The ladies of Cross Blog love Lekman.

That’s Jens Lekman, the Swedish pop crooner. And this Saturday, at least two of us are going to swoon all over him at Wonder Ballroom.

In honor of our outing, I thought I’d share a little Lekman with you. And if you wonder how this is relevant, just take a listen (or read the lyrics):

Did you catch that? Essentially, Jens is slicing up an avocado; is surprised by his girlfriend; chops off the tip of his index finger; blood sprays everywhere; he passes out and wakes up in the hospital; and, worst of all, his hand is wrapped in TOILET PAPER. Ugh.

Here at the Red Cross, we have a few words for Jens, who obviously has never taken a basic first aid course.

1. When you cut off a piece of soft tissue (like the tip of your finger), it’s called an avulsion. And yeah, when deeper tissues are damaged, it often causes significant bleeding.

2. When you have a major open wound, you should:

• Control bleeding by placing a clean covering, such as a sterile dressing (NOT TOILET PAPER!), over the wound and applying pressure.
• Apply a bandage snugly over the dressing.
• Call 9-1-1.
• Wash your hands when you’re done.

3. When are stiches needed? A rule of thumb (no pun intended) is when the edges of the skin don’t fall together, when the laceration involves the face or when any wound is more than a 1/2 inch long. Wounds that involve the hands (or feet) usually require stitches.

4. If someone faints, lower them to the ground and put them on their back. If possible, raise their legs 8-12 inches and loosen any tight clothing. Don’t give them anything to eat or drink.

Jens, the last thing we want is for a silly injury to make you give up the guitar. Take care of yourself and maybe take a first aid class every now and then. And don’t forget to give us a shout out when you play “Your Arms Around Me” on Saturday night!