First Aid - Wounds & Infections

WOUNDS & INFECTIONS / TYPES OF WOUNDS:

SUPERFICIAL:
Scratches, Burns by Cold.

PERFORATION:
By knife, nail or bullet, arrow, spear.

CRUSHING:
Wounds in depth with little exterior signs showing.

INCISION:
Clean tear caused by sharp surface or glass or blade.

LACERATION:
Slashed or chewed wound by barbed wire or explosion.

COMPLICATED:
When it covers a hidden lesion.

SCARS:
Are results of cuts, they will be lessen if the lips of the wound are put close to one another, if the wounded part is put to rest & if the wound is clean of infection and foreign objects.

GENERAL RULES VIA WOUNDS:

1) Lay the patient down, make him rest to slow the pulse speed & reduce the arterial pressure.
2) Rise the wounded part (when possible) higher then heart level to reduce the blood flow, thus permitting fast blood cloth.
3) If possible the rescuer MUST washes his hands.
4) The skin around the wound can be washed with water and soap starting from the wound toward exterior. If sufficient sterilize water then wash also the wound.5) While doing the first-aid, you MUST NOT cough nor sneeze directly over the wound to avoid infection.6) Rescuer MUST NOT touch the wound with his fingers nor touch the dressing surface covering the wound.
7) Antiseptics is useless in first aid & can damage tissues
8) Dressing MUST cover largely the wound itself.
9) You MUST apply a direct & firm pressure on the wound with a clean dressing.
If blood still flows add another one on top of the first, don't remove the first one.
10) Fix solidly the dressing. It MUST NOT slip, nor block circulation.
11) If you can, without getting your fingers in the wound, then
remove delicately the foreign objects sticking out. Use tweezers if you can and it is needed.
12) The rescuer MUST NOT remove objects strongly attached to the body wound, ex: knife, arrow, ski pole etc.
Otherwise the wound would reopen, other tissues could be damaged, haemorrhage could aggravate. Those patients need special transport & treatment.
13) The rescuer MUST REMEMBER that first aid MUST NOT delay medical help.

INFECTION IS ALWAYS VERY SERIOUS, EVEN DEADLY:
In all cases REMEMBER the possibility of "Tetanus" that is an
infection resulting from diverse type of wounds. Wounds MUST be clean without delay & treated by a doctor.

14) Rescuer MUST organise the transportation of the patient.


FIRST AID FOR SPECIFIC WOUNDS:

ABDOMINAL WOUNDS TRANSVERSAL:
(From side to side)
Put the victim on its back, raise up the shoulders, bend his knees toward his chest. It helps closing wound's lips.

LONGITUDINAL: (Up to Down)
Keep the patient down flat as to keep the wound's lips well together.

DISEMBOWELLED:
(Ripped Up) (Intestine coming out)
1) Don't put it back in place. (Surgeon's job)
2) Cover with clean clothes, warm & damp.
3) If it's possible, dampen the dressing with a salted solution 1 tsp. per 2 cups of warm water.
4) Give nothing to drink yet you can moisten the mouth.

INFECTED WOUND:
The wound is red, puffed up, painful & shoot waves of pains. The victim feels sick, feverish. It needs URGENT medical help. If you cannot get this aid then:
1) Immobilise the wounded part, to give as much rest as possible.
2) Have the patient stay in bed, for any physical activity helps the infection to spread.
3) If practical have the sick part elevated.
4) You can apply during 1/2 hour every 2 hour. Hot & damp compress. Those compress are soaked in a solution of 1 tbs. of salt in a pint of water. Don't burn the patient by using too hot water

APPENDIX:
Often occurs suddenly & can be deadly. Beware! In case of indigestion troubles, vomits, constipation Diarrhoea, you MUST worry of a little fever, and of sudden sharp pain to the right of the stomach, between the navel and the hip bone.
You MUST get him to the doctor or operate if needed be. While waiting for the doctor, you MUST put ice.
NEVER HOT! NEVER any purgative such as bicarbonate. No food and no drink.