FIRST AID
The National Red Cross Society award certificates in First Aid to girls
over sixteen years old only, but any Girl Scout can win the Girl Scout
Ambulance badge by passing an examination on the first three chapters of
the Woman's Edition of the Red Cross Abridged Text-Book on First Aid.
This training of the Girl Scouts awakens taste for hospital work. The
scope of this book is insufficient for a complete course of instruction
in hospital work, so it is best for the leaders to have lectures,
lessons, and demonstrations. There is danger in a "little knowledge" of
such an important subject. So we shall only say that the one important
Scout precept of obeying orders is in a hospital of paramount
importance. Disobedience is certainly a _crime_.
Nosebleed
Slight nosebleed does not require treatment; no harm results from it.
When severe nosebleed occurs, loosen the collar (do not blow the nose),
apply cold to the back of the neck by means of a key or a cloth wrung
out in cold water; a roll of paper under the upper lip between it and
the gum will help; when bleeding still continues shove a cotton or a
gauze plug into the nostrils leaving it there until the bleeding stops.
Eyes
Dust, flies, or cinder in the eye. Get the person's head well back,
seize the upper eyelash and pull the upper lid well forward over the
lower, press it against the latter as it slips back into place, and if
the fly is beneath the upper lid it will be left on the lower lid. If
this fails, place a match on the upper eyelid, catch the eyelashes and
turn the lid over the match, and if you can see the cause of the trouble
remove it with the corner of a handkerchief or use a camel's-hair brush.
A drop of castor-oil in the eye soothes it afterwards. For lime in the
eye use a weak solution of vinegar and water.
FIRST AID TO INJURED
Fire constitutes a danger, especially if there is a panic where the fire
starts. Never throw away a lighted match, it may fall on inflammable
material and start fire. Reading in bed is dangerous, as if you go to
sleep the bed-clothes may catch fire. If you must dry your clothes by a
fire watch them carefully.
Cut away all dry grass around a fire in camp.
Never carry a light into a room that smells strongly of escaped gas;
never handle gunpowder with matches in your pocket.
How to Put out Fire
If your clothing catches fire don't run for help, that will fan the
flames; lie down, roll up in an overcoat or rug. If nothing can be found
to roll about you, roll over slowly beating out the flames with your
hands. If another person is on fire throw him on the ground and smother
the fire with a rug away from the face.
What to Do in Case of Fire
Show coolness and presence of mind; throw water (a few bucketfuls will
often put out the fire), or blankets, woolen clothing, sand, ashes,
dirt, or even flour on fire.
If you discover a fire sound the alarm on the street fire-alarm post, or
telephone to the Fire Department. The doors of a house or a room that is
on fire should be closed to prevent draughts spreading the flames.
While searching a burning house tie a wet handkerchief over the nose and
mouth. Remember that within six inches of the floor there is no smoke;
when you have difficulty in breathing, crawl along the floor with the
head low, dragging any one you have rescued behind you. Tie the
insensible person's hands together and put them over your head. You can
then crawl along the floor dragging the rescued person with you.
Never jump from the window unless the flames are so close that it is
your only means of escape. If outside a burning building put mattresses
and bedding piled high to break the jumper's fall and get a strong rug
to hold, to catch the jumper, and let many people hold the rug. In
country districts organize a bucket brigade; two lines of girls from
water to fire--pass buckets, jugs, tumblers, or anything that will hold
water from girl to girl and throw water on the fire, passing buckets
back by another line of girls.
Rescue from Drowning
There are four practical methods of bringing a drowning person to land.
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
1. If quiet, turn him on his back, and grip him by the head so that the
palms of the hands cover the ears, and swim on the back. Keep his face
above water (Fig. 1).
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
2. In case of struggling, turn him on his back. Then grip his arms just
above the elbows and raise them until they are at right angles to his
body, and swim on the back (Fig. 2).
[Illustration: Fig. 3]
3. If the arms are difficult to grasp, push your arms under those of the
subject, bend them upwards, and place your hands, with the fingers
separated, flat on his chest, the thumbs resting on his shoulder joints.
Swim on the back (Fig. 3).
[Illustration: Fig. 4]
4. In rescuing a swimmer with cramp or exhausted, or a drowning person
who is obedient and remains quiet, the person assisted must place his
hands on the rescuer's shoulders close to the neck at arm's length, turn
on his back, and lie perfectly still with the head well back. Here the
rescuer is uppermost; and, having his arms and legs free, swims with the
breast stroke. This is the easiest method, and enables the rescuer to
carry the person a longer distance without much exertion (Fig. 4).
Release
A drowning person will sometimes grip his would-be rescuer in such a
manner as to render it impossible to tow him to land. The three
following methods are recommended for releasing oneself when clutched by
a drowning person.
[Illustration: Fig. 5]
[Illustration: Fig. 6]
1. When the rescuer is grasped by the wrists: Extend the arms
straightforward, bring them down until they are in a line with the hips,
and then jerk the wrists against the thumbs of the subject. This will
break the hold (Figs. 5 and 6).
[Illustration: Fig. 7]
2. When the rescuer is clasped round the neck: Take a deep breath and
lean well over the drowning person. At the same time, place the left
hand in the small of his back. Then pinch the nostrils close between the
fingers of the right, while resting the palm on his chin, and push away
with all possible force (Fig. 7).
[Illustration: Fig. 8]
3. When the rescuer is clasped round the body: Take a deep breath and
lean well over as before. Place the left hand on the subject's right
shoulder and the right palm on his chin. At the same time bring the
right knee against the lower part of his chest. Then by means of a
strong and sudden push, stretch your arms and leap straight out,
throwing the whole weight of your body backwards (Fig. 8).
[Illustration]
Artificial Respiration
[Illustration: Fig. 9]
When a person is brought to land in an apparently drowned condition lose
no time in attempting restoration. Delay may prove fatal. Act at once
and work with caution, continuous energy, and perseverance. Life has, in
many cases, been restored after long hours of unceasing work. In all
cases send for a doctor as soon as possible. Meanwhile proceed at once
to clear the water out of the patient's lungs. The following method is
the simplest and is called the Schaefer system, after the inventor.
Incline the patient face downwards and the head downwards, so that the
water may run out of his mouth, and pull his tongue forward. After
running the water out of the patient, place him on his side with his
body slightly hanging down, and keep the tongue hanging out. If he is
breathing let him rest; if he is not breathing, you must at once
endeavor to restore breathing artificially. Here are Professor Schaefer's
own instructions:
[Illustration: Fig. 10]
1. Lay the patient face downwards with arms extended and the face turned
to the side.
2. Don't put a cushion or any support under the chest. Kneel or squat
alongside or astride of the patient facing towards his head.
3. Place your hands on the small of the patient's back, one on each
side, with thumbs parallel and nearly touching.
4. Bend forward with the arms straight, so as to allow the weight of
your body to fall on your wrists, and then make a firm, steady downward
pressure on the loins of the patient, while you count slowly,
"one--two--three."
5. Then swing your body backward so as to relieve the pressure and
without removing your hands, while you count slowly, "one--two."
[Illustration: Fig. 11]
Continue this backward and forward movement, alternately relieving and
pressing the patient's stomach against the ground in order to drive the
air out of his chest and mouth, and allowing it to suck itself in again,
until gradually the patient begins to do it for himself. The proper pace
for the movement should be about twelve pressures to the minute. As soon
as the patient is breathing you can leave off the pressure; but watch
him, and if he fails you must start again till he can breathe for
himself. Then let him lie in a natural position and set to work to get
him warm by putting hot flannels or bottles of hot water between his
thighs, and under the arms and against the soles of his feet. Wet
clothing should be taken off and hot blankets rolled round him. The
patient should be disturbed as little as possible and encouraged to
sleep while carefully watched for at least an hour afterwards.
Ice Rescue
To rescue a person who has broken through the ice, you should first tie
a rope around your own body and have the other end tied or held in
shore. Then get a long board or a ladder, or the limb of a tree, crawl
out on this and push it out so that the person in the water may reach
it. If nothing can be found on which to support your weight don't
attempt to walk to the person to be rescued, but lie flat on your face
and crawl out to him, thus so much less weight bears on the ice at one
point than walking. Remember, if you break through the ice yourself,
that if you try to crawl on the broken ice it will break again with you;
better support yourself on edge of ice and await rescue.
Gas and Sewer Gas
Never go to sleep in a room where the gas is burning low. As gas may
escape into the room, very big fires burning in sleeping rooms are
dangerous, especially in charcoal stoves. In underground sewers and
wells dangerous gases are found; if a lighted candle will not burn in
such a place it is certain the air will be dangerous for any one
entering it.
In rescuing a person from a place filled with gas, take a few deep
breaths before entering, carry him quickly out without breathing
yourself. Gas will not be found near the floor of a building, so you may
be able to crawl out where it would be dangerous to walk.
Treating and Bandaging the Injured
A fracture is the same thing as a broken bone. When the bone pierces
through the skin it is called a compound fracture. When it does _not_, a
simple fracture.
If you have to deal with a broken leg or arm, and can't get a doctor at
once, make the patient lie down.
Place the leg in the same position as sound one, and hold it in splints
made of anything that is stiff and rigid like a _flat_ board (that is
better than a round pole) or a limb broken from a tree. Shingles make
excellent splints.
In applying splints, they should extend beyond the next joint above and
the next joint below the broken point. Otherwise the movement of the
joint will cause the broken part to move.
With a broken thigh, the splint should be very long, extending from
armpit to below the feet; a short splint just below the knee will do for
the inner splint.
Splints may be tied on with handkerchiefs; tie firmly, but not so tight
as to cause severe pain.
In a fractured thigh it is well to bind the broken leg to the sound one
by two or three pieces of cloth around both.
The clothing around the leg makes a padding for the splints unless it is
thin summer clothing, in which case straw and leaves should be put
between the splint and the leg or arm.
Fractures of the leg and arm are treated the same way, with splints on
inner and outer sides of broken bone.
A sling will be required with fractures of the arm; this may be made
with triangular bandage or triangular neck handkerchief or piece torn
from your skirt or petticoat. Red Cross outfits are very convenient for
injuries.
Compound Fracture
If the sharp edges of the broken bone pierce through the skin, which
often happens if splints are not well applied and the person moves, the
broken bone again pierces the skin. If a wound is made by the broken
bone, then the wound must be treated first.
Dressing Wounds
All wounds, unless protected from germs, are liable to become infected
by matter or pus. Blood-poisoning or even death may result. To prevent
infection of wound, a sterilized dressing should be applied; this is a
surgical dressing which has been treated so that it is free from germs
and can be got at any druggist's or can be had in First Aid outfits.
Don't handle a wound with your hands, because even though your hands
appear perfectly clean, they are not so; neither is water free from
germs, so a wound should never be washed.
If you have no surgical dressing, boil a folded towel fifteen minutes;
don't touch the inner surface. Apply inner surface of the towel or a
clean unused handkerchief to the wound.
How to Stop Bleeding
Keep a person quiet after severe bleeding from a wound as the bleeding
may recommence, and give no stimulants unless patient is very weak.
There are two kinds of blood--that which flows from arteries and the
blood which flows from veins; the latter is of a dark color and flows in
a steady stream and goes back to the heart. A pad firmly tied on such a
wound usually stops the bleeding.
Don't be afraid of leaving a wound exposed to air.
When wounds bleed use Red Cross outfit as directed on slip contained in
outfit.
If an artery is cut a person may bleed to death in a few minutes. Girls
should know that the blood from a cut artery is bright red and flows in
spirts and jets.
There are arteries in the throat. The artery in the upper arm is about
in a line with the inner seam of the sleeve of your coat.
The artery in the leg runs down from the center line from the point of
the hip in the middle of the crotch in a line with the inseam of
trousers.
Pressure should be applied by putting your fingers three inches above
the crotch and holding it pressed against the bone. You can feel the
artery beating under your fingers, but don't put your finger in the
wound as it may infect the latter. While you hold the artery some one
else should make a tourniquet easily improvised.
How to Make a Tourniquet
Tie a handkerchief loosely around the limb and place a cork or a smooth
stone, just above your fingers on the artery. When this is placed, put a
stick about a foot long under the handkerchief at the outer side of the
limb and twist the stick so that the handkerchief gets tight enough to
keep the stone or cork pressing on the artery just as your fingers did
at first. Tie the stick in position so it will not slip.
Remember that cutting off the circulation for too long is dangerous;
don't leave the tourniquet more than an hour. Loosen it and be ready to
tighten it quickly if the bleeding recommences.
Another method to stay bleeding from an artery when the injury is below
the knee or elbow is to place a pad in the bend and tie the arm or leg
bent with the pad tight in the angle of the joint.
If an artery is cut at the throat, hold tightly together the wound to
stop the bleeding or the person may die instantly from loss of blood.
The best stimulant in cases where the patient is very weak is aromatic
spirits of ammonia. One teaspoonful in a half-glass of water.
Ivy Poisoning
Avoid poison oak or ivy. If poisoned use carbolized vaseline or
baking-soda and water made into a thick paste. Apply alcohol first.
To Ease Itching of Midge-Bites
For midge and sand-fly bites use listerine and Eucalyptus--equal
quantities--liquid carbonic soap--apply one drop on bite--or preparation
sold by druggist.
Frost-Bite
To prevent frost-bite, rub the body when exposed to cold with too little
clothing on, because rubbing brings blood to the surface. When the part
that was cold suddenly has no feeling, then to restore warmth rub it
first with snow or cold water, then gradually with warm water; if hot
water is applied at first it may cause mortification in the frozen part.
Runaway Horses
Don't try to check a run-away horse by standing in front and waving your
arms. The horse only dodges you and runs faster.
Electric Shock
Artificial Respiration should always be promptly given in cases of
electric shock.
The rescuer must not touch the body of a person touching a live wire or
a third rail unless his own body is thoroughly insulated.
He must act quickly. He should, if possible, insulate himself by
covering his hands with a rubber coat, rubber sheeting or even several
thicknesses of dry cloth. Silk is a good non-conductor. In addition he
should complete his insulation by standing on a dry board, or a thick
piece of dry paper or on a dry coat.
Rubber gloves or boots are safer, but they cannot usually be immediately
available.
If a live wire is under a patient and the ground is dry it will be
perfectly safe to stand upon it and pull him off with the bare hands.
But they should touch only his clothing and this must not be wet.
A live wire on a patient may with safety be flipped off with a dry board
or stick. A live wire may be safely cut by an axe or hatchet with a dry
wooden handle and the electric current may be short circuited by
dropping a crowbar or a poker on the wire. They should be dropped on the
side from which the current is coming and not on the further side as the
latter will not short circuit the current before it has passed through
the patient's body. Drop the metal bar, do not place it on the wire or
you will then be made a part of the short circuit and receive the
current of electricity through your body.
From American Red Cross Text Book on Elementary Hygiene and Home Care of
the Sick.