7. Make a Thorough Examination

To sterilize

tweezers, soak them in rubbing alcohol for a few

minutes, or hold them over a flame

for a few seconds, or place them in boiling water for a few minutes; cool before using.

Puncture Wounds

Puncture wounds can be caused by pins, splinters, nails, or fishhooks. All can be dangerous because the nature of a puncture wound makes it hard to clean and easily infected. To treat a puncture wound, help flush out dirt or particles that may have been forced inside the wound when the injury occurred by holding the injured area under clean, running water for about five minutes. Use sterilized tweezers to pull out splinters, bits of glass, or other small objects you can see. If a large object is embedded, do not try to remove it. Control any bleeding, and stabilize the object with rolled or folded sterile gauze pads, apply a sterile bandage, secure the object in place, and get the victim to a doctor.

Fishhook in the Skin

A fishhook embedded in the skin is a frequent outdoor injury. Remember two things: Do not try to remove a fishhook from the face or from an eye or an earlobe, and never try to remove an embedded hook by pulling it back the way it went in. Cut the fishing line and, if possible, let a doctor remove the hook from the flesh. If that isn't possible, you might have to do the job yourself. First, wash your hands with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wear nonlatex disposable gloves and protective eyewear to avoid contact with blood. Step 1-Wrap a 3-foot length of fishing line around the bend of the hook, as shown, and securely wrap the ends around your index or middle finger.

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32 FIRST AID Step 2-Keep the affected body part flat and stable, then gently push down on the shank to free the barb from the injured tissue. The shank should be parallel to the injured tissue. Step 3-Keep bystanders well away from the area. Give the line a quick, sharp jerk, and be careful to avoid getting snagged by the outcoming hook. Step 4- Wash and bandage the injury, and keep the wound clean. Apply triple antibiotic ointment if there are no known allergies or sensitivities to the medication. See a doctor as soon as possible, because the risk of infection is high with this type of injury.

If the hook has lodged so that the barb is visible above the skin, try this method: 1. Cut off the barbed end with wire cutters or pliers. 2. Back the shank of the hook out through the entry wound. Because the risk of infection is high with any type of puncture wound, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible.

FIRST AID 33