Your home is your safe space until it's not. Sometimes, there might be little dangers around your home, putting you at risk of sustaining household injuries, some mild and some severe. In 2019, nearly 40 million people suffered non-fatal household injuries alone! Household injuries are bound to happen, from getting a cut while cooking or getting a blister from accidentally touching a hot saucepan. Here are a few common injuries and how to treat them right at home:

It is very easy to sustain a burn injury while at home. While cooking, you may accidentally touch a hot rack or have some hot grease splash onto your skin. These burns hurt, but thankfully they are easily treatable. If you accidentally burn yourself, the first thing you need to do is cool your injury by putting it in cool water for between 5 to 30 minutes. This trick also helps reduce any potential swelling. Gently pat the affected area with a clean cloth and apply some antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to prevent infection. To treat any pain, you can take a painkiller. Most importantly, leave any blisters you develop alone. Blisters may not look appealing, but they protect your injury from infection.

Cuts and scratches are very common. Usually, you might not even realize you cut yourself, especially if it's very small. Sometimes, these cuts could be much deeper, but there's no need to panic. If you cut yourself, ensure that you wash your hands before treating the wound. To stop any bleeding, gently press a clean cloth on the wound. Once you've stopped bleeding, wash the wound. It might hurt a little, but it's worth it. Use an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly on and around the wound, and then dress it in gauze. Be on the lookout for any signs of infection like swelling and redness. If you suspect that it might be infected, visit an urgent care clinic for treatment. 

Sometimes a simple house chore can leave you howling in pain. A sprain happens when a ligament gets twisted or torn. The most common body parts that suffer sprains are the wrists, ankles, and knees. When you suffer a sprain, try these self-treatment methods for relief. Ensure that you rest your injury, ice the area repeatedly, compress the injury with a bandage, and elevate the injury to reduce swelling. You can take some over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce the pain. Sprains usually take a few days to recover. If it's taking you longer, you might have to visit the doctor for further treatment. 

Poisoning occurrences at home typically include accidentally ingesting or applying hazardous products to the body. If you accidentally swallow a hazardous substance, read the product's label and follow all treatment instructions. Rinse the affected area with water for about 30 minutes if it affects your skin or eye.

Household accidents occur all the time. However, you can take steps to minimize risk to protect yourself and your family. Always remember to seek medical assistance if you are unsure how to treat your injuries.