First Aid
First AidFirst aid is the first help administered to overcome an injury or other malady, whether administered by yourself or another person. Be ready, have a basic first aid kit and the knowledge to use it properly. The first and most important thing you should do is take a Red Cross sponsored course in basic first aid. This website is not intended to be an alternative, or a training course. Having spent years both involved with search and rescue and as a firefighter, I can’t stress getting hands on first aid training enough. You can contact the local Red Cross in your area by phone to find out when and where these courses are given or go through your local hospital or even your local fire department. Don’t take information gleaned from any random website verbatim. Seek a trusted qualified professional for verification at the very least. The key is to actively educate yourself, and have a basic first aid kit.  That being said, here are some things to consider in your first aid bag of tricks.
* Carry a reference guide in your first aid kit that has both instructions and diagrams in it.
* Bleeding: If the blood is pulsing out, apply direct pressure to stop it. Clamp off the damaged vein or artery if necessary. A tourniquet should be used as a last resort. Treat serious bleeding first because death can occur within seconds in some cases. * Breathing: Clear airways and perform CPR if necessary. If someone stops breathing for four minutes, brain damage will occur, death within six. * To treat for shock: Keep warm, lay flat and elevate feet. If no abdominal injury, give warm liquid. * Chest or internal injuries: Treat for shock and get help as soon as possible. * Treat small cuts and scrapes by washing thoroughly with soap and water. Apply a band aid or dressing if necessary. Telfa pads wont stick to healing wounds or burns. * Burns: Apply burn ointment to burns and dress with telfa pads. Keeping a burn covered so air can’t get to it will help reduce pain for the victim. * Sprains: Immobilize and apply ice or cold wet towels to keep swelling to a minimum. * Breaks: Immobilize and splint. * Frostbite: Immerse affected area in cool water, ( lukewarm water will feel scalding to the victim.) * Hypothermia: This can occur at temperatures in the 60’s . This is when the core body temperature drops below normal. Keep the person warm and dry. Use blankets, warm stones or your own body heat to warm them up. * Heat stroke: Cool them down, Give plenty of liquids, cool wet cloth to face and back of neck, keep them in a shaded area. * Dehydration: Give Plenty of liquids in small doses, large doses will cause vomiting and defeat the purpose in your efforts to re-hydrate them, or yourself. Signs of dehydration include; dark colored and/or strong smelling urine, sunken eyes, erratic emotional swings, also, failure of blood to return instantly to the nail beds ( the nails stay white when the fingertips are gently squeezed. ) These are just a few things to consider in a situation where first aid is needed.. The first aid classes are relatively easy and not all that expensive. They will give you a sense of security in yourself and ,who knows, basic first aid may make you somebody else’s hero.   |
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