Knowing first aid can help save lives — like performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking victim — or it can simply ease life's annoyances, such as a minor burn. Whether a major or minor emergency, myths abound about correct treatment, and some common advice only makes the problem worse, and can even be deadly.

Take a look at the following list, and see which myths you may believe:

Myth: Put ice on a burn. Your skin is already damaged and delicate from the burn, and ice can actually cause frostbite. Don't put butter on a burn either; it can make the burn worse. The best treatment for a minor burn, or even a first-or second-degree burn, is to immediately cool the area down with cold running water for 10 minutes. Cover the burn with loose gauze, and if it is severe, go to the ER.

Myth: Tilt your head back to stop a nosebleed. This is bad, say experts, because if you lean your head back, the blood has no place to go and you'll be forced to swallow it. Instead, lean forward and pinch the nostrils together until it stops. If it doesn't stop in about 10 or 15 minutes, head to the ER.

Myth: If a child swallows poison or other chemicals, force him or her to vomit. Giving a child syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting can exacerbate the problem. Instead, grab the container of what was ingested and rush to the ER. If you're quick, doctors can often give victims activated charcoal to bind the poison in the stomach to keep it from entering the bloodstream.

Myth: Put heat on a sprain. The wrong thing to do for a sprain is to use heat; put away the heating pad and get out the ice pack. In addition, NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce swelling and inflammation. However, if you sprain an ankle and it won't bear your weight, head to your doctor or ER because you might have a fracture.

Myth: Treat cuts and scrapes with peroxide. Peroxide isn't a good idea. While it may kill germs, it may also kill the very cells your body is rushing toward the injury to help it heal. Just wash gently with soap and warm water, apply an antibiotic, and then cover with a bandage for protection.  If the cut penetrates more than one layer of skin, you may need stitches, so proceed to an ER.

Myth: If someone has a seizure, put something in his or her mouth to keep the person from swallowing the tongue. People don't usually swallow their tongues when having a seizure, but putting something in the person's mouth could make him or her break a tooth — or worse — choke on or swallow the foreign object. Just try to ease the person onto the floor and try to remove nearby objects  that could cause harm.  Seizures usually only last for a minute or two, but if they continue or the person seems injured, call for emergency help.

Myth: Move victims of car accidents away from the scene. Some people may not appear to be badly injured, but if they have a spinal cord injury, moving them could result in paralysis. Move them only if the area is unsafe.

Myth: Using a tourniquet to stop bleeding will cause a limb to be amputated. Using a tourniquet on the battlefield to stop bleeding in limbs gave rise to the belief that they cause amputation. There's little evidence to show that tourniquets cause additional damage to a limb that's already injured, but first try putting pressure on the wound with gauze or cloth. However, if the bleeding is severe, a tourniquet can keep a person from bleeding to death before help arrives.

Myth: Place a person having a heart attack on their back. The best position is sitting on the floor with knees bent, leaning against a wall. If the person has nitroglycerin, make sure he or she takes it. If not, offer an aspirin to chew while getting help. If the victim becomes unresponsive, make sure his or her airway isn't blocked, and check breathing — you may need to administer CPR.