Zombie Survivor

A zombie (Haitian Creole: zonbi;North Mbundu: nzumbe) is an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means, such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli. Since the late 19th century, zombies have acquired notable popularity, especially in North American and European folklore.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Intimately tied to the conception of the modern zombie is the "zombie apocalypse", the breakdown of society as a result of zombie infestation, which has emerged as a prolific subgenre of apocalyptic fiction and been portrayed in countless zombie-related media post-Night. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread (usually global) rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization. Victims of zombies may become zombies themselves. This causes the outbreak to become an exponentially growing crisis: the spreading "zombie plague/virus" swamps normal military and law enforcement organizations, leading to the panicked collapse of civilian society until only isolated pockets of survivors remain, scavenging for food and supplies in a world reduced to a pre-industrial hostile wilderness.
(Source: Wikipedia)

West Africa

According to the tenets of Vodou, a dead person can be revived by a bokor, or sorcerer. Zombies remain under the control of the bokor since they have no will of their own. "Zombi" is also another name of the Vodou snake lwa Damballah Wedo, of Niger–Congo origin;it is akin to the Kikongo word nzambi, which means "god". There also exists within the West African Vodun tradition the zombi astral, which is a part of the human soul that is captured by a bokor and used to enhance the bokor's power. The zombi astral is typically kept inside a bottle which the bokor can sell to clients for luck, healing or business success. It is believed that after a time God will take the soul back and so the zombi is a temporary spiritual entity. It is also said in vodou legend, that feeding a zombie salt will make it return to the grave.
(Source: Wikipedia)

South Africa

The idea of zombies is present in some South African cultures. In some communities it is believed that a dead person can be turned into a zombie by a small child. It is said that the spell can be broken by a powerful enough sangoma.

It is also believed in some areas that witches can turn a person into a zombie by killing and possessing the victim's body in order to force it into slave labor. After rail lines were built to transport migrant workers, stories emerged about "witch trains". These trains appeared ordinary, but were staffed by zombie workers controlled by a witch. The trains would abduct a person boarding at night, and the person would then either be turned into a zombie worker, or beaten and thrown from the train a distance away from the original location.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Haiti

Wade Davis, a Harvard ethnobotanist, presented a pharmacological case for zombies in two books, The Serpent and the Rainbow (1985) and Passage of Darkness: The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie (1988). Davis traveled to Haiti in 1982 and, as a result of his investigations, claimed that a living person can be turned into a zombie by two special powders being introduced into the blood stream (usually via a wound). The first, coup de poudre (French: "powder strike"), includes tetrodotoxin (TTX), a powerful and frequently fatal neurotoxin found in the flesh of the pufferfish (order Tetraodontidae). The second powder consists of dissociative drugs such as datura. Together, these powders were said to induce a death-like state in which the will of the victim would be entirely subjected to that of the bokor. Davis also popularized the story of Clairvius Narcisse, who was claimed to have succumbed to this practice.

The process described by Davis was an initial state of death-like suspended animation, followed by re-awakening — typically after being buried — into a psychotic state. The psychosis induced by the drug and psychological trauma was hypothesised by Davis to re-inforce culturally-learned beliefs and to cause the individual to reconstruct their identity as that of a zombie, since they "knew" they were dead, and had no other role to play in the Haitian society. Societal reinforcement of the belief was hypothesized by Davis to confirm for the zombie individual the zombie state, and such individuals were known to hang around in graveyards, exhibiting attitudes of low affect.

Davis' claim has been criticized, particularly the suggestion that Haitian witch doctors can keep "zombies" in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many years. Symptoms of TTX poisoning range from numbness and nausea to paralysis — particularly of the muscles of the diaphragm — unconsciousness, and death, but do not include a stiffened gait or a death-like trance. According to psychologist Terence Hines, the scientific community dismisses tetrodotoxin as the cause of this state, and Davis' assessment of the nature of the reports of Haitian zombies is viewed as overly credulous.

Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing highlighted the link between social and cultural expectations and compulsion, in the context of schizophrenia and other mental illness, suggesting that schizogenesis may account for some of the psychological aspects of zombification.
(Source: Wikipedia)

A true story of Clairvius Narcisse - He was a Haitian man who was declared dead by two doctors and buried in 1962. They found him wandering around the village 18 years later. It turned out the local voodoo priests had been using naturally occurring chemicals to basically zombify people and had been putting them to work on the sugar plantations.
(Source: cracked.com)

Brain Parasites

Parasites that turn victims into mindless, zombie-like slaves are fairly common in nature. There's one called toxoplasmosa gondii that seems to devote its entire existence to being terrifying.
(Source: cracked.com)

Some scientists believe that Toxoplasma changes the personality of its human hosts, bringing different shifts to men and women. Parasitologist Jaroslav Flegr of Charles University in Prague administered psychological questionnaires to people infected with Toxoplasma and controls. Those infected, he found, show a small, but statistically significant, tendency to be more self-reproaching and insecure. Paradoxically, infected women, on average, tend to be more outgoing and warmhearted than controls, while infected men tend to be more jealous and suspicious.

It's controversial work, disputed by many. But it attracted the attention of E. Fuller Torrey of the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Torrey and his colleagues had noticed some intriguing links between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia. Infection with the parasite has been associated with damage to a certain class of neurons (astrocytes). So has schizophrenia. Pregnant women with high levels of Toxoplasma antibodies in their blood were more likely to give birth to children who would later develop schizophrenia. Torrey lays out more links in this 2003 paper. While none is a smoking gun, they are certainly food for thought. It's conceivable that exposure to Toxoplasma causes subtle changes in most people's personality, but in a small minority, it has more devastating effects.

A year later, Torrey and his colleagues discovered one more fascinating link. They raised human cells in Petri dishes and infected them with Toxoplasma. Then they dosed the cells with a variety of drugs used to treat schizophrenia. Several of the drugs - most notably haloperidol--blocked the growth of the parasite.
(Source: The Return of the Puppet Masters by Carl Zimmer)

Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins, from the Greek νευρών (nevron) meaning sinew and τοξικόν (toxikon) meaning toxin, are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insults which can adversely affect function in both developing and mature nervous tissue. The term can also be used to classify endogenous compounds which when abnormally concentrated can prove neurologically toxic. Though neurotoxins are often neurologically destructive, their ability to specifically target neural components is important in the study of nervous systems. Common examples of neurotoxins include lead, ethanol, glutamate, nitric oxide (NO), botulinum toxin, tetanus toxin, and tetrodotoxin.

Neurotoxin activity can be characterized by the ability to inhibit neuron control over ion concentrations across the cell membrane, or communication between neurons across a synapse. Local pathology of neurotoxin exposure often includes neuron excitotoxicity or apoptosis but can also include glial cell damage. Macroscopic manifestations of neurotoxin exposure can include widespread central nervous system damage such as mental retardation, persistent memory impairments, epilepsy, and dementia.
(Source: Wikipedia)

There are certain kinds of poisons that slow human bodily functions to the point that the victim would be considered dead. The poison from fugu (Japanese blowfish) is one of the known natural neurotoxins.

The victims can then be brought back under the effects of a drug like datura stramonium (or other chemicals called alkaloids) that leave them in a trance-like state with no memory, but still able to perform simple tasks like eating, sleeping, moaning and shambling around with their arms outstretched.
(Source: cracked.com)

Natural neurotoxins are commonly used by voodoo priests in Haiti.

The Real Rage Virus

The Mad Cow Disease attacks the cow's spinal cord and brain, human beings can be infected when they consume the meat. It is called the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The symptoms include: Changes in gait (walking), Hallucinations, Lack of coordination (for example, stumbling and falling), Muscle twitching, Myoclonic jerks or seizures, Rapidly developing delirium or dementia.
(Source: cracked.com)

A mutated new variant Mad Cow Disease (nvCJD) on human body can cause zombie-like rage status.

Cannibalism has also been implicated as a transmission mechanism for abnormal prions, causing the disease known as kuru, once found primarily among women and children of the Fore people in Papua New Guinea. While the men of the tribe ate the body of the deceased and rarely contracted the disease, the women and children, who ate the less desirable body parts, including the brain, were 8 times more likely than men to contract kuru from infected tissue.

Prions, the infectious agent of CJD, may not be inactivated by means of routine surgical instrument sterilization procedures. The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that instrumentation used in such cases be immediately destroyed after use;short of destruction, it is recommended that heat and chemical decontamination be used in combination to process instruments that come in contact with high-infectivity tissues. No cases of iatrogenic transmission of CJD have been reported subsequent to the adoption of current sterilization procedures, or since 1976. Copper–hydrogen peroxide has been suggested as an alternative to the current recommendation of sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite. Thermal depolymerization also destroys prions in infected organic and inorganic matter, since the process chemically attacks protein at the molecular level.
(Source: Wikipedia)

There are strict blood donor restrictions and sperm donor restrictions by world governments conducted on areas infected with vCJD.

Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis (birth of neurons) is the process by which neurons are generated from neural stem and progenitor cells. Most active during pre-natal development, neurogenesis is responsible for populating the growing brain with neurons. Recently neurogenesis was shown to continue in several small parts of the brain of mammals: the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. Studies have indicated that hormones, such as testosterone in vertebrates and ecdysone in invertebrates, have an influence on the rate of neurogenesis.
(Source: Wikipedia)

When the scientists use these techniques on a brain dead patient to re-grow the brain stem, and they created a mindless body shambling around, no thoughts and no personality, nothing but a cloud of base instincts and impulses.
(Source: cracked.com)

Nanorobotics

Nanorobotics is the emerging technology field creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer (10−9 meters). More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots, with devices ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components. The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites, nanomachines or nanomites have also been used to describe these devices currently under research and development.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Chemists at the University of Nebraska have created a humidity gauge by actually 'assimilating' living bacteria into an electronic circuit. This appears to be the first instance in which a living cell becomes a fixed part of the structure of an electronic device.

Ravi Saraf and student Vikas Berry made their device from a standard silicon chip inlaid with gold electrodes. First they added a coating of Bacillus cereus bacteria, which clustered together to form bridges between the electrodes. Then they washed the chip with a solution of gold particles, each of which measured about 30 nanometres across and was covered with peptides to help it stick to the bacteria.

A rise in moisture levels causes the bacteria to swell slightly, which increases the distance between neighbouring nanoparticles by up to 0.2 nanometres. This tiny separation makes it harder for electrons to hop from one particle to the next, which reduces the current flowing across the chip. A change from 20% to 0% humidity increased the current flowing through the device by 40 times, whereas the current in a solely electronic device decreases by just ten times.

The bacteria must stay alive during their assimilation so that they do not leak any internal fluids and lose their shape. According to Saraf, the bacteria can survive for about two days without nutrients. However, the device continues to work even after the bacteria die;the zombie 'borg-teria' continue to work for as long as a month after death.
(Source: technovelgy.com)

Electromagnetic radiation guns

According to news sources, President Vladimir Putin has confirmed Russia has been testing mind-bending psychotronic guns that can effectively turn people into zombies.

The futuristic weapons - which attack their victims' central nervous system - are being developed by scientists and could be used against Russia's enemies and even its own dissidents by the end of the decade. The guns, which use electromagnetic radiation like that found in microwave ovens, as entirely new instruments for achieving political and strategic goals.

Plans to introduce the super-weapons were announced by Russian defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov. While the technology has been around for some time, MrTsyganok said the guns were recently tested for crowd control purposes.

Research into electromagnetic weapons has been carried out in the US and Russia since the '50s but it appears Putin has stolen a march on the US. Precise details have not been revealed but previous research has shown that low-frequency waves or beams can affect brain cells, alter psychological states and make it possible to transmit suggestions and commands directly into someone's thoughts.

Mr Putin said the technology is comparable in effect to nuclear weapons but "more acceptable in terms of political and military ideology". Mr Serdyukov said the weaponry based on new physics principles - direct-energy weapons, geophysical weapons, wave-energy weapons, genetic weapons and psychotronic weapons - were part of the state arms procurement program for 2011-2020.
(Source: news.com.au/technology)

According to a 2009 Carleton University and University of Ottawa epidemiological analysis, an outbreak of even Living Dead's slow zombies "is likely to lead to the collapse of civilization, unless it is dealt with quickly." Based on their mathematical modelling, the authors concluded that offensive strategies were much more reliable than quarantine strategies, due to various risks that can compromise a quarantine. They also found that discovering a cure would merely leave a few humans alive, since this would do little to slow the infection rate.

On a longer time scale, the researchers found that all humans end up turned or dead. This is because the main epidemiological risk of zombies, besides the difficulties of neutralizing them, is that their population just keeps increasing;generations of humans merely "surviving" still have a tendency to feed zombie populations, resulting in gross outnumbering. The researchers explain that their methods of modelling may be applicable to the spread of political views or diseases with dormant infection.

The Zombie Institute for Theoretical Studies (ZITS) is a program through the University of Glasgow. It is "headed" by Dr. Austin, a character created by the university to be the face of ZITS. The ZITS team is dedicated to using real science to explain what could be expected in the event of an actual zombie apocalypse. Much of their research is used to disprove common beliefs about the zombie apocalypse as shown in popular media. They have published one book (Zombie Science 1Z) and give public "spoof" lectures on the subject.
(Source: Wikipedia)

STOP! Take a deep breath.

People die because of panic. The best thing to do is find some shelter and signal for help. Take stock. You may have a few things to work with, but what you have in your head is what will keep you alive.

Once you are calm and safe, check yourself over. Address any injuries as best you can. In many situations you will live as long as your feet do. Keep them clean, dry and warm. Treat any cut or blister as a major injury that could keep you from moving away from danger or collecting food and water.

A healthy human can survive for a couple of weeks without food, and a couple of days without water. But hypothermia, heat stroke and shock will kill you in a couple of hours. Keep an eye on the weather and what it may do at this time of year and in your area of the world. Shelter and/or a fire, are almost always your first priorities.

Shelter

Finding or building a good shelter is important to your survival. In the event of a zombie outbreak, government shelters and the wilderness are the safest place to live.

A shelter can protect you from the sun, insects, wind, rain, snow, hot or cold temperatures, and enemy observation. It can also give you a feeling of well-being and help you maintain your will to survive. In some areas, your need for shelter may take precedence over your need for food and possibly even your need for water. For example, prolonged exposure to cold can cause excessive fatigue and weakness (exhaustion). An exhausted person may develop a "passive" outlook, thereby losing the will to survive.

The most common error in making a shelter is to make it too large. A shelter must be large enough to protect you. It must also be small enough to contain your body heat, especially in cold climates. Keep yourself warm is the first priority if you choose to stay in the wilderness.

Personal camping tents and gear are widely available in camping equipment shops and supermarkets. Insulation and ease-of-setup are the most important criteria in selecting a camping tent. "Tube tents" are recommended for personal emergency shelters.

Large plastic rubbish bags are useful as ponchos or expedient shelter roofs. Newspapers are great for emergency insulation or to start a fire to maintain body heat.

Click here to learn from a YouTube video tutorial on how to build a basic survival shelter using an emergency blanket.

Water

One of the most important elements of human survival is access to fresh clean water. It's important to be able to find, store, and purify water for long periods of time. Always bottle up clean water in sealed containers. Water purification tablets are very useful when some water resources may be contaminated. In an emergency, water can be sterilized and preserved with widely available swimming pool chlorination chemicals. Boiling and distillation techniques can also be used to provide drinking water. Typically a conservative person would plan to have 4 Litres of water a day to survive and stay healthy. It would be smart to store a few weeks worth of water in advance. Create a stash that would last you about two weeks with 6 Litres of water per person per day. This should be enough to meet your drinking needs as well as to provide water for cooking.

Food

Food isn't something you need to consider unless rescue is a good many days or weeks off. But you will begin feeling weak and lethargic and less able to effect your own survival after a few days. Plants are a risky proposition, so if you don't know FOR SURE that something is edible... don't even touch it. Keep a good emergency food reserve. Non-perishable dried and canned foods can be found at the supermarket will last at least five years. Ready-to-eat meals (MRE), or high-energy foods such as chocolate or emergency food bars are great to have as well.

Take time to figure out how much you and your family eat per day, calculate how much that would be for 1-3 months, or however long you want, then double it. You never know when a zombie outbreak might happen and you might be supplying for more people than you planned. It would also be smart to have back up cooking materials such as baking soda, oil, flour and sugar.

Get Sufficient Rest

You need a certain amount of rest to keep going. Plan for regular rest periods of at least 10 minutes per hour during your daily activities. Learn to make yourself comfortable under less than ideal conditions. A change from mental to physical activity or vice versa can be refreshing when time or situation does not permit total relaxation.

A survival kit is a package of basic tools and supplies prepared in advance as an aid to survival in an emergency.

Survival kits, in a variety of sizes, contain supplies and tools to provide a person with basic shelter against the elements, help them keep warm, meet their health and first aid needs, provide food and water, signal to rescuers, and assist them in finding their way back to help. Supplies in a survival kit normally contain a knife (often a Swiss army knife or a multi-tool), matches, tinder, first aid kit, bandana, fish hooks, sewing kit, and a flashlight.

Shelter or warmth

• Reflective "aluminized" (Mylar coated) space blanket or survival blanket to retain body heat (and to signal)
• Lightweight poncho for protection against wind and rain
• "Tube tent" or bivvy bag
• Tarp with grommets or tie-tapes (best if nylon or polyester)
• Large plastic trash bag as poncho or expedient shelter roof
• Ferrocerium rod (AKA "Metal match", "Hot Spark", "Firesteel", "Magnesium fire starter") and fire striker for fire-starting, Fire piston or Solar Spark Lighter
• Waterproof matches or cigarette lighter
• Cotton balls or pads smeared with petroleum jelly for fire starting (can be carried in 35 mm container or heat-sealed inside large diameter plastic straw
• Catalytic heater and bottled gas fuel

Health and first aid

First aid kit with:

• Bandages
• Band-aids
• Sterile combine dressing, and gauze pads
• Adhesive tape, and gauze tape
• Medical tweezers
• Surgical razor or scalpel
• Disinfectant pads
• Latex gloves (rubber if allergic to latex, to protect first aider against infection)
• A 30 day supply of personal prescription medication
• Antibiotic cream
• Epinephrine and antihistamines for allergic reactions, primarily to insect stings
• Rubbing alcohol
• suture kit or sterile disposable surgical stapler.
• Oxytetracycline tablets (for diarrhea or infection)
• Aspirin
• Extra pair of prescription eyeglasses or contacts
• Salt is an essential mineral for health. Salt containing potassium chloride, sold widely as low sodium salt, can be used to prevent dehydration from diarrhea and can save most cholera deaths. See Oral Rehydration Therapy
• Multivitamin and mineral supplements. Zinc supplements are useful in treating diarrheal intestinal tract infections, especially in children.
• Sunscreen (where appropriate, above 30 SPF)
• 100% UV protective sunglasses ("UV 400") (protects eyes from harmful UV radiation. Polarized glasses are not necessarily UV protective, but aid with glare only).

Food and water

• Water in sealed containers for dry areas, or water purification tablets or household bleach in areas where water is available but may be contaminated. For emergency water purification see: water purification techniques
• Heavy duty aluminum foil to create a distillation tube to remove salt from salt water during boiling/condensation. Must have another receptacle to collect condensate.
• Canned food, Ready-to-eat meals (MRE), or high-energy foods such as chocolate or emergency food bars.
• Fishing line and gear (fish hooks, lures, and split shot leads)
• Snare wire
• Gill Net (for emergency fishing)

Signaling, navigation and reference

Since the primary goal of a survival kit for lost or injured persons is rescue, this part of the kit is the most essential. In the zombie outbreak, it can help government agencies to find you and carry you out to safety zones.

• Whistle.
• Signal mirror.
• High power LED light (able to have batteries replaced, and carry an extra battery), white lens, with signaling capabilities. Strobe versions are available for some lights. Use lithium cells only, due to superior shelf life.
• Flare: three fires in a triangle is the international distress signal
• Laser pointer with lithium batteries, for superior signaling range. Laser pointers have resulted in at least one rescue: during the night in August 2010 two men and a boy were rescued from marshland after their red laser pen was spotted by rescue teams.
• Surveyor's tape - orange or chartreuse for marking location for rescuers
• Pen/pencil and paper for leaving notes to rescuers about direction of travel
• Compass or analog watch - See Direction-Finding Using a Watch
• Trail maps/charts (if location is known in advance)
• Survival manual for technique reference

Multipurpose tools or materials

• Fixed-blade knife, or multitool such as a Swiss Army knife.
• Can opener
• Heavy-duty needle and thread for repairing clothing and equipment
• Red or orange plastic bag(s) or trash bags
• Sturdy cord or "550" parachute cord for setting up a tarpaulin and snaring small animals
• Hatchet with sheath for cold conditions, or machete for tropical conditions (shelter and fire)
• Camp stove or some type of gas burner and fuel such as bottled propane or Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
• Candles for light, signaling, firestarting
• Metal billycan or "water bottle" for water storage, boiling, purification, cooking
• Compact saw such as Japanese style backsaw with coarse teeth (folding models available). Bow saws can quickly cut larger diameter limbs and small trees
• Solar charger, and your mobile device charger for communication.
• Folding saw - a very versatile tool is the folding saw for cutting wood for the purposes of building, fire, walking aids, splints etc

In-home emergency kit items

The following list is provided by the US government's Homeland Security website. The list focuses on the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and materials to maintain body warmth. The recommended basic emergency kit items include:

• Water, at least one gallon (3.78L) of water per person for each day for drinking & sanitation (should be changed every 3 months)
• Food, non-perishable food for at least three days which is not required to be cooked or refrigerated
• Emergency food bars, preferably the products with 2,400 or 3,600 calories and contain no coconut or tropical oils to which many people may have an allergic reaction, in addition to the non-perishable food which does not require cooking or refrigeration
• Battery- or hand-powered radio with the Weather band
• LED type flashlight (battery- or hand-powered)
• Extra batteries for anything needing them, lithium type is preferred for shelf life
• First aid kit
• Copies of any medical prescriptions
• Whistle to signal
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off water valves
• Can opener for canned food
• Local maps
• Spare keys for household & motor vehicles
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes & lightweight raingear
• Contact & meeting place information for the household

• Preserve life: the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives
• Prevent further harm: also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of further injury, this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.
• Promote recovery: first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound

First aid training also involves the prevention of initial injury and responder safety, and the treatment phases.

The following courses are available for first-aid training:

St John Ambulance (Australia)

St John Ambulance is internationally recognised as a First Aid Trainer. National medical and technical advisory committees authorise the content of our courses, ensuring we teach the latest techniques and revise our course content regularly to meet both international and Australian standards. With over 100 years experience in first aid training, you'll find both our public and custom-designed courses are well equipped to meet changing needs.

PARASOL (Australia)

PARASOL is Australia's premier commercial provider of First Aid services and OHS training courses. With services ranging from ergonomic assessments and safety audits through to the provision of first aid supplies and training, PARASOL can service all your first aid and OHS needs.

HSI MEDIC First Aid (United States)

MEDIC First Aid is a worldwide leader in CPR/AED and first aid emergency care training programs for business, industry, and the public. MEDIC First Aid training programs have been used to teach and certify emergency care and first aid providers in business, general industry, and the public since 1978. A wide variety of organizations have been approved as MEDIC First Aid Training Centers in industries as varied as oil, electronics, power, telecommunications, forestry, government, hotel and hospitality, and entertainment.

American Red Cross (United States)

Red Cross First Aid, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) training meets the needs of workplace responders, school staffs, professional responders and healthcare providers, as well as the general public. We offer both certified and non-certified training options. Click on a category below to access course descriptions and materials. Red Cross training meets OSHA guidelines and many other professional and regulatory standards. We also offer continuing education units (CEUs) in conjunction with IACET.

British Red Cross (United Kingdom)

Red Cross Training is a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approved first aid training provider, offering first aid courses for the workplace. In the UK alone, we:

• train over 100,000 people in first aid every year
• provides first aid training in over 180 venues
• have over 29 years of experience in delivering first aid courses

St John Ambulance (United Kingdom)

We believe that it’s absolutely unacceptable that so many people die needlessly – because no one could give them first aid when they needed it. St John Ambulance teaches people first aid - about 800,000 last year alone – so that they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

In order to stay alive, all persons need to have an open airway—a clear passage where air can move in through the mouth or nose through the pharynx and down in to the lungs, without obstruction. Conscious people will maintain their own airway automatically, but those who are unconscious (with a GCS of less than 8) may be unable to maintain a patent airway, as the part of the brain which automatically controls breathing in normal situations may not be functioning.

If the patient was breathing, a first aider would normally then place them in the recovery position, with the patient leant over on their side, which also has the effect of clearing the tongue from the pharynx. It also avoids a common cause of death in unconscious patients, which is choking on regurgitated stomach contents.

The airway can also become blocked through a foreign object becoming lodged in the pharynx or larynx, commonly called choking. The first aider will be taught to deal with this through a combination of 'back slaps' and 'abdominal thrusts'.

Once the airway has been opened, the first aider would assess to see if the patient is breathing. If there is no breathing, or the patient is not breathing normally, such as agonal breathing, the first aider would undertake what is probably the most recognized first aid procedure—cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, which involves breathing for the patient, and manually massaging the heart to promote blood flow around the body.

In case of tongue fallen backwards, blocking the airway, it is necessary to hyperextend the head and pull up the chin, so that the tongue lifts and clears the airway.

D

Danger

Danger (hazards, risks, safety). Check for any risk to yourself, bystanders and casualties

R

Response

Check the casualty for a response by gently touching the casualty's shoulders and asking loudly ''are you all right?'

S

Send for help

Send for help as early as possible. If you are on your own, use your mobile phone to alert the ambulance service using Triple Zero (000).

A

Airway

Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. Remove any clearly visible foreign bodies.

B

Breathing

Keep the airway open and look, listen and feel for normal breathing. If not breathing, start chest compressions first.

C

Compressions

Give 30 compressions. Give 2 rescue breaths

D

Defibrillation

Apply Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available and follow the spoken/visual prompts of the AED.

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, and can put together for the purpose (by an individual or organization, for instance), or purchased complete. There is a wide variation in the contents of first aid kits based on the knowledge and experience of those putting it together, the differing first aid requirements of the area where it may be used, and variations in legislation or regulation in a given area.

The international standard for first aid kits is that they should be identified with the ISO graphical symbol for first aid (from ISO 7010) which is an equal white cross on a green background, although many kits do not comply with this standard, either because they are put together by an individual or they predate the standards.

Contents

Contents of First Aid Kits as per Schedule 1 Occupational Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulation 1989

• Adhesive plastic dressing strips, sterile, packets of 50
• Adhesive dressing tape, 2.5 cm x 5 cm
• Bags, plastic, for amputated parts: Small,Medium,Large
• Dressing, non-adherent, sterile 7.5cm x 7.5cm
• Eye pads, sterile
• Gauze bandages: 5cm, 10cm
• Gloves, disposable, x2, 4, or 10
• Rescue blanket, silver space
• Safety pins, packets
• Scissors, blunt/short nosed, minimum length 12.5 cm
• Splinter forceps, stainless steel
• Sterile eyewash solution, 10 ml single use ampoules or sachets
• Swabs, pre-packed, antiseptic, packs of 10
• Triangular bandages, minimum 90 cm
• Wound dressings, sterile, non-medicated, large
• First-aid pamphlets (as issued by the St. John Ambulance or the Australian Red Cross Society, or any other first aid pamphlet approved by the Authority)
• Antiseptic spray
• Disposable resuscitation mask
• Instant ice pack

For the full list table please download it HERE

What is Cut?

An injury due to opening in the skin

Minor Cuts / Scrapings

• No treatment is required
• Care required to prevent infection

Treatment for Minor Cuts

• Clean wound with water
• Avoid soap
• Remove dirt/debris in the wound
• Apply antibiotic ointment
• Dress/ bandage the wound
• Change dressing daily
• Minor cuts stop bleeding in 10 min
• Apply gentle pressure if bleeding persists

Deep cuts

• May bleed heavily
• May expose underlying tissues

Treatment For Deep Cuts

• May require stitching
• Requires Tetanus Toxoid (TT) if:
  1. Cut is dirty or has debris
  2. TT taken 5 years ago
• Consult a doctor in case of:
  1. Delayed wound- healing
  2. Pus Discharge
  3. Fever

Points to note

• Do not try to clean a major wound
• Do not remove deeply- lodged debris
• Do not breathe on an open wound
• Do not push back exposed body parts

What are burns?

• Injuries due to heat/ chemicals/ electricity/ radiation
• Common heat injuries due to fire, hot liquids, steam
• Burns due to heat / chemicals - through skin contact
• Severe burns affect muscles, fat and bones
• Older people/ children - particularly vulnerable

Categories of burns

• First, second and third degree
• Categorization depends on severity of tissue damage
• Check extent of burn before deciding self treatment
• Seek help if burn is over a couple of inches in diameter, or
• If it involves large sections of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint

First-degree burns

• Injuries are superficial / mild
• Swelling& redness of the injured area
• Pain develops
• No blisters seen
• Burned area becomes white on touch
• Takes 3-6 days to heal

Treatment

• Remove patient from heat source
• Remove the burnt clothing
• Run cool water over burnt area
• Gently clean the injured area
• Gently dry
• Apply anti biotic such as Silver Sulphadiazine
• Use a sterile bandage to cover burns
• Take tetanus vaccination, if required

Second-degree burns

• Burns extends to middle skin layer, dermis
• Swelling, redness and pain observed
• Burnt area may turn white on touch
• Blisters develop, that ooze a clear fluid
• Scars may develop
• Restricts movement, if injury occurs at joint
• Dehydration may occur
• Healing time varies, depends on extent of injury

Treatment

• Clean the affected area thoroughly
• Gently dry
• Apply antibiotic cream over affected area
• Make the patient lie down
• eep burnt body part at a raised level
• Skin graft may be required
• Physical therapy may be essential to aid mobility
• Splints may be used to rest affected joints
• Hospitalization is essential

Third-degree burns

• Damage occurs to all 3 skin layers
• Destroys adjacent hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings
• Lack of pain due to destroyed nerves
• Injured area does not turn white on touch
• No blisters observed
• Swelling occurs
• Skin develops leathery texture
• Discoloration of skin observed
• Scars develop
• Crusty surfaces (Eschars) develop-impairs circulation
• Dehydration occurs resulting in shock
• Symptoms may worsen with time
• Disfigurement may result
• Healing depends on extent of injury
• 90% body surface injury results in death
• 60% injury in elderly, fatal

Treatment

• Requires immediate hospital care
• Dehydration treated through intravenous fluid supply
• Oxygen is administered
• Eschars are surgically opened
• Periodically run clean cool water over burns
• Nutritious diet helps to heal quickly
• Regular monitoring essential
• Mental Depression treated by anti-depressants

Prevention

• Install smoke alarm in your home
• Employ 'children friendly' safety measures at home
• Avoid synthetic clothing while cooking
• Carry out fire drills at home and work place

What is Anaphylaxis?

• Severe, life- threatening allergic reaction
• Occurs as a reaction to an allergen
• Anaphylaxis releases various chemicals in body
• Reactions occur in secs / mins of exposure
• Occurs in 30 per 100,000 individuals per year

Causes

• Food like nuts, milk, eggs, fish
• Insect sting
• Latex
• Vaccines
• Medications like antibiotics, anesthetics
• Some tropical insects, plants, animals
• Unknown causes

What happens?

• On first exposure-allergen specific antibody, Ig-E, produced
• On re-exposure, Ig-E triggers immune response
• This immune response is anaphylaxis

Symptoms

• Tingling / warm sensation
• Itchiness / Rash
• Swelling of areas around mouth / throat
• Restricted air-ways
• Reduced oxygen level in brain
• Signs of asthma
• Vomiting
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Fluid–filled lungs
• Low blood pressure
• Palpitations / feeling faint
• Loss of consciousness

Who is at risk?

• Those with history of food allergy
• Those with family history of allergies
• Those who have experienced prior attack

Treatment

• If nauseated, lie down on the side
• If feeling faint, lie down, legs raised
• In case of breathing difficulty, sit up
• First time patients should be hospital treated
• Epinephrine injections – effective treatment
• Continuous monitoring mandatory
• Severity/ response / prior episodes determine treatment

Prevention

• Avoid allergens as far as possible
• Those at risk should carry adrenalin auto-injector
• Inform school authorities, if children at risk
• Children should wear food allergy badges
• Emergency protocols necessary in schools/ work place
• Educating the public is vital

Overview

• Domestic pets cause more bites
• Dogs more likely to bite, cats more infectious
• Risk of rabies with non-immunized pets / stray / wild animals
• Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats too carry rabies

Symptoms

• Skin break
• Bruise / puncture
• Cuts
• Bleeding
• Swelling and redness of the area
• Oozing of fluid

Treatment

• Calm the affected person
• Wash hands before attending to wound
• Wash wound with soap & running water
• Apply antibiotic ointment
• Dress using sterile bandage
• After first aid, medical treatment must be sought quickly
• Suturing may be required
• Tetanus booster / antibiotics required
• Treatment depends on type / location of wound

Prevention

• Avoid keeping wild animals as pets
• Choose a pet that is friendly to children
• Train the pet to obey commands
• Vaccinate your pet
• When children are around, pets supervision is required
• Avoid leaving infants alone with pets

What are Blisters?

• Occurs due to friction caused by constant rubbing of shoes / clothes
• Outer skin layer separates from inner layer
• The space in-between fills up with fluid
• Common in athletes, trekkers, rowers
• Also seen in people using new shoes
• Can be prevented

Fever Blisters

• Fever blisters appear in /around mouth
• Fever blisters caused by virus, Herpes Simplex
• Type-1 Herpes virus usually involved in fever blisters
• These blisters are contagious
• Recurrent episodes may occur
• Recurrence due to stress/illness/injury/sunlight

Symptoms

• Bubble-like structures on skin
• Redness over the area
• Itching
• Pain

Treatment

• Make a hole at the edge of blister
• Use a sterilized needle or pin
• Pin/needle sterilized by passing over flame
• Drain the accumulated fluid
• Keep skin intact to prevent infection
• Clean blister with gauze containing iodine/alcohol
• Apply antibiotic ointment
• Cover with adhesive bandage for small blister
• Use porous, bandage for large ones
• Do not puncture blister if painless
• Do not puncture a blood-filled blister
• Blisters disappear in a few days time
• Diabetics should consult doctor

Managing for fever (Oral) blisters

• No permanent cure/vaccination for Herpes infection
• Keep blisters dry & free of infection
• Eat a bland diet

Prevention Blisters

• Wear the right size shoe
• Cover the potential area with taping
• Keep feet dry always

Fever blisters

• Avoid touching blisters
• Avoid contact with an infected person
• Avoid stressful situations

Overview

• Bruises are injuries to the soft tissue
• It is an 'area of discoloration' on the skin
• Other names - Hematoma, Contusion
• Can last for days to several months

Causes

• Sports Injuries
• Accidents
• Falls
• Blows from objects/people
• Chances increase if taking medications, like Aspirin

Types

• Subcutaneous-underneath the skin
• Intramuscular - within the underlying muscles
• Periosteal-bruise related to bone

Related events

• Small veins and capillaries under the skin breaks
• Blood escapes and collects under skin
• In the beginning bruises look purplish or red
• In 2 days it may change to black or blue color
• It changes to a green/yellow color in 5 days
• Changes to a brown shade in 10-14 days
• It further lightens and fades away
• The changing colors indicates red cell metabolism

Symptoms

• Pain
• Swelling
• Discoloration

Treatment

• Most bruises vanish in 2 weeks time
• No bandage required if skin is not broken
• Keep bruised area raised
• Apply cold compress, ½ hr to one hr at a time
• Continue this for two days
• Do not apply ice directly on skin
• Can take pain killing medications, like acetaminophen
• Avoid draining the bruise using needle
• Avoid using the bruised part
• For more serious injury consult a doctor
• Consult also in case of spontaneous injury/infection
• Protein-bioflavinoids-Vit C rich food helps healing

Prevention

• Teach children safety measures
• Avoid falls around house
• Wear seat belts while driving
• Wear helmet while riding
• While sporting, pad frequently- bruised areas

Overview

• Happens at school/work/ home
• Risk is greater at place of work/factories
• Happens as a result of accident / assault
• Injury caused by coagulation / necrosis of tissue
• Damage depends on exposure / time / chemical

Causes

• Strong acids or bases (alkali)
• Chemical Irritants

Symptoms

• Irritation / burning
• Redness of skin
• Pain / numbness
• Blisters
• Coughing
• Breathlessness
• Head ache

Symptoms in severe cases

• Dizziness
• Severe cough
• Seizures
• Low blood pressure
• Irregular heart
• Cardiac arrest

Treatment

• Remove patient from accident site
• Wash injury with tepid water liberally
• Identify chemical for effective therapy
• Seek medical treatment
• IV fluids need to be administered
• Pain medications and antibiotics needed
• Wounds cleaned and bandaged
• Follow -up care compulsory
• Consultation with specialist is a must

Prevention

• While using chemicals, follow safety precautions
• Avoid overexposure to chemicals
• Store chemicals safely in containers
• Keep them out of reach of children
• Avoid misuse of hair, skin, nail care products
• Avoid mixing different chemicals
• Avoid using toxic substances in kitchen /near food
• Use fume-emitting products in ventilated areas

Overview

When a toxic chemical is splashed into the eye(s), it could cause serious complications that may lead to blindness.

Causes

• Working with chemicals in factories
• Handling car battery
• Working in research laboratories
• Handling household chemicals

Symptoms

• Irritation in eye
• Eye Burns
• Watering of the eye

Treatment

• Lay the person on the floor
• Keep eye lids open forcibly
• Use clean cold water to wash eyes gently
• Keep washing steadily for at least 20 minutes
• Rinse/wash hands thoroughly to remove chemical
• If wearing contact lens remove them
• Do not rub eyes
• Do not use eye drops until told
• Wear sunglasses to minimize irritation
• After these basic steps seek medical help
• Remember the name of chemical to tell doctor

Prevention

• If working with chemicals, wear protective face-mask
• Wear eye goggles whenever required
• Do not be careless with chemicals
• Store household chemicals safely
• Keep chemicals out of reach of children

Overview

• Feeling of pain /discomfort between neck and abdomen
• Chest pain raises fear of heart attack
• Any tissue or organ in chest can cause pain
• 'Angina' is heart- related chest pain

Causes

• Some mild, others life threatening
• Problems related to the heart
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Inflammation in the lung
• Inflammation / strain of rib muscle
• Anxiety
• Indigestion / ulcers in stomach
• Gall bladder stones
• Shingles
• Stress

Symptoms

• Pain or pressure in chest area
• May be accompanied by
  1. Heartburn,
  2. Vomiting,
  3. Dizziness
  4. Shortness of breath
  5. Fever

Treatment

• If you have asthma or angina take your regular medications
• Medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen may help
• Consult a doctor if
  1. Pain /fever /cough persists
  2. Radiating pain occurs
  3. Angina occurs at rest
  4. The cough produces yellow - green phlegm
  5. Pressure / tightness occurs
  6. Nausea
  7. Dizziness
  8. Shortness of breath
  9. Sweating
• Hospitalization may be essential
• Tests like ECG, may have to be taken

Prevention

• Maintain normal weight
• Exercise regularly for 30 - 40 minutes
• Check and control BP, diabetes, cholesterol
• Avoid smoking
• Control stress
• Eat low fat balanced diet
• Get health check ups done regularly

Overview

• Occurs when foreign object is lodged in windpipe
• This blocks oxygen supply to brain
• In adults, choking occurs due to food
• In children it also occurs on swallowing an object
• Choking could be fatal, if first aid not given

Causes

• Swallowing a large piece of food
• Swallowing food that is not well chewed
• Eating food quickly
• Eating and talking
• Consuming alcohol before a meal
• Wearing dentures
• Being careless about children
• Walking / playing with food in mouth

Symptoms

• Hands will grasp throat
• Breathlessness
• Noisy breathing
• Inability to cough
• Skin, nails and lips may turn blue
• Loss of consciousness

Treatment

• Heimlich maneuver and CPR –2 techniques
• If person is unable to talk, try Heimlich maneuver
• Forces the diaphragm upto the lungs
• Creates an artificial cough

Heimlich Maneuver on a standing person

• Stand behind the person
• Form a fist with one hand
• Place fist below ribcage, thumb inward
• Hold the fist with other hand
• Keep arms off ribcage
• Give four inward and upward thrust
• Repeat till the object is ejected
• Same method is used for a child too

Heimlich Maneuver On an Unconscious Person

• If person is lying down, straddle the person with your knees
• Place heel of one hand above waistline
• Place other hand over the first
• Give four inward and upward thrust
• Repeat till object is coughed out

Heimlich Maneuver On an Infant

• Place your forearm over your raised knees
• Place the infant face down over your fore arm
• Give four blows using the heel of your hand
• Repeat till object comes out
• If it does not work, turn the baby
• Place two fingers an inch below the imaginary line connecting nipples
• Give four thrusts forcefully to bring out the object
• Repeat if required

Prevention

• While eating, concentrate on the task
• Do not eat quickly, without chewing
• Supervise children while they eat
• Give easily chewable, soft food to children
• Do not leave tiny objects within the reach of children

Overview

• Cornea is outer layer of the eye
• Tearing away of this layer leads to corneal abrasion.
• Most common injury to the eye
• Multiple nerve endings present in cornea, hence painful

Causes

May be caused by

• A finger nail
• Any sharp flying object like pencil, glass
• Tiny particles, like sand
• Contact lens

Symptoms

• Pain
• Redness of the eye
• Blurred vision
• Discomfort in the eye
• Difficulty in opening eyes
• Head ache
• Discharge of tears

Treatment

• Antibiotic used to prevent infection
• Examination is done after using an anaesthetic
• Pain returns after anaesthetic is stopped
• Repeated usage of anaesthetic is harmful
• Eye ointments, pain relievers are provided
• A 'patch' may be put on the eyes
• Eye ointments/ lubricants at night prevents recurrence

Do Not

• Do not rub eyes during healing phase
• This may destroy the newly forming cells
• Repatching may then be necessary
• Do not wear contact lens till cured

Prognosis

• Small corneal abrasions heal quickly
• Blurriness may last for a few weeks
• Permanent loss of sight is rare
• Occasionally abrasions may recur

Prevention

• Always follow instructions while using contact lens
• Do not wear contact lens for too long
• Remove lens if irritation /dryness occurs
• Do not rub eyes too hard
• Wash hands whenever required
• Trim your nails regularly
• Be careful while using 'glitter' make up
• Wear protective gears while sporting

What is Diabetes?

• Chronic health condition
• Insufficient insulin produced /used
• Affects sugar breakdown

Introduction

• Food eaten converted to glucose
• Glucose produces energy
• Insulin breaks down glucose
• Diabetics do not sufficiently produce or use insulin
• Causes blood sugar build-up in blood

Types

• Type I diabetes
  • Mostly occurs in children/young adult
  • Insulin production affected
• Type II diabetes
  • Mostly occur in adults
  • Body is partially/ fully insulin resistant
  • Blood sugar level increases

Gestational diabetes

• Occurs in pregnant women
• Causes problems in mother and baby
• Symptoms
  • Increased thirst
  • Excessive urination
  • Weight loss
  • Weakness
  • Vision changes
  • Dry skin / dehydration
  • Numbness in hands/ feet
  Diagnosis
  • Fasting blood glucose level> 126 mg/dL
  • Random Blood Glucose> 200 mg/dL

Complications of diabetes

• Diabetic Retinopathy (eye)
• Kidney Disease
• Heart Disease and Stroke
• Nerve Disease
• Impotence (sexual disorder)

Treatment

• Type I diabetes
  • Daily Insulin injections
  • Insulin cannot be taken as a pill

• Type II diabetes
  • Healthy diet and exercise brings down glucose level.
  • Some people need diabetic medicine or insulin

Medications lower blood glucose level

• Sulfonylurea drugs & Meglitinedes: Produces insulin in the pancreas
• Biguanides: decreases glucose in liver
• µ- glucosidase inhibitors: Slows the absorption of starch
• Consult a diabetologist or general physician

About Dislocation

• An injury which forces bones out of their sockets
• Dislocation is a common sports injury
• It temporarily deforms or immobilizes the joint

Causes

• Usually caused by a trauma like a fall/blow
• Rheumatoid arthritis also causes dislocation

Symptoms

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Difficulty to move injured part
• Swelling
• Discoloration

Treatment

• Call medical help as soon as possible
• Do not move the joint or try to place it back
• Place ice to control swelling
• If skin is cut, clean gently and bandage with sterile gauze
• Sling or splint the injury in its original position
• If injury is serious, check for breathing
• If not breathing, provide Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Elevate the feet up to 12 inches
• Cover the patient with a blanket

Prevention

• Wear protective gear while sporting
• Make home environment safe
• Teach safe habits to children
• Do not stand on chairs or other unstable objects
• Exercise care while using bath oils
• Make use of hand rails while using the stairs

Overview

• Injuries caused when electric current passes through body
• Source may be natural or man-made

What happens during electric shock?

• Makes you fall down
• Muscle contraction
• Seizures
• Dehydration
• Burns
• Fractures
• Clotting of blood
• Tissue death (narcosis)
• Respiratory/Heart/Kidney failure

Steps to follow

• Do not attempt to move the victim from current source
• First step is to switch off the current source
• Otherwise, move the source using a wooden stick
• Attend to the victim
• Check for breathing
• No breathing, do Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Call emergency medical aid
• If breathing, do a physical examination
• Treat for minor burns
• Re-establish vital functions
• Excessive burns may require hospitalization/surgery
• Supportive care must be provided

Prevention

• Proper design, installation, maintenance of electric devices
• Educating the public regarding electrical devices
• Keep electrical gadgets out of children’s reach
• Learn to respect electricity and electrical devices

About Fainting

• Fainting occurs due to decreased blood supply to brain
• A fainting spell is usually very brief
• It may or may not have medical significance

Common Causes

• Anxiety
• Emotional upset
• Stress
• Severe pain
• Skipping meals
• Standing up too fast
• Standing for a long time in a crowd
• Some medications
• Diabetes
• Blood Pressure

Symptoms

Before fainting, a person may experience the following:

• Nausea
• Giddiness
• Excessive sweating
• Dim vision
• Rapid heart beat or palpitations

Treatment

• Fainting is a medical emergency, till proven otherwise
• When a person feels faint-
• Make them sit down or lie down
• If sitting, position head between knees
• When a person faints, position him on his back
• Check to see if airways are clear
• Restore blood flow by
• Loosening clothing/belts/collars
• Elevate feet above head level
• Patient should become normal within a minute
• If not, seek medical help
• Check if breathing/pulse is normal
• If not, do Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Prevention

• When symptoms appear, lie down
• Try do avoid stress and anxiety
• Carefully evaluate your medications
• Take care of underlying medical conditions

Overview

• Fever is higher-than-normal body temperature (Normal temparature-37°C or 98.6°F)
• Indicates an abnormal process in the body
• Fever is a symptom and not disease
• Also called 'pyrexia'
• Low fever:98.8°F (37°C) to 100.8°F (38°C)
• Mild to moderate:101°F(38°C) to 103°F (39°C)
• High fever:104°F(40°C) and above

Fever

• Causes
  • Hot weather
  • Childhood immunization
  • Bacterial/viral infection
  • Spending much time in sun
  • Allergy to medication / food
• Symptoms
  • Hot flushed face
  • Lack of interest in food
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Head and body ache
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
• High fever maybe associated with -
  • Delirium
  • Convulsion

Treatment

• Monitor temperature using a thermometer
• Remove the excess clothing
• Keep the person in a cool place
• Give a sponge bath in luke warm water
• Give plenty of fluids
• Give prescribed doses of acetaminophen /paracetamol
• Do not give aspirin to a person with fever
• Do not wrap the person in blankets / warm clothing

Consult a Doctor in case of -

• Irregular breathing
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Rashes
• Persistent sore throat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Painful urination
• Convulsions

Overview

• Occurs by eating contaminated food
• Brought about by bacterial/viral/ parasitic toxins
• Bacteria is most common cause of food contamination
• Bacteria is present in most raw food
• Raw meat /poultry/ sea food/ eggs: increased risk
• Tomatoes/sprout /lettuceare also contamination-prone
• Contamination occurs between production and preparation
• Children/pregnant women/ elderlcy/immuno-deficient at greater risk

Symptoms

• Resembles intestinal flu
• Lasts for few days or weeks

• Common Symptoms are
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • vomiting
  • Diarrhea, which may be bloody
  • Fever
  • Dehydration

• Severe Symptoms include
  • Shallow breath
  • Rapid pulse
  • Pale skin
  • Chills
  • Chest pain
• Severity may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, in children
• Deaths may occur due to severe complications

Treatment

• Most cases are mild and are treated by taking fluids
• Fluids may be taken orally or intravenously
• Severe cases must be hospitalized

Prevention

• Wash hands well before preparing food
• Clean surfaces and kitchen counters before cooking
• Cook food at appropriate temperatures enough to kill bacteria
• Refrigerate food within two hours of cooking
• Allow enough space in fridge for cool air circulation

Overview

• When object is lodged in the skin layers
• It may be embedded superficially or deeply

Causes

• Caused by glass
• Wood splinters
• Fiber glass

Symptoms

• Irritation
• Pain
• Abscess

Treatment

• Wash hands well
• Clean the affected area using soap, water
• If object is visible above skin, squeeze the area around
• When object pops out, remove using sterile tweezer
• If embedded under skin, use a sterile needle
• Sterilize needle by flaming/wiping with alcohol
• Use needle to break skin over affected area
• Lift tip of the object
• Use a small tweezer to pull it out
• Gently squeeze the area and let bleed
• Clean the area with soap, water. Pat dry
• Apply an antibiotic

Steps to Avoid

• Do not wet if the object is of wood
• Wet wooden objects swell- becomes difficult to remove

Consult a doctor

• If the object is difficult to remove
• If the object is close to a sensitive body part, like the eye
• In case of infection

Overview

• Most objects swallowed will be eliminated naturally
• Sharp objects/objects like battery are dangerous
• Sharp objects should be removed
• Can happen to all ages
• Common in children of 1-3 years

Causes

• Certain food like popcorn
• Coins
• Small toys
• Small objects like buttons, beads

Symptoms

• Coughing
• Difficulty in breathing
• Wheezing

Treatment

• If breathing is difficult, do Heimlich maneuver
• Seek medical help as quickly as possible
• On someone else
  • Stand behind the person
  • Wrap your arms around victim's waist
  • Tilt the person a little forward
  • Make a fist with one hand
  • Place it just above the navel
  • Hold the fist with the other hand
  • Give a hard upward thrust into the abdomen
  • Repeat if required
• On Oneself
  • Make fist with one hand
  • Place fist above navel
  • Hold it with other hand
  • Bend over a hard surface like a chair
  • Give hard upward thrust
  • Repeat if required

Prevention

• Do not give potentially dangerous food to children
• Give small pieces of food to children
• Avoid laughing / talking when eating

What is fracture?

• A broken or cracked bone
• Occurs when pressure is applied to bone
• Occurs with / without displacement of bone fragments

Types

• Open fracture: Skin breaks causing open wound
• Closed fracture: Skin not broken
• Complicated fractures: Damage of adjacent organs
• Stress fracture: Hairline crack due to repeated stress
• Greenstick fracture: In children's flexible bones

Symptoms

• Severe pain
• Difficulty in movement
• Swelling/ bruising / bleeding
• Deformity / abnormal twist of limb
• Tenderness on applying pressure

First-aid

• Depends on type & location of fracture
• For open fractures
  • Control bleeding before treatment
  • Rinse and dress the wound
• For open / closed fractures
  • Check the breathing
  • Calm the person
  • Examine for other injuries
  • Immobilize the broken wound
  • Apply ice to reduce pain / swelling
  • Consult a doctor

DO NOT

• Massage the affected area
• Straighten the broken bone
• Move without support to broken bone
• Move joints above / below the fracture
• Give oral liquids / food

Prevention

• Wear protective pads / helmets when driving
• Teach children / practice, safe habits

Overview

• Frostbite is damage caused by extreme cold to skin / tissues
• At -15C or below, blood vessels constrict to preserve body temperature
• When this state persists, tissue injury occurs
• Frost bite usually affects tissues which are distant from the heart
• It also occurs in tissues that are most exposed to cold
• The organs that are usually affected are -
  • Nose,
  • Ears,
  • Fingers
  • Toes
• Care should be taken to prevent permanent tissue damage

Risk Factors

• Diabetes
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Use of beta-blockers

Symptoms

• Skin Discolorations
• Loose skin
• Tingling/burning sensation
• Partial/Complete numbness

In severe cases,

• Dry gangrene followed by amputation

Treatment

• Get medical help as soon as possible. Meanwhile
• Wrap the affected area using clean cloth

If no medical help is forthcoming -

• Move the victim to a warm place
• Treat hypothermia first. Cover the person well
• Keep the frost-bitten site in warm but not in hot water
• This should be done till sensations returns

Steps to Avoid

• Do not rub / massage the affected area
• Treatment followed by freezing causes extensive damage
• This should be done till sensations returns

Prevention

• Avoid -
  • Extreme cold
  • Wet clothes
  • Chilly Wind
• During cold weather, wear several layers of clothing
• Wear accessories like-
  • Mittens, not gloves
  • Two pairs of socks
  • Hat / scarves to cover both ears well
• Get enough food and rest
• Avoid alcohol immediately before exposure to cold
• Avoid cotton clothing

What are Gastric Problems?

• Occurs in stomach / oesophagus
• Disturbance of gastric mucosa leads to acid secretion
• Acids contact stomach nerve endings
• Causes pain / discomfort

Types

• May be acute / chronic
• Acute gastric problem reduces quickly
• Chronic gastric problems lead to ulcers

Causes

• Physical and mental stress can also cause ulceration.
• Causes of gastric mucosa inflammation:
  • Acidic foods
  • Alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Drugs

Drugs which causes gastric trouble

• Aspirin
• Nicotine
• Corticosteroids
• Erythromycin
• Beta- Blockers

Symptoms

• Constant Pain
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

Avoid

• Hot Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Excessive eating
• Large meals before bed
• Fatty food
• Pulse
• Late nights

Treatment

• Acute problems resolve spontaneously
• Chronic problems should be treated
• Drugs for treatment include:
  • Antacids
  • H2 antagonists
  • Proton pump inhibitors
• Timely meals releives pain due to ulcers
• Consult - Gastroenterologist.

Overview

• Gastroenteritis is inflammation of stomach and intestines
• Can affect- any one, any age, any time
• Symptoms prominent in children
• Depending on cause, it may last for a day or a week
• Use of drugs like aspirin can increase the risk

Causes

• Bacteria contaminated food / water
• Viral infection
• Stress
• Irregular/ improper diet
• Tobacco or substance abuse
• Reaction to a new food
• Reaction to medication

Symptoms

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Cramps/Abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Weakness
• Fever/Chills, occasionally

Treatment

• Adequate rest is advised
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Gradually eat easy -to-digest food
• Avoid diary products
• Avoid eating if nauseated
• Do not give water to a child with gastroenteritis
• Give other prescribed rehydration liquids
• Or give a mixture of salt and glucose in water
• Consider nursing the baby
• Consider acetaminophen for relief
• Avoid acetaminophen in case of liver disease
• Avoid aspirin

Consult a doctor if

• Vomiting/Diarrhea persists
• Diarrhea is bloody
• Acute dehydration occurs
• Fever persists

Overview

• Head trauma is an injury that affects the brain / skull
• Injuries range from minor to serious
• Head injury may be 'closed' or 'penetrating'
• 'Closed'-when head hits against a blunt object
• These injuries lead to concussion
• 'Penetrating' - an object penetrates skull and enters brain

Causes

• Road traffic accidents
• Accidents at home / work
• Assault
• Fall
• Sports

Symptoms

• Loss of consciousness - for short or long duration
• Bleeding
• Vomiting
• Fluid discharge from nose
• Loss of hearing, vision, taste, smell
• Speech-related problems
• Irregular heart beat
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Change in personality
• Mental health-related problems

Treatment For mild injury-

• Apply ice to injured area to minimize swelling
• The size of the bump is not related to the severity of injury
• Observe the patient carefully for signs of bleeding

For moderate to severe injury-

• Check the patient's breathing pattern
• If necessary do Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• In case of bleeding, press area with a clean cloth
• If the cloth soaks, place a fresh cloth over the first one
• Do not remove debris from the wound
• If person is vomiting turn on the side and lower the head
• To minimize spine injury - hold head, neck and body in one line
• Immobilize the patient
• If unconscious, treat it like a spinal injury
• Keep the head in alignment with spine
• Get immediate medical help

Consult a Doctor

When the following occur seek medical help-

• Bleeding
• Fluid discharge from nose, mouth, ears
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion / Restlessness / Irritability
• Slurred speech / Convulsion
• Blurred Vision
• Low breathing
• Low blood pressure / Severe headache
• Fracture / Stiff neck
• Loss of sensory abilities
• Inability to move one or more limbs

Steps to Avoid

• Avoid shaking or moving a person who has head injuries
• Avoid washing the wound or removing debris
• Do not remove helmet in case of head injury
• Do not consume alcohol immediately after a head injury
• Do not pick up a fallen child with head injury

Prevention

• Do not indulge in drunken driving
• Practice safe methods while driving / sporting / other activities
• Always follow safety rules
• Supervise the activities of children

Overview

• A condition where pain occurs in the head
• Most common of pain complaints
• Majority of headaches harmless, require no treatment
• Some are indications of an underlying disorder

Causes

• Tension
• Stress
• Straining the eye
• Sinus infection
• Dehydration
• Ice cream
• Sex
• Thunder
• Withdrawal from caffeine/drugs
• Brain related
  • Aneurysms
  • Tumours
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Head injury

Types

• Vascular headache
  • e.g. - Migraine, fever headaches, high blood pressure
  • Pain on one/both side of head
  • Stomach upset
  • Difficulty in seeing
  • Common in women
• Muscular headache
  • e.g. Tension headache
  • Tightening of facial/neck muscles
  • Radiate to forehead
• Cervicogenic headache
  • e.g Spondylitis
• Inflammatory headaches
  • e.g Sinusitis

Treatment

• Most headaches treated with pain killer
• Common medications- actaminophen/parasitamol/aspirin
• Tension headache treated by lowering body temperature
  • This is achieved by taking a cool shower
• If recurrent, keep a headache diary
  • This helps to identify the cause
• Chronic use of painkillers causes 'rebound headaches'
• Complementary treatments like chiropractic care, effective

Consult a doctor

• If - Headache is recurrent and persistent
• If - Headache occurs with
  • Fever/convulsions
  • Memory loss/confusion
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Stiff Neck

Prevention

• Caffeine, a vasoconstrictor, is used to prevent severe migraine
• Supplements with magnesium, vit B12 and Q10 used for prevention

Overview

• Heat cramps are involuntary muscle spasms
• They are caused by deficiency of water and sodium
• Heat cramps are painful, may be severe and prolonged
• Heavy exercising in hot weather causes excessive sweating
• This causes electrolyte deficiency resulting in muscle cramps
• Muscles most affected are the voluntary muscles of-
  • Calves
  • Arms
  • Thighs
  • Back
  • Abdomen
• Heat cramps are the least serious of all heat injuries
• It is a warning sign for heat exhaustion

Risk factors

• Negative sodium balance
• Diuretic medications
• Absence of acclimatization / adaptation

Causes

• Heat
• Dehydration
• Excessive sweating
• Loss of body salts
• Muscle stress
• Poor body condition

Symptoms Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Dizzy feeling
• Fainting
• Exhaustion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hot/sweaty skin

Treatment

• Rest briefly and cool down
• Manual pressure / massage must be applied to the affected muscle
• Drink one quart of water with one teaspoon of salt
• Drink some clear juice / electrolyte-containing sports drink
• Practice gentle stretching exercise of the affected muscle
• Seek medical help if the cramps remain after 1 hour

Prognosis Heat cramps usually improves with

• An electrolyte drink
• Cool shade
• Rest

Prevention

• Adequate fluids must be taken periodically
• Fluids must be taken before feeling thirsty
• Avoid heavy sweaty exercises in humid conditions
• Make sure to drink fluids while exercising

Overview

• Heat exhaustion is a heat - related disorder
• Here, loss of fluids takes place
• This decreases blood flow to vital organs, leading to shock

Causes

• Heat exhaustion caused by excessive heat
• Increased by overexertion / sweating / hot, humid climate

Risk Factors

• Poor circulation
• Recurrent Illness
• Medications like diuretics / laxatives / anti histamines / anti depressants
• Young children and older people at risk, even when inactive

Symptoms

• Weakness / dizziness
• Headache / nausea
• Cold / moist skin
• Paleness
• Dry tongue / thirst
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive sweating
• Rapid / weak heart beat
• Fast / shallow breathing
• Cramps

Treatment

• Cooling the body
  • Remove the person to a shady place
  • Loosen tight-fitting clothing
  • Remove extra clothes
  • Cool the person by sponging with wet cloth / towel

• Hydrating
• Give fluids like sports drink / fruit or vegetable juices
• Water containing electrolytes may be given
• Give fluid every 15-20 minutes
• Avoid coffee and alcohol

Consult A Doctor

• If the symptoms don't clear up in 30 minutes

Seek emergency help in case of

• Physical collapse
• Loss of consciousness

Prevention

• Do not indulge in drunken driving
• Practice safe methods while driving / sporting / other activities
• Always follow safety rules
• Supervise the activities of children

Overview

• Heat stroke is the most severe of all heat-related illness
• Heat stroke could be life - threatening

Causes

• Cooling mechanism of the body fails due to
  1. Excessive humidity
  2. Extreme heat
  3. Activity in the hot sun
• Internal body temperature rises, leading to stroke

Risk Factors

• Dehydration
• Infants & older people
• People who work long hours, outdoor
• Obesity
• Impairment in sweat gland function
• Cardiovascular disorder
• Alcohol usage
• Medications

Symptoms

• Body temperature, greater than 104°F (40°C)
• Head ache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Fatigue
• Hot dry skin
• Skin is moist, if stroke is due to exertion
• Rapid / shallow breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Absence of sweating
• Fluctuating blood pressure
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Lack of consciousness / coma

Treatment

• Remove the person to a shady place
• Cool the person by sponging with wet towel
• Apply ice packs in armpits and groin
• Water with electrolyte, fruit / vegetable juice should be given
• Victim must be rested

Prevention

• Avoid outdoor activity during excessive heat
• Drink plenty of fluids when working outdoors
• During outdoor activity, splash your body frequently with water
• Avoid alcohol / coffee / soda / alcohol
• Wear light weight, light- colored, loose-fitting clothes
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing sun glasses and hat

Overview

• Usually occurs when one person bites another
• Comes in contact with another person's teeth
• Can be more dangerous than animal bite
• Human bites has increased risk of infection
• This is due to microbes present in the mouth
• Risk of injury to tendons and joints also present
• Very common among children

Symptoms

• Puncture wounds on skin
• Skin Breaks
• Cuts
• Bleeding

Treatment

• Calm the victim
• If bleeding is not severe, wash the wound
• Use a mild soap
• Clean the wound in running water for 3-5 min
• Apply an antibiotic cream
• Dress the wound using sterile gauze
• If the bleeding is severe, apply pressure to stop bleeding
• Keep the wounded part in a slightly raised position
• Get medical attention immediately
• If not covered for tetanus - an injection is recommended

Consult a Doctor All human bites must be evaluated by the doctor especially in case of-

• Broken skin
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Pus formation
• If wound occurs near eye, on the face
• If victim has weak immune system (as in AIDS, Cancer)

Steps to Avoid

• Do not ignore human bites
• Avoid placing the wound in the mouth

Prevention

• Avoid placing hand near the mouth of a seizure-affected person
• Take caution to prevent your child from developing biting habit

Overview

• Insect bites are, mostly, not severe
• Sometimes they cause a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis
• Anaphylaxis is life-threatening if not treated on time
• Sting of bees, wasps, hornets / bite of fire ants, painful
• Bites of insects, like mosquitoes, cause itching
• The bite of a black widow spider can be fatal, if left untreated

Insect Bites

Causes Examples of biting insects

• Mosquitoes
• Fleas
• Mites
• Spiders

Examples of stinging insect

• Bees
• Wasps
• Hornets

Symptoms

• Localized Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Itching
• Numbness
• Burning
• Tingling sensation
• Breathlessness
• Weakness

Treatment

• Remove the stinger using a straight- edged object
• Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water
• Place ice wrapped in a cloth on the affected area
• Repeat after every 10 minutes
• Apply a gentle cream to prevent itching
• Take anti histamines if necessary
• Observe for signs of infection like pain, redness or swelling

In case of emergency-

• Try to keep the person calm
• Check the person's breathing
• Remove constricting items, like rings, from finger/nose/ears
• Do Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), if necessary
• If the person is carrying an emergency kit, use it
• If required, treat the person for signs of shock
• Seek medical help as soon as possible

Consult a Doctor In case of the following, seek medical help

• Wheezing
• Swelling on the face
• Difficulty in breathing
• Tight feeling in the throat
• Body turning blue

Steps to Avoid

• Do not remove the stinger using a tweezer
• Do not apply a tourniquet
• Aspirin, pain medications, should not be given unless advised by a doctor

Prevention

• Avoid placing hand near the mouth of a seizure-affected person
• Take caution to prevent your child from developing biting habit

Overview

• A nose bleed occurs when a small vein, along the lining of nose, bursts
• Most nosebleeds look scary, but are harmless
• Can be treated at home
• Common in children/elderly

Causes

• Dryness
• Nose picking
• Blowing nose with force
• Use of medications, like aspirin
• Introducing objects into nose (mostly children)
• Injuries
• Allergies
• Infections
• High BP
• Atherosclerosis
• Blood-clotting disorders
• Use of cocaine

Symptoms

• Bleeding from nose
• Sometimes bleeding from ears/mouth too

Types

• Anterior Nosebleed
  1. Affects lower part of wall that separates nostrils
  2. The wall or septum contains blood vessels
  3. These can be broken by blow to nose/fingernail
  4. The bleeding starts from front of nose
  5. It flows outward when patient is sitting/standing
  6. Occurs during dry season/harsh winter
• Posterior Nosebleed
  1. The bleeding starts deep within the nose
  2. It flows down the back of the mouth & throat
  3. This happens even when the person is sitting/standing
  4. Occurs in old people/those with high BP/injuries
  5. This type of bleeding is severe/ requires medical help

Treatment

• If your nose bleeds,
• Sit down and lean forward
• Using your thumb & index finger, squeeze soft part of nose
• This part is between end of nose and the bridge of nose
• Continue holding till bleeding stops-
• Do not stop in-between
• If bleeding continues, hold for another 10 minutes
• If the patient is a child, divert attention by TV/Stories
• Avoid picking, blowing or rubbing nose for 2 days
• Place an ice pack on the bridge of nose

Consult a Doctor If,

• The bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes
• The bleeding is caused by an injury
• You get nosebleeds often

Prevention

• Keep fingernails short
• Quit smoking
• Open your mouth while sneezing
• Use a humidifier at night in case of dry weather

Overview

• Poisons are substances that cause injury, illness or death
• These events are caused by a chemical activity in the cells
• Poisons can be injected, inhaled or swallowed
• Poisoning should be suspected if a person is sick for unknown reason
• Poor ventilation can aggravate Inhalation poisoning
• First aid is critical in saving the life of victims

Causes

• Medications
• Drug overdose
• Occupational exposure
• Cleaning detergents/paints
• Carbon mono oxide gas from furnace, heaters
• Insecticides
• Certain cosmetics
• Certain household plants, animals
• Food poisoning (Botulism)

Symptoms

• Blue lips
• Skin Rashes
• Difficulty in breathing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting/Nausea
• Fever
• Head ache
• Giddiness/drowsiness
• Double vision
• Abdominal/chest pain
• Palpitations/Irritability
• Loss of appetite/bladder control
• Numbness
• Muscle twitching
• Seizures
• Weakness
• Loss of consciousness

Treatment

• Seek immediate medical help

Meanwhile,

• Try and identify the poison if possible
• Check for signs like burns around mouth, breathing difficulty or vomiting
• Induce vomiting if poison swallowed
• In case of convulsions, protect the person from self injury
• If the vomit falls on the skin, wash it thoroughly
• Position the victim on the left till medical help arrives

For inhalation poisoning

• Seek immediate emergency help
• Get help before you attempt to rescue others
• Hold a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth
• Open all the doors and windows
• Take deep breaths before you begin the rescue
• Avoid lighting a match
• Check the patient's breathing
• Do a CPR, if necessary
• If the patient vomits, take steps to prevent choking

Steps to Avoid

• Avoid giving an unconscious victim anything orally
• Do not induce vomiting unless told by a medical personnel
• Do not give any medication to the victim unless directed by a doctor
• Do not neutralize the poison with limejuice/honey

Prevention

• Store medicines, cleaning detergents, mosquito repellants and paints carefully
• Keep all potentially poisonous substances out of children's reach
• Label the poisons in your house
• Avoid keeping poisonous plants in or around house
• Take care while eating products such as berries, roots or mushrooms
• Teach children the need to exercise caution

Overview

• Puncture wounds are injuries caused by sharp objects
• These wounds carry dirt and germs deep into the tissues
• Increases the risk of infection
• Most wounds are minor and may be treated at home
• Some punctures are made by a health professional for disease treatment
• Even if the wound is closed, puncture wounds require treatment

Risk Factors

• Health professionals
• Drug Abusers

Causes Puncture wound can be caused by -

• Nails
• Needles
• Teeth
• Objects like ice picks, bullets
• Animals, especially pets

Symptoms

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Swelling

Treatment

• Stop the bleeding applying gentle pressure
• Clean the wound
• Try to remove embedded debris carefully
• Soak wound in warm water for 20 minutes
• This should be done 2-3 times a day
• Pat the area dry
• Apply an antibiotic cream
• Apply a bandage
• If the bandage needs to be changed, unwrap carefully
• If the bandage sticks to the body, use warm water to loosen it
• Pat dry and apply fresh bandage
• Change the dressing regularly
• Try to keep the wound above the level of your heart, for 24 hrs
• This quickens healing
• Rest for 3-5 days
• Look out for infection
• Take a Tetanus Toxoid injection, if you have not taken it in 5 years

Consult a Doctor In case of-

• Human/animal bite
• High temperature
• Bleeding
• Worsening Pain
• Numbness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Pus
• Bad odor

Prevention

• Health professionals should wear gloves whenever required
• Be careful while handling needles/other sharp objects
• Exercise caution while handling pets

Overview

• Severe bleeding involves loss of large amount of blood
• This may occur externally through natural openings, like mouth
• A cut on the skin too can lead to bleeding
• Internal bleeding occurs due to an injury to blood vessel

Causes

• Accidents/Falls
• Blow to the head
• Injuries, like scalp wounds
• Tooth Extraction
• Certain medications
• Illnesses like
  • Hemophilia
  • Scurvy
  • Cancer
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • A plastic Anemia
  • Leukemia
  • Hemorrhage
  • Peptic Ulcer
  • Platelet Disorder
  • Liver Disease
  • Septicemia

Symptoms

• Discharge of blood from a wound
• Bruising
• Blood in stool/urine
• Blood coming from other areas, like mouth/ear

Treatment

• Wash hands well before administering to patient
• Wear synthetic gloves
• Make the victim lie down
• Slightly elevate the legs
• If possible keep the affected area elevated
• Remove any obvious debris/particle
• Apply direct pressure using clean cloth/bandage
• Use hand if cloth is not available
• Apply pressure continuously for at least 20 minutes
• Do not remove the cloth to check the bleeding
• Hold the bandage in place using an adhesive tape
• If bleeding seeps through bandage, do not remove it
• Add extra bandage on top of the first one
• Apply direct pressure on the artery if necessary
• The pressure points for arm--below arm- pit/above elbow
• For leg--behind knee/near groin
• Squeeze the artery keeping finger flat
• Continue applying pressure on the wound
• Once bleeding stops immobilize the affected part
• See a doctor

Consult a doctor

• If bleeding does not stop
• If bleeding occurs through nose, ears etc
• Coughing up blood
• Vomiting
• Bruising/deep wounds
• Abdominal tenderness
• Fracture
• Shock

Steps To Avoid

• Do not try to replace a displaced organ
• Just cover the wound with a clean cloth
• Do not try to remove an embedded object

Overview

• Shock is a life-threatening condition
• When vital organs fail to get enough blood, shock results

Causes

• Severe infections
• Allergic reactions
• Heat Stroke
• Trauma
• Poisoning
• Injury

Symptoms

• Cool, clammy skin
• Lackluster eyes
• Dilated pupils
• Vomiting/nausea
• Feeling weak
• Confusion
• Excitement
• Anxiety
• Shallow/ slow breathing or rapid/ deep breathing
• Weak and rapid pulse

Treatment Get emergency medical help. Meanwhile-

• Make the person lie down on the back
• Raise the legs above head level
• If raising the legs is painful, keep the person still
• Check for breathing
• If not breathing, do Cardio pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Make the person comfortable by loosening tight clothes
• Cover the person with a blanket
• If vomiting or bleeding from mouth -turn the patient on the side
• Do not feed the person orally

Prevention

• Learn ways of preventing shock
• If you have a known allergy, carry emergency kits
• Teach family and friends how to use the kit

Overview

• Thousands suffer from snake bites, globally, every year
• People who live near wilderness/trekkers - more prone
• Even bite from a harmless snake can cause allergic reaction

Causes Some common venomous snakes include -

• Viper
• Cobra
• Rattle snake
• Water moccasin
• Coral snake
• Copper head

Symptoms

• Fang marks
• Swelling/severe pain at the site
• Bloody discharge from wound
• Burning
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Blurred vision
• Numbness/tingling sensation
• Increased thirst
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Loss of muscle co-ordinations
• Convulsions
• Rapid pulse
• Weakness/Dizziness/Fainting

Treatment

• Seek Medical help as soon as possible. Meanwhile -
  1. Wash wound with soap/water
  2. Immobilize the affected area
  3. Keep area slightly elevated
  4. Apply cool compress/wet cloth to affected part
  5. Apply a firm bandage 2-4 inches above bite to
     1. Prevent venom from spreading
     2. Take care of any bleeding
  6. Monitor for pulse, respiration and blood pressure

Prevention

• Do not attempt to kill a snake
• If you spot a snake, leave it alone
• While hiking or in the woods, stay out of tall grass
• Do not put your hand into pits/crevices during treks
• Exercise caution while climbing rocks

Overview

• Spinal cord injury is otherwise called 'myelopathy'
• It results in an injury to the nerve fibers in the cord
• Can cause loss of physical sensation and mobility
• Spinal cord remains intact in most of the injuries
• Complete injury causes no movement/sensation below injury
• Incomplete injury-retains some movement/sensation below injury
• Physical therapy, ventilators, wheel chairs often required

Causes

• Automobile accidents
• Diving accidents
• Falls
• Shot by a gun
• Conditions like
  • Polio
  • Tumor
  • Spina Bifida
  • Friedreich's Ataxia

Symptoms

• Loss of sensation
• Loss of motor functions
• Loss of bowel/bladder functions
• Sexual function can get affected
• Loss of involuntary functions, like breathing
• Inability to control rate of heart beat
• Inability to sweat
• Chronic pain

Treatment Seek medical help or call for an ambulance as soon as possible. Meanwhile-

• Move the person, if surrounding is not safe
• Immobilize the head, neck and body on both sides
• Movements may dislocate vertebra and cause further injury
• If there is no sign of breathing, perform CPR
• Do not tilt head backward during CPR

Prevention

• Always wear a seat belt while driving
• Use special seat belts for children and babies
• Do not drink and drive
• Do not dive into a shallow pool area

Overview

• Sprain is the stretch/tear of ligament connecting bones
• Occurs in both the upper & lower part of the body
• Most common sites - ankle/wrists/knee

Causes

• Trauma/accidents
• Lifting heavy objects
• Sporting injuries

Symptoms

• Pain
• Swelling
• Lumps other than swelling
• Bruising/redness at site of injury
• Numbness
• Inability to move the joint

Treatment

• Apply a cold compress to injured area for 20 min
• This may be done 4-8 times a day
• Use a plastic bag with crushed ice, wrapped in a towel
• Use compression bandages to reduce swelling
• Keep the injured leg elevated on a pillow
• Take anti inflammatory pills if necessary
• Take rest for the recommended period
• When pain/swelling is diminished, do recommended exercises

Consult a doctor If the following occurs-

• Severe pain/numbness
• Inability to move the joint
• Inability to assess the severity of injury

Steps To Avoid

• Do not return to normal activities if not completely cured
• This could lead to the problem turning chronic

Prevention

• Avoid exercising/sporting when tired
• Eat a well balanced meal-for healthy muscles
• Avoid unhealthy weight gain
• Exercise daily-particularly stretching exercises
• Do warm-up before exercising
• Practice safety measures, like avoiding clutter
• Run on even surface
• Do not wear ill-fitting shoes

Overview

• Stroke is also called 'Cerebrovascular Accident'
• It is an acute neurological injury
• It may be due to blood clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic)
• Leads to stoppage of blood supply to a part of brain
• Oxygen supply is decreased
• This initiates 'ischemic cascade'-causes brain cell death/damage
• This results in a cerebral stroke

Causes/Risks

• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Cigarette smoking
• Heart Disease

Symptoms

• Numbness/weakness of an arm/leg/face/one side of body
• Sudden confusion in speaking/understanding speech
• Impaired vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden headache
• Loss of balance/co-ordination
• Dizziness

Treatment

• If you suspect stroke, call emergency medical help
• Reassure the patient
• Lay the patient down with head and shoulders slightly elevated
• If patient is not breathing well do a CPR
• Place the patient on the left side if breathing/not responsive
• Keep the chin slightly extended

Steps To Avoid

• Never give a suspected stroke victim anything to eat/drink
• Do not permit the victim to move

Prevention

• Do regular checkups for BP
• Eat food with less salt
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet
• Take the BP pills regularly

Overview

• Sunburn is a burn of the skin
• Results from overexposure to the sun
• Normal exposure results in the production of Vitamin D
• Most of us become sun burnt at some time in life
• Sunburn causes a lot of discomfort
• It can cause premature ageing/cancer
• Common in children/young adults

Causes

• Sun's ultraviolet rays during outdoor activities
• Tanning beds
• Traveling to places at high altitude

Risk factors

• Light-skinned or fair-haired people
• Recent exposure to sun
• Prior skin injury
• Infections like Herpes, Porphyria
• Certain Medications like antibiotics, anti-psoriatic drugs

Symptoms The skin injury begins within 30 minutes of exposure to the sun

• Redness of the skin
• Irritation
• Blisters
• Pain
• Skin burning
• Skin loss
• Dehydration
• Flu-like symptoms
• Infection
• Fever
• If very severe, shock leading to death may occur

Treatment Self-Help

• Get out of the sun
• Cover the exposed area
• Take a cool bath
• Use a cool compress available commercially like, Burow solution
  1. Dissolve solution in one pint of water
  2. Soak a gauze or clean cloth in it
  3. Wring it well
  4. Apply to sun burnt area for 20 minutes
  5. Change the cloth and solution every 2 hours
• Apply aloe-based solution
• Avoid using oils, bath salts, perfumed lotions etc
• Avoid scrubbing/shaving
• Use a gentle towel
• Stay out of the sun while sun burnt

Consult a Doctor In case of-

• Pain
• Headache/confusion
• Blisters
• Nausea/vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Sunburn being present along with other medical condition

Prevention

• Wear hats, long-sleeved dress, long pants while out in the sun
• Try to avoid exposure to sun
• Use sun-block creams during exposure to sun
• Select a suitable SPF number for the sun block cream
• Sun Blocks should be reapplied every 2-3 hours
• Avoid tanning beds

Overview

• Ticks are small, insect-like creatures
• They may be small or as large as the size of an eraser
• They are usually found in the fields and woods
• They attach themselves to humans/ pets /other animals
• Once on the body, they move to other warm, moist areas
• Favorite haunts include hair, armpit and groin
• Once firmly attached to the body, they begin to suck blood
• They can cause harmless or harmful conditions

Symptoms

• Rashes, redness, itching
• Swelling at the site
• Muscle/joint pain
• Inflammation of the joints
• Swollen lymph node
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fever

Symptoms that need emergency treatment-

• Severe headache
• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Difficulty in breathing
• Paralysis

Treatment

• Remove the tick carefully by holding head, using a tweezer,
• Remove the whole tick
• Do not crush the tick
• Put the tick into a bottle and seal
• This is to provide your doctor with information
• Use soap and water to wash the affected area
• Wash your hands thoroughly
• Seek medical help if you are unable to remove the tick

Prevention

• When walking in woods or tall grass wear clothes and shoes that cover you fully
• Keep the shirt tucked into pants
• Pull socks over the pants to cover feet well
• Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks easily
• Spray insect repellents on your clothes
• While outside, check your clothes frequently for ticks
• On your return home, inspect yourself thoroughly for ticks

Overview / Cause

• Tooth ache is primarily caused by tooth decay
• Bacteria flourishes on sugar/starch in food particles inside mouth
• A sticky plaque is then formed on teeth surface
• The bacteria in the plaque produces acid
• This acid erodes the enamel or hard covering of the teeth
• This creates a cavity
• The first sign of tooth decay is tooth ache
• This occurs on eating something very cold/very hot/sweet
• Tooth ache can also be caused by injury/trauma
• Tooth ache can occur in children and adults

Symptoms Pain in the tooth radiates to jaw, cheek, ear

• Pain while chewing
• Increased sensitivity to hot/cold things
• Swelling in the jaw
• Discharge/Bleeding from tooth or gums

Treatment

• Use a floss to remove any particle lodged between teeth
• Learn flossing from a dentist
• Take a pain relieving tablet
• Apply benzocaine containing antiseptic
• Applying clove oil also might help
• Do not place aspirin directly against the gums
• This might lead to burning of gum tissue

Consult a Doctor If

• Tooth ache persists
• Fever occurs with the ache
• Difficulty in breathing occurs
• Difficulty in swallowing occurs

Prevention

• Brush teeth after every meal
• Floss regularly
• Visit your dentist twice a year
• Wear a mouth gear while playing
• Avoid smoking as it worsens dental conditions
• Eat a balanced meal with reduced starch/sugar content

Overview

• Tooth loss can happen due to various factors
• Occurs both in adults and children
• In some cases it can be prevented

Causes

• Injuries,
• Trauma

Predisposing conditions:

• Thumb sucking,
• Mouth breathing
• Pacifier usage
• Poor oral hygiene/Tooth decay
• Mismatched jaw/teeth
• Genetic factors

Symptoms

• Pain
• Blood loss/discharge
• Feeling of weakness

Treatment

Seek a dentist's help on an emergency basis. To replace the fallen tooth, follow these steps-

• Gently hold the fallen tooth by the top
• Do not touch the roots
• Rinse the tooth gently
• Avoid running water
• Try to replace tooth in socket
• If you cannot replace, place it in whole milk or your saliva
• You may also place it in mild salt solution-1/4 tsp salt in 1 quart water

Prevention

• While sporting, wear a mouth guard
• Treat gum disease at the earliest
• Take care of teeth by brushing/flossing regularly
• Use an antiseptic mouth wash regularly

UN headquarters

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World Health Organizataion headquaters

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1. I lift up my eyes to wthe hills. From where does my help come?
2. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber.
4. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5. The Lord is your keeper;the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7. The Lord will keep you from all evil;he will keep your life.
8. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

1. The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17. For God did not send his Son into the world mto condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

28. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

4. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.