Notes

Major Medical Emergencies On Vacation
There certainly are a number of serious health problems that may happen anywhere, but when you are abroad on vacation, you're perhaps far from the immediate medical help that you need to be prepared for.

The first is unconsciousness and the causes range between drowning to head injury, diabetes to epilepsy. Untrained laymen should merely try to place the victim in the coma position, that is lying on the side, preferably the left side, with the top lower than the chest to allow secretions, blood or vomit to drain from the lungs. Hold the chin forward to avoid the tongue falling back and obstructing the airway. Don't try any fancy manoeuvres if you don't are practised, as you may do more harm than good. All unconscious patients, from any cause, but particularly after trauma, should be put into the coma position until they recover. This takes priority over any first aid manoeuvre. In http://b3.zcubes.com/v.aspx?mid=11011323 of fainting, lay the unconscious person down and raise the legs to return extra blood to the brain. With regards to any type of injury nature is an excellent healer if given adequate encouragement.


Superficial burns are simply skin wounds. Leave available to the air to create a dry crust under which healing continues on. If this isn't possible, cover with Melolin dressings. Burn creams offer no magic. Deep burns should be kept scrupulously clean and treated urgently by way of a doctor. Give drinks freely to displace lost fluids.

A sprained ankle ligament, usually externally of the joint, is really a common and likely injury. With broad Elastoplast 'stirrup strapping', walking may be possible. Put two or three long lengths from mid-calf on the non-injured side, attach across the calf on the injured side. Follow this with circular strapping from toes to mid-calf overlapping by half on each turn. The first aid treatment of sprains and bruises is. three stages known as ICE Immobilisation (I), cold e.g. cold compresses (C), and elevation (E); If painful movement and swelling persist, suspect a fracture, in which case immobilise the part by splinting to a rigid structure, for example the arm could be strapped to the chest, both legs can be tied together.

Temporary splints could be made from a rolled newspaper, an ice-axe or perhaps a branch. Pain may be agonising and is due to movement of broken bone ends on each other, so full doses of strong pain killers are essential. The aim of splinting fractures is to decrease pain and bleeding at the fracture site and thereby reduce shock. Comfort is a good criterion by which to guage the efficiency of a splint, but remember that to immobilise a fracture when the victim is being carried, splints may need to be tighter than seems essential for comfort when at rest, particularly over rough ground.

Wounds at a fracture site or visible bones must be covered immediately with sterile material or the cleanest material available, and if this happens, start antibiotic treatment simultaneously. Pneumatic splints provide excellent support but could be inadequate whenever a victim with a broken leg includes a difficult stretcher ride across rough ground. They're of no value for fractured femurs, thigh bones. If you opt to take them, get the Athletic Long Splint which fits over a climbing boot where in fact the Standard Long Leg splint will not.

Deep wounds are of course a serious concern especially when in a remote location, but firm pressure on a wound dressing will stop most bleeding. If blood seeps through, put more dressings at the top, secured with absorbent crepe bandages and keep up the pressure. Elevate the injured part if possible. On expeditions to remote spots, at least one member of the party should learn to devote simple sutures. This is not difficult a friendly doctor or casualty sister can teach the requirements in ten minutes. Folks have practised on a piece of raw meat and on several occasions it has been put to good use. Pulling the wound edges together is all that is necessary, a neat cosmetic result is usually not important.

Which has hopefully covered a location of emergencies that of us hope won't happen whenever we are away from home and perhaps a long way from immediate medical help. Mobile phones have needless to say become life savers because medical rescue could be summonsed, but that won't continually be the case.

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