First Aid Treatment
1 FRACTURES or broken bones are a common result of an accident. Fractures of the arm are treated the affected limb, if possible, in a sling and transporting the casualty to a hospital or doctor. If the lower limb is involved, then treatment will depend on the site of the fracture. Prevent the casualty from being moved, then, if possible, leave him where he is until a doctor or ambulance arrives.
2 A special word about fractures of the spine: If the casualty complains of pains in his neck or back, or if the complains of numbness or tingling or weakness in his legs or arm, then do not allow him to band his back or neck, otherwise he way damage his spinal cord (this is main bundle of nerves which runs down inside the spine)
3 Remember too, if a person is unconscious following a fall, then he may also have a fracture spine. This type of injury often occurs after a fall from a house or when a rugby scrum collapses, or as a result of a road accident. The unconscious person in this situation should not be move at all provided he is breathing. Any clothing around his neck such as a scarf or tie should not be removed.
4 If he look as if he is going to be sick, then he should be rolled with great care into the recovery position-at all times avoid bending his spine or neck otherwise you, yourself, may damage his spinal cord and cause permanent paralysis. If the unconscious person is not breathing, then, of course, mouth resuscitation will have to be given.
5 If due to fine or gas or some other impending disaster you have no alternative but to remove the casualty from the scene of the accident, then splint can be made by folding a newspaper into a spine suspected. A simple neck splint can be made by folding a newspaper into a strip about five inches wide and placing it round the neck. Hold it in position with a handkerchief, check after tying it into position that the airway is still open and the casualty is still breathing.
6 The can be splinted by placing a wooden board or a couple of walking sticks down the casualty’s back and tying them firmly to him. They will thus prevent any bending of the spine.
7 Remember, when dealing with fractures, if in doubt whether a bone is fractured or not, assume it is and treat accordingly. It is a good rule in First Aid if you are not sure what to do, then provide the casualty is breathing and not bleeding—do nothing. The next important condition that must be dealt with is bleeding. Here again speed of action is essential. Lay the casualty down, press a pad firmly over the wound, then bandage it on. If no clean bandages are available, then use the cleanest thing you can find which will act as a pad (e.g. a glove, a cap, or apiece of shirt), and tie it in position with a tie or similar article.
8 Only pieces of glass or dirt which are lying loose on the surface of the wound should be removed, but anything which is firmly fixed into the wound should be left in position, as pulling it out may cause even more bleeding. If the wound involves a leg or an arm, and no broken bone is suspected then raise that limb, as this will help to reduce further bleeding.
9 If the bleeding should come through the pad, then do not remove it but place another pad on top, bandaging it firmly too.
10 Some idea of how severe the bleeding may have been may be judged by counting the pulse rate. Normally it is between 60 and 90, but if the amount of blood lost is considerable it may well go up to over 100.
11 Nose bleeds can be very annoying and sometimes alarming. Most stop of their own accord if you sit down quietly. If, however, it continues, blow both sides of the nose to empty any clots that have collected, then squeeze the soft part between your thumb and index finger continuously for a few minutes.
12 The first aid treatment of burns and scalds is easy. Immediate cooling of the affected area by immersing in cold water for several minutes eases the pain and may reduce the severity of the burn. Then wrap a clean towel round the affected part and take the casualty to the nearest hospital.
13 If someone’s clothes catch fire, then immediately try to wrap him in a blanket, rug, coat or tablecloth—do not use nylon or any flammable material –then lay him down. In certain circumstances it may not be possible to immerse the affected part in cold water, on these occasions the clothing which is smoldering or which is still hot from the boiling liquid should be removed at once.
14 POISONING is usually accidental in children but commonly self-inflicted in adults (suicide). If the casualty is unconscious, then do not attempt to make him sick, simply make him, sending someone else for a doctor. If he is not breathing, then carry out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
15 If the casualty is conscious, then he should be encouraged to vomit. Give him a glass of water then either make him stick his own fingers down his throat or put a spoon handle into his mouth and press his tongue down. If corrosive or turpentine have been swallowed, then this person should not be made to vomit but instead given plenty of milk or water to drink. (If corrosives have been swallowed then there may be sings of burning around the mouth).
16 In all cases a doctor should be contacted. If a doctor is not readily available, the person should be taken without delay to the nearest hospital.
FOLLOWING an electric shock either from an electrical appliance, or more rarely if one is struck by lightning, the lungs may stop breathing. The treatment here is mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. But, before this is done, it is vitally important to make sure the person is not touching the source of electricity, otherwise, when you touch the person you, too, may be electrocuted.
17 So first, switch off the appliance or unplug it if possible. If this is impossible, then with a long wooden pole or rubber gloves, and standing on a dry surface such as a wooden floor or a pile of newspapers, try to disconnect the electrical appliance from the person.
Source: The Sunday Magazine (Bangkok Post) by Sharon Christine Riley