When you take a standard first aid course, you are taught that you can recognize a life-threatening emergency and quickly manage it until professional medical help arrives.
But what if your situation does not follow the steps you learned in your standard first aid class? What if your situation is different?
Cuts
You can treat some cuts at home, depending upon the injury. For larger, more severe cuts that aren't stopping bleeding or that continue to bleed, medical attention is required.
To prevent infection, it is important to clean and disinfect the wound. Also, the cut must be covered with a clean and frequently changed dressing.
In addition, you may want to apply a small amount of antiseptic to the cut or graze. Pine sap is a good choice for this purpose.
You can stop bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a cloth or gauze. If blood soaks through the cloth, place another one on top and keep applying pressure until bleeding stops.
Scrapes
Everyone will get cut, scraped or puncture wounds from the outdoors. They are common in wilderness life. Knowing how to treat them correctly can help prevent infection.
In most cases, small cuts or scrapes stop bleeding quickly and easily with a few quick actions. To stop the blood flow, you can use a gauze pads or a clean cloth to press down against the wound.
You can also use some rubbing alcohol to treat a cut. This will help remove dirt and other particles that may be stuck in the wound.
Rubbish alcohol can also be used to clean the skin and kill any bacteria that could lead to infection. Then cover the wound with a sterile bandage or gauze pad and tape. The dressing or bandage should be changed on a daily basis to avoid infection.
Burns
First aid is required if you are hurt by heat, flame, or liquid. First aid is a process that stops the burning process, relieves the burn, and covers the area with bandage.
Do not use ice to cool off the burn. It can further cause tissue and skin damage. It may also cause shock (a sudden drop in body temperature).
Protect the person who has been burned by removing any tight clothing, belts and jewelry from the affected area. To reduce burning, you can give pain medication if necessary.
If the burn is severe, affecting the eyes or covering a large area of the body, dial 111 to get an ambulance. If it is a minor second-degree burn, you can try to treat the injury at home using the steps above.
Broken Bones
Bones, which are living tissues, can become bruised in many different ways. If they are struck with enough force, they can be broken.
Most fractures can be treated with a cast, or splint. This prevents the bone from moving as it heals. This allows bone to heal naturally and decreases pain and bleeding.
Some broken bones require surgery to reduce the break and help it heal. The treatment will depend on the location of the injury, the severity of the fracture, and your age and medical history.
If you suspect a serious break, it's important to seek professional help as soon as possible. If you are not able to get to A&E or an ambulance, call 999.
FAQ
Why are knot-tying skills so vital for survival?
All around the world, people use knots for tying together ropes or fishing lines. They are also used for other purposes, such as tying bags shut or securing items to trees. The ability to make knots is an essential skill that can save lives when you need to tie yourself to a tree or rope or use them to secure your shelter.
What is the single most important thing for survival?
The most important thing you need to survive is food. Shelter from the elements and food are also essential. You won't live long if you don't eat.
How long does it take to find help after becoming lost?
This depends on several variables:
-
You are where you need to be
-
What terrain are you on?
-
It does not matter if you are able to receive cell phone service
-
It doesn't matter if someone has seen you.
-
No matter if you're hurt
-
It doesn't matter if you're dehydrated
-
Water consumption is a matter of personal preference.
-
You can tell if you've eaten in the last 24 hours.
-
It doesn't matter if you are wearing the right clothing
-
Whether you are carrying a map or compass
-
How familiar do you feel with the region?
-
How long have you been lost?
-
How long have you spent searching for help?
-
How long does it take people to notice your missing items?
-
How fast they decide to search you
-
How many rescuers do you attract
-
How many rescues received you?
Why is basic survival skills so important?
Basic survival skills include being able to shelter yourself, make fire, shelter, hunt and fish. These skills are crucial no matter where we live. They become even more essential when we travel alone or in remote areas.
Other survival skills include navigation, self-defense and wilderness medicine. They are crucial life-saving and must be understood before venturing in the unknown.
Other than these essential skills, you can also learn valuable skills while away from home. For instance, if your plans include hiking through the mountains, then you will need to know some mountaineering methods. If you want camping in the desert, you will need to know how to survive in extreme temperature. There are many different ways to prepare yourself for any situation.
Statistics
- In November of 1755, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII occurred about 50 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. (usgs.gov)
- We know you're not always going to be 100% prepared for the situations that befall you, but you can still try and do your best to mitigate the worst circumstances by preparing for a number of contingencies. (hiconsumption.com)
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
- The downside to this type of shelter is that it does not generally offer 360 degrees of protection and unless you are diligent in your build or have some kind of tarp or trash bags, it will likely not be very resistant to water. (hiconsumption.com)
External Links
How To
How to Purify Water in Emergency Situations
The most important task in natural disasters is to purify drinking water. Purifying drinking water requires filtering, disinfection, as well as storage. Clean drinking water has saved many lives in times of need. It also helps people recover faster after disasters.
Purified water should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Purified water must be kept out of direct sunlight. Use plastic bags or bottles if you do not have enough containers. Keep water at 4 degrees Celsius (40 F) or below. Avoid freezing as ice crystals can form in the water.
These are the steps to follow when you prepare purified water
-
Boil water in a saucepan until it boils. By straining the boiling water through an a strainer, you can remove any impurities.
-
To every 2 gallons, add one teaspoon of the iodine. Before adding the iodine to the mixture, whisk it well.
-
The water should be kept in an airtight container. Do not keep the water longer than three days.
-
The date, the type of water and the amount of water should be clearly written on the label.
-
Make sure that your water supply has a safe and reliable source!