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? You may have to handle a serious injury yourself for several hours or even days before professional medical assistance arrives.
Cuts
You can treat some cuts at home, depending upon the injury. If the bleeding continues, or is severe, you should seek medical attention.
To prevent infection, it is important to clean and disinfect the wound. The cut should also be covered with a clean dressing and changed often.
In addition, you may want to apply a small amount of antiseptic to the cut or graze. For this purpose, pine sap is a great choice.
You can stop bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a cloth or gauze. Continue to apply pressure to the area until bleeding stops.
Scrapes
Everybody is likely to be exposed to cut, scrape, or puncture wounds. They are common in wilderness life. Knowing how to treat them correctly can help prevent infection.
With a few quick actions, most small cuts and scrapes stop bleeding quickly. You can apply a gauze pad or clean cloth to the wound to stop the blood flowing.
A bit of rubbing aloe vera can also be applied to a cut. This will remove dirt, grit, and other particles that might be trapped in your wound.
The rubbing alcohol will also help clean the skin and kill bacteria that could cause infection. Then cover the wound with a sterile bandage or gauze pad and tape. As it helps prevent infection, it is crucial to keep the wound clean and change the bandage or dressing on a regular basis.
Burns
If you are injured by contact with a hot object, flame or liquid, you will need first aid. You should immediately stop the burning, remove the burn, irrigate the area, and cover the area with a dressing.
Ice is not recommended to cool the burn. This can cause further tissue and skin damage. It can also lead to shock (a sudden drop on your body temperature).
Remove all jewelry, belts, tight clothing and belts from the burned area. To reduce burning, you can give pain medication if necessary.
Call 111 for an ambulance if the burn is very severe or affects the eyes. It is possible to treat minor second-degree burns at home with the steps outlined above.
Broken Bones
Bones are living tissues and can get bruised in lots of ways. They can also become broken if struck with enough force.
Most fractures can be treated with a cast, or splint. This prevents the bone from moving as it heals. This allows the bone and blood vessels to heal naturally, and it reduces pain and bleeding.
Surgery is required to treat broken bones. The treatment will depend on the location of the injury, the severity of the fracture, and your age and medical history.
It is important to get professional help immediately if you suspect that you have suffered a serious injury. Call 999 for an ambulance or Triple Zero (000) if you can't get to an A&E.
FAQ
How to Navigate Without or With a Compass
Although a compass does not tell you where you're going, it can help you get back to your home in case you lose your bearings.
There are three options for navigation:
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By landmarks
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Magnetic North (using a compasse)
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By stars
You recognize landmarks when you see them. These include trees, buildings and rivers. Landmarks provide visual clues to where you live.
Magnetic North is simply where the Earth's electromagnetic field points. The sun appears to be moving across sky if you look up. However, the earth's magnet field causes the sun to move about the earth. Although it appears that the sun is moving across the sky and around the horizon, it actually does so. At noon, it is directly overhead. The sun is directly beneath you at midnight. The magnetic field of the earth is constantly changing. This means that the exact direction and orientation of the North pole magnetically changes each day. This means that sometimes you may be off course for quite a while.
Another way to navigate is with stars. Stars rise and set above the horizon. These are points in space you can use to find your exact location relative to other locations.
How do I stay calm during a survival situation
Most situations will require patience and calmness. It is easy to panic when you are in a survival situation. But staying calm and patient will allow you to deal with whatever happens.
It is important to remember that it is impossible to change the outcome. The only thing you can control is how you respond to it. You can feel good about yourself, even if your goals weren't met.
It is essential to keep calm and collected in an emergency situation. This means that you must be mentally and emotionally prepared.
Mental preparation means having a clear goal and realistic expectations.
Physical preparation is ensuring you have enough food for the rescue and water.
You can now relax and enjoy the experience once you have done these two things.
How do I pick the right knife?
It's not easy to pick the right knife. There are so many brands out there that claim to be the best.
But which one is really the best? How can you choose between them?
First, think about the type of tasks you will be using your knife for.
Do you have the ability to cut wood or skin animals?
Is it for fishing or hunting? Is it intended for camping cooking, or kitchen cutting?
Will you use it to open cans and bottles? Do you intend to open packages and boxes?
Do you need your knife to be strong enough for heavy loads?
Consider cleaning it after each use. How often are you going to wash it?
Is it necessary to keep its edge over time?
What is the most essential tool for survival?
A sharp knife can be your most valuable survival tool. A sharp knife is more than just any other knife. You won't get much out of it if you don’t know how to properly use it.
A knife without its blade is useless. A knife with an unattractive blade is dangerous.
Master craftsmen are skilled in making the best knives. They take pride in their work and make sure that every knife is flawless.
They regularly sharpen their knives and keep them clean.
It is important to feel the knife in your hand before buying it. You should feel at ease with the knife in your hands.
You should not notice any marks on the handle.
If you do find such flaws, ask the seller to fix them. Do not accept a knife that does not feel right in your hands.
Statistics
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
- 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)
- 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)
- The Dyrt PRO gives 40% campground discounts across the country (thedyrt.com)
External Links
How To
How to Purify Water in Emergency Situations
When natural disasters strike, the most important activity is water purification. Filtration, disinfection and storage are the steps involved in purifying drinking waters. Clean water has been a lifesaver during emergency situations. It also makes it easier to recover faster after disasters.
Purified water should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Purified water should not be stored with oxygen. Plastic bags or bottles can be used if you don’t have enough containers. Keep the water cool at 4 degC (40 F) or lower. Avoid freezing because ice crystals may form inside the water.
These steps are important when purifying water:
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Boil water to boil until it is dry. By straining the boiling water through an a strainer, you can remove any impurities.
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Add one teaspoon of iodine to every 2 gallons of water. Before adding the iodine to the mixture, whisk it well.
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The water should be kept in an airtight container. Keep the water at room temperature for no longer than three working days.
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Label the container with the date and type of water.
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Make sure that your water supply has a safe and reliable source!