We girls get our second lesson before you boys do!" declared little Soami to her brother Ibee at the lunch table the next day.
"I bet you don't have as much fun as we do!" answered Ibee.
"What is the next lesson about?" asked their father.
" It's about Safety First," replied Ibee. " I know that."
"Yes," agreed Soami, "but," glancing at the clock, "I'll be late to class if I don't hurry. Mother, will you excuse me?"
Her mother nodded and smiled, and Soami left hastily.
 |
| "Well, girls, today we have a more serious time." |
"Well, girls," began Miss Helpem, "today we have a more serious time, for we're going to learn, in Lesson II, What to Do in Case of Slight Cuts and Pin Pricks; Slight Burns and Scalds; Frost Bites.
"Now, as you know, almost every accident could be avoided if we thought ahead far enough; if we did not let the knife or needle slip; if we did not allow little children to carry scalding hot water or lighted lamps, or to play with matches; if we looked up and down the street before crossing. Yes, almost all accidents are avoidable if we think far enough ahead if we think 'Safety First.' "
Miss Helpem paused. "All ordinary everyday accidents," she went on, "if treated rightly, will give but slight trouble; but if not treated rightly may bring much suffering to the victim, and even
cause 'blood poisoning' and death.
"So you see how necessary it is to understand 'What to Do.'
"Now, these serious dangers do not come from the slight accidents themselves, but because of uncleanliness."
Again the assistant nurse paused, and she could not help smiling at the look of astonishment on the faces of her girl dolls.
"It is true, girls," she continued; "cleanliness is the rarest thing in the world, and I will tell you why: because everywhere about us, in the dust, in the air, on our clothing, on our hands, in standing water, on the floor, on the ground everywhere, even though we cannot see them, are there are germs.
GERMS
These little living particles are too small to be seen without a microscope, but they cause more disease and deaths than any of the big animals you are afraid of like lions or bears or tigers. They make great deep sores out of little cuts, and prevent wounds from healing. So you can readily understand how necessary it is to keep all materials which touch broken skin perfectly clean, and they cannot be clean if touched by the hands. Neither is any material clean which has come in contact with dust.
Understanding this, your aim will be to keep germs out of any wound. If you do not have a first-aid outfit, you should have on hand a small package of sterile gauze.* Sterile means perfectly free from germs. Any cloth which has been washed and ironed is quite safe, however, if it has not been used. You see. heat kills germs. Use next to the wound the surface which has been folded inside.
Do not think that every germ does evil, for some germs are good just as some people are bad and some are good. Indeed, we depend for some kinds of food upon the action of certain good germs. Among such foods are cheese and vinegar.
* Sterile gauze is cheesecloth which has horn so treated that it is free of germs and is very absorbent. It is sold at all drug stores. It should be kept closely wrapped, and the surface should never be touched with the hands before it is placed on a wound.
If you do not have sterile gauze, keep old linen or cotton cloth which has been well washed and ironed in glass jars, which have been boiled and dried in the air without wiping.
The disease germs which we dread most in cases of wounds are the germs of blood-poisoning and lockjaw (or tetanus). They are everywhere about us, in standing water, air, dust. They cannot do
a bit of harm to the outside of the body, if the skin is unbroken no more than a fly can do to the armor of some old knight. But if they can enter where the skin is broken, they begin to do all kinds of harm, which sometimes results in months of suffering from "infected" wounds, and sometimes finally causes the patient to lose a leg or an arm or perhaps to die.
"We have spent a great deal of time on the subject of germs, children," continued Miss Helpem, "because unless you really understand how necessary cleanliness is, you may not be particular to have clean materials."
"And clean hands," suggested Soami.
"Yes," smiled the nurse, "Soami has noticed the nurses at the hospital washing their hands for five minutes in order to have them truly clean before attending to a dressing on a patient."
The little girl looked around proudly upon the class.
"Can't we begin the first-aid games now?" asked one of the group.
"Not yet," the nurse shook her head. "Wait, please, until you have learned what to do for slight cuts and pin pricks.
SLIGHT CUTS AND PIN PRICKS
The bleeding from a slight cut is never very severe and will generally stop of itself in a short time. It is best to let a slight cut bleed a little, as the bleeding carries away the germs which may have been on the edge of the knife or whatever caused the wound.
Treatment:
Touch slight cuts with tincture of iodine;* or with alcohol; or vinegar and water, half and half; or salt and water, a half teaspoonful of salt to a cup of water.
Wrap with clean gauze.
In cases of severe hemorrhage (bleeding) send immediately for a doctor. Stop bleeding by using pressure above or below wound, or by bandaging a gauze compress on the wound.
Never give whiskey or alcohol in any form. It makes hemorrhages worse. See Reference List.
BURNS AND SCALDS
(See Reference List)
Apply carron oil. See List of Medicines.
If carron oil is not at hand, use any dressing f to cover surface to keep out the air as lard, butter, olive oil or sprinkle with baking soda, or cover with white of egg, or with a paste made of starch or flour and water. Also spread on compress of some of the same remedy that has been applied to the burn. Hold compress in place with a loose bandage.
Solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) made by dissolving as much soda as possible in hot water (about one teaspoonful to a cup) is particularly relieving to scalds. Dip cloths into this and apply to the burned surface. Never remove skin from blisters. If blisters are large, see the doctor.
* Soldiers on active service carry iodine to be applied to wounds immediately, if possible to kill germs. Iodine is a poison if swallowed, so be careful not to leave it within the reach of small children.
Important Note. Dressings are everything applied to a wounded or sore surface. A compress is the dressing which is placed directly upon the wound. It is usually made of clean new gauze. A bandage is the dressing which holds the compress (or other dressings) in place.
Compresses are used to:
- Hold medication in place.
- Protect sore place.
- Stop bleeding.
HOW TO PUT OUT FLAMES
Caution. If your clothing catches fire, do not run! Roll (in a rug, if possible) on the floor or ground!
In putting out fire on another person's clothing, use rugs or blankets. In throwing a rug on another person, be careful not to allow your own clothing to catch fire. Let the sufferer lie down and roll. Stand in back of the rug, and throw from the head downward. If in a burning building, creep to the door on hands and knees to avoid the smoke.
TO AVOID ACCIDENTS FROM FIRE
- Children should not make bonfires without the aid of older persons.
- Matches should be kept out of reach of small children.
- Children should be taught to be careful of open fireplaces.
- Children should be taught to roll if their clothing catches fire. This would save scores of lives in a year.
- Safety First. Look ahead! See the danger before the accident!
FROST BITES
When nose, ears, hands or feet are exposed to intense cold they often become frost-bitten, turning purple at first. If frozen thoroughly, they turn waxy white; then no pain is felt, because the nerves
are frozen.
Treatment:
- Keep patient in cold room.
- Do not warm frozen parts quickly. Instead, rub with snow or bathe with ice water until a tingling pain is felt; then stop.
- If frozen parts are warmed too quickly, "gangrene" may result, or perhaps the sudden heat may cause
CHILBLAINS
Chilblains are the result of too rapid warming of cold parts, generally feet or fingers. Sometimes for years after being frost-bitten, exposure to severe cold will produce itching and burning, and perhaps swelling and ulcers.
Treatment:
Rub with turpentine or alcohol. The rubbing in itself is excellent. See doctor.
Introduction: Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Safety First, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
