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Eye Injuries

 

Never use drops or ointments for any injury without checking with your doctor.

 

            Chemicals in eye:

 

                        Hold the eye open under running water for 15 minutes or as long as possible to flush the chemical from the eye.

 

                        Call doctor or ophthalmologist with the exact name of the chemical to find out if you need to be seen.

 

            Foreign material in the eye:

 

                        If the matter can be seen, try flushing with water or wiping a moist cotton swab gently over eye.

 

                        If matter cannot be seen, bandage both eyes shut to relieve pain and go to a doctor, ophthalmologist or emergency facility. 

 

                        Sometimes what seems like something in the eye is really a scratch and will heal overnight.

 

            Blunt trauma or sharp objects to the eye:

 

                        See a doctor, especially if complaints of flashing lights, floating  specks or blurred vision.

                       

                        Do not remove anything in eye or try to wash

                        Get to an emergency room

                        Stay as quiet as possible

                        Cover both eyes loosely, do not apply pressure

 

Burns

           

 

                        Immerse the burned area in cool water or apply cool compresses for 15 minutes.  Do not use ice.

 

                        Do not use ointments or creams

 

                        Leave burn blisters intact

 

                        Cover burns loosely with a clean dressing

           

                        Remove clothing only where it is easy to do so without more  damage to the skin

 

                        If severe burn apply cool, wet compresses, but to no more than one- fourth of the body at a time to avoid cooling too much.  Do not use ice.

 

                        Call for emergency medical help.

 

            Electrical burns:

 

                        Disconnect the power source or separate from the current using broom handle, wooden stick or other nonmetal object.  Do not use your bare hands

 

                        Check if breathing and has pulse.  If not start CPR

 

                        Call for emergency medical help

 

            Inhalation burns:

 

                        If hot smoke or chemical fumes are inhaled, the lining of the lungs may be burned even if there are no burns on the skin. 

 

                        Call for emergency medical help immediately

 

Bites

 

Animal and human bites:

 

           

            Wash the bite with soap and water gently

 

            Cover with sterile gauze to keep wound from getting dirt in it

 

            See doctor if severe bite or if on the head or neck area

 

            Check last tetanus shot and get a booster if longer than 7 years since last shot

 

            Check with doctor or emergency facility about the possibility of rabies

 

            If you suspect a black-widow-spider bite, watch for abdominal pain, muscle spasms, vomiting, sweating, swollen eyes, and severe          pain.  If this happens, go to the emergency room.

 

 

Snake bites:

 

            The smaller the person, the more severe the problem. Bites on the chest, head and neck are more dangerous than ones on the extremities.  The   more rapidly the bitten area becomes swollen and red, the more venom  has been injected.

 

            Keep quiet and still as possible

 

            Identify the snake or kill it an take it with you to an emergency facility

 

            If the bite is on an arm or leg, keep the bitten area below the level of the heart to prevent spread of venom

 

            Get to a medical care immediately

 

            Do not give medicines, especially aspirin

 

            Do not cut the bite or attempt to suck the venom out with your mouth.

 

           
Bee, Wasp and Ant Stings

 

 

          Routine stings:

 

                        Remove the stinger with a scraping motion, using your fingernail or a clean , dull knife.  Do not pull out.

 

                        Apply cold compresses to sting area to relieve pain, but do not use ice.

 

 

            Severe allergic reaction to stings:

 

                        An insect bite or sting or any drug or food may cause a sudden, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.  Stings may include facial swelling, difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, collapse with pale or blue skin color and abdominal pain.

 

                        In the event of swelling, difficulty breathing, collapes, etc. call 911 immediately

 

                        Perform CPR if breathing stops

 

                        Keep quiet and still as possible to prevent further distribution of substance in body

 

Bleeding

 

 

            Nosebleeds:

 

                        Sit up, head slightly back so as to curb bleeding

 

                        Pinch the nostrils between thumb and first finger for 5 to 10  minutes.  Don’t cheat and peek every few seconds to see if bleeding has stopped.

 

                        If unable to stop the nosebleed, call doctor. 

 

                        For persistent nosebleeds, or if bleeding is excessive, check with doctor.

 

 

 

            Bleeding:

 

                        Apply constant pressure with gauze pads or a clean cloth directly over the cut for several minutes.

 

                        If possible, elevate the cut above the level of the heart, unless you suspect a fracture.

 

                        If bleeding soaks through the bandages, add more on top, don’t remove the bottom ones.

 

                        Seek medical assistance for severe bleeding only after you’ve tried to stop the bleeding.

 

 

When Does a Cut Need Stitches?

 

            See doctor quickly for:

                        Any wound on the face

 

            See doctor quickly for:

                        Cuts with jagged edges, if there is a gap or hole, if the cut is longer than 1/2 inch

 

            See doctor quickly for:

                        Short but deep cuts

 

 

Choking/Heimlich Maneuver

 

 

            If person is turning blue, making no noise, and/or not able to get air in or out, they are choking.  Call for help loudly, but don’t stop to phone.

 

            Stand behind and place fist between the breastbone and the belly button.

 

            Put other hand over the fist.

 

            Pull sharply upward and inward in an exaggerated bear hug four times in rapid succession.

 

            Usually the object will pop out.

 

CPR

 

 

                       

                        Check for breathing by watching for chest movement

 

            If not breathing:

 

                        Clear airway and tilt head back slightly and lift the jaw so that it  juts forward slightly.

 

                        Pinch nostrils shut and cover mouth with your mouth.

 

                        Blow as though you were blowing up an easy balloon, at a rate of  about times a minute

 

                        Remove your mouth briefly after each breath to allow air to escape before the next breath

 

                        If vomiting occurs, turn person on side to prevent choking.

 

                        Check for a pulse in the neck, next to the windpipe.

 

 

            If no pulse:

 

                        Use the heel of the hand over the lower breastbone.

 

                        Compress the chest 1 to 1/2 inches about       times a minute.

 

                        Breathe once for the person every five chest compressions -- about 15 times a minute.

 

                        Don’t stop until the person breathes, paramedics arrive, or you are at the point of exhaustion.

 

 

Convulsions / Seizures

 

 

Most convulsions in children are from fevers and last only a minute or two.  The same technique works for people having an epileptic seizure. 

 

            Lay person on floor, turned slightly to the side so that mucus or vomit can drain out of the mouth.

 

            Do not try to restrain the movements,

 

            Do not put anything into the mouth and do not grab the tongue, as there is no danger of choking during a seizure

 

            Wait for the seizure to end and check for breathing.

 

            Keep person quiet and call a doctor.

Poisoning

 

 

 

Any nonfood substance swallowed is a potential poison.

 

 

            Get the container and call the doctor, poison control center or local emergency room.  You will be asked the exact brand name and other questions.

 

            Do not induce vomiting unless you are told to do so.  Some substances do more harm coming up than staying in the stomach.

 

            If you are instructed to go to the emergency room, take the container with you.

 

 

Splinters

 

 

            Clean the area with soap and water, unless the splinter is wood.  If it is wood, clean but don’t soak.

 

            Gently remove with clean tweezers or a needle washed with alcohol or heated with a match.          

 

            Wash the area again after the splinter is out.

 

Broken Bones

 

            If there is any possibility of the neck or spine being injured, or if a leg shows an obvious deformity, do not move.  Call for assistance.

 

            For a possible broken arm or finger, or a leg injury without any visible deformity, use any available firm, well-padded surface of appropriate size (a magazine, board wrapped with a towel) to keep the injured part from    moving while you take them for medical help.

 

            Apply cool compresses for pain and swelling, but do not put ice on the injury.


 

Tooth Knocked-Out

 

 

            Rinse the tooth gently in running water to clean it.  Do not scrub it or use any soap or cleaning agent.

 

            Gently insert the tooth into the socket and hold it there.

 

            It you can’t insert the tooth, put it in a clean container and cover with milk preferably, or cool water.

 

            Get to a dentist within 30 minutes if possible.

 

Head Injuries

 

 

            The immediate sign of serious head injury is loss of consciousness,  occurring either immediately or a short time after.  Most head injuries, however are minor and require only close watching.

 

            Wait until the person is calm before assessing damage.

 

            When sleeping, check every hour or two to make sure that they can be roused, are not vomiting, and are breathing well.

 

            Call physician immediately to report head injury if:  vomiting, fluid drainage from ears or nose, unequal pupils, weakness of one side of the body; difficulty walking or speaking; headache that gets worse and worse; diminishing alertness or confusion.

 

Jane O’Leary

5134 Meadowlark Drive

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 342-9030

joleary@rap.midco.net

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