Basic First Aid And Beyond

The disturbances created by emergencies and disasters often bring a range of injuries with them.  Depending on what has occurred, the problem can be as small as a cut finger or as serious as arterial bleeding.  However, it should always be kept in mind that even relatively insignificant injuries can become serious if they are not treated promptly.  The unsettled conditions can also cause physical ailments that should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Treating Minor Injuries

Everyone should have a first aid kit available at all times in order to take care of minor cuts and bruises.  The kit should contain bandages, gauze pads and rolls, adhesive tape, antibiotic cream, tweezers, and sterile water for washing cuts and scrapes.  A first aid manual is generally included with most first aid kits, and this should be gone over before any trouble happens.  If there is no manual included, purchase one separately.

Poor quality water can cause illness during an emergency, and your kit should contain medications that will stop diarrhea and reduce fever.  Besides these items, it would be a good idea to have a supply of electrolyte restoring powder on hand, as this can help with dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, or heat. Also make sure to have a water filter that will ensure a good quality water supply at all times.

A good first aid kit will also contain hot and cold packs which will be very useful when dealing with sprains or strains.

When The Injuries Are More Serious

There are times when collapsing buildings or other major upheavals can cause traumatic or life-threatening wounds.  These are often injuries or conditions that will need to be attended to quickly in order to stabilize the patient. 

An injury to the head, neck, or spine should always be considered to be very serious.  You should try to move the victim as little as possible.  Placing the person on a makeshift backboard (you can use a door or tabletop) and tying them in place will help keep the injury from getting worse.  Rolled up cloth can be used on either side of the head to keep it immobile.  Other than this, there is nothing that should be done for this patient unless there is bleeding to be stopped, they should only be treated by medical professionals.

Bleeding, other than small cuts, can present a problem with blood loss.  While a deep cut or slash will bleed freely, the really dangerous bleeding is that associated with an artery.

You will be able to tell the difference because arterial bleeding pulses as the heart beats.  This must be stopped fast to prevent the person bleeding to death.  Pressure points where the arm meets the body and in the groin will often help to stop bleeding when pushed upon.  If absolutely necessary, a tourniquet can be applied.  There are also some products designed to stop heavy bleeding quickly, such as Celox and QuikClot.  Both of these products will stop arterial bleeding.

Shock is a very serious condition that should be dealt with as quickly as possible, as people can die from shock.  Simply put, the absence of blood to the body causes it to begin to shut down.  While bleeding is the primary cause of shock other things, bacterial infections of head injuries can also put a person into this state.  Place the victim on their back and control bleeding, if this is necessary.  Elevate the feet 8 to 10 inches and maintain a normal body temperature, putting a blanket on the person if they are cold and protecting them from the heat if they are hot.  Do not give them anything to eat or drink.  Professional help should be sought as quickly as possible.

For more serious injuries, the START II Trauma Kit offers more then just band aids. Unfortunately, serious injuries can happen during a disaster. This kit includes everything from solar blankets to ice packs and everything essential to keep any injury under control until a professional medic is seen for help.