Doctor On Board: Assembling a First Aid Kit

Doctor On Board™

First Aid Basics: Part 1

Now that you have had time to assemble an emergency first-aid kit, what are you going to do with everything? I have artificially organized the categories below. In this issue, we will discuss the general category. Some of these can be the most life-threatening situations you could ever have. If you have not taken a basic CPR (cardio-pulmonary rescusitaion) course, I urge you strongly to do it. There are going to be many times when you are out at sea with no help available. You need to know what to do until help can arrive. Nothing I could write would ever prepare you if you haven't done your homework and taken a course. Remember, this is not intended as medical advice, but as a means of preparing you for emergencies. YOU NEED TO ATTEND THE CLASSES.

We will be discussing the following types of emergencies in this series:

Skin: Blisters Scalds Burns Bruises	Bones/Joints: Sprains Fractures
Weather Related: Heat heat stroke cramps exhaustion dehydration	Weather Related: Cold Frostbite chills hypothermia
Bites: Insect Animal Human	Other: Poisoning Diarrhea Eyes Muscle Strain Nausea
General: These are the most serious and life threatening emergencies you can encounter. Keeping your head and following basics until help arrives will keep you and your mates healthy.	Choking Fainting Breathing difficulties Shock Loss of consciousness

CHOKING
This is a life threatening emergency. You must act quickly. Food is the most common reason for choking. The first thing you do is ask the person if he/she is all right. This is not to find out how the person is feeling, but to ascertain if he/she can speak. If they can speak, it means that food is NOT lodged in the windpipe. Keep asking the question until you get an answer or it is obvious the victim cannot speak. DO NOT SLAP THE PERSON ON THE BACK. This can further lodge the object in his throat. You are going to perform The Heimlich Maneuver. It's a simple and life-saving technique that can be performed if the person is standing, sitting or lying down.

HEIMLICH MANEUVER

If the person is standing: Stand behind her and wrap you arms around her waist. Grasp your hands firmly in front of her. The hand resting against the person's abdomen should be in a tight fist between the breastbone and the navel. Hands tightly grasped, press your fist into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust. The food or foreign object should fly out. If it doesn't repeat the thrusting motion again, until the object becomes dislodged and flies out of her mouth.
If the person is sitting: Repeat the same procedure as you would for a standing victim. Stand behind the chair, wrap your arms around the person, grasp around the waist, and give a quick upward thrust.
If your victim is lying down: If the person is not on his back, roll them over until they are flat on the floor. Kneel down and either straddle or kneel along side the body. Place one hand on top of the other. Position your hands so that they are between the navel and the bottom of the breast bone. Move over the person until your shoulders are directly over the abdomen. Thrust your hands in a forcible, upward motion. Repeat this maneuver until you see the piece of food in his mouth. Remove the food quickly if he doesn't spite it out. If you don't, he may breath it in again.

For a child: Place the child on its back across your thigh. Using two fingers of one hand, position them as you would an adult, and give short thrusting motions. DO NOT BE AS FORCEFUL AS YOU ARE WITH AN ADULT.

For Yourself: Find a rigid object about the height of your abdomen. Rest against the object and quickly with force press your weight down on the object. Repeat this until the object in your throat becomes dislodged.
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Fainting
If you see someone about to faint, immediately help them sit down. Place their head either between their knees. Always try to have the head lower than the rest of the body. Once the person is feeling better, have them rest lying down for at least ten minutes. If you are feeling faint, immediately sit or lie down, placing your head lower than the rest of your body.
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Breathing Difficulties
If the person has stopped breathing, place the person on her back. Check for a heartbeat by placing two fingers of one hand along the side of the neck. If you cannot feel a beat, quickly listen to the chest with you ear placed against it. Check to make sure nothing is obstructing the mouth. Place one hand under the neck and the other on the forehead. Use caution, in case a head or neck injury occurred. Gently tilt the head back. Place the thumb of the hand you have on her neck into her mouth to keep it open. Make sure her tongue isn't blocking her throat. Pinch her nostrils, using the hand you have placed on the forehead. Open your mouth wide, take a deep breath and place your mouth over hers. Blow two slow breaths into her. If she does not begin to breathe after two breathes, continue breathing into her mouth about every five seconds for at least one minute. This should average to twelve times a minute. (For a child, your breathes should be gentler, shorter and twenty times a minute). If the person had no heartbeat, IMMEDIATELY CALL FOR HELP NOW. Begin CPR and resume mouth to mouth resuscitation. Please attend a class in CPR before you attempt to do it. You can cause serious injury if it is not performed correctly.

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Shock
Shock always occurs to some degree after any injury. If it is severe it can cause death. A person in shock has a dazed look and is generally confused. He can be very pale or flushed, depending on the injury. Breathing is irregular and may be weak. Vomiting may occur. In severe cases, he may lose consciousness. Immediate emergency medical help is needed. While you are waiting for help, lie the person down on his back. Always keep the head slightly elevated or level with the body. Loosen tight clothing. If the person is shivering, keep warm with blankets. If they are hot and flushed, sponge down with cool, wet towels until their temperature returns to normal. DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK.
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Loss of Consciousness
NEVER ATTEMPT TO GIVE AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON ANYTHING BY MOUTH. Place the person on his side and keep warm with blankets. Loosen tight clothing. Call for emergency help IMMEDIATELY. If the person if not breathing, give artificial respiration. If you do not detect a heart beat, begin CPR.
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In subsequent Issues, all of the emergency topics will be presented. The first will cover General Emergencies. Remember, being prepared is the first step in safe living.

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