• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

11. Treat for shock (see page 162) if necessary.

WARNING!

Unusual Burns

You should suspect that someone (especially a child or an incapacitated or older person) has been a victim of abuse if he or she has any of the following signs:

• A burn with a distinctive or recognizable shape or the pattern of an object such as an iron

• Multiple circular burns (as from a cigarette)

• A burn with a clear-cut edge (as if the affected area were immersed in scalding water)

• Multiple burns in various stages of healing

Blisters

Blisters on the skin are usually caused by skin damage from friction (such as from shoes or repetitive use of tools or equipment) or burns (including chemical burns). New skin forms under a blister, and the fluid inside the blister is gradually absorbed; eventually the outer skin layer comes off. First aid is needed only if the blister breaks or if the raw skin area is likely to be damaged by friction, which can lead to pain and infection.

To treat a blister:

1. Gently wash the blister and surrounding area with soap and water. Do not prick the blister or try to remove it.

2. Cover the blister with a sterile gauze pad and tape the pad in place.

3. If the blister was caused by a chemical, is larger than 2 inches across, or occurs on the hands, face (especially around the mouth and nose), or genitals, see your doctor.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a drop in internal body temperature below 95°F. Hypothermia usually occurs from prolonged exposure to extreme cold or after submersion in cold water, although it can occur in relatively warm water if the water temperature is lower than body temperature and exposure is long enough. During prolonged exposure to extreme cold, more body heat is lost than can be replaced, and body temperature drops. In young, healthy people, hypothermia occurs only after extreme, prolonged exposure. In older people and very young children, hypothermia occurs faster and more easily.

The drop in body temperature may not be noticeable at first but can cause clumsiness, irritability, slurred speech, confusion, and drowsiness as a person’s physical and mental abilities slow. Breathing and heartbeat become weaker and slower, and the person may eventually go into a coma and die.

To treat hypothermia:

1. Call or have someone call 911 or your local emergency number, or send someone for help.

2. If the person’s breathing has stopped, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately (see page 156). If there is no heartbeat, perform CPR if you have had CPR training.

3. Have the person lie down, and keep him or her as still as possible, which reduces the risk of a dangerous drop in blood pressure or heart rhythm abnormalities that can occur when cold blood returns to the heart from the extremities.

4. If outside, shelter the person from the cold and wind in any way you can. Insulate him or her from the ground to prevent further heat loss. Cover him or her with warm, dry clothing and blankets, and make sure his or her head is covered. Use your own body to provide additional warmth.

5. If you can, bring the person into a warm room. Remove any wet clothing. Do not overheat the person too quickly by placing him or her in front of a heater. Rewarming the body too quickly can cause a rush of blood to the body’s surface and a drop in internal body temperature when cold blood from the arms and legs returns to the heart and brain.

6. If the person is conscious, give him or her a warm (not hot) beverage such as broth or warm water with lemon or honey or gelatin dissolved in it. Do not give the person alcohol, beverages that contain caffeine (such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate), or cigarettes. Alcohol can restrict blood flow to the extremities and inhibit the shivering mechanism, which helps warm the body. Caffeine accelerates the symptoms of hypothermia and can cause the heart to beat faster, possibly causing heart-rhythm abnormalities. Tobacco directs warm blood away from the surface of the skin. Alcohol,