This portion details basic first aid for minor and intermediate conditions.
5.1 Moving a Badly Injured Person
5.2 Common Fever
5.3 What to Do When Breathing Stops
5.4 Drowning
5.5 Heat Emergencies
5.6 Nosebleeds
5.7 Cuts, Scrapes, Small Wounds
5.8 Bandages
5.9 Infected Wounds
5.10 Burns
5.11 Strains and Sprains
5.12 Poisoning
5.13 Snakebite
5.14 Scorpion Sting
5.1 Moving a Badly Injured Person
With great care, lift the injured person without bending him anywhere. Take special care that the head and neck do not bend or tilt. Have another person put the stretcher or sled in place. With the help of all involved, place the injured person carefully on the stretcher or sled. If the neck is injured or broken, put tightly folded clothing or sandbags on each side of the head to keep it from moving. When carrying, try to keep the feet up, even on hills.
5.2 Common Fever
When a person's body temperature is too hot, he has a fever. Fever itself is not a sickness, but a sign of many different illnesses. However, high fever can be dangerous, especially in a small child. When a person has a fever, uncover him completely. Small children should be undressed completely and left naked until the fever goes down; to wrap up a child with fever is dangerous. Fresh air or a breeze will not harm a person with fever. On the contrary, a fresh breeze helps lower the fever.
Anyone who has a fever should drink lots of water, juices, or other liquids. For small children, especially babies, drinking water should be boiled first (and then cooled). Make sure the child passes urine regularly. If she does not pass much urine, or if the urine is dark, give more water. When possible, find and treat the cause of the fever.
5.3 What to Do When Breathing Stops
Common causes for breathing to stop are ...
- ... something stuck in the throat
... the tongue or thick mucus blocking the threat of an unconscious person
... drowning, choking on smoke, or poisoning
... a strong blow to the head or chest
... a heart attack
A person can die within 4 minutes if he does not breathe, so mouth-to-mouth breathing should begin immediately. Quickly use a finger to remove anything stuck in the mouth or throat. Pull the tongue forward. If there is mucus in the throat, quickly try to clear it out. Gently lay the person face up, tilt his head back, and pull his jaw forward. Pinch his nostrils closed with two fingers, open his mouth wide and cover it with yours, and blow strongly into his lungs so that his chest rises. Pause to let the air come back out and blow again.
Repeat about once every 5 seconds. With babies and small children, cover the nose and mouth with yours and breath
very gently about once every 3 seconds. Continue mouth-to-mouth breathing until the person can breathe by himself or until there is no doubt he is dead. Sometimes, one must keep trying for an hour or more.
5.4 Drowning
Start mouth-to-mouth breathing at once - if possible, even before the drowning person is out of the water, as soon as it is shallow enough to stand.
Always start mouth-to-mouth breathing before trying to get water out of the drowning person's chest. If one cannot blow air into his lungs, upon reaching the shore, quickly put him on his side with his head lower than his feet. With the heel of your lower hand on his belly between the navel and ribs, make a quick, strong upward push. Resume mouth-to-mouth breathing and repeat.
5.5 Heat Emergencies
In hot weather, people who work hard and sweat a lot sometimes get painful cramps in their legs, arms, or stomach known as
heat cramps. These occur because the body lacks salt. To treat, put 1tsp. salt in 1 liter of boiled water and drink it. Repeat once every hour until the cramps are gone. Have the person sit or lie down in a cool place and gently massage the painful areas.
A person who works and sweats a lot in hot weather may become very pale, weak and nauseous, and perhaps feel faint. The skin is cool and moist; the pulse is rapid and weak; yet the temperature of the body is usually still normal. This is called
heat exhaustion. Have the person lie down in a cool place, raise his feet, and rub his legs. Give salt water (1tsp. of salt in 1 liter or water) to drink. Give nothing by mouth while the person is unconscious.
Heat stroke is not common, but is very dangerous. It occurs especially in older people and alcoholics during hot weather. The skin is red, very hot, and dry. Not even the armpits are moist. The person has a very high fever, typically around 40-42C (104-107F), and often he is found unconscious. The body temperature must be lowered
immediately. Put the person in the shade, soak him with cold water (ice water, if possible) and fan him. Continue until the fever drops. Even if the fever does decrease, bring the injured person to a skilled medic.
5.6 Nosebleeds
To stop a nose bleed, sit quietly and blow the nose
gently to remove mucus and blood. Pinch the nose firmly for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped. If this does not control the bleeding, pack the nostril with a wad of cotton, leaving part of it outside the nose. If possible, first wet the cotton with cardon cactus juice; then, pinch the nose firmly again. Do not let go for 10 minutes or more. Do not tip the head back. Leave the cotton in place for a few hours after the bleeding stops; then take it out very carefully.
In older persons especially, bleeding may come from the back part of the nose and cannot be stopped by pinching it. In this case, have the person hold a cork, corn cob, or other object between his teeth and, leaning forward, sit quietly and try not to swallow until the bleeding stops. The cork helps keep him from swallowing, and that gives the blood a chance to clot.
5.7 Cuts, Scrapes, Small Wounds
To treat a wound, first wash one's hands very well with soap and water; then, wash the skin around the wound with soap and cool, boiled water. Now wash the wound well with cool, boiled water. Additionally use soap if the wound has a lot of dirt in it, but be prudent: soap helps clean, but can also damage the flesh.
When cleaning the wound, be careful to clean out all the dirt. Lift up and clean under any flaps of skin. One can use clean tweezers or a clean cloth or gauze to remove bits of dirt, but always boil them first to be sure they are sterile. Any bit of dirt that is left in a wound can cause an infection.
Never put feces or mud on a wound, as these can cause dangerous infections such as tetanus.
Never put alcohol directly into a wound, as doing so will damage the flesh and make healing slower.
After the wound has been cleaned, place a piece of clean gauze or cloth over the top. It should be light enough so that the air can get to the wound and help it to heal. Change the gauze or cloth every day and look for signs of infection.
Large cuts should be closed, as a recent cut that is very clean will heal faster if you bring the edges together so the cut stays closed. Close a deep cut
only if all of the following are true: the cut is less than 12 hours old, the cut is very clean, and it is impossible to get a skilled medic to close it the same day. Before closing the cut, wash it very well with cool, boiled water (and soap, if the wound is dirty). Be absolutely sure that no dirt is left hidden in the cut.
Create "butterfly" bandages. Butterfly bandages are dubbed so for their similar appearance to a butterfly's wings. To prepare butterfly bandages, take your strip of cloth or gauze and fold so that the ends rest evenly atop each other. Cut a shallow triangle out of the cloth or gauze where it folds; repeat on the other side. Unfold and secure over the open wound; use two if necessary to hold it shut. An adhesive will be needed if the cloth or gauze does not have a sticky, sterilized salve applied.
5.8 Bandages
Bandages are used to help keep wounds clean. For this reason, bandages or pieces of cloth used to cover wounds must always be clean themselves. Cloth used for bandages should be washed and then dried in a clean, dust-free place. Sterilize the gauze or cloth by wrapped it in thick parchment and baking it for 20 minutes in an oven. If a bandage gets wet or dirt gets under it, take the bandage off, wash the cut again, and put on a clean bandage. Change the bandage every day. It is better to have no bandage at all than one that is dirty or wet.
For children, it is often better to bandage the whole hand or foot instead of one finger or toe, as the bandage will not come off as easily. Be careful that a bandage that goes around a limb is not so tight it cuts off the flow of blood. Many small scrapes and cuts do not need bandages. They heal best if washed with soap and water and left open to the air. The most important task is keeping them clean.
5.9 Infected Wounds
A wound is infected it it becomes red, swollen, hot and painful; it has pus; or if it begins to smell bad. The infection is spreading to other parts of the body if it causes fever, there is a red line above the wound, or if the lymph nodes (or glands) become swollen and tender. Swollen lymph nodes behind the ear are a sign of infection on the head or scalp, often caused by sores or lice. Swollen nodes below the ear and on the neck indicate infections of the ear, face, or head (or tuberculosis). Swollen nodes below the jaw indicate infections of the teeth or throat. Swollen nodes in the armpit indicate an infection or the arm, head, or breast. Swollen nodes in the groin indicate an infection of the leg, foot, genitals, or anus.
To treat infected wounds, put hot compresses over the wound for 20 minutes, 4 times a day; or, hold an infected hand or foot in a bucket of hot water. Keep the infected part at rest and elevated (raised above the level of the heart). If the wound has a bad smell, if brown or gray liquid oozes out, or if the skin around it turns black and forms air bubbles or blisters, this may be gangrene.
Wounds most likely to become dangerous infected are as follows:
- Dirty wounds, or wounds made with dirty objects
Puncture wounds and other deep wounds that do not bleed much
Wounds made where animals are kept, such as in corrals or pig pens
Large wounds with severe mashing or bruising
Bites, especially from pigs, dogs, or people
To care for this type of "high risk" wound, wash it well with boiled water and soap. Remove
all pieces of dirt, blood clots, and dead or badly damaged flesh. Cleanse it of all dirt and debris. Never close this type of wound with stitches of "butterfly bandages"; rather, leave the wound open. If it is very large, a skilled medic may be able to close it later.
5.10 Burns
1st degree burns are minor burns that do not form blisters. To help ease the pain and lessen the damage caused by a minor burn, put the burned part in cold water at once. No other treatment is needed.
2nd degree burns are burns that cause blisters. Do not break the blisters. If the blisters are broken, wash gently with soap and boiled water that has been cooled. Sterilize a daub of medical salve by heating it until it boils and spread it on a piece of sterile gauze; then, put the gauze on the burn. If there is no salve available, leave the burn uncovered. Never smear on grease or butter.
If signs of infection appear - pus, bad smell, fever, or swollen lymph nodes - apply compresses of warm salt water (1tsp. salt to 1 liter water) 3 times a day. Boil both the water and cloth before use. With great care, remove the dead skin and flesh.
3rd degree burns are deep burns that destroy the skin and expose raw or charred flesh and are always serious; as are any burns that cover large areas of the body. The person should be delivered to a skilled medical or medical facility at once; in the meantime, wrap the burned part with a very clean cloth or towel. If it is impossible to get medical help, treat the burn as described above.
If there is no salve available, leave the burn in the open air, covering it only with a loose cotton cloth or sheet to protect it from dust and flies. Keep the cloth very clean and change it each time it gets dirty with liquid or blood from the burn.
Never put grease, fat, hides, coffee, herbs, or feces on a burn. Covering the burn with honey helps prevent and control infection and speed healing. Gently wash off the old honey and replace at least twice a day.
Any person who has been badly burned can easily go into shock because of combined pain, fear, and the loss of body fluids from the oozing burn. Comfort and reassure the burned person. Bathing open wounds in slightly salty water helps calm pain, putting 1tsp. of salt for each liter of cool, boiled water. Give the burned person plenty of liquid. It is important for persons who are badly burned to eat foods rich in protein. No type of food needs to be avoided.
When someone is badly burned between the fingers, in the armpit, or at other joints, pads of gauze with salve on them should be put between the burned surfaces to prevent them from growing together as they heal. Fingers, arms, and legs should be straightened completely several times a day while healing. This is painful, but helps prevent stiff scars that limit movement. While the burned hand is healing, the fingers should be kept in a slightly bent position.
5.11 Strains and Sprains
Many times it is impossible to know whether a hand or foot is bruised, sprained, or broken. Breaks and sprains are treated more or less the same. Keep the joint motionless. Wrap it with something that gives firm support. Serious sprains need at least 3-4 weeks to heal; broken bones take longer. To relieve pain and swelling, keep the sprained part raised high. During the first day or two, put ice wrapped in cloth or plastic, or cold, wet cloths over the swollen joint for 20-30 minutes once every hour. This helps reduce swelling and pain. After 24-48 hours when the swelling is no longer getting worse, soak the sprain in hot water several times a day.
Keep the twisted joint in the correct position for healing by using a cast or heavy bandage. Wrapping the foot and ankle with a bandage will also prevent or reduce swelling. Start from the toes and wrap upward, careful not to make the bandage too tight, and remove it briefly every 1-2 hours. If the pain and swelling do not decrease after 48 hours, seek skilled medical help.
Never rub or massage a sprain or broken bone, as it does no good and can only cause more harm.
5.12 Poisoning
Children, especially, die from swallowing things that are poisonous; such as rat poison; poisonous leaves, seeds, berries, or mushrooms; spoiled food; or salt if too much is given to babies and small children.
If a child is suspected to be poisoned and is awake and alert, make him vomit by putting a finger in his throat, or make him drink water with mild soap or salt in it (6tsp. salt to 1 cup water). If you have it, give him a cup of activated charcoal or a tablespoon of powdered charcoal mixed into a glass of water. For an adult, give 2 glasses of this mixture.
(Rl Alert: Never make a person vomit if he has swallowed kerosene, gasoline, or strong acids or corrosive substances such as lye; or if he is unconscious. If he is awake and alert, give him plenty of water or milk to dilute the poison. For a child, give 1 glass of water ever 15 minutes.)
Cover the person if he feels cold, but avoid too much heat. If poisoning is severe, seek skilled medical aid.
5.13 Snakebite
When someone has been bitten by a snake, first find out if the snake was poisonous or harmless. Typically, most poisonous snakes will leave marks of the two fangs, sometimes joined by little marks made by other snakes; the bite of a non-poisonous snake leaves only two rows of teeth marks, but no fang punctures.
Stay quiet and do not move the bitten part: the more it is moved, the faster the poison will spread through the body. If the bite is on the foot, the person should not walk at all and a skilled healer should be sent for immediately.
Wrap the bitten area with a wide bandage or clean cloth to slow the spread of poison. Keeping the arm or leg very still, wrap it tightly, but not so tight it stops the pulse at the wrist or on top of the foot. If you cannot feel the pulse, loosen the bandage. Wind the bandage over the hand or foot and up the whole arm or leg, making sure one can still feel the pulse; then, put on a splint to prevent the limb from moving.
Carry the person, on a stretcher or sled if possible, to the nearest healer. If possible, also take the snake as different snakes may require different antivenoms. Poisonous snakebite is dangerous, and some treatments can cause infection or make the effects of the venom worse.
Do not...
- ... cut the skin or flesh around the bite
... tie anything tight around the bite or the person's body
... put ice on or around the bite
... shock the person with electricity
... try to suck the blood or the venom out of the bite
... drink alcohol after being bitten
5.14 Scorpion Sting
Some scorpions are far more poisonous than others, but to adults, scorpion stings are rarely dangerous; it is typically an allergic reaction to the scorpion that can give reason for concern. Put ice on the sting to help calm the pain. For the numbness and pain that sometimes lasts weeks or months, hot compresses may be helpful.
To children under 5 years old, scorpion stings can be dangerous, especially if the sting is on the head or body. If scorpion antitoxin is available, it must be given within 2 hours after the child has been stung. If the child stops breathing, use mouth-to-mouth breathing. If the child who was stung is very young or has been stung on the main part of the body, or if the scorpion was of a deadly type, seek skilled medical aid.