New First Aid Smartphone app

Last month the American Red Cross launched its official first aid app, putting free and simple lifesaving information right in the hands of smart phone users.  It gives instant access to information on how to handle the most common first aid situations, and includes videos and interactive quizzes. Users who take quizzes can earn badges they can share with friends through social media to show off their lifesaving knowledge.

“The American Red Cross First Aid app is a free and easy way to get lifesaving first aid instruction and disaster preparedness information anytime, anywhere,” said Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council chair Dr. David Markenson. “Everyone should load this onto their smart phone as an important first step in learning what to do for medical emergencies and in creating a family preparedness plan.”

App features include:

• Simple step-by-step instructions for everyday first aid scenarios;
• Prioritized steps to take during an emergency, with 9-1-1 call button;
• Sharable badges to be unlocked through interactive quizzes;
• Videos and animations to make learning first aid fun and easy;
• Safety and preparedness tips for a range of conditions including severe winter weather, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes;
• Preloaded content that gives instant access to all safety information at any time.

Find the app in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross

Manly uses for Tampons

Website "The Art of Manliness" features 10 Survival Uses for Tampons, originally titled Yes, That’s a Tampon in My Mouth: The Swiss Army Survival Tampon — 10 Survival Uses

The site recommends men put out of mind the feminine uses that might them squeamish and think instead of a tampon as the "Tactical Adventure Medical Preparedness Outdoors Necessity". The tampon is actually regulated in the US by the Food & Drug Administration as a Class II Medical Device.

1. Medical Bandage
   Tampons are sterile and ultra-absorbent making them the perfect first aid bandage for heavy bleeding.
2. Crude Water Filter
   Won't work on chemicals or bacteria but can filter out grit and sediment from water
3. Survival Drinking Straw
   Suck dirty water through a tampon if there's no other way to purify the water.
4. Fire Tinder
5. Tampon string can be used as a candle wick
   Make an emergency oil candle with rendered animal fat and string
6. Use Tampon string directly
   It's not much of a string but could be used to make a deadfall trap or tie things together
7. Use cotton as fletching for blow-dart
8. Blow tube to heat up coals
9. Waterproof case for matches
10. Use packaging to make bobber for fishing line

Can you think of other survival uses for a tampon?

Leg Cramps

Last night my wife had a sudden cramp in a thigh muscle that would not go away. Fortunately I had blogged about this very topic two years ago.
http://perpetualpreparedness.blogspot.com/2010/06/nocturnal-leg-cramps.html

 

I did not remember the exact details but I did remember there was a chemical imbalance and that pickle juice often helped although no one really understands why. People report results within a minute of drinking vinegar and that's way too fast for the stomach to process it and move it to the blood stream.

 

So I mixed up a cocktail of chemicals - a tablespoon of vinegar, another of lemon concentrate, some clear soda for sweetness and a dash of salt. This was followed by a water chaser since the taste was so awful. And it worked. We have no idea which item was essential, my wife was in pain and not interested in a lab experiment testing each item one at a time.

 

If the drink has failed I would have tried milk (for calcium) or a banana (for potassium). The required mineral is different for different people.

 

According to the Mayo Clinic ...

For most people, night leg cramps are merely an annoyance ... But in some cases, you may need to see a doctor.
Seek immediate medical care if you:

• Experience severe and persistent cramping
• Have night leg cramps after being exposed to a toxin, such as lead

Schedule an office visit if you:

• Have trouble functioning during the day because leg cramps interrupt your sleep
• Develop muscle weakness and atrophy along with leg cramps

See also http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nocturnal-leg-cramps-nighttime-calf-muscle-pain.html

Home Remedies

Woman's Day magazine recommends Eight Home Remedies that really work (though they don't always know why).

1. Duct Tape to Remove Warts - just don't expect an overnight cure. Two months of duct tape with a weekly pumice stone scrub was 85% effective. Freezing was only 60% effective.
2. Vapor Rub to cure Nail fungus - apply once or twice daily. This will also remove the infected nail and a new one will grow back.
3. A 15 minute soak in finely ground oatmeal for Eczema (skin inflamation)
4. Yogurt to cure bad breath
5. A spoonful of sugar to cure hiccups
6. Gently biting a pencil to cure a tension headache
7. Olives for early stages of nausea from motion sickness
8. Salt water gargle for sore throat.
   1 tablespoon salt to 8 ounces of water, but more salt is better than less.

Bottom Line

Have any of these cures worked for you?

Fight Bad Breath with Hydrogen Peroxide?

“A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.”
-John Steinbeck

In our home we always keep a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide for cuts, especially cat scratches. Even after washing with soap & water, the cat scratches I get from our two furry friends will turn red and leave a scar unless I apply Hydrogen Peroxide (H.P.) because cats have really dirty toenails. It never occurred to me that H.P. could have other uses. The label on the bottle suggests using it as a mouth wash? Yuck!

H.P. is a powerful germ killer and whitener. BargainBabe.com lists many ways for putting this to use:

1. Soak your toothbrush in H.P. to keep it germ free
2. As a mouthwash it kills the germs that cause bad breath (but will my tongue forgive me?).  May also help against gingivitis (gum disease).
3. Makes a toothpaste when mixed with salt and baking soda
4. As a cleaner for kitchen counters, cutting boards, lunch boxes
5. Dilute 1/4 cup of H.P. with a sink of cold water to wash fruits & vegetables
6. Dilute it even more (1 part in 32) when watering plants to stop root rot
7. Dab on pimples
8. Soak feet in H.P. for calluses & corns & foot fungus
9. Use 1 cup instead of beach to brighten white clothes when washing (it's a main ingredient of OxiClean)
10. Spritz on hair to bring out natural highlights?
11. Fights mold on the shower walls and curtain

Bottom Line

See more ideas at BargainBabe.com like killing fungi in your fish tank (without killing the fish I hope). Please try these at your own risk. I'll vouch for cuts but have yet to try out the other suggestions above.

Treating Frostbite

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
-White Christmas by Irving Berlin

While we may have wished for a White Christmas, too much exposure to cold and snow can be dangerous. Your body is 60% water and the water in your skin can freeze to ice. This is called frostbite.

Think about water in a ice cube tray. When it freezes, the ice cubes are larger than the water poured in. (The expansion of ice is why ice floats in water.) When ice crystals form in skin or muscle cells the ice expansion and sharp icy prongs bursts the cells and kills them. If the damage is small, it may be painful, but recoverable. However extensive freezing and cell death may result in gangrene and the loss of fingers, toes, ears, nose, etc.

Frostbite usually develops below -12°C (10°F), but may occur at a temperatures near freezing (0°C/32°F) when high winds and/or dampness chills the body faster than your blood can keep it warm. Hands, feet, noses, and ears are the most likely body parts to be affected.

Avoid frostbite by staying out of extreme cold. If you must go out (or become lost, stranded in extreme cold) cover all extremities - winter boots for the feet, gloves for the hands, a hat or earmuffs for the the ears and a mask or scarf for the face. Mittens are more effective than gloves for warming your hands since the fingers can share body heat instead of isolated on their own. Avoid caffeinated beverages (like coffee) as they constrict blood vessels and prevent warming of your extremities. Alcohol should also be avoided since it reduces shivering, which is one way of keeping warm. Cigarette smokers may be at higer risk with reduced blood flow to hands and feet.

Wiggle your fingers and toes frequently to increase blood flow to these areas. Keep your feet and hands dry. If you begin to loose feeling in your fingers and toes, or they begin to tingle, or feel painful, go inside and warm up.

Signs and symptoms of frostbite include:

• A "pins and needles" sensation, followed by numbness
• Hard, pale, cold skin

Different Degrees of Frostbite

• First degree: ice crystals forming on top of your skin
• Second degree: your skin begins to feel warm, even though it is not yet defrosted.
• Third degree: your skin turns red, pale, or white.
• Fourth degree: pain lasts for more than a few hours, and you may see dark blue or black areas under the skin. See a doctor immediately if these symptoms arise. Gangrene is a real threat.

Bottom Line

If your skin is blue or gray, very swollen, blistered, or feels hard and numb even under the surface, go to a hospital immediately.  Otherwise get indoors or to a warm shelter ASAP. Take off any constricting jewelry (flesh may expand and rings are sometimes cut off a swollen finger). Take off wet clothing. Never rub or massage frostbitten skin, but do use your armpits or the body heat of a warm companion.

If possible, immerse the affected area of your body in warm -- NOT HOT -- water, or apply warm cloths to affected areas of your ears, nose, or cheeks for 20-30 minutes. Try to move the area of your body that is affected as little as possible to decrease doing additional damage.

You should not use hot water or a heating pad, heat lamp, hair dryer, or the heat from a stove, fireplace, or radiator to warm yourself. This because your frostbitten area may be numb and you won't be able to feel if you're overdoing the heat and burning yourself.

As you warm up your frostbitten skin will become red and swollen, and you'll feel like it's on fire. You may develop blisters. Don't break the blisters. It could cause scarring.

What's that smell?

"Zee stripe! It is gone! She is not a skunk at all!"
- Pepe Le Pew

We sometimes refer to our cats as skunks in reverse. They have black bodies with white bellies instead of a white strip on the back. But recently one of our inverted skunks met the real thing. Taz came in with massive quantities of drool coming from his mouth. My first thought was rabies but then the smell hit me - skunk! He was been hit in the face and was pitiful sight. Fortunately my wife knew what to do.

1. We quickly removed our outer clothes so as not to ruin them.
2. She had me remove rugs and towels from the bathroom while she grabbed the cat.
3. Then she and the cat were locked in the bathroom for a bath.
4. We could not find tomato juice or V8. This has worked well for us though some websites claim it does not work.
5. So my wife suggested Listerine which did remove the smell.
6. Skunks aim for the face and cleaning the face is not easy. We poured cups of water over the eyes to flush them clean. The force of warm water directly out of the faucet was too strong.
7. We dried the cat with a very old towel.
8. And gave him a brushing once he had settled down.

We offered the cat water to rinse his mouth but he was not interested. Fortunately the drooling stopped shortly after the bath. Be sure to wipe up the drool since this contains a bit of the skunk oil and will spread on feet, shoes, etc.

First Aid
If the cat if bitten or scratched, get them to a vet. Skunks may carry rabies. Also call the vet if your cat's eye are red or watering.

Bottom Line

Many sites now recommend a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to breakup the skunk smell.

* 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (unopened)

* ¼ cup baking soda
* 1 teaspoon of strong liquid soap such as dish washing detergent.

Mix the ingredients in an open bucket or bowl. The mixture should fizz if the hydrogen peroxide is fresh. Be sure to keep the mixture out of the pet's eyes, nose and mouth. If it is necessary to apply it to the face, very carefully use a washcloth or a sponge. After applying the mixture, rinse thoroughly.

*Warning*
This mixture creates pressure as it fizzes - never store in a closed container, do not cover the container in any way. Always discard unused solution. Do not get the mixture into the pet's eyes, nose or mouth.

Web Resources
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/qt/SkunkFirstAid.htm

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/skunk.htm

Wilderness Medicine

“The clearest way to the Universe is through a forest wilderness”
-John Muir

Today I'll send you to a lecture on Emergency First Aid for the Wilderness. It's a hour-long lecture which begin at 2:20 on the YouTube video.

The lecturer begins with the ABC's, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, but gives far more details than I have ever heard from the Red Cross training.

Bottom Line

This could save a life.

American Red Cross Month

WWII Poster

Caesar:
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer:
Beware the ides of March.

- Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Act 1, scene 2.
Caesar is killed on March 15

The month of March may be halfway over at the Ides but it's not too late to mention that March is Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross (ARC) responds to disasters, helps members of the military, provides blood for those in need and teaches lifesaving skills.

• Every year the Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters—including approximately 150 home fires every day.
• About 11 million Americans turn to the ARC to learn first aid, CPR, swimming, and other health and safety skills. Last year, more than 158,000 people volunteered to teach those courses.
• Half the nation's blood supply— six million pints annually—is collected by more than 155,000 Red Cross volunteers .
• Among the emergency services for the men and women of the armed forces is the delivery of urgent family messages—around the clock and around the globe.

Here's how you can help...

The Red Cross Depends on Volunteers
Volunteers constitute 96 percent of the total work force to carry on ARC's humanitarian work. You can search for volunteer opportunities at http://www.redcross.org/en/volunteertime
More than 30,900 volunteers serve as chairs, members of boards of directors, or on advisory boards for local Red Cross units - chapters, Blood Services regions, and military stations.

Donate to the Red Cross
A hot meal delivered to victims after a disaster, blood when it is needed most, shelter when there is nowhere else to turn, an emergency message delivered to a member of the Armed Forces from their family -- these are just some of the ways that gifts are put to work through the American Red Cross. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the American Red Cross is empowering people to perform extraordinary acts in the face of emergencies.
Find out how to donate online or by mail.

Give Blood
See http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation to find a blood drive near you.
See http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements to see if your are eligible to donate blood.

Bottom Line

During Red Cross Month, the ARC asks that you support your community by making a donation, volunteering, taking a class, or giving blood.

First Aid Kit

Better a thousand times careful than once dead.

~Proverb

You never know when you are going to need First Aid. It could be paper cut, a bee sting, a trip and fall, etc. Business places must, by law, have a first aid kit. Ask to be taken to it if you need it. For your own sake you should keep a First Aid Kit in your house, cars, boat, purse, office, etc. I met one survival trainer who always wore a first aid kit in a fanny pack. He said that the first aid kit in your car won't help if you're alone and fall down a ledge while taking a photo and break your leg.

Now you could buy a kit, which is better than nothing, but it will be mostly a bunch of band-aids. Make your own kits with supplies from a Dollar store.

¨      First Aid Book!

¨      Adhesive bandages ("Band-Aids")
in a variety of sizes

¨      Sterile dressings (gauze) in rolls or large squares for big wounds

¨      Medical tape to attach the gauze

¨      Scissors to cut the tape & gauze

¨      Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection

¨      Antiseptic hand cleaner for your hands before and after doing first aid

¨      Wound cleansing agents: soap, antibiotic towelettes, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide 

¨      Anti-itch cream for insect bites and poison ivy

¨      Aloe or Burn Cream for sunburn

¨      Two pairs of sterile gloves for your protection when helping strangers

¨      Plastic bag to safely dispose of bloody items

¨      Tweezers for slivers or ticks (Don't tweeze bee stings, scrape them off.)

¨      Thermometer to check for fever

¨      Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

¨      Nail clippers for hang nails and broken nails

¨      Non-prescription drugs:

o        Non-aspirin pain reliever (never use aspirin on children)

o        Chewable Aspirin for adults with heart attack symptoms

o        Anti-diarrhea medication

o        Antacid for upset stomachs

o        Laxative

o        Allergy medication

¨      Instant cold & heat packs for outdoor and traveling kits

¨      Emergency Chocolate

Bottom Line

For more ideas see
www.ready.gov/america/getakit/firstaidkit.html

en español: www.listo.gov/america/getakit/

Cat Scratches

“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”
- Mark Twain quotes

We have two cats at home which my wife and I adore, even though she is allergic to them. However one thing I do not adore is being scratched by the cats. They don't do it intentionally, we're just playing and I get too close or don't move fast enough and *slash*. The claws are as sharp as scalpels and the slightest contact can leave a deep cut. But unlike scalpels, cat claws are far from sterile and clean; just think about all the digging they do in cat litter.

Yesterday I received the shallowest of cuts just before work. I pressed it and let it bleed a little and figured that was enough. I was wrong. By evening the cut was red and swollen and filled with puss. It may leave a scar. I should have followed my usual routine which is to wash the cut with soap and water, dry it, and then pour hydrogen-peroxide on it. Make sure the hydrogen-peroxide is still active and foams when applied to the cut. A band-aid is optional.

When I follow the steps above, I don't scar.

Sometimes a cat scratch can cause Cat Scratch Fever a few weeks after the scratch. The primary symptom is swollen Lymph nodes. Other symptoms can include headache, backache, chills, and stomach pain or loss of appetite. Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious and medical treatment is not usually needed. In severe cases, treatment with antibiotics such as azithromycin can be helpful.

Bottom Line

Cat claws are a natural reservoir of disease. Treat cat scratches seriously and always clean them immediately.

See also http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm

Chest Pain

"Heart attacks - God's revenge for eating his little animal friends"

According to Women's Health Magazine, the fourth Warning Sign that should not be ignored is passing chest pain. Now I could have sworn I had already written about heart attacks but could not find it in my blog. So here goes.

While the heart is a powerful muscle, it has NO pain nerves. There is no direct feedback that something is seriously wrong (other than the classic instant death heart attack). Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. People affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

We need to recognize a heart attack though its secondary side effects within the first 5 minutes!

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness

Bottom Line

If you experience the symptoms above call 9-1-1. Even if you're not sure, call 9-1-1. An EMT can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than driving yourself to a hospital. Your doctor will do an EKG to determine whether your heart has been damaged, and then decide on the best response; false alarm, prescribe clot-attacking drugs, or perform surgery to clear your arteries.

Resources

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4595

http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/patient-guide-44510-6.html

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/haws/women.htm

Abscess

"Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache."-Mae West

Today I look at the second topic from 7 WARNING SIGNS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE. Prior to the invention of antibiotics, infections were the main cause of human death (now the leading killers are Heart Attacks and Cancer). There are obvious infections from cuts or bites but there is also a type of deadly infection that is not so obvious (except for the pain). This is the common tooth cavity.

Bad teeth have plagued man since the dawn of time. A study of 3,000 Egyptian mummies concluded that 18% of all mummies had a nightmare array of dental diseases. Just like a cut in the skin, a hole or crack in a tooth allows outside bacteria inside the body where it can grow and spread. Sadly for us, a tooth is a lovely place for bacteria to grow. The narrow opening in teeth roots is too small for white blood cells to enter inside the tooth and wage war. So bacteria can grow unchecked until it pushes out of the tooth into the surrounding gum tissue and jawbone. At this point the cavity becomes an abscess.

The infection from a tooth abscess can spread to the brain and kill or spread to the throat, swelling it and making breathing difficult.

Have a dentist examine any persistent toothache. If you cannot see a dentist immediately, here are some steps you can try for tooth pain before your dental appointment:

· Bite down on a tea bag (wet or dry) for a few hours
· Mix salt and baking soda, dip a wet cotton ball in this mixture, and position the cotton between your cheek and tooth for a few hours. Hydrogen peroxide is known to reduce toothache.
· Use hydrogen peroxide 1.5% as a mouthwash.
· Gargle in your mouth with tea tree oil mixed with water.
· Gargle in your mouth with salt water.
· Apply drops of clove oil or vanilla extract to the infected tooth.

Bottom Line

Just because your tooth stops hurting does not mean the problem is gone. It could mean that the bacteria has reached the root of the tooth and killed the nerve. The next step is an abscess and danger. You’ll be pain free until the infection is deeply rooted in the gum or jaw or brain and much more difficult to fix.

See a dentist; don’t risk your life with a tooth infection.

"It is outrageous today that in America, a young boy can die because his family can't find a dentist to remove an infected tooth," – actual event in Maryland in 2007

7 Warning Signs

“I will not be as those who spend the day in complaining of headache, and the night in drinking the wine that gives it” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (author)

From Women’s Health Magazine comes this list of 7 WARNING SIGNS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE.

1. Severe head pain
2. Throbbing tooth
3. Sharp pain in your side
4. Passing chest pain
5. Abdominal discomfort with gas or bloating
6. Back pain with tingling toes
7. Leg pain with swelling

I’ll try to cover these, one each day, with the exception of Ovarian Cancer (can you guess which one that is from the list of symptoms?) With my grandmother, mother and wife I’ve experienced, secondhand, Fallopian Tube Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Uterine Cancer. But I leave these topics as an exercise to the reader and will focus instead on problems that can affect either sex.

We may all experience mild versions of the symptoms above – headaches, chest pain, sore tooth, etc. But when the intensity is at 10 on the pain dial, you need to find out why.

Head Pain – a super headache could be a migraine. Migraines often have a visual side effect that distorts your vision. But a sudden and severe head pain, the worst in your life, could be something much worse than migraine. A friend of ours was living in Mexico and attending a movie show with her husband when she saddening started screaming at the top of her voice and collapsed. She was rushed to a hospital and was unable to speak and paralyzed on one side of her body. The cause – a ruptured brain aneurysm.

An aneurysm is a blood vessel that swells and widens like a balloon. In a majority (60%) of patients there is no symptom prior to rupture. Afterwards symptoms may be major or minor depending on the size of the vessel to rupture and may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck or neck pain
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Pain above and behind the eye
• Dilated pupils
• Sensitivity to light
• Loss of sensation or paralysis

A CT scan is needed to detect an aneurysm and the blood vessel needs to be repaired immediately so call 911 if you experience the “worst headache of your life.” Brain damage will begin two ways:

1. Portions of the brain may die that are cut off from the blood flow
2. Blood pooling and pressure inside the brain can injure nearby blood cells

About 40% of the people who suffer bleeding from an aneurysm die within the first month. Approximately another one third have major nervous system damage such as long-term memory problems and may have difficulty with thinking, perception, and performing simple daily activities. When our friend recovered her speech (after much time and therapy) she would intermix English and Spanish words as she spoke – her brain had trouble keeping the two languages separate.

Bottom Line

Autopsy studies reveal that 3-6% of all adult Americans have experienced aneurysms that never ruptured. It’s a ticking time bomb inside many of us so it's important to recognize the symptoms and respond quickly. The risk is higher as we age. One positive risk factor that can be controlled is smoking. Smokers are 10 times more likely to rupture an aneurysm. Binge drinking raises the risk of damage (by thinning the blood?) and there are some hints that high blood pressure is also a factor.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/aneurysm_brain/article_em.htm
http://www.brainaneurysm.com/aneurysm-symptoms.html
http://www.bafound.org/info/symptoms.php

Asthma

"Asthma doesn't seem to bother me any more unless I'm around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother me most would be a dog smoking a cigar."-Steve Allen

While researching first aid stations for a Cub Scout activity, I realized that I know very little about Asthma and how to respond. After looking at a dozen medical websites I still know very little about what to do. The sites describe Asthma, its symptoms, its triggers, its medical treatment, but very little about instructions for Asthma attacks. The usual language is “See your doctor for an Asthma Action Plan.” Very little advice for Scout Leaders with an Asthmatic hiker.

So what have I learned? During the asthma attack, the lining of the airways and lungs become swollen or inflamed and thicker mucus -- more than normal -- is produced. This causes coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness as breathing becomes more difficult and less effective. Symptoms include:

· Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
· Coughing that won't stop
· Chest pain or pressure
· Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
· Difficulty talking
· Very rapid breathing

[DANGER signs, call 911]

· Extreme difficulty breathing
· Rapid pulse
· Pale, sweaty face
· Blue lips or fingernails
· Anxiety or panic over inability to breathe
· Severe drowsiness or confusion

With mild asthma attacks the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours after treatment. Severe asthma attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help. If a mild attack is not treated and becomes severe, the lungs may tighten so much that there is not enough air movement to produce wheezing. This is called a "silent chest,"; it is a dangerous sign and requires immediate medical attention before the victim dies from lack of air. Unfortunately, some people interpret the disappearance of wheezing as a sign of improvement and fail to get prompt emergency care.

Asthma attacks can be triggered by cold-air, too much exercise, stress, pet dander, dust, mold, pollen, and tobacco & wood smoke. Asthma cannot be cured but you can keep the body health and strong, avoid the asthma triggers, and follow a two pronged medical regimen.

1. Long Term Medications to reduce the likelihood of attacks. These include corticosteroids, bronchodilators, Leukotriene inhibitors, and others.

2. Emergency Medications used during an attack.
a. Short-acting bronchodilators (inhalers)
b. Corticosteroids injected directly into a vein during a severe attacks

Asthma suffers can monitor their state of health with a breathing apparatus that measures “Peak Flow” of how much air they can take in. There is a Green Zone of 80-100% flow, a Yellow caution zone of 50-80% and a Red danger zone of 50% Peak Flow capacity.

Bottom Line

What can I do to help during an Asthma attack?

- If feasible, move them out of a trigger area (away from smoke, cold air, pet dander)
- Sit the person comfortably upright – do NOT have them lie down.
- Stay calm and soothe the victim. This may help him or her relax and breathe more easily.
- Have the victim use their inhaler as instructed by their doctor
- Coach the person to breathe steadily with pursed lips (puckered or "fish" lips), especially on the exhale. Breathe with the person, helping them focus on you.
- If the victim has no inhaler or no history of Asthma before, call 911.
- If the inhaler is not helping, call 911
- If the victim passes out, begin rescue breaths and, if necessary, CPR.

- Asthma attacks are NOT “cured” by drinking large amounts of liquids
- Non-prescription medicines such as antihistamines or cold remedies apparently have no effect in controlling asthma.

Asthma Resources

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_actplan.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Asthma

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Treatments.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021/DSECTION=when-to-seek-medical-advice

http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm

First Aid

http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/content/view/281/572/

http://www.firstaidtopics.com/asthma-attack/

http://www.ehow.com/how_7912_treat-asthma-attacks.html

What’s in your First Aid kit?

“It would be terrible if the Red Cross Bloodmobile got into an accident. No, wait. That would be good because if anyone needed it, the blood would be right there.”-unknown

For the Cub Scout Readyman activity, boys are required to inspect a First Aid kit and explain the contents. So what exactly should they expect to find inside? If you buy a First Aid kit with “100 pieces”, you can bet 80-90% of the content is just generic “Band-Aids” in various sizes. A kit should contain so much more.

First, a short digression. Do you know the difference between a dressing and a bandage? A dressing covers the wound – typically an absorbent gauze. A bandage holds the dressing on the wound and keeps it from falling off. It could be tape or an elastic wrap. A Band-Aid is a product by Johnson and Johnson that combines a dressing with an adhesive bandage.

So yes, item #1 in a kit needs to be several sizes of adhesive bandages to cover your basic cuts and scratches. These can be bought cheaply in bulk at dollar stores or drug stores.

For large wounds, buy several packets of sterile gauze (four inch squares are best). Again buy a large package and share with friends. You’ll also need medical adhesive tape or elastic bandages to hold down the gauze. I favor elastic bandages since these can also be used as wraps for a sprained foot or knee or hand or elbow. You might need to include a small pair of scissors if your bandage roll resists tearing strips off.

Before applying the dressing, you’ll want to clean small wounds with triple-antibiotic ointment. Don’t try to clean or wash large gaping or profusely bleeding wounds. Cover large wounds immediately, apply pressure to stop the bleeding, and see a doctor.

Clean your hands with an antiseptic hand cleaner before (and after) applying First Aid. For First Aid kits in your car or other situations where you might be aiding a stranger, wear rubber gloves to prevent blood borne disease contamination. Include a plastic bag or garbage bag to safely dispose of blood soaked items.

If you’re trained in CPR, add a barrier mask to your public kit to block germs (and vomit) when doing mouth-to-mouth.

Don’t forget to include items for pain relief like insect bite swabs (Hydrocortisone to prevent itching) and child-safe acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Aspirin is discouraged for children under 19 as it can cause Reye’s Syndrome. Chewable aspirin is encouraged for adults who may be suffering a heart attack.

Tweezers are essential for removing splinters but potentially harmful for insect bite/stings. Scrape away, never tweeze, a bee stringer. Tweezing will push more venom into the body. Likewise use tweezers with care when pulling away a tick. Pull gently and slowly to avoid breaking off the tick’s head and leaving that embedded in the skin to cause an infection. Never squeeze the tick's body when it's attached as this will push more tick germs into the bloodstream increasing the chance of Lyme disease.

Include one or more large triangular bandages (like the Scout neckerchief) as a splint for injuries. You can make these yourself out of old sheets.

For extra credit, include an instant cold pack. These can reduce swelling with sprains.

In cold climates, an instant heat pack might save you from frostbite. Stuff it in your shoes or between layers of gloves. Do not apply directly to skin.

For kits outside the house, add a space blanket. Keep victims warm and covered after trauma to prevent shock.

If you have the space, add some Calamine lotion for Poison Ivy.

Last but not least, include a good First Aid book (or booklet) that you like and can understand.

Bottom Line

Your need at least one well equipped First Aid kit in your house. Another for each car. Your workplace should have a kit (required by law?) - do you know where it is?

Customize your kits for your activities. If you camp or hike or play sports you'll want more protection from insects, poison ivy, sprains, broken bones, etc.

Resources

http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/code/First_Aid_Kit_Contents.pdf
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/lifeline/fakit.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aid_kit
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/firstaid_kit.html
http://www.survival-center.com/firstaid/kit.htm
http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/resources/administrative/recommended-first-aid-kit-contents

Eczema

“When the itch is inside the boot, scratching outside provides little consolation”-Chinese Proverb

I suppose, as one gets older, it’s only natural to experience new diseases and conditions. For myself, the newest experience is Eczema, also called dermatitis, a dry skin condition that can result in recurring rashes, itching, flaking, etc. Apparently scratching can lead to permanent scarring.

Eczema covers a wide range of dry, red skin situations and is perhaps over used as the diagnoses of skin rashes. My case could be Contact dermatitis – perhaps our cat rubbed against something that then rubbed onto me, or Xerotic eczema – a dry skin that worsens in dry winter weather affecting mostly arms and legs, or Discoid eczema – rounds spots of dry rash on the lower legs in winter weather.

Sadly, there is no “cure” for dermatitis. It is often treated with corticosteroids which suppress the symptoms but it never goes away completely. If the condition is extreme with skin cracks, the normal protective barrier of the skin is disrupted which allows easy entry for bacteria. Scratching can introduce infection and spread it about which just makes the eczema flare up more, causing more cracks, more scratching, more infection in a nasty deteriorating spiral. If this occurs a doctor should perscribe an antibiotic and an anti-itch drug like antihistamine.

The best way to avoid or limit eczema is to prevent dry skin. My dermatologist asked if I used skin creams. No, I said. Well you will from now on, he replied. Here are some skin care recommendations:

1. Soap removes oil and will dry out skin. When showering, use a moisturizing body wash on dry areas like arms & legs instead of soap.
2. Don’t use a washcloth, sponge or loofah on the dry area. These will abrade the skin.
3. Pat the dermatitis area dry, never rub it dry with a towel.
4. Apply skin creams (emollients) twice daily. Look for a heavy cream that is recommended for eczema. Light creams may be too weak to be effective.
5. Use the skin cream within 3 mintues after taking a bath/shower to trap in the moisture.
6. There is a disagreement whether baths are desirable or a necessary evil. For example, the Mayo Clinic advises against daily baths to avoid skin drying. while the American Academy of Dermatology claims "it is a common misconception that bathing dries the skin and should be kept to a bare minimum" and recommends bathing to hydrate skin.
7. Hard water is harsh on the skin. Try using a water softener.
8. Avoid scratchy materials like wool.
9. Avoid environmental factors that trigger allergies (for example, pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander) [Right, shall I live in a bubble?]
10. My dermatologist said I should avoid long, hot showers. [Rats, that’s one of my favorite parts of the day]

Bottom Line

The exact cause of eczema is not known. Although it is activated by the immune system and is related to allergic reactions, it is not the same as other allergic reactions. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the prevalence of atopic eczema is increasing and affects 9 to 30% of the U.S. population [20% of children and 2% of adults]. For some, the disease will improve with time. For others, however, eczema is a chronic or recurrent disorder that will last a lifetime.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/eczema
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/eczema/article_em.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eczema.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/eczema/article.htm

Skin Conditions

"Don't let the bed bugs bite" - old saying

I was never cut out to be a doctor. While dissecting animals never bothered me, I am squeamish about photos of human medical conditions. Never-the-less I'm going to recommend viewing this site http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_problems_pictures_slideshow/article.htm. It contains 22 images of common skin problems like poison ivy, hives, and ring worm. Very useful to know next time your skin looks unusual.
Bottom Line
I found this site while trying to identify a skin condition on my leg. Several lines of red dots, fairly evenly spaced. Is my cat scratching me at night? Nah. The nearest example I could find online is bed bugs which I pray it is not. Bed bugs are hard to kill once they infest. Another site said see a Dermatologist ASAP because this could be an allergic reaction or parasite. So off to the doctor I go...
And the answer is - eczema, a dry skin rash. The straight line of dots is the rash following scratch marks according to the dermatologist. My wife says, "I told you so" and this will be one expensive rash when we get the doctor's bill.

Safety Mnemonics

“A snake deserves no pity”- Yiddish Proverb

Since the theme this week has been memory, I’ll close with some safety mnemonics.

Green Beret Myke Hawke offers a handy mnemonic for remembering which berries are safe to eat in the wild:

White and yellow, kill a fellow.
Purple and blue, good for you.
Red... could be good, could be dead.

If red berries are growing in little clusters, they're probably not good. If they're growing in little singletons, they probably are good.

First Aid books teach ABCD for responding to someone not breathing:

A = Tilt the head back to open the Airway
B = Check for Breathing
C = Check for Circulation (a pulse or heartbeat). Begin CPR if needed.
D = Use a Deliberator if no pulse

When sailing at night you'll see red lights and green lights but which is port and which is starboard, which is left and which is right?

I think of red as a port wine.
I link port with left because both are spelled with 4 letters.

The following mnemonic identifies the poisonous coral snake of North America from similar looking snakes. I’ve called it to mind a few times when seeing a black snake with color bands (see Bottom Line below):

Red on Yellow Kills a Fellow,
Red on Black, Venom Lack

Bottom Line

The danger of a mnemonic is remembering it wrong! When looking for a picture of a coral snake with Google images I kept seeing yellow bands on black. This did not match my memory:

Yellow on black – poison lack [WRONG!]
Black on white – poison in sight

In preparing for this blog I’ve learned that I’ve been completely wrong all my life about which snake was safe and which was deadly. Good thing I never tried to pick one up! Yellow and white on black are both signs of danger. It can be hard to distinguish yellow from white so treat both as deadly.

Another person had a similar experience - this is from a comment on LifeHacker.com

Speaking of mnemonics, when I was about 11, my Dad and his buddies called me outside and showed me this pretty snake. "Catch it, Ali!" they said. "Look, the yellow and the black bands are together-yellow and black, friend of Jack!" I chased the snake around for a minute before looking up and saying, "Ummm....Dad-the red and black bands are next to each other, too!" Yeah, my Dad had me chasing around a coral snake!

Drowning

“We are drowning in information and starved for knowledge.” - unknown

Each year, almost 8,000 Americans die from drowning. Of those nearly drowned, 70% recover, 25% die, and 5% have permanent brain damage. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4 and the second-leading cause of death in children 14 and under. The sooner the rescue and first aid begins, the greater the victim's chance of survival. However do not endanger yourself in rescuing the victim during this process.

A person in the water may be drowning if they show signs of distress, can't stay above water, swims unevenly, signals for help, etc.

How to respond to a Near Drowning

• Notify a lifeguard. If the swimming area is unsupervised and you’re alone, then call 9-1-1 BEFORE jumping in to rescue. Otherwise you might become the second drowning victim with no one to rescue you.
  
• A drowning person is desperate. If you toss a rope or use a stick you might get pulled in the water. If you swim out (a last resort) a panicked victim may grab hold and pull you down. Swim out with a flotation device and approach the person from behind. Grab a piece of the person's clothing. Don’t let them grab you.
  
• When getting the person out of the water, support the head and neck. Suspect a neck injury around rocks, water sports, and swimming pool diving areas.

The primary focus of first aid for a near-drowning victim is to get oxygen into the lungs without aggravating any suspected neck or spine injury.

• Check for a response. (Ask, “Are you OK? May I assist you with first aid?”)
  
• No response gives implicit permission to begin first aid. Call 9-1-1 if you haven’t yet. Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, as needed. Strong swimmers with lifeguard training may begin the rescue breaths while still in the water.
  
• If the airway is obstructed and rescue breaths are not working, ONLY then perform the Heimlich maneuver. DO NOT perform the Heimlich maneuver just to force “bad” water out. An unneccessary Heimlich maneuver can cause an unconscious person to vomit and choke on the vomit.

Don't assume it's too late to save a life -- even if the person is unresponsive. Continue performing CPR and do not stop until medical professionals take over.

• If the person is conscious but weak, confused or lethargic, then put them in the Recovery Position. A bloated, water-filled abdomen may lead to vomiting and choking. Clear his or her mouth if necessary. Make sure 9-1-1 is on the way.
  
• Another danger sign is blue lips and ears and the skin is cold and pale.
  
• If possible remove cold, wet clothes and cover the person with a blanket to prevent hypothermia. This applies to everyone.
  
• Stay with the person until medical personnel have arrived or they are taken to a doctor.

Even someone with no symptoms after a near drowning should be observed in the emergency department for 6-12 hours and should follow up with a doctor in 1-3 days. Secondary drowning can occur when a victim appears fine but in reality has a small amount of fluid in their lungs. The person may “drown” several hours later as the fluid damages the interior lung lining. A ten-year-old can die with just four ounces of water in the lungs.

• After the incident, if the recovered victim develops a fever, cough or muscle pains, take them to an emergency room.

Bottom Line

Did you know a small child can drown in just 2 inches of water? This makes bathtubs, sinks, buckets, toilets and pools unsafe for unsupervised toddlers.

Resources

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1468

http://firstaid.webmd.com/drowning-treatment

http://www.parents.com/baby/health/first-aid-emergencies/first-aid-for-drowning/;jsessionid=0HWLDKMD0NF5SCQCEAQB42Q?page=2

http://www.firstaidtopics.com/secondary-drowning/

http://www.indianchild.com/first_aid_for_drowning.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000046.htm