Every summer, I hear at least one sad story of a person who drowns in a place where there is plenty of help to be had — whether boating… at a crowded beach… or in a pool with lots of people nearby. Why do we let this happen to each other? The answer, all too often, is that most of us are clueless about what a drowning person actually looks like. So I set out to educate myself — and all of you — about signs that indicate a person may be drowning.
Let’s say that you’re at the mall, the library, a sports arena or some other public place, and a stranger suddenly collapses and is lying motionless on the ground.
If someone nearby rushes to this victim’s aid and begins performing CPR, you might think to yourself, A hero has arrived. This person has the situation under control. Clearly, I don’t need to jump in here and interfere. And you might walk away.
But actually this is the wrong decision. Continue reading
Sterilize pointed tweezers and a sewing needle in boiling water or over an open flame—or just wipe them clean with an alcohol pad. Clean the skin around the splinter with an alcohol pad. Don’t use soap and water—it might soak and soften a wood splinter, making it more difficult to remove. If necessary, pinch the area and work the needle along the length of splinter, stretching the “tunnel” that the splinter has made to expose an end. Once you can firmly grip the end, pull out the splinter with tweezers. Check for any remaining pieces, then wash the area with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage if necessary.
Source: Richard O’Brien, MD, emergency physician, Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and spokesperson, American College of Emergency Physicians.
Quick fix for pinkeye — and worth trying before calling your doctor: Continue reading
Despite the many types of bandages on the market now, all you need is traditional plastic strips in multiple sizes.
Basics of wound care: Wash the wound with soap and water… dry with a clean, dry cloth or air-dry… treat it with an antibiotic ointment… then protect it with a bandage.
Don’t buy bandages with antibiotics — they cost a lot and could contain medicine to which some people are allergic. Also, avoid bandages with painkillers — pain that continues after you treat a minor wound is a sign to see a doctor.
One worthwhile addition: Liquid bandages, such as New-Skin and Band-Aid Liquid Bandage, available at drugstores for about $7. These can be used where ordinary bandages cannot — for example, on fingertips. But do not use antibiotic ointment with liquid bandages — it will dissolve the adhesive.
Source: Richard O’Brien, MD, spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians and clinical instructor, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
An occupational hazard in my line of work is that I’m always primed for terrible health news, so when a friend started to tell me that her mother had fallen in the driveway the day before, I expected to hear that she’d broken her hip. I was happy to learn that she’d merely knocked out her tooth! But “merely” wasn’t how it felt to her… fortunately, my friend knew what to do and where to go, so the tooth is now back in place and looks like it might heal just fine.
The incident motivated me to check in with Michael Apa, DDS, restorative and aesthetic dentist and instructor at NYU College of Dentistry, to learn about the right things to do in such a situation. His advice was surprising and practical. (Who knew dental first aid involved tea bags and cottage cheese?) Continue reading
If you are concerned that an emergency might prevent you from going to the hospital or birth center to deliver your baby, the following list of supplies should be included in your emergency plans. Continue reading
To distinguish a minor burn from a serious burn, the first step is to determine the extent of damage to body tissues. The three burn classifications of first-degree burn, second-degree burn and third-degree burn will help you determine emergency care: Continue reading
hat it should contain: A bottle of uncoated aspirin… a contact list of your physicians and key family members and friends as well as the hospital to go to in an emergency… a list of medications you are currently taking… notes on any allergies or adverse reactions to medications… medical-insurance plan information and the procedures to follow for using your hospital of choice. Make sure your family members know where you keep the “kit” in the event that they need it in an emergency when you are disabled.
Jennifer Mieres, MD
New York University Department of Medicine
LDS Emergency Preparedness 