First Aid: A Helpful Reference for Anyone

These pages hold instructions on how to do some common first aid procedures as well as others that may include long-term care.

NOTE - This page is meant to be a reference during role-play. It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any real medical condition. Any risk or liability is your own.

Bandages and Dressings | Burns and Scalds | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | Controlling Bleeding | Delivering a Baby | Miscellaneous Procedures | Shock | Sprains, Strains, and Fractures | Treating Wounds

Credits

Treating Wounds

Open Wounds | First Aid for Open Wounds | Dressings for Wounds | Closed Wounds

Open Wounds

Abrasions | Amputations | Avulsions | Incisions | Lacerations | Punctures

An open wound refers to any break in the skin. The skin affords protection from most bacteria or germs; however, germs may enter through even a small break in the skin, and infection may develop.
Breaks in the skin range from pin punctures or scratches to extensive cuts, tears, or gashes. An open wound may be the only surface evidence of a more serious injury such as a fracture, particularly in the case of head injuries involving fracture of the skull. In first aid, open wounds are divided into six classifications: Abrasions, amputations, avulsions, incisions, lacerations, and punctures.

Abrasions
Abrasions are caused by rubbing or scraping. These wounds are seldom deep, but a portion of the skin has been damaged, leaving a raw surface with minor bleeding. The bleeding in most abrasions is from the capillaries. Abrasions are easily infected due to the top layer of skin being removed leaving the underlying skin exposed.

Amputations
An amputation involves the extremities. When an amputation occurs, the fingers, toes, hands, feet, or limbs are completely cut through or torn off which causes jagged skin and exposed bone. Bleeding may be excessive or the force that amputates a limb may close off torn vessels and limit the bleeding. A clean cut amputation seals off vessels and minimizes bleeding. A torn amputation usually bleeds heavily.

Avulsions
An avulsion is an injury that tears an entire piece of skin and tissue loose or leaves it hanging as a flap. This type of wound usually results when tissue is forcibly separated or torn from the victim's body. There is great danger of infection and bleeding. Body parts that have been wholly or partially torn off may sometimes be successfully reattached by a surgeon.

Incisions
Wounds produced by a sharp cutting edge, such as a knife or razor, are referred to as incised wounds. The edges of such wounds are smooth without tearing or bruising. If such a wound is deep, large blood vessels and nerves may be severed. Incised wounds bleed freely and are often difficult to control.

Lacerations
Lacerated wounds are those with rough or jagged edges. The flesh has been torn or mashed by blunt instruments, machinery, or rough edges such as a jagged piece of metal.
Because the blood vessels are torn or mashed, these wounds may not bleed as freely as incised wounds. The ragged and torn tissues, with foreign matter that is often forced or ground into the wound make it difficult to determine the extent of the damage. The danger of infection is great in lacerations.

Punctures
Puncture wounds are produced by pointed objects such as needles, splinters, nails, or pieces of wire that pass through the skin and damage tissue in their path. The small number of blood vessels cut sometimes prevents free bleeding. The danger of infection in puncture wounds is great due to this poor drainage.
There are two types of puncture wounds:

A penetrating puncture wound causes injured tissues and blood vessels whether it is shallow or deep.
A perforating puncture wound has an entrance and exit wound. The object causing the injury passes through the body and out to create an exit wound which in many cases is more serious than the entrance wound.

First Aid for Open Wounds

The chief duties of a first aider in caring for open wounds are to stop bleeding and to prevent germs from entering the wound. If germs do not enter, there will be much less chance of infection and the wound will heal quickly. Proceed as follows:

Carefully cut or tear the clothing so that the injury may be seen.
If loose foreign particles are around the wounds, wipe them away with clean material. Always wipe away from the wound, not toward it.
Do not attempt to remove an object impaled in the wound. Serious bleeding and other damage may occur if the object is removed. Stabilize the object with a bulky dressing.
Do not touch the wound with your hands, clothing, or anything that is not clean, if possible.
Apply numbweed.
Place a sterile bandage compress or gauze, when available, over the wound and tie in place.
Dressings should be wide enough to completely cover the wound and the area around it.
Protect compresses or gauze dressings with a cover bandage made from a cravat or triangular bandage. Place outer dressings on all open wounds except for wounds of the eye, nose, chin, finger and toe, or compound fractures of the hand and foot when splints are applied. Either use a cravat bandage or triangular bandage to cover the entire dressing.
Unless otherwise specified, tie the knots of the bandage compress and outer dressing over the wound on top of the compress pad to help in checking the bleeding. However, when an open fracture is involved, tie away from the wound.
Keep the victim quiet and lying still. Any movement will increase circulation which could restart bleeding.
Reassure the victim to ease emotional reactions.
Treat for shock.

Dressings for Wounds

Apply the pad of a bandage compress over the wound.
Carry one end under the chin, and the other over the top of the head.
Cross at the temple in front of the ear on the side opposite the injury.
Bring one end around the front of the head and the other end low around the back of the head.
Tie on or near the compress pad.
Cover the compress with a cravat bandage applied in the same manner.

If the wound is on the cheek or the front of the face, cross the bandage compress and cravat bandage behind the ear, on the side opposite the injury; bring the ends around the forehead and back of the head, and tie.

Forehead or Back of Head
To dress an open wound of the forehead or back of the head, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the injury.
Hold the compress in place by passing the ends of the compress around the head above the ears, and tying over the compress pad.
Apply the center of a cravat bandage over the pad, take the ends around the head, cross them, and tie over the compress pad.

Neck or Throat
To bandage a wound on the neck or throat, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress to the wound.
Pass the ends around the neck and tie over the wound.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the compress.
Pass the ends of the cravat bandage around the neck, cross them, bring them around the neck again, and tie loosely.
Use hand pressure over the wound for control of excessive bleeding.

Shoulder
In order to tie a bandage for a wound of the shoulder, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a bandage compress over the wound. Bring the ends under the armpit.
Cross, carry to the top of the compress, cross, carry one end across the chest and one end across the back, and tie in the opposite armpit over a pad.
Place the apex of a triangular bandage high up on the shoulder. Place the base, along which a hem has been folded, below the shoulder on the upper part of the arm, carry the ends around the arm, and tie them on the outside.
To hold the bandage in position, place the center of a cravat bandage under the opposite armpit; carry the ends to the shoulder over the apex of the first bandage; tie a single knot; then fold the apex over and complete the knot.
Place the forearm in a triangular bandage sling.

Arm, Forearm, and Wrist
To bandage wounds of the arm, forearm, and wrist, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Pass the ends several times around the arm and tie them over the pad.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the pad.
Pass the ends around the arm, cross them, continue aruond the arm and tie over the pad.
Place the forearm and hand in a triangular sling.

Palm or Back of Hand
To dress a wound of the palm or back of the hand, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Pass the ends several times around the hand and wrist.
Tie over the pad.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the pad.
Cross the ends at the opposite side of the hand.
Pass one end around the little finger side of the hand.
Pass the other end between the thumb and forefinger, taking the ends to the wrist.
Cross the ends and continue around the wrist, crossing at the back of the wrist.
Cross again at the inside of the wrist.
Tie at the back of the wrist.
Place the forearm and hand in a triangular bandage sling.

Chest or Back between Shoulder Blades
To dress a wound on the chest or back between the shoulder blades, proceed as follows:

Place the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound so that the ends are diagonally across the chest or back.
Carry one end over the shoulder and under the armpit. Carry the other end under the armpit and over the shoulder. Tie the ends over the compress.
Cover the compress and chest or back with a triangular bandage as follows:

Place the center of the base at the lower part of the neck.
Allow the apex to drop down over the chest or back, as appropriate.
Carry the ends over the shoulders and under the armpits to the center of the chest or back.
Tie with the apex below knot.
Turn the apex up and tuck over the knot.

Back, Chest, Abdomen, or Side
To tie a bandage for the back, chest, abdomen, or side, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress or sterile gauze over the wound. If a sterile bandage compress is used, take the ends around the body (one end across the back and the other across the abdomen or chest) and tie on the side.
Cover with a proper sized cravat bandage by placing the center of the bandage on the side nearest the injury.
Take the ends across the back and abdomen or chest and tie on the opposite side.

NOTE: If air is being sucked into the lungs through a wound in the chest, cover the wound immediately with a nonporous material, then dress the wound. Use your hand to cover the wound if a nonporous material cannot be found. Transport the victim to a medical facility as quickly as possible.

Protruding Intestines
To dress a wound from which the victim's intestines are protruding, proceed as follows:

Place the victim on his or her back with something under the knees to raise them and help relax the abdominal muscles.
Do not try to re-place the intestines; leave the organ on the surface.
Cover with a moist dressing.
Cover lightly with an outer dressing. This will help preserve heat.

Lower Abdomen, Back, or Buttocks
To dress a wound of the lower part of the abdomen, the lower part of the back, or the buttocks, proceed as follows:

Apply a pad made from several layers of sterile gauze; in the absence of gauze, the pad of a sterile compress may be placed over the wound and held in place by passing the ends around the body and tying them.
Cover the gauze or bandage compress with two triangular bandages.
Tie the apexes in the crotch.
Bring the base of one bandage up on the abdomen.
Pass the ends around the back and tie.
Pass the ends of the other bandage around to the front and tie.

Thigh or Leg
To tie a bandage for a wound of the thigh or leg, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Pass the ends around the injured extremity and tie over the pad.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the compress, pass the ends around the injured part, cross them, bring them around again, and tie over the pad.

Knee
To dress a wound of the knee, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Cross the ends at the back of the knee and return to the front of the knee.
Tie firmly over the pad, if possible.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the pad.
Bring the ends of the bandage around each side of the leg.
Cross them at the back of the knee, pull them forward, and tie them above the knee.

Ankle
To dress a wound of the ankle, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Carry the ends to the top of the instep and cross.
Carry the ends around the bottom of the foot and cross over the instep again.
Pass the ends around the ankle and tie over the pad.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the compress.
Carry the ends to the top of the instep and cross.
Cross the ends under the foot, bring back to the top of the instep and cross.
Carry the ends around the ankle and tie over the pad.

Foot
To dress a wound of the foot, proceed as follows:

Apply the pad of a sterile bandage compress over the wound.
Carry the ends around the foot and ankle.
Tie over the pad.
Place the center of a cravat bandage over the pad.
Carry the ends around the foot and ankle, ending in a tie as near the front of the ankle as possible.

Closed Wounds

Contusions | Ruptures or Hernias

Closed wounds are injuries where the skin is not broken, but damage occurs to underlying tissues. These injuries may result in internal bleeding from damage to internal organs, muscles, and other tissues. Closed wounds are classified as follows:

Contusions
Ruptures or hernias.

Contusions
Contusions, or bruises, are caused by an object striking the body of the body coming into contact with a hard object, for example in a fall or bump. The skin is not broken, but the soft tissue beneath the skin is damaged. Small blood vessels are ruptured, causing blood to seep into surrounding tissues. This produces swelling. The injured area appears red at first, then darkens to blue or purple. When large blood vessels have been ruptured or large amounts of underlying tissue have been damaged, a lump may develop as a result of the blood collecting within the damaged tissue. This lump is called a hematoma or blood tumor.
The symptoms of a bruise are as follows:

Immediate pain
Swelling
Rapid discoloration
Later, pain or pressure on movement.

The first aid for bruises is as follows:

Apply numbweed.
To limit swelling, apply an ice bag or a cloth wrung out in cold water. Do not apply ice directly to the skin; wrap it in cloth.
Elevate the injured area and place at complete rest.
Check for fractures and other possible injuries.
Treat for shock.

Severe contusions should have the care of a healer.

Ruptures or Hernias
The most common form of a rupture or hernia is a protrusion of a portion of an internal organ through the wall of the abdomen. Most ruptures occur in or just above the groin, but they may occur at other places over the abdomen. Ruptures result from a combination of weakness of the tissues and muscular strain.
The symptoms of a rupture are as follows:

Sharp, stinging pain
Feeling of something giving way at the site of the rupture
Swelling
Possible nausea and vomiting.

The first aid for an individual who has suffered a rupture is as follows:

Place the victim on his or her back with the knees well drawn up.
Place a blanket or similar padding under the knees.
Place the center of a cravat under the padding, bring the ends above the knees and tie.
Never attempt to force the protrusion back into the cavity.
Apply numbweed or a cold application to the injured area.
Cover with a blanket.
The victim should be transported lying down with the knees drawn up.

Top

For more detail relating to the healing of humans, here is a neat site that might help you. The golden fire lizard will show you the way!

Sources for these pages were:

Radcliffe, J. The New International Webster's Pocket Medical & First Aid Dictionary of the English Language. USA: Trident Press International, 1997.

Yahoo! Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia. June 2004.

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright ©
Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2001, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author.

Special thanks to Nerissa and Avonelle, who helped in the compilation of this resource.