MYTHS OR FACTS?

We’ve all gotten first aid advice from somewhere: our parents, grandparents, friends, movies, TikTok… or that one person who is confidently wrong but somehow makes you believe them. 

Just because you’ve heard something a million times doesn’t mean it’s actually true.

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Myth or fact? No cheating!

1. You should put ice directly on a burn.

MYTH! 

Burn = hot. Ice = cold. Cold on hot cools. It seems logical, right? Apparently, not in this case!

The American Red Cross advises against putting ice directly on a burn because it can cause further damage to the skin. Instead, use clean and cool running water to help cool the area.

Save that ice for your matcha.

2. Butter helps soothe a burn.

MYTH! 

Please step away from the butter dish. 

Butter, petroleum jelly, and other greasy substances aren’t recommended for treating a fresh burn. According to the American Red Cross, greasy substances can seal in heat and potentially make the burn worse. Butta ≠ Betta.

Butter belongs on toast. That’s her job. Let her live her truth. 

3. You should tilt your head back during a nosebleed.

MYTH! 

I know we were all taught this while growing up. Head back. Look at the ceiling. It’ll eventually stop. While in that process, you’re literally drinking your own blood, and that is gross.

Mayo Clinic recommends sitting up and leaning slightly forward while pinching your nose. Leaning forward helps prevent blood from going down your throat.

So remember, chin slightly forward – you don’t want to drink all of your blood.

4. You should pop a blister.

MYTH! 

Listen. We get it. The temptation is there.

But the American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding popping or draining most blisters because doing so can increase the risk of infection. Most blisters heal on their own.

Let the bubble be. She’s going through enough already.

5. Clean running water is important for treating a minor cut.

FACT!

Sometimes first aid doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes the MVP is literally… water. 

For minor cuts and scrapes, clean running water can help rinse away dirt and debris.

Simple. Effective. No fancy main-character energy required.

6. Hydrogen peroxide is always the best way to clean a cut.

MYTH! 

Hydrogen peroxide has been giving “I sting, therefore I work” energy for YEARS. 

But more sting doesn’t mean better care. Mayo Clinic notes that hydrogen peroxide and iodine can irritate wounds. For minor cuts and scrapes, clean running water is generally recommended.

Just because something bubbles dramatically doesn’t mean it’s the star of the show.

7. Applying direct pressure can help control serious external bleeding.

FACT! 

Sometimes the basics really do deserve their moment. 

The American Red Cross recommends applying steady, firm direct pressure to help control life-threatening external bleeding while getting emergency help.

Pressure makes progress. 

8. You can put a cold pack directly on your skin.

MYTH! 

Absolutely not. We are treating the injury. We are not auditioning to become a human popsicle. 

The American Red Cross recommends wrapping a cold pack in a thin, dry towel to protect the skin.

Cold pack? Yes. Direct skin contact? Don’t do that. 

9. You should remove an object that’s deeply stuck in a wound.

MYTH! 

Ok… step away from the tweezers. 

If something is seriously stuck in a wound, trying to pull it out can make the bleeding worse. Leave it where it is, apply pressure around the object, and get medical help.

This is one situation where “I got it!” should NOT be followed by “watch this.”

10. A bee stinger should be scraped out rather than pulled.

FACT! 

Plot twist: This could involve your wallet and spending $0.

How, you ask?

If a honeybee leaves its stinger behind, scrape it out quickly with a flat-edged object like a credit card. The sooner it’s removed, the better. After removal, wash yourself with soap and water.

So yes, I’m confirming that your credit card also has a side hustle.

BONUS QUESTION: Vicks makes everything better.

FACT!

…In my family, at least.

Cold? Vicks. Headache? Vicks. Stomachache? Somehow… also Vicks.

Is this medically verified? Absolutely not. Is it a family tradition? 100%.