Flying Doctors Korea Crisis Education - Condition requiring first aid treatment Principles of wound care
#Wound care
(Principles of wound care: cleansing, stopping the blood, disinfection, protection) The principles of wound care are cleansing the wound and stopping the blood
Disinfection and protection can be done at the hospitals
#wound care - wound cleansing Wound cleansing is almost the only method to reduce the risk of infection
The use of disinfectants or antibiotics in a hospital setting has little effect in preventing infections
rinse the wound with flowing water, and if the contamination is severe, using soap to clean the wound is also acceptable
#wound care - techniques to stop the bleeding Direct pressure technique is highly important as a method to achieving stopping of the blood
(direct pressure technique: apply pressure with a clean gauze or towel to achieve the stopping of the blood) It is often advisable to keep the pressure only in the wounded area
Fold a gauze or towel to a size that fits the wound
Apply focused pressure specifically on the wound area
(direct pressure technique: apply pressure with a clean gauze or towel to achieve the stopping of the blood) Direct pressure alone can often achieve stopping within 15 minutes
Elevating the injured area above heart level is recommended
If direct pressure doesn't work, you should use a tourniquet
The tourniquet should be tied once with cloth on the side closer to the heart than the wound,
Wrap a stick on the area, then twist the stick
Secure it with enough pressure that only two fingers can barely pass through
(for blood circulation to the extremities) release every 30 minutes
#wound care - precautions when disinfecting wounds If you want to clean a wound at home, there are three methods :
Hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, povidone-iodine
Remember that disinfectants should never come into contact with the wound
This is because disinfectants are toxic substances that kill bacteria and viruses
If they come into contact with the wound, they can damage cells
Therefore, only use them to clean the surrounding skin of the wound
Use them only to the extent that bacteria cannot enter the wound
The disinfectant effect of alcoholic drinks is minimal
#wound care - bad wound An example of a bad wound would be a case of deep nail penetration
In such cases, self-cleansing and disinfection are not possible, so there is a higher risk of infection
In this case, you must go to the hospital
For diabetic patients, even small wounds can become infected
A crushed wound is also a bad wound
(laceration : an injury were the skin is torn) For example, if you hit your forehead against a flat wall and develop a laceration
If the skin is torn by blunt force on a non-sharp surface
It is a very bad wound, so you must come to the hospital
#wound care - bite wound Whether it’s humans or animals, there are a lot of bacteria in the mouth
Therefore, a bitten wound must be considered a contaminated wound, and you should go to the hospital
#wound care - snake bite wound When bit by a snake, you should never suck out the wound with your mouth
Not only will the venom not be removed, but the person who sucked out the venom can also be exposed to the venom
Incision is also an ineffective treatment
Do not move if possible and keep the wound area lower than the heart
Wrap it lightly and go to the hospital
There is no need to catch the snake
Knowing the type of snake does not change the treatment
Do not attempt to catch the snake
#wound treatment - when stung by a bee When stung by a bee, usually local symptoms occur and disappear
(Local symptoms: swelling, pain, itching, redness)
(Systemic symptoms: nausea/vomiting, dizziness, fainting, fever) However, if systemic symptoms occur, it is an emergency situation
(Acute allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis): if the face swells rapidly within 15 minutes, difficulty breathing or swelling of the eyes occur) This is called Acute Allergic Reaction (=Anaphylaxis)
If the face swells rapidly within 15 minutes or there is difficulty breathing,
or causes swelling in the eyes, you have to head to the hospital as fast as you can
(Emergency measures to take when stung by bees) If there are no systemic symptoms, the bee sting should be removed
In case of honeybees, they die after removing the stinger which has a venom sac at the end of it
Push the stinger out with a plastic card to avoid squeezing the venom sac
(For local symptoms: ice compression /For honeybee stings, use ammonia solution/ For wasp stings, use vinegar or lemon juice) Just for local symptoms, put on ice packs
Apply ammonia solution for honeybee stings and vinegar or lemon juice for wasp stings
(Accompanied by systemic symptoms: To the hospital) However, if there are systemic symptoms, the patient should be rushed to the hospital
(Allergic to bees) If one had a bee allergy, it is safe to prepare an epinephrine product in advance
#wound care - bug bites There is no specific treatment for bites from other insects
Just be aware of infections
#Amputation accidents
Emergency care is essential for any amputation accidents
#amputation accidents - Treatment method Apply pressure to the amputated area to stop the bleeding and cover it with a clean cloth
#Amputation accidents - Looking after the amputated parts It's extremely important to store the amputated body parts
Clean the amputated area and wrap it with a clean cloth or gauze soaked in water
However, if it's overly soaked or too dry it causes cell damages
Wrap it in a damp cloth, put it in a plastic bag, and make it waterproof
Put this entire thing in ice and take it to the hospital
However, make sure the amputated part does not directly touch the ice
#In case of nosebleeds
#In case of nosebleeds - Treatment method Most nosebleeds stop within 30 minutes
Bending the head forward with pinched nose stops the bleeding
#In case of nosebleeds - And what not to do
By swallowing your blood when you tilt your head backward
it will inevitably cause vomiting, so make sure to spit out any blood that flows back to your throat
As vomiting can lead to secondary complications
Also, do not pick or blow your nose
It is recommended to avoid hot drinks
#In case of nosebleeds - when to visit the hospital In case, even if you bend forward and pinch your nose, the bleeding continues
and blood flows backward along the throat, hospital visit is a must
(Anticoagulant: a drug that inhibits the action of platelets involved in blood clotting) If taking anticoagulants or blood thinners
(Anticoagulant: a drug that prevents blood from clotting and coagulating) Or have high blood pressure, it is safe to visit the hospital