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What can go wrong? Heck, we're human. If something can go wrong, it will. Your first step is to have a basic First Aid Kit in your car including an emergency roadside kit with flairs, wooden waterproof matches, blankets and bottled water. Drugstore.com carries all of these. And don't forget the fire extinguisher and a box of baking soda, (baking soda works on grease fires in case the fire
extinguisher fails to deploy. It's a good idea to keep a box next to your stove as well). Summer is for bar-b-quing, not car-b-quing and I seem to pass at least one car-b-que a month on the LA freeways.
Of the situations that can go wrong, these are the most common.
Heat Stroke Cuts Burns Broken bone Insect & spider bites Animal bites choking Allergic reactions
Do some research ahead of time on the poisonous plants and insects common to your destination. If bringing children, make sure they know what these look like. I like to print pictures off the internet and create flash cards that we play with in the car. I also attach a reward, (ice cream or something) if they can spot these things while we're out and about. This forces the children to be vigilant and makes a game out of
keeping them safe. Contact the visitor information when you arrive for any updates on danger areas or hazards. Bring a hat and sunglasses, even for children. Above all, even if it is a day hike, make sure someone, the ranger or friend knows your destination, place of departure and expected time of return. The majority of injuries, lost children and problems occur on day hikes. If they don't know you're out there, they
will not know to look and if you're heavily injured, this could mean the difference between life and death. Don't rely on your cell phone being your lifeline. It could break or fail to get a signal. It's best to have two adults (or a responsible teen) on present for any activity involving children. If one of you gets injured, the other can go for help. Remember that adults over sixty and children do not
have the same stamina of an adult in his or her prime. Heat stroke, hypothermia and dehydration hit children and the elderly much quicker than the average adult.
See
12-Tips for a heart smart Vacation With the basics down, the following precaution and remedies address the most common summer injuries Heat Stroke
Preventing it
Sun block with an SPF of 15 up to 30; anything over 30 SPF is superfluous. Just remember to reapply at regular intervals and don't forget your feet. A hat. It can be as simple as getting your head out of the direct sunlight. Sunglasses are not so much to protect your eyes, as it is the keep you from squinting. This will keep you from getting so tired so quickly and also reduce headaches cause by the glare of the sun. Water is as important as sun block keeping yourself well hydrated reducing your chance of having heatstroke.
Heat Safety Tips Help Keep People Cool With higher than normal temperatures predicted for much of the country, the American Red Cross urges people to beat the heat and prepare for the first heat wave of the summer season. As temperatures climb over 90 degrees (F) and stay there for several days, people, especially the very young and the very old, become susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses. Heat-related illnesses can cause
serious injury and even death if unattended. Signs of heat-related illnesses include nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating and headaches. Victims of heat-related illness should be moved to a cool place, given cool water to drink and ice packs or cool wet cloths should be applied to the skin. If a victim refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness, 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) number should be called immediately. The Red Cross advises the following tips on how to stay cool:
IN THE HOT WEATHER...
Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella. Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician. Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Stay indoors when possible.
KNOW WHAT THESE HEAT-RELATED TERMS MEAN
Heat wave: More than 48 hours of high heat (90 F or higher) and high humidity (80 percent relative humidity or higher) are expected. Heat index: A number in degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really feels with the heat and humidity. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 F. Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually involve the abdominal muscles or the legs. It is generally thought that the loss of water and salt from heavy sweating causes the cramps. Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion is less dangerous than heat stroke. It typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock. With heat exhaustion, sweat does not evaporate as it should, possibly because of high humidity or too many layers of clothing. As a result, the body is not cooled properly. Signals include cool, moist, pale or flushed
skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal. Heat stroke: Also known as sunstroke, heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high -- sometimes as high as 105 F.
GENERAL CARE FOR HEAT EMERGENCIES...
Cool the Body Give Fluids Minimize Shock
Heat cramps/heat exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths such as towels or wet sheets. Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation! Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, wrap them in a cloth and place them on each of the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. (Do not use rubbing alcohol because it closes the skin's pores and prevents heat loss.) Watch for signals of
breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.
Cuts Small cuts and abrasions, if you bring a small Backpacker's first aid kit this should have everything in it. If you decide to put one together yourself to make sure it at least has.
For gushing wounds, reduce the bleeding by raising the wound above your heart (even if this requires lying down at an angle), apply pressure with a clean rag and contact emergency personnel. A tourniquet functions as a last resort. If an EMT or medical personnel sees a tourniquet, they will not remove it and presume the appendage is dead. Once the appendage is dead, the only recourse is amputation. The reason for that is, if the arm does not have circulation for a certain amount of
time, the blood coagulates, leading to potential blockages that can cause death. Burns They’re different severity to Burns, and a first-degree second-degree and a third-degree burn. Each one is progressively worse. The most common
first-degree burn is sunburn. This is irritating and maybe very uncomfortable, and even slightly painful. There is no immediate danger. But you should try to avoid it. A second-degree burn covers extremely bad sunburn, showing signs of blistering. Perhaps even scalding by hot water being burnt on a stove. This should be treated its as if it was a serious injury with running cold water, and burn ointment
from a first aid kit. A third-degree burn is rare. This where there is actually charring and usually occurs from residential fires or exposure to intense heat. Third degree burns require immediate medical attention. Do not touch the burn, put grease on it or attempt to treat this yourself.
Broken Bone. Look inside an ambulance and you'll see a small pile of cardboard strips and tape. This is for stabilizing broken bones or dislocated shoulders, this commonly referred to as "arts and crafts" in the EMT world. In the absence of these tools, your first consideration is stabilizing the bone by using a splint. Do not set it, meaning do not try to make it fit or straight again. You want to prevent it from moving but let the experts set it.
Do not move someone who has fallen on their back or twisted their neck. You don't know if a rib has broken, moving could puncture a lung, kidney, the heart or cause paralysis by severing any number of nerves if not done correctly. The only exception to this is if fire or eminent danger is present and not moving the person would result in death. For broken arms and other appendages, tape and cardboard are the
easiest methods but tree branches and bandanas can work in a pinch. Along with the tape in the cardboard use gauze to secure the makeshift split. If it happens to be a compound fracture (that's where the bone is visible through the skin) workaround the bone and do not touch it. Remember, your only job is to stabilize the break and prevent it from getting worse. Medical professionals will fix it. Insect &
Spider Bites Avoiding insect bites
Most people's greatest fear is being bit by spider, yet few dangerous spiders and insect exist. We have the infamous Brown Recluse, Scorpions and the ever-popular Black Widow, this is what you need to do if you become lunch. Do not try to suck out the poison. This folk remedy is usually associated with snakes but doesn't do anything to make it better and you'll waste valuable time. Try not to move; this speeds up your blood circulation and the poison's ability
to enter your entire body It is generally known that you're always within 3 feet of a spider. It is unusual to be bitten by a dangerous spider. But if you happen to be bitten by a Brown Recluse (also known as the Violin Spider, due to the small violin on its abdomen) the only thing you can do is, limit movement and immediately get to a hospital.
Animal Bites Eliminating the risk continues to be your best strategy. Explain to children that animals are like people and sometimes they don't like to be touched and get grouchy. The only way an animal can say no, is to growl or bite, or to lay its ears back, arch its back or lower its head. Let your children know this is how animals talk and to move away from any animal doing these things. Instruct them not to approach animals they do
not know and the chances of getting bit, diminish. Of course, children do not always listen. With animal bites there are two dangers, the bite itself and the damage it does to the body. This should be treated as a cut with serious bites needing professional care. The second danger is any infectious diseases that the animal may be carrying. If possible, monitor the animal that bit you. For serious
attacks alert the owner, Animal Control and the police. Rabies is rare in the United States, but distemper and other diseases are not. Causes and Signals of Choking Did you know that more than 3,000 people die each year as a result of choking? Would you be able to recognize if a family member or friend started to choke? Do you know what activities might lead to choking? Here are some common causes of choking:
Trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food. Drinking alcohol before or during meals. Alcohol dulls the nerves that aid in swallowing. Wearing dentures. Dentures make it difficult to sense whether food is fully chewed before it is swallowed. Eating while talking excitedly or laughing. Eating too fast. Walking, playing, or running with food or objects in the mouth.
These are just some of the causes of choking. If you want to learn more about the signals of choking or the care needed to give to a person who is choking, take an American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Course. Follow these safety precautions to help prevent children from choking:
Don't leave small objects, such as buttons, coins and beads within an infant's reach. Have children sit in a high chair or at a table while they eat. Do not let children eat too fast. Give infants soft food that they do not need to chew. Make sure that toys are too large to be swallowed. Do not give infants and young children foods like nuts, grapes, popcorn or raw vegetables. Make sure that toys have no small parts that could be pulled off. Cut foods a child can choke on easily, such as hot dogs, into small pieces. Supervise children while they eat.
Allergic Reactions There are the allergies you are aware of, and those you are not. Any time you travel, you risk the possibility of encountering a allergy you never knew you had. Over the counter medications like Benedryl work on most common problems. Make sure everyone in your group is aware of any medical allergies each of you has.
I usually keep a list of these along with the contact number in case of an emergency for anyone I'm traveling with in my wallet. The most common treatment by medical personnel for allergies is an EpiPen, (EPINEPHRINE). If you need to inject someone, read the directions included in the packaging and be careful not to place your thumb over the top of the pen, a natural reaction when
injecting into the leg which will cause the full dosage going into your thumb. They won't get the medicine and you could lose your thumb. If you don't have treatments available and the allergic reaction is unknown, get to a doctor fast. Some reactions cause horrendous side effects and can close off your ability to breath, inflame organs or appendages. ON THE NEXT PAGE
THE RED CROSS PROVIDES A CHECK LIST FOR ALL MAJOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES In addition to his Black Belts in Martial Arts, Chris Murray is also a Licensed Emergency Medical Technician, (EMT) |
