ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES.
This little book is not intended to take the place of the physician, but
is meant to help you to get along without him. We are all liable to
accidents, and you should know what to do in such cases, before the
doctor reaches you. Besides, you can often help yourself, and will not
need the doctor.
HABITS TO CULTIVATE.
Cultivate regularity in all good habits. The hour for going to bed, and
for rising, for eating your meals, for study, and for play, indeed, the
time for every duty relating to your body, should, as nearly as
possible, be just the same, day after day.
[Illustration:
ORGANS OF CIRCULATION.]
BLISTERS.
If a blister forms anywhere on the body, do not prick it. If you do, a
sore will form. Leave it alone until it breaks of itself. By that time
(generally in two or three days) a new skin will have formed, and the
blister will pass away almost unnoticed.
BOILS, STINGS OF INSECTS, AND BURNS.
The skin of a boiled egg is a good remedy for boils. Peel it carefully,
wet and apply to the part affected. The stings of insects may be covered
with moistened earth. Slight burns will cause little pain, if the air is
shut out by means of paste or anything of that nature.
BLEEDING OF THE NOSE.
For continued bleeding at the nose, apply ice or cold water to the back
of the neck and push a plug of cotton, or soft rag covered with powdered
alum up the nose. The “door-key” is good, because it is cold; any other
piece of cold metal will do as well.
FIRE.
If your clothing should catch fire, keep your senses about you. Do not
start on a run, unless the distance is very short to open water, into
which you can plunge. An overcoat, blanket or piece of carpet, wrapped
closely about the body, will smother the flames.
FAINTING.
If a person faints he should be laid flat on his back, given fresh air,
and water sprinkled in his face. The clothing about the neck should be
thrown open, and people prevented from crowding around.
FROST-BITTEN FEET AND EARS.
Sometimes when a boy uses his skates too long, or he is exposed for a
good while to bitterly cold weather, his feet or ears become
frost-bitten. When this mishap takes place, he is apt to do the very
thing he ought not to do.
He must not approach a fire, enter a warm room, nor use warm water or
clothing. When any part of the body is frozen, snow should be constantly
applied to it. If no snow is at hand, the coldest water that can be
obtained must be used with cloths, until the frozen member is gradually
thawed out.
SLIGHT CUTS AND WOUNDS.
All boys use jack-knives, and now and then inflict cuts upon themselves.
As a rule, these do not amount to much, and only require to be washed
with cold water and bound up with a clean rag; but, if a vein or artery
is severed, there is great danger.
[Illustration:
THE HEART.—(a) _The Left Ventricle_, (m) _the Left Auricle_, (b) _the
Right Ventricle_, (n) _the Right Auricle_, (g, o) _Veins to Heart_,
(k) _the Pulmonary Artery_, (c) _the Great Aorta_.]
HOW TO TREAT A BLEEDING ARTERY.
If an artery is cut, the blood will be bright red, and will come out in
jets, corresponding with the throbbing of the heart. As the arteries
take the blood from the heart, the proper thing to do is to press the
thumb strongly upon the artery just above the wound. Then a handkerchief
should be knotted around the arm or leg, as the case may be, above the
hurt; a stick placed under the bandage, and twisted about until the flow
of blood is stopped. This will answer until the surgeon can be brought.
CUT VEINS AND BROKEN LIMBS.
The veins carry the blood back to the heart. If one is cut the blood is
dark and flows steadily. It is managed more easily than an artery; all
that need be done is to place some lint over the wound and bandage it
firmly. This, of course, you will do as soon as possible.
If you should be so unfortunate as to break or dislocate a limb, assume
an easy position and calmly await the coming of the surgeon. If a finger
only is fractured you can walk to his office.
* * * * *
What is said of this little book? To what are we liable and what
should we know?
What should be cultivated?
What is the rule concerning a blister which may form on any part of
the body?
What is a good thing for boils? For the stings of insects? For
slight burns?
What is the remedy for continued bleeding at the nose?
What is the proper course if your clothing should take fire?
What should be done with a person when he faints?
What is a boy apt to do when his ears or feet are frost-bitten?
Give the proper course to be followed.
What should be done with a slight cut?
How can you know that an artery has been cut? What must be done?
What is the office of the veins? What need be done if one of them is
wounded?
Suppose your arm or leg is broken, what is the proper course? If it
is only a finger?
[Illustration:
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.]