Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [8]
3. Use insect repellents, such as DEET, on clothing and skin. Do not use stronger than 10 percent for children
4. Check regularly for ticks, and shower or bathe after being outdoors
5. Use tick repellents on pets, check their fur, ears and paws for ticks, which can drop off and lurk in carpeting or upholstery
Following a tick bite, symptoms of a more serious disease include:
• Rash, especially a bull’s eye
• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Flu-like symptoms
• Severe headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Paralysis
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
Engorged Deer Tick
Treatment:
1. Remove the tick using tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and gently pulling. Do not crush the tick.
2. If you aren’t able to completely remove the tick, seek medical attention.
3. Seal the tick in a jar or plastic bag. If symptoms of illness occur after a tick bite, a doctor will want to examine the tick.
4. After handling the tick, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
5. Wash the area around the tick bite with soap and water.
Bleeding
Contents
Bleeding
Cuts and Scrapes
Minor cuts and scrapes usually don’t require a trip to the emergency room. Yet proper care is essential to avoid infection or other complications. These guidelines can help you care for simple wounds:
Treatment:
1. If blood is spurting from a wound or continues to flow after continuous pressure, seek medical attention immediately.
2. Wounds that are more than 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) deep, have a gaping or jagged edge, or have fat or muscle protruding usually requires stitches. Seek medical attention immediately because proper closure within a few hours reduces the risk of infection.
3. Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own, however, if they don’t, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. Hold the pressure continuously for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not keep checking to see if the bleeding has stopped, this will dislodge the fresh blood clot that’s forming and cause the bleeding to resume.
4. Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the wound by rinsing it with clear water. Do not use soap, which can irritate the wound.
5. After rinsing, if dirt or debris remain in the wound, use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If debris remains embedded in the wound, seek medical attention.
6. Clean the area around the wound thoroughly with soap and water on a washcloth. This reduces the risk of infection and tetanus. You do not need to use hydrogen peroxide, iodine or an iodine-containing cleanser.
7. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream or ointment such as Neosporin or Polysporin. They help keep the wound moist and discourage infection so the wound closes more efficiently. Note: Some people are allergic to certain ingredients in ointments; discontinue use if a rash develops.
8. Cover the wound with a bandage or sterile gauze, this helps to keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. After the wound starts to heal, expose it to the air to speed wound healing.
9. Change the dressing daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty.
10. Seek medical attention if the wound isn’t healing or if it becomes: more painful, red, warm, swells or drains.
11. If the victim hasn’t had a tetanus shot within the last five years, have them get one within 48 hours of the injury, especially if the wound is deep or dirty.
Hemorrhage
Before helping someone with severe bleeding, if there is time, wash your hands to avoid infection. Never try to reposition a victim’s displaced organs, instead cover the wound with a dressing while waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive.
Treatment:
1. Lay the injured person down with their head lower than their trunk, and elevate their legs. This position increases blood flow to the brain
2. If possible, elevate the site of the bleeding.
3. With clean hands or sterile gloves, remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Do not remove any large