your help:

When Someone is Stung By a

Bee, Wasp or Hornet:

1. Apply ice to the area that has been stung. 2. If the stinger is still in the skin, flick it out with your fingernail. Get help from an adult immediately, but DO NOT leave the person alone. Some people are allergic to insect stings. They may get very sick.

When Someone Has a

Small Cut or Scrape:

1. Gently clean the wound with soap and warm water. Let the skin around the wound dry. 2. Apply a bandage. 3. Ask an adult to apply antibiotic first-aid cream as soon a possible.

When Someone Touches

Poison Ivy:

1. Remove any clothing that might have touched poison ivy. 2. Wash the part of skin that touched poison ivy with soap and warm water. If you can do this within 20 minutes, itching may not begin. 3. If the area does begin to itch, ask an adult to apply Caladryl lotion.

When Someone Has

a Bloody Nose:

1. Tell the person to sit up and lean slightly forward. 2. Tell the person to press gently on the bleeding nostril. 3. Apply a cool, wet cloth to the nose and face. Bleeding should stop within five minutes.

When Someone Gets a

Minor Burn (No Buster

or Charring):

1. Put the burned area under cool running water until the pain has gone away. For more serious burns, get an adult's help immediately.