Good Morning everyone, trust your night was fine. It’s with great pleasure that I share with you all some health tips on First Aid (Part 1). Friends, what will you do if on a Sunday morning, you were already fully dressed for church service and the knob of your front door hits your hand and you started bleeding. Some might respond this way: (i) Start shivering and call for help. (ii) Get annoyed and curse the devil and later shout J-E-S-U-S! Well, it’s not in all cases that demons are responsible for the above. Sometimes it could just be a mere coincidence. It will be beneficial for you to know how to best respond when such unprecedented emergencies occur. That is what this article is all about. We shall be discussing how to treat common injuries that may occur domestically. First aid is simply the initial care or process of addressing the needs of someone who has been injured. It allows you to possibly save the endangered person’s life that may be in danger. However, we must note that we must seek professional medical help as soon as possible even after first aid has been applied. We all know that every farmer must go to the farm with his farming implements in order for him to accomplish his goals. In the same manner, for first aid to be effective and successful, there are some implements we need. These include: scissors, cotton wool, methylated spirit, rubber gloves, iodine, plaster, bandage, tourniquet, nose mask, safety glasses, apron, CPR adjunct etc. Therefore, it is important we have some if not all of these items in our homes or offices. Before you make an attempt to rescue someone in danger, ensure you’re well protected yourself and safety conscious. Safety consciousness entails being aware of your surroundings and also to be alert in case any changes occur. This implies you wearing protective materials such as hand gloves, eye protection devices, etc. to guard against infection. Whether you have phobia for blood or not, whenever you notice bleeding, it is wise for you to try to stop the flow of blood outwards as excessive loss of blood may result in shock or death in severe cases. Regardless of how severe, all bleeding can be controlled. Below are some steps to control bleeding. Bleeding due to puncture on the hand or fore head: • Wash your hands to avoid infection and put on gloves. Soak a sterile cotton wool in methylated spirit and use it to apply pressure on the spot where the bleeding seem to have originated. After the cotton wool is soaked, you can apply Gauze pads can on the wound area, as this helps the components of the blood to stick together, promoting clotting. Once bleeding is controlled, take steps to treat victim for shock. Bleeding above the heart: • Gravity makes bleed flow down easier than it flows up. Hold one of the victim’s hand above your head and the other at your side, the lower hand will be red while the higher one will be pale. Elevate the wound above the heart. By doing this, you slow the flow of blood. As the blood flow slows, it becomes easier to stop it with direct pressure. Soak a large piece of sterile cotton wool with methylated spirit and use it to apple pressure on the affected part. In special cases of severe bleeding, let the injured person lie down and cover the person to prevent loss of body heat. If possible, position the persons head slightly lower than the trunk or elevate the legs and elevate the site of bleeding. Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Dont remove any large or more deeply embedded objects. Apply pressure directly on the wound until the bleeding stops. Use a sterile bandage or clean cloth and hold continuous pressure for at least 20 minutes without looking to see if the bleeding has stopped. Maintain pressure by binding the wound tightly with a bandage or clean cloth and adhesive tape. Use your hands if nothing else is available. Dont remove the gauze or bandage if the bleeding continues and seeps through the gauze or other material you are holding on the wound, dont remove it. Instead, add more absorbent material on top of it. If the bleeding doesnt stop with direct pressure, apply pressure to the artery delivering blood to the area. Pressure points of the arm are on the inside of the arm just above the elbow and just below the armpit. Pressure points of the leg are just behind the knee and in the groin. Squeeze the main artery in these areas against the bone. Keep your fingers flat. With your other hand, continue to exert pressure on the wound itself. Immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to the emergency room as soon as possible. If you suspect internal bleeding, call your local emergency number. Signs of internal bleeding may include: • Bleeding from body cavities • Vomiting or coughing up blood • Bruising on neck, chest, abdomen or side • Wounds that have penetrated the skull, chest or abdomen • Abdominal tenderness, possibly accompanied by rigidity or spasm of abdominal muscles • Fractures • Shock, indicated by weakness, anxiety, thirst or skin thats cool to the touch Please note that first aid is not a substitute for medical treatment, the injured person should be taken to the hospital thereafter. First aid skills can be acquired, you can join the local Red Cross association in your area or find out about health agencies that offer training. Shalom!
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 07:00:19 +0000
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