Bleeding
Bleeding Sever bleeding can cause death quickly so you must act fast. Grab a bandage, gauze pad, piece of cloth, or whatever is handy and apply firm pressure. Raise the limb above the body and if necessary apply pressure to the arterial pressure point on the inside of the arm or groin, which ever applies. If the cloth becomes soaked in blood add more and reapply pressure, do not remove the soaked bandage. In extreme cases a tourniquet may need to be applied.
To make a tourniquet, IF needed (A tourniquet MUST be a last resort! The casualty should be at risk of bleeding to death before you consider applying a tourniquet.) first fold a piece of cloth or bandana into a triangle. Roll the triangle until you have a long “tail”. Tie the roll between the injury and the heart as close to the wound as possible but above the knee or elbow using an overhand knot, the first step in...
Bites and Stings
Bites and Stings Insect bites are usually more painful than dangerous, (unless the person stung is allergic to certain types of stings), i.e. bee stings. To treat stings, carefully remove the stinger if present and if available apply a cold compress. Bandage like a scrape or cut. A small amount of swelling is normal. Ticks present another issue. To remove, gently twist and pull. After the tick is off carefully inspect the site to insure the head is also gone. If the head is still present remove it with a pair of tweezers or a small knife. A small amount of swelling is normal. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do with a venomous bite or sting in a survival setting. Snakebites are often defensive and not venomous. Nevertheless, tell the victim to remain calm, treat for shock, and dress the wound site; you may want to gently squeeze the site to attempt to remove any excess venom and discard immediately. Support the wound...
Hypothermia and Hyperthermia
Hypothermia and Hyperthermia There are only a few signs of hypothermia; shivering violently, disoriented, and unstable on his or her feet. To treat, immediately make shelter and place the victim inside. Strip off the victim’s cold wet clothing and place him or her in their sleeping bag, bedroll or any other form of insulation to assist with warming the victim. It is often necessary for another person to also remove their clothes and get into the victims bedroll too, the body contact will raise the victim’s core temperature. If the victim’s body is still cold to the touch and they stop shivering take emergency action immediately, they are on the verge of death. The signs of hyperthermia, also known as heat stroke, are shallow breathing, nausea or vomiting, dilated pupils, and dizziness. Also the victim’s face may become pale and they may break into a cold sweat. To treat heatstroke you need to loosen the victim’s clothing, begin fanning them, and place them...
Remove Casualty from Danger
REMOVE CASUALTY FROM DANGER First reduce any further danger to the casualty or yourself by moving them to safety – away from a burning vehicle or building. In the case of a road accident, stop the traffic. With electrocution, switch off the current. If you can’t, stand on dry non-conductive material and push or lever the patient from the power source with a dry non-conductive pole or stick BEFORE touching them. If gas or poisonous fumes are threatening, turn them off at source and take casualties to fresh air. There is always a risk in moving patients with unknown injuries but, if they are further threatened, they must be moved to have any chance of surviving. People with spinal injuries are at greatest risk when moved – the spinal cord could be severed. The only safe way to move them requires several people. UNCONSCIOUS CASUALTIES If a person is unconscious first check whether they are breathing and begin artificial respiration immediately if necessary. Check for...
Understanding First Aid
Understanding First Aid When no professional medical help is available, survivors have to undertake medical tasks which should normally be left to those with special training. Traditional first-aid procedures are designed to cope with minor problems and to sustain a seriously injured person until they can receive expert treatment. However, if there is no possibility of outside help in time to save a life, the survivor may sometimes have to take drastic measures. Some of the advice given in this section is intended ONLY for such circumstances. In the treatment of diseases and disorders the experience of centuries of herbal treatments and natural remedies can be put to good use, when no prepared drugs are available – or to reserve supplies for more serious need. Herbal medicines given here use only simple methods of extraction and preparation. FIRST AID Maintaining health is of primary importance to the survivor. Do not take any unnecessary risks which could lead to injury. Aim at a varied and balanced diet...