Dr. Hideg: Prepare for every emergency
My friends joke about the first-aid kit I travel with or my toolbox of first-aid supplies at home. I always say that I stay prepared so I will not need any of it, but that when I do not have it is when I may find that I need it most.
Preparedness for emergencies can save a life. Possibly the most important piece of first aid everyone should know is when to call 911. If you can answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you should call immediately:
• Is the person not breathing or not responsive?
• Is there no heartbeat or pulse?
• Does it seem to be a life-threatening emergency?
• Could it become a life-threatening emergency on the way to the hospital?
• If you move the injured person, could that worsen the injury?
• Do you think the person has injured his or her spine or neck?
• Does the person need immediate treatment that can only be provided by a paramedic or emergency medical technician?
• Is special equipment (such as a defibrillator) required for treatment?
• Would you be delayed in getting to the hospital by traffic or distance?
If there are others present at the emergency, instruct someone to call while you begin appropriate first aid, and continue to administer first aid until emergency services arrive.
First-aid and CPR courses can improve your ability to answer the questions above. You can learn many life-saving techniques and what signs and symptoms mean you should call 911. Classes often include role-playing different emergency situations, improving your ability to stay calm and make decisions in similar situations.
Classes can be as short as four hours, but those covering more topics (such as splinting a break, keeping pressure on a bleeding wound, clearing the airway to facilitate breathing) will be longer.
Some classes give out single-use CPR shields at the end of the class that fit in your wallet or purse. A CPR shield protects you and the victim from germs. You can also buy them at medical supply stores, online or even at office supply stores.
For situations that do not require calling 911, first aid followed by going to the hospital or a medical office may be appropriate. If you are unsure whether you should seek additional treatment after first aid, call your local health care provider.
Keep a first-aid kit in an easy-to-access place in your home and make sure family members know where it is. Remind children it is not for playing.
You may also want to keep first-aid kits in your car, with your travel gear and with your disaster preparedness supplies. I take a rather large kit when we travel that includes rehydration salts and medications for diarrhea, nausea and allergies.
If you plan to travel overseas, talk with your health care provider about what you should take. If you plan to backpack in an area where there are snakes, consider including a snakebite kit with a suction device and instructions.
You can buy prestocked first-aid kits at drugstores or online; there are suggestions for stocking your own kit at www.redcross.org. A basic home kit includes adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone ointment, gauze, an elastic bandage, tweezers, scissors, an instant ice pack, antidiarrheal medicine and some kind of pain-relieving medication.
Expand your kit according to your training and needs. Mine includes adhesive bandages with cartoon characters for our daughter and special glue for closing wounds.
If you have not had much training, a first-aid instruction manual is an important item in your kit. Review it occasionally; make sure you are familiar with how it is organized and that you understand the instructions in it. Check your kit at least once a year to replace expired supplies.
Prevention is always the best medicine, but when the need arises, being prepared makes all the difference in the world.