Be your own E.R. doctor

As a 30-year-old engineer living in a Philadelphia suburb, Joe Cammarata's combat experience amounts to playing Street Fighter II on his computer.

Yet his medical history makes it sound like characters leaped from the screen to rough him up: a torn rotator cuff and torn Achilles tendon, both from playing baseball; third-degree burns on both legs after a drunken sprint through a frat-party bonfire; a sprained ankle from playing soccer; and, after a memorable roll in the hay, a missing front tooth.

"My reaction has always been to run around screaming," says Cammarata of his stock response to injury, one mimicked by other men.

And there's no shortage of screamers: The National Center for Health Statistics says injuries sent nearly 18 million American men to the E.R. in 2005. Most of those scrapes, burns, and cuts occurred at home or on the field or court.

But here's the thing: People like Joe would recover more quickly if they knew what to do before a paramedic or doctor took over. And armed with some simple yet effective DIY techniques, your only E.R. experience might come as you're sitting on the sofa.

If you're cut...
First things first: Grab a clean napkin or towel or some sterile gauze, place it over the wound, and apply pressure. If the wound is to a limb, raise it above your heart to slow bloodflow to the site and encourage nature's bandage — clotting. "If the cloth soaks through with blood, keep adding to it," says paramedic Connie Meyer, a board member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. "If you disturb the clot, it'll start bleeding again."

The "uh-oh" moment: If the blood is bright red and spurting, an artery has been breached. EMTs often focus on pressure points — key places on the body where an artery is next to bone — and apply direct pressure. Done correctly, this tactic at least slows the bleeding. If you cut your hand, for example, find the brachial artery, located on the inside of your arm just above the elbow. Press it hard with your fingers or palm. If you're severely gashed and can see inside the wound, pinch the artery shut. Hold on tight until you make it to an E.R..

Dial 911: If you've lost enough blood to fill a 20-ounce soda bottle or if you start to feel thirsty, cold, or both, you could be going into shock. Phone for help, stat. Then work to control the bleeding — without panicking. Stopping a severe bleed could take as long as 20 minutes, Meyer says.

Rookie mistake: Putting soap into a wound. If you slice your finger, run it under the tap for a few seconds. Then cover it with a bandage and watch it the next day. Increasing pain at the site, redness, warmth, and foul-smelling drainage are all signs of infection.

If you're burned...
First things first: If the affected area is smaller than 3 inches in diameter, run it under cold water for 5 minutes, says Meyer. If the skin isn't blistered or charred — signs of serious burns — pop two ibuprofen or acetaminophen and leave the burn exposed to air. Don't slather on an antiseptic cream right away, says Meyer. "Wait at least an hour, or until the skin has cooled." When the burning sensation stops, prevent infection with an antibiotic ointment. Mild soap and water can work in a pinch.

The "uh-oh" moment: Blistering skin means a second-degree burn. "These are fairly serious, but an area smaller than your palm can be managed at home," says David Ross, D.O., an emergency physician at Penrose Hospital, in Colorado Springs, and a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Don't pop the blisters, and skip the cream. Cover unhealed blisters loosely with gauze or an adhesive strip.

Dial 911: If your skin resembles an overcooked rib-eye, you have third-degree burns. While you're waiting for paramedics, don't submerge the burns in cold water, which could lead to shock and hypothermia. Make sure your skin is no longer in contact with smoldering fabric, and let the experts remove any stuck clothing.

Rookie mistake: "Applying ice to any burn interrupts tissue repair," says Charles F. Pattavina, M.D., chief of emergency medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, Maine. "Use water that's 40°F or warmer."