Priorities in Emergencies
Emergency
Checklist
Basic
First Aid Kit
Amputation
Asphyxia
Bites &
stings
Bleeding
Blisters
Breathing
Burns
& scalds
Chemical
burns
Chemicals,
inhaled
Chest
injuries
Choking
Circulation
Crush
injuries
Cyanocrylate
glues
Dental
operations
Diabetic
coma
Dislocations
Drowning
Ear
injuries
Electrocution
& electrical injuries
Epilepsy
Eye
injuries
Fainting
Fish
hooks
Fits
& convulsions
Fractures
Frost
bite
Head
injuries
Heart
attack
Heatstroke
& heat exhaustion
Hypothermia
Internal
bleeding
Nosebleeds
Panic
Poisoning
Shock
Slipped
disc
Spinal
injury
Splinters
Sprains
& strains
Stroke
Surgical operations
Unconsciousness
Wounds
Bites
and Stings
Extracts from
site: http://www.drlockie.com/
For
bites which cause deep puncture Wounds, severe Bleeding, Amputation, turn
to the relevant entry in this section.
The
bites of animals carry two main dangers: Tetanus and Rabies.
In the UK at the moment we are lucky not to have rabies, but it is present
in many other countries. Orthodox immunisation against rabies may be
advisable if you make frequent trips abroad or your job involves animals.
While visiting countries where rabies is endemic, take Hydrophobinum
30c daily for 7 days, followed by Belladonna 6c twice daily for
6 months. Any bite that punctures the skin should be checked by a doctor.
Human bites carry even greater danger of infection than animal bites.
Tetanus, or lockjaw is a potentially fatal infection which can enter the
body through any dirty wound. Orthodox immunisation has to be repeated
every 5 years. If you have not received a booster injection in the last 5
years, take Hypericum 6c three times daily for 3 weeks as a
preventive.
Bathe
any wounds with Hypericum and Calendula solution.
Poisonous
bites and stings
In
Britain there is only one poisonous snake, the adder, not counting escaped
pets or zoo animals. But abroad, especially in hot countries, scorpions
and venomous snakes and spiders are common. As a repellent to such
animals, apply Pyrethrum solution (10 drops of mother tincture in
0.25 litre (1/2 pt) boiled cooled water) to vulnerable parts of the body.
The symptoms of poisoning are blurred vision and nausea, difficult
breathing, increased salivation and sweating, and sometimes Shock. Reassure the
casualty and keep him or her still. Apply an ice pack to the site of the
bite. If the person loses consciousness or stops breathing, place in the
recovery position or give artificial respiration or cardiac resuscitation
(Unconsciousness
and Breathing). Dial
999 or take the person to hospital yourself. Try to describe the animal
which bit the person, or if you can, capture it in a safe container and
retain to show medical attendant.
Specific
remedies to be given every 5 minutes for up to 6 doses
Where there is
swelling, bruising and pain Arnica 30c
Person faints, has
difficulty breathing, becomes hypersensitive to draughts and cold air Moschus
30c
Purple
discolouration around bite, with seepage of dark blood, person feels worse
after sleep (this last symptom is typical of a tarantula bite) Lachesis
30c
Rapid onset of
swelling and subcutaneous bleeding, skin around bite discoloured, casualty
very sensitive to jarring Crotalus 30c
Vomiting, feeble
pulse, slow, shallow breathing, torpor, band-around-the-head-feeling, face
dusky and congested-looking, with pale nose and mouth, abnormally acute
sense of smell Carbolic ac. 30c
Violent pains, skin
around bite erupts in rash or streaks, person feeds cold and numb, tremor
in hands and feet Oxalic ac. 30c
If person has been
stung by a jellyfish Apis 30c
Wasp and
bee stings should be removed with tweezers as quickly as possible. Do not
suck out the poison. If the sting is inside the mouth or throat rinse the
mouth with iced water to discourage swelling, and get the person to
hospital as quickly as possible.
Undiluted
mother tinctures can be dabbed directly on insect bites. Pyrethrum mother
tincture is good for most bites and songs. Otherwise use Ledum mother
tincture for bee stings, Arnica or Ledum mother tinctures for hornet or
wasp stings, and a mixture of Hypericum and Calendula mother tincture
for gnat bites.
Specific
remedies to be given every 15 minutes for up to 6 doses
Weakness and collapse
Carbolic ac. 30c
Rapid swelling Apis
30c
Redness and burning
Cantharis 30c
Blueness and burning
Tarentula cub. 30c
Shooting pains in
affected limb Hypericum 30c
Anaphylactic
shock is a rare and very severe reaction to being bitten or stung. See
Shock and Poisoning for
symptoms and treatment.
Poisonous
plants If skin has been in contact with plants such as poison ivy,
bathe the area with milk and give Anacardium 6c every 15 minutes
until inflammation abates. In severe cases give 1 gm of Vitamin C
hourly.