Dr Megan @ Home: National

Dr Megan @ Home: National Emergency Medical Services Day

NOBODY WANTS AN EMERGENCY TO HAPPEN IN THEIR HOME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST NEVER KNOW. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ONE

WOULD RATHER BE PREPARED FOR, THAN BE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.

Firstly, make sure that bandage - gauze and crepe everyone in your home works best – while en route knows the number for to your emergency cenyour nearest/most reliable tre for further treatment. Ambulance Emergency Mild grazes should also be Service and where the cleaned and kept hydrated nearest Emergency Deinitially with an antiseptic partment is located. ointment and a plaster/

With children in the home, stick-on dressing. anything can happen! You If there is concern of a want to have a cupboard deeper injury, such as bone or shelf in your home with or muscle injury then it is necessary first aid equipbest to immobilise the joint ment, it should be easy to and support it with a firm access but out of small water to attempt to limit the straight object such as a children’s reach. It needs extent of the burn. Any burn piece of broom stick. Then to be kept well stocked and that has broken the skin or this splint should be tied to reasonably organised. I will covers a significant body the affected area either usmention a few items I sugsurface area should be asing crepe bandage or items gest are available. sessed by your local doctor of clothing. By keeping the

Burns can be nasty. In or emergency unit. painful limb in one posithe case of a thermal, heat Cuts and bruises can tion, this should limit the source burn, be sure to rehappen easily. If there is pain while transporting to move the offending source blood, it is important to the hospital. Rather don’t and burnt clothes. remember to first protect give anything to eat or drink

Immerse the wound in yourself by wearing gloves. if there is potential for the cold water (1 to 5 Degrees Apply firm pressure to a child needing sedation or Celsius). Do not apply ice bleeding wound with gauze surgery to repair the injury. directly or use icy water, or a piece of fabric (a t-shirt As we approach sumas this can worsen the for example). Avoid cotton mertime, and hopefully skin damage. wool as the fibres tend to spend more time outdoors,

Burn shield pads can be get trapped in wounds. there is a tendency for placed onto a burn once Clean the wound with Sterile injuries to occur, therefore cooled. If a chemical has water or diluted anti-septic best to be prepared. caused the burn, best to irliquid, and if still bleedBy Dr Megan Broughton, www.umhlanrigate the wound with sterile ing then apply a pressure gagp.net.