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When
someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill, there is usually a
critical period before you can get medical treatment and it is
this period that is of the utmost importance to the victim. What
you do, or what you don't do, in that interval can mean the
difference between life and death. You owe it to yourself, your
family, and your neighbors to know and understand procedures
that can be applied quickly and intelligently during an
emergency.
Every household should have some type of first aid kit. If you
do not already have one, you can assemble your own supplies now.
Tailor the contents to fit your family's particular needs. Don't
add first aid supplies to the jumble of toothpaste and cosmetics
in the medicine cabinet. Instead, assemble them in a suitable,
labeled box (such as a fishing tackle box or a Tupperware
container), so that everything will be handy when needed. Label
everything in the kit clearly, and indicate what it is used for.
Keep an extra first aid kit in your car for mishaps away from
home.
Items worth having in every first aid kit include: various sizes
of band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, alcohol prep pads, gauze
pads, tape, paper clips, safety pins, scissors, hand sanitizer,
small flashlight, antacid, aspirin, and ibuprofen.
Be sure not to lock your first aid box... otherwise you may be
hunting for the key when an emergency occurs. Place the box on a
shelf beyond the reach of small children, and check it
periodically. Small mishaps occur all the time, so you will
appreciate having everything you need in a convenient kit. Be
sure, however, to restock items in the kit as soon as they run
low.
Keep all medications, including non-prescription drugs such as
aspirin and ibuprofen, out of the reach of children. When
discarding drugs, be sure to dispose of them where they cannot
be retrieved by children or pets--we recommend rinsing them down
the faucet or flushing them in the toilet.
When a serious emergency occurs, make sure the injured victim's
airway is not blocked by the tongue and that the mouth is free
of any secretions and foreign objects. It is extremely important
that the person is breathing freely. And if not, you need to
administer artificial respiration promptly. CPR classes are
offered by charities, hospitals, fire departments,
municipalities, and businesses across the country and around the
world. If you don't have current CPR training, you should enroll
in a class near you. Don't put it off because you never know
when you will need this training. A person's life can depend on
it.
See that the victim has a pulse and good blood circulation as
you check for signs of bleeding. Act fast if the victim is
bleeding severely, has swallowed poison, or is unable to
breathe. Remember, every second counts.
Although most injured persons can be safely moved, it is vitally
important not to move a person with serious neck or back
injuries unless you have to save him from further danger. Keep
the patient lying down and quiet. If he has vomited and there is
no danger that his neck is broken, turn him on his side to
prevent choking and keep him warn by covering him with blankets
or coats.
Look for an emergency medical identification card or an
emblematic device that the victim may be wearing to alert you to
any health problems, allergies or diseases that may require
special care.
Call for an ambulance. Better yet, if someone else is around to
help, have that person place the emergency call. That person
should explain the nature of the emergency and ask what should
be done pending the arrival of the ambulance. You concentrate on
helping the victim and on reassuring him/her to remain calm
because the paramedics are on the way. Use the items contained
in your first aid kit, as appropriate to the situation.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person;
fluids may enter his windpipe and cause suffocation. Don't try
to arouse an unconscious person by slapping or shaking.
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