First Aid – Page 1

 

First Aid Help – Page 1:

      Contents: Bruises, Blisters, Bites

Bruises:
A bruise forms when a blow breaks small blood vessels near your skin’s surface, allowing a small amount of blood to leak out into the tissues under your skin. The trapped blood appears as a black-and-blue mark. Sometimes, there also are tiny red dots or red splotches.

If your skin isn’t broken, you don’t need a bandage. You can, however, enhance bruise healing with these simple techniques:

  • Elevate the injured area.
  • Apply ice or a cold pack several times a day for a day or two after the injury.
  • Rest the bruised area, if possible.
  • Consider acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for pain relief.

See your doctor if:

  • You have unusually large or painful bruises — particularly if your bruises seem to develop for no known reasons.
  • You bruise easily and you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding elsewhere, such as from your nose or gums, or you notice blood in your eyes, your stool or your urine.
  • You have no history of bruising, but suddenly experience bruises.

These signs and symptoms may indicate a more serious problem, such as a blood-clotting problem or blood-related disease. Bruises accompanied by persistent pain or headache also may indicate a more serious underlying illness and require medical attention.


Blisters:
Common causes of blisters include friction and burns. If the blister isn’t too painful, do everything possible to keep it intact. Unbroken skin over a blister provides a natural barrier to bacteria and decreases the risk of infection. Cover a small blister with an adhesive bandage, and cover a large one with a porous, plastic-coated gauze pad that absorbs moisture and allows the wound to breathe.

Don’t puncture a blister unless it’s painful or prevents you from walking or using one of your hands. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, call your doctor before considering the self-care measures below.

To relieve blister-related pain, drain the fluid while leaving the overlying skin intact. Here’s how:

  • Wash your hands and the blister with soap and warm water.
  • Swab the blister with iodine or rubbing alcohol.
  • Sterilize a clean, sharp needle by wiping it with rubbing alcohol.
  • Use the needle to puncture the blister. Aim for several spots near the blister’s edge. Let the fluid drain, but leave the overlying skin in place.
  • Apply an antibiotic ointment to the blister and cover with a bandage or gauze pad.
  • Cut away all the dead skin after several days, using tweezers and scissors sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Apply more ointment and a bandage.

Call your doctor if you see signs of infection around a blister — pus, redness, increasing pain or warm skin.

To prevent a blister, use gloves, socks, a bandage or similar protective covering over the area being rubbed. Special athletic socks are available that have extra padding in critical areas. You might also try attaching moleskin to the inside of your shoe where it might rub, such as at the heel.

Shoe-shopping tips
Remember the following when you shop for shoes:

  • Shop during the middle of the day. Your feet swell throughout the day, so a midday fitting will probably give you the best fit.
  • Wear the same socks you’ll wear when walking, or bring them with you to the store.
  • Measure your feet. Shoe sizes change throughout adulthood.
  • Measure both feet and try on both shoes. If your feet differ in size, buy the larger size.
  • Go for flexible, but supportive, shoes with cushioned insoles.
  • Leave toe room. Be sure that you can comfortably wiggle your toes.
  • Avoid shoes with seams in the toe box, which may irritate bunions or hammertoes.

 


Bites:

  • Animal:
     If an animal bites you or your child, follow these guidelines:

    • For minor wounds. If the bite barely breaks the skin and there is no danger of rabies, treat it as a minor wound. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent infection and cover the bite with a clean bandage.
    • For deep wounds. If the animal bite creates a deep puncture of the skin or the skin is badly torn and bleeding, apply pressure with a clean, dry cloth to stop the bleeding and see your doctor.
    • For infection. If you notice signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, increased pain or oozing, see your doctor immediately.
    • For suspected rabies. If you suspect the bite was caused by an animal that might carry rabies — including any wild or domestic animal of unknown immunization status — see your doctor immediately.

    Doctors recommend getting a tetanus shot every 10 years. If your last one was more than five years ago and your wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. You should have the booster within 48 hours of the injury.

    Domestic pets cause most animal bites. Dogs are more likely to bite than cats are. Cat bites, however, are more likely to cause infection. Bites from nonimmunized domestic animals and wild animals carry the risk of rabies. Rabies is more common in raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes than in cats and dogs. Rabbits, squirrels and other rodents rarely carry rabies.
     

  • Human:
    Human bites can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses contained in the human mouth. If someone cuts his or her knuckles on another person’s teeth, as might happen in a fight, this is also considered a human bite.

    If you sustain a human bite that breaks the skin:

    1. Stop the bleeding by applying pressure.
    2. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
    3. Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent infection.
    4. Apply a clean bandage. If the bite is bleeding, apply pressure directly on the wound using a sterile bandage or clean cloth until the bleeding stops.
    5. Seek emergency medical care.

    If you haven’t had a tetanus shot within five years, your doctor may recommend a booster. In this case you should have the booster within 48 hours of the injury.
     

  • Insect:
    Signs and symptoms of an insect bite result from the injection of venom or other substances into your skin. The venom triggers an allergic reaction. The severity of your reaction depends on your sensitivity to the insect venom or substance.

    Most reactions to insect bites are mild, causing little more than an annoying itching or stinging sensation and mild swelling that disappear within a day or so. A delayed reaction may cause fever, hives, painful joints and swollen glands. You might experience both the immediate and the delayed reactions from the same insect bite or sting. Only a small percentage of people develop severe reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect venom. Signs and symptoms of a severe reaction include:

    • Facial swelling
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Abdominal pain
    • Shock

    Bites from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants are typically the most troublesome. Bites from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies and some spiders also can cause reactions, but these are generally milder.

    For mild reactions

    • Move to a safe area to avoid more stings.
    • Scrape or brush off the stinger with a straight-edged object, such as a credit card or the back of a knife. Wash the affected area with soap and water. Don’t try to pull out the stinger. Doing so may release more venom.
    • Apply a cold pack or cloth filled with ice to reduce pain and swelling.
    • Apply hydrocortisone cream (0.5 percent or 1 percent), calamine lotion or a baking soda paste — with a ratio of 3 teaspoons baking soda to 1 teaspoon water — to the bite or sting several times a day until your symptoms subside.
    • Take an antihistamine containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy) or chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton, Actifed).

    Allergic reactions may include mild nausea and intestinal cramps, diarrhea or swelling larger than 2 inches in diameter at the site. See your doctor promptly if you experience any of these signs and symptoms.

    For severe reactions

    Severe reactions may progress rapidly. Dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance if the following signs or symptoms occur:

    • Difficulty breathing
    • Swelling of the lips or throat
    • Faintness
    • Dizziness
    • Confusion
    • Rapid heartbeat
    • Hives
    • Nausea, cramps and vomiting

    Take these actions immediately while waiting with an affected person for medical help:

    1. Check for special medications that the person might be carrying to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (for example, EpiPen). Administer the drug as directed — usually by pressing the auto-injector against the person’s thigh and holding it in place for several seconds. Massage the injection site for 10 seconds to enhance absorption.
    2. Have the person take an antihistamine pill if he or she is able to do so without choking, after administering epinephrine.
    3. Have the person lie still on his or her back with feet higher than the head.
    4. Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Don’t give anything to drink.
    5. Turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking, if there’s vomiting or bleeding from the mouth.
    6. Begin CPR, if there are no signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement).

    If your doctor has prescribed an auto-injector of epinephrine, read the instructions before a problem develops and also have your household members read them.
     

  • Snake:
    Most North American snakes aren’t poisonous. Some exceptions include the rattlesnake, coral snake, water moccasin and copperhead.

    Excepting the coral snake, these poisonous snakes have slit-like eyes. Their heads are triangular, with a depression, or pit, midway between the eyes and nostrils.

    Other characteristics are unique to certain poisonous snakes:

    • Rattlesnakes make a rattling sound by shaking the rings at the end of their tail.
    • Water moccasins have a white, cottony lining in their mouth.
    • Coral snakes have red, yellow and black rings along the length of their body.

    To reduce your risk of a snakebite, avoid picking up or playing with any snake. Most snakes usually avoid people if possible and bite only when threatened or surprised.

    If you’ve experienced a snakebite:

    • Remain calm
    • Don’t try to capture the snake
    • Immobilize the bitten arm or leg and try to stay as quiet as possible
    • Remove jewelry, because swelling tends to progress rapidly
    • Apply a loose splint to reduce movement of the affected area, but make sure it is loose enough that it won’t restrict blood flow
    • Don’t use a tourniquet or apply ice
    • Don’t cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom

    Seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially if the bitten area changes color, begins to swell or is painful.
     

  • Spider:
    Only a few spiders are dangerous to humans. Two that are present in the contiguous United States and more common in the Southern states are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Both prefer warm climates and dark, dry places where flies are plentiful. They often live in dry, littered, undisturbed areas, such as closets, woodpiles and under sinks.

    Black widow spider -
    The female black widow gives the more serious bite, but its bite is rarely lethal. You can identify this spider by the red hourglass marking on its belly. The bite feels like a pinprick. You may not even know you’ve been bitten. At first you may notice only slight swelling and faint red marks. Within a few hours, though, intense pain and stiffness begin. Other signs and symptoms of a black widow spider bite include:

    • Chills
    • Fever
    • Nausea
    • Severe abdominal pain

    Brown recluse spider -
    You can identify this spider by the violin-shaped marking on its top. The bite produces a mild stinging, followed by local redness and intense pain within eight hours. A fluid-filled blister forms at the site and then sloughs off to leave a deep, enlarging ulcer. Reactions from a brown recluse spider bite vary from a mild fever and rash to nausea and listlessness. On rare occasions death results, more often in children.

    If bitten by a spider
    Clean the site of the spider bite well with soap and water. Apply a cool compress over the spider bite location. Aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be used to relieve minor signs and symptoms in adults. Don’t give aspirin to children. Give children acetaminophen instead. Treatment in a medical facility may be necessary for children under 6 years old and for adults with severe signs and symptoms.

    If bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider

    1. If possible, make a positive identification. If the spider bite is on an arm or a leg, tie a snug bandage above the bite to help slow or halt the venom’s spread. Ensure that the bandage is not so tight as to cut off circulation in the arm or the leg.
    2. Use a cold cloth at the spider bite location. Apply a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice.
    3. Seek immediate medical attention. Treatment for the bite of a black widow may require an antivenom medication. Doctors may treat a brown recluse spider bite with corticosteroids.

  • Tick:
    Some ticks transmit bacteria that cause illnesses such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Your risk of contracting one of these diseases depends on what part of the United States you live in, how much time you spend in wooded areas and how well you protect yourself.

    If you’ve received a tick bite:

    • Remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and pull gently to remove the whole tick without crushing it.
    • If possible, seal the tick in a jar. Your doctor may want to see the tick if you develop signs or symptoms of illness after a tick bite.
    • Use soap and water to wash your hands and the area around the tick bite after handling the tick.
    • Call your doctor if you aren’t able to completely remove the tick.

    See your doctor if you develop:

    • A rash
    • A fever
    • A stiff neck
    • Muscle aches
    • Joint pain and inflammation
    • Swollen lymph nodes
    • Flu-like symptoms

    If possible, bring the tick with you to your doctor’s appointment.

    Call 911 or your local emergency number if you develop:

    • A severe headache
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Paralysis
    • Chest pain or heart palpitations