After making the area safe and checking the ABC of unconscious people, only then begin to look at injuries. Decide which injuries need immediate attention.
- To control heavy bleeding, push clean pads of cotton onto the wound and hold firmly in place. If the injury is to an arm or leg, raise the arm or leg slightly.
- Simple splints may help prevent further damage to broken limbs. Never try and push bones back into place. Broken legs can either be tied together or place a smooth piece of wood between the legs as a simple splint. Use simple slings for arms. People with neck or back injuries should be secured onto doors before moving them to safety.
- If no medical help is available, keep serious injuries covered with clean coverings and prepare a place where people can rest until medical care arrives.
- Treat burns by soaking in clean, cool water (or any other clean fluid). Cover with clean cloth. Never try and pull off loose pieces of skin or clothing
- Potassium permanganate solution may help prevent infection of wounds and is easily stored in emergency stores. Cover exposed wounds with clean cloths to keep off flies and dirt.
Discussion
- Are there people with skills in setting bones in the community? Can they share their skills with others?
- Practise the skills of applying splints and slings for broken arms and legs on each other. Can you invite someone to help provide training in this? Make sure that bandages are not tied so tight that they damage circulation.
- Sterile dressings for serious burns and wounds should always be included in emergency stores. Discuss how you would make bandages and slings from clothing, if there are not enough available in the clinic or store. Consider how you could produce clean dressings for burns and wounds in a disaster.
- Have you used potassium permanganate? Are there supplies available in the local clinic and in the emergency store? Just a very small amount is needed to make a large amount of liquid that will help prevent infection. Too strong a mixture is dangerous. Learn how to measure and use this useful chemical.
- Discuss how you would respond in a culture where men and women are not allowed to touch each other unless they are family members.
- What would you do if you arrived at a disaster scene where 17 people were unconscious and 10 people were badly injured and screaming for help? Who would you help first?
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