Don’t let accidents ruin a hard-earned holiday

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 6

Don’t let accidents ruin a hard-earned holiday

Many a holiday has been spoiled by a minor accident or illness which might have been prevented by a little forethought or alleviated by prompt, simple, properly applied treatment.

With the assistance and advice of the St John Ambulance Brigade, the following rudimentary advice is offered to holidaymakers. A check on first aid supplies may prove just as vital to the success of a holiday as the packing of all the provisions and equipment that most people regard as the essentials for a happy holiday. Sound knowledge is also necessary; and anyone who has not been trained in first aid is better to be cautious in treating a patient than to assume his diagnosis is correct and undertake treatment that may compound the trouble. Get the best advice that is handy.

When an injury or illness appears to be serious, when in any doubt about the condition of the patient, or when a patient does not appear to be responding to treatment, advice should be sought from a hospital, a doctor, or the St John Ambulance. For the untrained, first aid advice is best restricted to simple treatment that limits the chances of complications. This summary or advice offers no more than that. Burn* and ecalde Place the injured part of the body in cold water for about five minutes. Then cover the burn with a dry dressing. Do not break any blisters which form. Any metal objects such as rings, or a watch strap, near the burned area should be removed quickly as they may intensify the bum Do not apply lotions, ointments, or oil dressing. Remove any constricting items before swelling begins. Home treatment should only be attempted with minor burns and scalds. Medical advice should be sought quickly for any serious burn. Superficial burns or scalds are more painful than small deep hums. Avoiding infection is a vital part of first aid.

Cuts and bruises

These should be carefully washed clean with an antiseptic solution. Take care if it is a concentrated antiseptic; make sure that it is diluted and made up exactly according to the instructions on the container. The wound or bruise should be dried with clean gauze and a sterile dressing applied. Bandage firmly, but not tightly, to keep the dressing in place.

Medical advice should be sought for serious cuts which may require stitching.

Minor bleeding may appear alarming; it usually stops of its own accord, and a little pressure applied locally will control it.

The old remedy of eating dry bread in an attempt to dislodge a bone or other sharp object stuck in the throat is mistaken. A sharp object which goes further into the digestive system may puncture the stomach or intestines and cause even more serious damage. If the bone, or any other object cannot be removed through the mouth, the patient will need medical treatment. Fish-hooks

If a fish-hook gets caught in the flesh do not try to remove it unless the head has gone right through and the barbs are not embedded in the flesh. Unskilled attempts to remove a hook which has the barbs embedded in the flesh may cause serious wounds.

Hangovers

There are many favourite cures and almost all are guaranteed by those who recommend them. All of them are of questionable value. The best advice is: do not drink too much alcohol. Heat stroke

Place the sufferer in the shade in a restful position. Apply cold or wet cloths to the head, fan the body, and give him cold drinks if desired. In severe cases, when a high temperature persists and the victim suffers cramp, medical advice should be sought. The onset of heat stroke may be quite sudden. The patient may quickly become unconscious. If he is conscious, he will prob-

sprain does not appear to be responding to this treatment after a day or two, seek medical advice. In doubtful cases, treat the injury as if it were a fracture; try to keep the injured part steady. Fractures

A fractured bone is a broken bone. Usually, it is caused by unusual force being applied to the bone, either directly, where the injury occurs, or from force being transmitted up a limb so that a bone is broken away from the point of impact. Usual signs of a fracture are discolouration or bruising of the surrounding skin; pain; loss of function; unnatural shape and deformity of a limb. Sometimes there is a wound and the broken bone is visible. If a fracture is sv *ed. *" wounds she

pecteo, all wounds should oe covered with sterile dressings and limbs should be very carefully immobilised. For example, tie an injured leg to the uninjured leg by using three broad bandages tied around the ankles, knees and legs. An injured arm may be supported with a sling.

All fractures or suspected fractures require prompt medical treatment at hospital. Do not move any patient with a suspected fracture until the limb has been adequately supported. Strings Bee stings: Remove the sting. Apply an antihistamine cream if it is available immediately. Otherwise the area should be bathed in a weak alkaline solution. A table-spoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in a pint of water makes a suitable lotion. Wasp stings: Remove the sting. Apply an antihistamine cream if it is available. Otherwise, the area should be bathed in a very weak acid solution. Vinegar diluted with water makes a suitable lotion. Bathe the area frequently, and, if the swelling does not go down, medical advice should be sought.

Most insect bites are relieved if smeared with an antihistamine cream or dabbed with methylated spirits — but do not. use this near the eyes.