Welcome to first aid Guide
First Aid Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Common First Aid Scenarios You Should Recognize
from:While you can't necessarily predict the unexpected, you can learn about basic first aid scenarios so that you know what to do. Though you might see televisions shows and read books about medical dramas that include complicated injuries and diseases, chances are slim that you will ever need this level of expertise. Here are some common first aid scenarios and how to deal with them – as you'll probably encounter at least one in your lifetime.
Cuts and Scrapes
No matter how they happen, cuts and scrapes are still the most common first aid scenarios in any situation. Because life comes with sharp edges, your skin is simply going to get torn from time to time. The main thing to be concerned about when this happens is infection. You need to make sure you are cleaning out the wound as much as you can with warm and soapy water. If you don't have any water on hand, try to use an antibacterial gel or wipe to help remove dirt and germs. Once you have done this, cover the wound up to prevent further infection and monitor for redness, swelling, and warmth.
In the case of a large gash, you will want to apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding first before cleaning the area. The body should be able to clot the blood and stop the bleeding within 10 minutes or so, but if this isn't happening, you need to seek medical attention. These kinds of cuts will probably need stitches or medication.
Heatstroke/Frostbite
If you're out in nature at any given point of the year, you need to realize that heatstroke and frostbite can happen. These first aid scenarios might not be as dramatic as a broken bone or a gash, but they can turn from problematic to life threatening in minutes. Here are the signs you need to watch out for:
Heatstroke
• Mental confusion
• Lack of sweating
• High body temperature
In this case, you need to douse the person in water as well as try to have them take a sip or two of water each minute. This will help to cool the body and prevent damage to the cells. You don't want to give the person a lot of water to drink as they are prone to vomiting at this point which will only dehydrate them further.
Frostbite
• Loss of feeling in extremities
• Fatigue
• White or blackened fingertips, ears, nose, etc.
For frostbite, you need to cover the area as much as you can to keep it warm. If you can, run tepid water over the area to start warming it back up, but not hot water as this can cause more damage as the nerves are deadened and won't be able to feel a burn.
Both of these first aid scenarios can only be managed by you until help arrives – medical assistance will be necessary.
First Aid News
Israel says it will release 250 Palestinian prisoners - Boston Globe
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel yesterday promised to release 250 Palestinian prisoners, a goodwill gesture to the moderate Palestinian president at a summit overshadowed by ongoing violence in Gaza that threatens a cease-fire. Even ...
Read more...Barack Obama interview brings ratings boost for CBS's 60 Minutes - Guardian Unlimited
Barack and Michelle Obama in an interview with Steve Croft for CBS's 60 Minutes. Photograph: Aaron Tomlinson/CBS News/Reuters Long-running US current affairs show 60 Minutes was the latest media outlet to enjoy a Barack Obama bounce, with the CBS ...
Read more...Fellow bus riders nearly came to Oatway's aid - Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA - Two passengers on an OC Transpo bus nearly intervened in the fight that ended in Michael Oatway's death, but didn't when a friend told them not to get involved. Steve Panagiotopoulos, 23, testified Monday before an Ottawa jury that is ...
Read more...Area Briefly - Fremont News-Messenger
Churches in the Gibsonburg area will be presenting a live drive-through nativity Dec. 6 and 7. The drive-through consists of stations, each depicting a part of the Christmas story. Each station will be manned by members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in ...
Read more...Radford completes basic training - Leaf Chronicle
Navy Seaman Recruit Christopher W. Radford, son of Latisha K. Radford of Lubbock, Texas and Eric Martin of Dover, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Radford ...
Read more...