• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 9545 0

under a faucet (or a hose or pitcher of water) and allow cool water to run gently from the inside corner of the eye (next to the nose) outward, flowing over the entire eye, for at least 30 minutes. If running water is not available, use bottled water or milk. Hold the eyelids open. Make sure that none of the chemical runs into the unaffected eye. (If both eyes are affected, let the water flow over both eyes or quickly alternate between one eye and the other.) You can also put the top of the person’s face in a bowl or sink filled with water, with his or her eyes immersed in the water. Tell the person to blink a few times under the water. If the person is lying down and can’t stand up, pour large quantities of water into the inside corner of the eye and let it flow outward, keeping the eyelids open; continue this for up to 30 minutes.

4. Cover the injured eye or eyes with a sterile pad or a clean cloth, and tape it in place with the eyelids closed.

5. Take the person to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

Sprains and Strains

A tear in a muscle or tendon is called a strain; a tear in a ligament or joint capsule is called a sprain. Both sprains and strains result from overstretching the tissues, and the symptoms for both injuries are the same: pain, swelling, and bruising.

Applying a Figure-Eight Bandage

1. Anchor the bandage by making one or two turns around the foot.

Make one or two turns around the foot with the bandage

2. Bring the bandage diagonally across the top of the foot and around the ankle. Continue to bring the bandage down across the top of the foot and under the arch of the foot.

Bring the bandage across the top of the foot and around the ankle

3. Continue figure-eight turns. Make each turn overlap the last one by about three fourths of the width of the bandage.

Overlap the last turn of the bandage by three fourths of the bandage width

4. Bandage until the foot (but not the toes), ankle, and lower leg are covered. Secure the bandage with tape or clips.

Bandage until the entire foot (but not the toes) is covered

A severe sprain can feel the same as a fracture, so you should get medical attention to rule out a broken bone.

To treat either a sprain or a strain:

1. Place cold packs or a small bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the affected area (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for the first 24 to 48 hours to decrease swelling.

2. Keep weight off the injury by supporting it in a splint (if it’s a wrist, elbow, or shoulder injury) or by not walking on it (if it’s an ankle, foot, or knee injury). If the sprain is in the foot or ankle, support the injured joint or muscle with an elastic bandage wrapped in a figure-eight pattern (see box on previous page).

3. Apply heat to a sprain or strain after the first 24 hours to promote healing.

Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds can result from an injury, a scratch in the lining of the nose, repeatedly blowing the nose, or an infection. Usually the bleeding comes from only one nostril. Nosebleeds are seldom a cause for concern and usually stop in a few minutes. Nosebleeds that occur repeatedly (especially in older people) may have an underlying medical cause and should be evaluated by a doctor. Get medical attention if your nose could be broken, if the bleeding doesn’t stop, or if you feel light-headed, are pale, or have a rapid heart rate.

To stop a nosebleed:

1. Sit down and lean forward, keeping your mouth open to prevent blood from blocking the airway.

2. Breathe through your mouth and pinch together both sides of your nose below the bridge for about 10 minutes. (This is usually enough time for a blood clot to form and seal the damaged vessels.)

Sit and lean forward

3. Slowly release your fingers from your nose. Do not blow your nose or even touch it.

Pinch the fleshy part of the nose

4. If the bleeding continues, pinch your nose again for another 10 minutes.

5. Place a cold, wet cloth or a cloth filled with ice over the bridge of your nose and face to help constrict the blood vessels.