First aid
Signs of poisoning Poisoning or intoxication develops as a result of exposure to various toxic substances on the body. Most often, these substances are used in everyday life and enter the human body due to careless handling. Currently, people use a huge number of different chemical compounds in their activities and take many medications that can cause acute poisoning.<font>Symptoms of poisoning will depend on the nature of the chemical (alkalis, acids, food toxins) and the route of entry into the body (oral, skin, blood). Depending on this, the algorithm for providing first aid to the victim will be determined.
The most typical signs of poisoning are: nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, psychomotor agitation or retardation. The patient may experience tachycardia or bradycardia, thread-like pulse, pale skin, and possibly a state of collapse. In the absence of timely assistance, the patient may experience renal failure, which is manifested by a delay or complete cessation of urination. In case of poisoning with corrosive substances (acids, alkalis), you can see burns on the mucous membrane of the mouth and lips. In case of poisoning with poisons acting on the central nervous system, breathing may be impaired until it stops completely.
Help with poisoning
Gastric lavage. Regardless of the nature of the chemical or toxic substance, its quantity and time of entry into the body, help should begin with washing the stomach with a large amount (3-4 liters) of water at room temperature to clean rinsing water. To do this, you must ask the patient to drink as much lukewarm, slightly salted water as possible at one time and induce vomiting by pressing your fingers on the root of the tongue. You should repeat this manipulation 2 - 3 times, after which give the patient 2 - 3 tablespoons of crushed activated charcoal and a laxative. If you know that your patient has been poisoned by an acid, under no circumstances should you try to neutralize the effect of these substances with an alkali (for example, a soda solution) and vice versa. Rapidly released gases can cause a rupture in the wall of the stomach and the contents will be released into the abdominal cavity.
If trained medical personnel are available, lavage can be performed using a gastric tube.
Cleansing the intestines is the next step in providing assistance. The colon must be rinsed from toxic substances using several cleansing enemas to clean water. In total, 4-5 liters of water at room temperature are used (1-1.5 liters of water can be administered once). It is better to remove the enema tip, generously lubricate the rubber hose with Vaseline oil or baby cream and insert it deeply (15-20 cm) into the patient’s rectum. It is more convenient to perform this manipulation when your patient lies on his left side with his knees bent. Don't forget to place an oilcloth under the pelvic area.
If your patient is elderly and cannot retain the water introduced into the intestine, he should immediately be placed on the vessel and try to wash the intestines, without being embarrassed by the fact that water will immediately pour out from the intestines into the vessel. You just need to add water to Esmarch's mug without removing the rubber hose from the intestine. You should remember that a cleansing enema is not an easy procedure for your patient, given his general condition. So take care of his heart. It may be necessary to administer 4 ml of sulfocamphocaine or cordiamine subcutaneously.
If trained personnel are available, it is better to perform a siphon enema. To do this, you need to prepare: a thick gastric tube, a funnel, a bucket of water at room temperature, an empty bucket, an oilcloth, a vessel, and Vaseline oil.
Infusion therapy. As already mentioned, in case of poisoning, poisons penetrate into the blood and cause disruption of the liver and kidneys, which is manifested by a decrease in urination or its complete cessation. You can cope with this problem only by establishing forced diuresis. The patient should be flooded with saline solutions and urine excretion should be accelerated.
In a hospital setting or with trained staff at home, the best way to do this is to administer saline solutions and diuretics through a drip system. Therefore, a patient with severe poisoning must be urgently hospitalized.
But if for some reason you do not have this opportunity, then you can introduce saline solutions (isotonic NaCl solution, trisol, disol, lactosol, Ringer-Locke solution) into the body through the intestines. A huge number of blood vessels that can absorb solutions approach the intestinal walls. Therefore, after a cleansing enema, you can set up a drip system with a warm solution and, without connecting a needle to the system, insert the rubber adapter of the system into the rectum. The solution supply rate should be 40-60 drops per minute.
Even if you do not have official (pharmacy) saline solutions, you can prepare such a solution yourself (after all, it does not have to be sterile). To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon (without top) of table salt in 5 liters of warm boiled water, and take 1 liter from this volume into Esmarch’s mug. Next, do everything as with a cleansing enema, only inject the solution into the rectum in very small portions (10-15 ml), squeezing the rubber hose with a valve or clamp. However, all these methods are used only if there is no way to hospitalize a patient with poisoning.
Bleeding
Signs of arterial bleeding
The first thing that needs to be established during bleeding is which blood vessels are damaged - veins, arteries, capillaries. First aid will depend on this. When an artery is damaged, blood is bright scarlet and gushes out of the wound. Considering that arterial blood flows from the heart to the periphery, bleeding can be stopped by squeezing the damaged vessel above the site of damage.
The artery can only be compressed by pressing it against the bone. If bleeding occurs from a wound in the middle and lower third of the shoulder, forearm and hand, the brachial artery is pressed; if bleeding from wounds in the shoulder joint, axillary, subclavian region, the subclavian or carotid artery is pressed. If the source of bleeding is in the lower extremities, the femoral artery is pressed.
Help with arterial bleeding
Finger pressure. To urgently stop bleeding, you need to press the artery to the bone with your fingers or, if it is the femoral artery, with your fist. However, you will not be able to hold your fingers with such force for a long time, so while you are holding the artery with your fingers, someone urgently needs to find a rubber arterial tourniquet, gauze pads and cotton wool.
Application of an arterial tourniquet. At the site of finger pressure, it is necessary to apply several rounds of an arterial tourniquet, placing gauze pads and cotton wool under it. The correct application of the tourniquet is indicated by the cessation of bleeding from the wound (after the first round of a tightened tourniquet) and the absence of pulsation below the site of application of the tourniquet. A loose tourniquet will only increase bleeding.
If you are pressing the carotid artery with a tourniquet, be sure to place an unwound bandage under the tourniquet so as not to squeeze the trachea and strangle your patient.
The tourniquet can be applied for no more than 2 hours in summer and 1 hour in winter, so you must put a note under the tourniquet indicating the time of application of the tourniquet.
After this, the patient should be immediately hospitalized, and the part of the body where the tourniquet is applied should not be covered with clothing.
The method of forced limb flexion is used if arterial bleeding is not accompanied by limb fractures. If there is bleeding from the hand and forearm, a bandage is placed on the inside of the joint, the arm is bent to the point of failure at the elbow joint and secured with a bandage in this position to the shoulder. When there is bleeding from wounds in the shoulder and axillary region, the arm is pulled all the way behind the back and bent at the elbow joint. The limb is fixed with a bandage. If there is bleeding from the lower limb, place a bandage under the knee, bend the leg at the knee until it stops and fix it to the thigh. When bleeding from the thigh, the leg is bent at both the knee and hip joints. In this case, a large and tight lump of cotton wool or clothing is placed in the groin area.
Signs of venous bleeding
If the blood is dark red in color and comes from the wound in a slow or slightly pulsating stream in time with breathing, your patient has venous bleeding. Bleeding from large veins (femoral, subclavian, jugular) poses a danger to the patient’s life both due to rapid blood loss and the possibility of air embolism. In addition to cases of traumatic damage to the veins, venous bleeding is possible when blood vessels in the nasal mucosa or varicose veins of the lower extremities rupture. Nosebleeds caused by taking aspirin and increased blood pressure may not stop for a long time and require hospitalization of the patient. First aid for any venous bleeding involves applying a pressure bandage, cold and an elevated position.
Help with venous bleeding
Applying a pressure bandage and exposure to cold. A pressure bandage is applied below the wound as venous blood rises from the peripheral vessels to the heart. This pressure bandage consists of several sterile gauze pads or an unwound bandage, on which a tourniquet or elastic bandage is applied. The correct application of the venous tourniquet is indicated by stopping bleeding, but maintaining pulsation below the point of compression. It is good to apply an ice pack or a heating pad filled with cold water on top of the bandage in the projection towards the source of bleeding. Do not forget that after 30-40 minutes the cold must be removed for 10 minutes to restore general blood flow in this area. If bleeding occurs from a limb, it should be placed in an elevated position.
In case of nosebleeds, the wing of the nose is pressed against its septum; it is good to first introduce a lump of cotton wool moistened with 3% hydrogen peroxide into the nasal passage. Cold is applied to the area of the bridge of the nose or the back of the head for 3-4 minutes with breaks of 3-4 minutes until the bleeding stops. There is no need to throw your head back, because the blood will flow down the back wall of the throat.
Signs of capillary bleeding
Slow flow of blood from the entire surface of the wound is an indicator of capillary bleeding. Despite the apparent harmlessness of such a wound, stopping such bleeding is very difficult if the patient suffers from poor blood clotting (hemophilia).
Help with capillary bleeding
Applying a pressure bandage. If you have a hemostatic sponge in your first aid kit, apply it to the wound and then apply a pressure bandage. If there is no such sponge, then several layers of gauze are applied to the wound, which are fixed with a pressure bandage.
In any case, if the wound is on a limb, it should be elevated and provided with rest and cold (ice pack).
Fainting
Causes of fainting
Sudden short-term loss of consciousness (fainting) can occur for various reasons. The basis of fainting is oxygen starvation of the brain. It can be caused by spasm of cerebral vessels (fright, severe pain), insufficient oxygen content in the inhaled air (stuffy room), or a sharp decrease in pressure (when taking antihypertensive drugs, ganglion blockers, or when standing up suddenly). But in addition to short-term functional vascular disorders, fainting can be a consequence of serious internal injuries or diseases, such as internal bleeding, heart rhythm disturbances with a tendency to bradycardia. Fainting can also be a manifestation of epilepsy.
Loss of consciousness is often preceded by attacks of lightheadedness, weakness, and nausea. The patient falls or slowly sinks to the ground. His face turns pale, his pupils become narrow, but his reaction to light remains vibrant (when a light source is brought to his eyes, the pupils narrow). Blood pressure is reduced, pulse is weak. In a horizontal position of the patient, fainting, as a rule, quickly stops, consciousness returns, the cheeks turn pink, the patient takes a deep breath and opens his eyes. But you should not calm down when the fainting ends; it is necessary to clarify the cause of this condition.
Help for fainting
If possible, place the patient on his back with his legs elevated. If it is impossible to lay the patient down (on the street, in transport), sit him down and ask him to lower his head below his knees or to knee level. All constricting parts of clothing should be unbuttoned and a flow of fresh air should be ensured. Rub or spray cold water on the skin of your face and neck. Bring a cotton swab with ammonia to the patient’s nose and rub it on his temples. Inject subcutaneously 1 ml of a 10% caffeine solution and 2 ml of cordiamine.
It often happens that after fainting a person is embarrassed by the attention of a large number of people and refuses further help. You should insist that the patient not be left unaccompanied in the near future, because fainting may recur. If an organic cause of fainting is suspected, hospitalization and examination of the patient is necessary.
Burns
Types of burns
Depending on the damaging factor, burns are divided into thermal (hot liquid, flame, hot metal), electrical and chemical.
According to the depth of the lesion, 4 degrees are distinguished: I degree - redness and swelling of the skin, II degree - against the background of redness and swelling of the skin, blisters filled with liquid are formed, III degree - necrosis of the skin, IV degree - necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, muscles, bones.
The area of burns is approximately determined using the rule of nines and the rule of palms. The area of an adult's palm is about 1% of the body area. According to the rule of nines, large body parts make up 9 or 18% of the body's surface area. For example, the surface of the head and neck, the surface of the arm make up 9% each, the surface of the leg, and the front surface of the torso - 18% each. Burns are considered severe if the total surface area of damage is more than 10%.
Help with burns
Your first step should be aimed at stopping the damaging effects of the thermal agent. Burning clothing must either be torn off or a blanket thrown over it. Then you must cut off (not remove!) the clothing and discard it. To quickly cool the skin during thermal burns, it is best to pour cold water over it. For chemical burns, first wash the affected skin with plenty of water for 10 - 30 minutes, and then with neutralizing solutions: for acid burns - a soda solution, for alkali burns - a weak solution of acetic acid.
Give the victim 1 - 2 g of acetylsalicylic acid and 0.05 g of diphenhydramine. If the burn area exceeds 15%, have the victim drink at least 0.5 liters of water with baking soda and table salt (1/2 teaspoon of soda and 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water).
Apply dry sterile dressings to burn wounds and urgently hospitalize the patient.
Help with frostbite
Forms and degree of frostbite
When frostbite occurs, tissues are damaged by cold - prolonged vascular spasm with subsequent thrombosis leads to trophic and necrotic disorders in tissues. Frostbite occurs at ambient temperatures below 0 °C. Frostbite occurs most often on the fingers, somewhat less frequently on the ears, nose, cheeks, and feet. The higher the air humidity and the lower the temperature, the faster the damage occurs. In a state of alcoholic intoxication, frostbite occurs more often. In addition, it is accompanied by general hypothermia of the body. This is explained by the persistent dilation of blood vessels under the influence of alcohol and the rapid release of heat. With severe frostbite and cooling of the body, shortness of breath, tachycardia, and a drop in blood pressure are possible.
In the initial period of frostbite, the skin of the damaged area is pale, cold, and insensitive. The victim feels numb. As you warm up, severe pain appears and visible tissue damage develops, depending on the degree of frostbite: I degree - the skin is bluish, with a purple tint; II degree - skin blisters filled with clear liquid; III degree - the skin is blue-purple, swelling appears, blisters are filled with bloody fluid, skin necrosis develops; IV degree - necrosis of the skin and underlying tissues to the full depth, right down to the bones; after a week - wet or dry gangrene.
Help with frostbite
First of all, you need to warm the frostbitten area. Specific methods depend on the situation. Take the victim indoors. If you have the opportunity, warm the frostbitten area in a bath of water, gradually increasing the temperature from 36 to 40 ° C for 15 minutes. At the same time, massage the limb from the periphery to the center. After 30 minutes, wipe the skin dry and treat with alcohol, apply dry sterile bandages with a thick layer of cotton wool on the outside.
If your face and ears are frostbitten, rub them with a clean hand or soft cloth until they turn pink, treat them with alcohol and Vaseline oil. You cannot use snow for rubbing. It will cause damage to the surface layer of the skin.
Along with local measures, it is necessary to warm the patient by giving him hot tea and wrapping him in a blanket. If frostbite is accompanied by the appearance of blisters and necrosis, be sure to hospitalize the patient.
Electrical injury
Signs of Electric Current Exposure
Electric current has local and general effects. A burn occurs locally in the area of current action without surrounding redness or pain. The general reaction in mild cases is expressed in fear, agitation or lethargy, palpitations, arrhythmia. In case of severe electrical injury, the functions of the brain, heart, and breathing are disrupted, up to their cessation and death.
Help with electric shock
First of all, free the victim from the power source - push the electrical wire away from the victim using a dry wooden stick (mop handle, rolling pin), rubber mat or other insulating materials. Remember to take your own safety measures!
If the heartbeat is preserved and there is no breathing, begin artificial ventilation (mouth to mouth or mouth to nose). If there is no heartbeat, begin chest compressions in combination with artificial ventilation (2 breaths per 15 pushes). As a rule, you can start the heart by delivering a strong blow to the middle of the sternum and continuing external cardiac massage (see First aid for sudden death). An indicator of proper heart massage will be pulse impulses in the carotid artery, constriction of the pupils and the appearance of spontaneous breathing. After the appearance of heartbeat and breathing, the victim must be urgently hospitalized
Convulsions
Status epilepticus
Among the numerous manifestations of epilepsy, only epileptic seizures and convulsions require urgent measures. An epileptic seizure can occur either suddenly or after warning signs. These can be various disturbances of perception (visual, sound, olfactory sensations), heartbeat, intestinal peristalsis, speech and mental precursors, etc. For each patient they are individual, but constant.
The causes of epileptic seizures can be brain injuries, tumors, acute cerebrovascular accidents, and eclampsia in pregnant women.
Having lost consciousness, the patient falls and makes a sharp cry. The head is thrown back, trismus develops, the arms are bent, the fingers are clenched into fists, the legs are straightened. The chest freezes in the position of maximum exhalation.
Then twitching of the arms, legs, and tongue begins, which at this time is bitten, the head periodically turns to the sides. Foam comes out of the mouth, involuntary urination and defecation occur. This continues for up to 2 minutes.
After this, the patient calms down. His consciousness is absent, his muscles are relaxed, there are automatic movements. Breathing changes from convulsive to quiet and calm. Deep sleep sets in, after half an hour it is replaced by superficial, light sleep, lasting up to several hours.
Help with epileptic seizures
Outside the hospital walls, your assistance should primarily consist of preventing injury to the patient. If you have managed to notice the warning signs of a seizure, support the patient so that he does not fall backward, with all the scope of his height. Try to smoothly lower it to the floor, placing any soft object (jacket, slippers, bag) under your head.
At the next stage, you need to try to unclench his teeth and insert between them (from the side) some hard object wrapped in cloth (a spoon wrapped in a towel, an unwound bandage folded in half, etc.). This will prevent you from biting your tongue. After the seizure ends, when the patient falls asleep, do not wake him up under any circumstances; he should wake up on his own. Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, the patient should be hospitalized to determine the causes of the epileptic seizure.
Sudden death
Signs and causes of sudden death
Sudden death is accompanied by the following undeniable signs:
Lack of consciousness.
Lack of spontaneous breathing.
Absence of pulsation in the central arteries (carotid, femoral).
Pupil dilation and lack of reaction to light.
The causes of sudden death may be:
electromagnets;
heart rhythm disturbances (with coronary heart disease, myocarditis, heart defects);
bleeding in the brain due to aneurysms or atherosclerosis of blood vessels, especially against the background of high blood pressure;
massive blood loss due to rupture of an aortic aneurysm or other large vessels;
anaphylactic shock;
asphyxia, foreign body entering the trachea.
Sudden death does not imply the immediate transition of the human body to the state of a corpse. This transition is preceded by a state of clinical death. This is the last reversible phase of dying, in which, despite the absence of blood circulation and respiration, the viability of all tissues and organs remains for a certain period of time. This period of time during which resuscitation measures are possible ranges from 3 to 5 minutes (under normal conditions) to 20 minutes (under low temperature conditions).
Help with sudden death
Resuscitation measures must be started immediately, and even better - without allowing a complete stop of cardiac activity and breathing. If the cause of death was asphyxia or drowning, clear the mouth of objects that interfere with breathing. Lay the patient down on a hard, flat surface and loosen any tight clothing. Stand on the side of the patient and place one palm on the lower third of the sternum - in the center. Place the hand of the other hand perpendicular to the back of the first. Start strong pushes with your hands at a frequency of 60 - 70 per minute. In this case, the sternum should shift no less than 4 - 6 cm towards the spine. The effectiveness of the massage is controlled by the passage of the pulse wave through the carotid artery.
After 15 compressions, apply your mouth through the handkerchief to the patient's mouth, tightly wrapping your lips around it and pinching his nose, and exhale 2 vigorously. The patient's chest should rise. Then continue the heart massage. If you have an assistant, then he can perform cardiac massage (4 - 5 pushes), and you can perform artificial ventilation (2 exhalations).
The effectiveness of resuscitation measures is confirmed by the appearance of spontaneous contractions of the heart (pulse in the carotid artery) and constriction of the pupil. If breathing appears, resuscitation can be stopped and the patient must be urgently hospitalized.
In the absence of favorable signs, resuscitation is carried out for 30 minutes, after which cardiac massage and ventilation are stopped.
Dislocations and fractures
Signs of dislocation
Dislocations are a persistent displacement of the articular parts of articulating bones, accompanied by damage to the articular capsule. Signs of a dislocation are:
change in joint shape;
uncharacteristic position of the limb;
pain;
springy fixation of the limb when trying to give it a physiological position;
dysfunction of the joint.
The most common traumatic dislocations are caused by excessive movement in the joint. This happens, for example, with a strong blow to the joint area or a fall. As a rule, dislocations are accompanied by rupture of the joint capsule and separation of the articular surfaces. An attempt to compare them does not bring success and is accompanied by severe pain and springy resistance. Sometimes dislocations are complicated by fractures - fracture-dislocations. Reduction of a traumatic dislocation should be as early as possible.
Help with sprains
Since any, even minor, movement of a limb causes unbearable pain, first of all, you must fix the limb in the position in which it finds itself, ensuring it rest during the hospitalization stage. For this purpose, transport tires, special bandages or any available means are used. To immobilize the upper limb, you can use a scarf, the narrow ends of which are tied across the neck. If the lower limb is dislocated, splints or boards are placed under it and on the sides and the limb is bandaged to them. If the fingers of the hand are dislocated, the entire hand is immobilized to any flat, hard surface. In the area of the joints, a layer of cotton wool is laid between the splint and the limb. When the lower jaw is dislocated, a sling-shaped bandage is placed under it (reminiscent of a bandage put on the hand of an attendant), the ends of which are tied crosswise at the back of the head.
After applying a splint or fixing bandage, the patient must be hospitalized to reduce the dislocation.
Signs of a fracture
Fractures are damage to a bone that disrupts its integrity. Fractures can be closed (without damage to the skin) or open (with damage to the skin). Bone cracks are also possible.
Signs of a fracture are:
deformation of the limb at the fracture site;
inability to move a limb;
shortening of the limb;
crunching of bone fragments under the skin;
pain with axial tapping (along the bone);
in case of a fracture of the pelvic bones - the inability to tear the leg off the surface on which the patient is lying.
If a fracture is accompanied by damage to the skin, it is easy to recognize it in the presence of bone fragments protruding into the wound. It is more difficult to establish closed fractures. The main symptoms of bruises and fractures - pain, swelling, hematoma, impossibility of movement - are the same. You should focus on the crunching sensation in the fracture area and pain during axial load. The last symptom is checked by light tapping along the axis of the limb. This causes sharp pain at the fracture site.
Help with fractures
With closed fractures, just like with dislocations, it is necessary to ensure immobilization of the limb and rest. Immobilization means include splints and auxiliary devices. For fractures of the hip and shoulder bones, splints are applied, covering three joints (ankle, knee, femur and wrist, elbow and shoulder). In other cases, two joints are fixed - above and below the fracture site. Under no circumstances should you try to match bone fragments - this can cause bleeding.
With open fractures, you will be faced with two tasks: to stop the bleeding and to immobilize the limb. If you see that blood is pouring out in a pulsating stream (arterial bleeding), a tourniquet should be applied above the bleeding site (see First aid for bleeding). After stopping the bleeding, apply an aseptic (sterile) bandage to the wound area and immobilize. If blood flows out in a uniform stream, apply a pressure aseptic bandage and immobilize.
When immobilizing a limb, two joints should be immobilized - above and below the fracture site. And in case of a fracture of the femur and plausible bone, three joints are immobilized (see above). Do not forget that the splint should not be placed on bare skin; clothing or cotton wool must be placed under it.
You should know that with an open or closed (with displacement of bone fragments) fracture of large bones, urgent hospitalization and reposition (restoration of the anatomical position) of the bones in a hospital are necessary. If more than 2 hours have passed since the fracture, and the bone fragments have not been compared, a serious complication is possible - fat embolism, which can lead to death or disability of the patient. Knowing this, insist in the emergency room that your patient receive urgent care.
Artificial respiration
Technique 1.
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Lay the victim strictly horizontally on his back, unbuttoning or removing any clothing that restricts the body.
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Place something under your shoulders.
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Stand to the right of the victim, place your right hand under his neck, place your left hand on his forehead, and straighten his head as much as possible (Fig. 2).
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Open the victim's mouth with your thumb or both hands.
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The person providing assistance takes a deep breath, then blows air through the gauze or handkerchief from his mouth into the mouth (or nose) of the victim. When blowing air, it is necessary to monitor the movements of the chest.
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With the mouth-to-mouth method, tightness is achieved by closing the nose; with the mouth-to-nose method, sealing is achieved by closing the mouth.
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Air is blown 12 - 15 times per minute in adults, 20 - 30 times in children.
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The exit of the victim occurs passively.
Indirect cardiac massage.
Technique 2.
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Place the victim on a hard surface on his back, unfasten or remove restrictive clothing.
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Stand to the left of the victim.
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Determine the correct location of the hands when performing indirect cardiac massage (Fig. 3).
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Place the palm of one hand on the lower third of the sternum, and the other hand on its back surface (Fig. 3).
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Pressure is carried out by rhythmically compressing the heart (60 - 80 times per minute) between the sternum and the spine.
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After each compression, allow the chest to expand (to fill the cavities of the heart from the veins), without taking your hands off it.
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At the moment of inhalation, the heart massage is interrupted.
When bleeding
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In case of severe arterial bleeding (the blood is bright red), apply a tourniquet above the wound, closer to the wound site, placing a clean cloth under it, and tighten it until the bleeding stops completely.
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Place a note under the tourniquet indicating the time it will be applied (no more than 1 - 1.5 hours).
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The tourniquet must not be covered with bandages or clothing.
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In case of venous bleeding (the blood is dark in color), to temporarily stop the bleeding, the limb is raised up and a pressure bandage is applied to the wound.
For nosebleeds
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Do not throw your head back, but tilt it forward while keeping your body in a straight position, unfasten the collar and belt.
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Blow your nose. Clear the nasal cavity of mucus and clots of coagulated blood, but it is better to do this under running water.
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Close your nostrils with your fingers, thumb and forefinger for ten minutes.
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Place a cold compress on the nose and back of the head.
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You can put a cotton or gauze swab into your nose.
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If bleeding continues after 5 - 7 minutes, close your nostrils again and call a doctor.
With sunstroke
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In case of slight overheating, take the victim to a cool, ventilated place, unfasten the collar, belt, and remove shoes.
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Wet his face and head with cold water.
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Give some mineral water or lightly salted water to drink.
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Lay the victim down, raising his head; give a cold drink and undress.
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Place a towel soaked in cold water on your head and apply cold lotions to the neck area.
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Before the doctor arrives, cool the body with cold lotions, and drink only after the patient comes to his senses.
When bitten by a snake
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Do not let the victim move.
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Calm the bitten person: panic and agitation speed up blood flow.
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Secure the bitten limb with a splint.
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Apply crushed or chewed plantain leaves to the bite site.
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Give plenty of fluids.
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Do not burn the bite site with potassium permanganate, do not apply a tourniquet, and do not give alcohol.
At the taste of dogs
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Do not try to stop the bleeding immediately (the bleeding helps remove the dog's saliva from the wound).
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Rinse the wound with clean water.
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Disinfect the skin around the bite several times with iodine, potassium permanganate solution, cologne, and apply a bandage.
In case of poisoning
Give the victim 3 - 4 glasses of water or a pink solution of potassium permanganate to lavage the stomach to induce vomiting.
When stung by insects (wasps, bees, etc.)
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If stung by 1 - 2 insects, use tweezers or nails to remove the sting along with the poisonous sac. Be careful not to crush the pouch before removing the sting.
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Place an ice pack on the swelling site.
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Pain and inflammation are relieved by: an alcohol compress, lotions made from grated raw potatoes, rubbing the stung area with a fresh slice of garlic.
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If a wasp accidentally gets into your mouth, you need to suck on pieces of ice and drink very chilled water.
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Itching from a mosquito or bee bite (after removing the sting) can be eliminated by rubbing the skin with ammonia, a solution of baking soda (1/2 teaspoon per glass of water), or a cut onion, a clove of garlic, a paste of table salt, or milky dandelion juice.
In case of injury
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Provide complete rest to the victim.
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Apply a cold compress (moistened cold handkerchief, towel) or an ice pack to the injury site.
After a thermal or electrical burn
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Eliminate exposure to the hazardous factor on the human body.
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It is not advisable to pour water on the burned surfaces of the skin.
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Apply a dry, sterile bandage to the burned area of skin.
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If your eye burns, apply cold tea and call a doctor immediately.
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What you should never do in case of severe burns:
- treat the skin with alcohol, cologne;
- puncture the formed bubbles;
- lubricate the skin with fat, brilliant green, and a strong solution of potassium permanganate;
- tear off parts of clothing stuck to the burn site, touch it with your hand;
- allow the victim to move independently;
- pour water over blisters and charred skin.
Drowning assistance
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Quickly remove the victim from the water.
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Remove silt and dirt from your mouth.
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Turn the victim onto his stomach, then shake with both hands so that water flows out of the respiratory tract and stomach. Lift up by your feet.
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Start artificial respiration. After spontaneous breathing appears, give the victim hot tea and wrap him in a blanket.
For broken limbs
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Rest the fracture site.
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If the fracture is open and there is bleeding, stop it with a pressure bandage or a tourniquet.
If a foreign body enters the respiratory tract
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First of all, free your mouth from any remaining food with your finger wrapped in gauze or a handkerchief, turning your head to the side.
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Hit the victim in the interscapular area with your palm (not your fist!) to clear the airway.
When fainting
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Lay on your back with your head down and legs raised. Unfasten the collar and belt, spray your face with water.
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Inhale the vapors of ammonia, cologne, and vinegar.
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In a stuffy room, open the window and provide access to fresh air.
In case of electric shock (lightning)
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Free the victim from the effects of electric current using available means (board, stick, dry clothes, non-conducting objects), turn off the voltage with a switch.
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If the victim is conscious, without visible severe burns or injuries, lay him on his back, unfasten the clothing that is restricting breathing.
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Don't let it move. Do not give drink - This will cause vomiting and breathing problems.
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If there is no consciousness, but breathing is preserved, lay the victim on his side on a hard horizontal surface, provide a flow of fresh air. Spray with water, rub and warm the body.
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If breathing and heartbeat are disturbed, immediately begin artificial respiration and chest compressions, do not stop until spontaneous breathing and constriction of the pupils are complete or until a doctor arrives