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FIRST AID IN ACCIDENTS

Any part of the body can be injured in an accident, but there are many factors which decide the final loss. If a person is hit directly he may be wounded or simply break a bone. With indirect blunt injuries, also fractures are very common. There is often a fire in the accidents, and this may result in serious burns. However, people who are injured and are in the process of inching towards death can be saved by proper first aid.

The first purpose of such aid is to keep the person alive and in as good a condition as possible until proper medical aid is available. The other aim is to prevent any deterioration in the condition of the patient and to maintain or improve the injured part. Thirdly, nothing which can interfere with the treatment should be done during the waiting period. Any person who is familiar with these ideas and who knows how to administer first aid at such times can save the life of someone who would otherwise have died.

First Actions. The most important thing is to make the victim lie comfortably in an open place. All tight clothing around the neck, such as the tie and shirt collar, should be loosened.

Respiration. To maintain life, it is very important that the patient be able to breathe. The first point is to see that there is no obstruction in the breathing. If the tongue has fallen back it should be pulled out and all the froth from the mouth should be cleaned. If there is no neck injury it is advisable to turn the face on one side.

If the patient is not breathing it becomes necessary to administer artificial respiration. Mouth-to-mouth breathing is very simple and can be tried whenever necessary. All one has to do is to take a deep breath oneself and forcibly blow the air into the victim's open mouth after pinching his nose. This can be done 15 to 20 times a minute. This ventilates the lungs. The other method is to put the patient in a prone position (face down) and turn his face to one side. The person giving  respiration should kneel and put pressure with his palms near the armpits to expel the air out of the victim's lungs. Then he relieves pressure, which permits air to enter the lungs. This has to be done with a rhythmic action 15-20 times a minute. Usually the victim restores normal breathing.                                                                                                                          Bleeding. Excessive bleeding may cause danger. It is obviously necessary that one should try and stop the bleeding as soon as possible. This can be done by pressing any clean cloth or handkerchief at the point of bleeding against the bone. This stops bleeding. If absorbent cotton is available, then with its padding, the wounded area should be tightly bandaged.

At times it may be necessary to block circulation of the affected limb, if the bleeding is very heavy. This can be done by tying a tourniquet. It is very important that the tourniquet should not be left on for more than 45 minutes, otherwise the limb below the tourniquet will not survive. The time when the tourniquet was applied must be put in bold letters and firmly attached to the patient for the doctors to notice.

Fracture. A fracture is very painful and it should be splinted properly. This can be done by tying a wooden plank with padding against the limb, so that it can be immobilized. This not only prevents pain, but also further damage to the adjoining tissues. In the case of neck injuries it can be quite dangerous to move the neck, even a pillow can cause tremendous damage. Therefore, unless you are certain that there is no neck injury, please do not try to move the injured person.

Eye. If the eye is injured it is enough to wash it with clean water and cover it up. Washing also helps in cleaning any chemical or foreign particle which may enter into the eye.

Burns. Burns are another serious problem and invariably the person who tries to rescue others, burns himself, It is just as necessary to protect oneself as one tries to put out the fire. The best methods are either to throw water or roll the person in a blanket on the floor. It is sufficient to cover the burnt area with a clean cloth and send the person to the hospital immediately.

Choking. If a child chokes over some food, hold him upside down and slap him vigorously on the back. If he is beginning to turn blue, rush him to the hospital..

Poisoning. If a child has swallowed a poison, dilute it by giving him a glass of milk to drink. You may encourage him to vomit by putting your finger or toothbrush handle into his throat. Vomiting should not be induced in the case of any corrosive acid or alkali. Take him to the hospital as soon as possible.

Shock. A painful injury, bleeding or severe vomiting may cause shock. The child looks pale, cold and clammy, and has a weak pulse. Keep the child lying quietly, with his head a little lower than his body and legs. Keep him warm with blankets and a hot water bottle, and give him warm drinks till the doctor arrives.

I. Match A and B:

A                                                        B
a) excessive bleeding                         a) инородное тело
b) tightly bandaged                            b) дыхание рот в рот
c) painful injury                                 c) ритмическое воздействие
d) affected limb                                  d) печатные буквы
e) bold letters                                      e) повреждение шеи
f) mouth-to-mouth breathing              f) болезненное повреждение
g) neck injury                                     g) обильное кровотечение
h) rhythmic action                              h) крепко/плотно перевязанный
i) victim's lungs                                  i) поврежденная конечность
j) foreign particle                                j) легкие пострадавшего

II. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the main aim of the first aid?
2. Why is it so important to know how to administer the first aid?
3. Is it possible for any person to be familiar with the basic principles of proper first aid?

III. Fill in the following table reviewing the correct procedures in the case of an accident:

Type of injury                  Actions of the nurse
1) Shock                          a) Keep the patient lying quietly.
                                   b) Keep the patient's head a little lower than his body.
                                   c) Keep the patient warm.
                                   d) Call the doctor in.
                                   e) Give the patient some warm drinks.
                                    f) Calm the patient.
2) Poisoning             a)
                               b)
                               c)
                                 ...)
.

 

PREVENTION OF FOOD POISONING

The food we eat is one of the keys to good health. We rightly expect that the food on our plates shouldn't make us ill. But the risk of bacteria in food must be taken seriously.

Most of us eat without any ill effects. But it is important to guard against the risk of contaminating food whenever possible and use commonsense in the way we prepare and cook our food.

Over 44,000 cases of food poisoning were reported last year, but many cases go unreported. Salmonella and listeria may have hit the headlines, but other common bacteria can also cause food poisoning. Most bacteria, however, can be prevented from contaminating food, or killed, if you follow the food safety guidelines.

Symptoms of food poisoning may appear in an hour or as long as five days later. Common signs are stomach pain and/or vomiting and diarrhea. If symptoms are painful or persistent, consult your doctor, especially if the sufferer is elderly, pregnant, a child or an infant.

If you are only mildly ill, rest and take plenty of fluids until you feel ready to take solid food again. Try not to prepare food for other people while you are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea.

If you or your doctor thinks the infection was related to a particular food stuff, shop or eating place, the Environmental Health Officer at your local Council offices should be contacted - you could be part of an outbreak and prompt action may safeguard others.

Bacteria. Bacteria are everywhere. They are often thought of as bugs or germs and the human body is remarkably well-equipped to deal with them. Some bacteria are useful - most cheeses rely on bacteria for their production. There are only a few types of bacteria which cause illness, but it makes sense to minimize the risk of becoming ill by preventing harmful bacteria from growing on food.

Bacteria can get into our food at any stage from production to sale and from purchase to eating. After purchase it is up to us, consumers, to handle and prepare food properly. There is a lot we can all do to keep our food safe from the time we buy it to the time we eat it.

Buying food. Commonsense will tell you if the shop or shelves look dirty, or if staff behavior is unhygienic - dirty hands and nails, constantly touching mouth or hair, eating or smoking. Check the dates on the goods and ensure that they are still current. Avoid packs that look damaged. Beware of chilled or frozen food displays which are overfilled or look poorly cared for. Do not buy dirty eggs that show any cracks.

Taking food home. Pack fresh food separately and, in particular, ensure that fresh meat is wrapped and cannot contaminate other food.

Take fresh food home as quickly as possible, A warm car, office or just carrying it around for an hour can raise the temperature of the food considerably and allow bacteria to grow

Put perishable goods in the fridge or freezer as soon as you get home.

Keeping food. Keep your cupboards, fridge and freezer clean - spilt food, drips and broken packets can spread bacteria and attract flies, ants and mice. Use cupboard stocks efficiently, using older packs first. Follow instructions on packets. Use food within recommended dates. Contaminated food does not always look or smell "off". If in doubt, throw it out.

Fridges cannot kill bacteria but they can slow the growth of most common bugs. Make sure the fridge is cold enough - and stays below 5 С or 41 F - buy a fridge thermometer to check. Leaving a fridge door open warms the internal temperature, so does putting warm food straight into it. Defrosting fridges regularly will keep them cooler and will use less energy.

Different types of food such as raw meat, fish, dairy products and cooked food should be kept separately to avoid contamination from one to another. Put fresh meat and defrosting foods on a plate, covered, at the bottom of the fridge - if it drips onto other foods it can pass on food poisoning bacteria. Do not let meat drip into fresh vegetables and salads.

Freezers kept at the correct temperature - minus 18 С or 0 F - stop bacteria multiplying but do not kill them. Note storage or freezing instructions when stocking a freezer and try to defrost the freezer when stocks are low. While defrosting keep any remaining stocks as cold as possible - in an insulated box, or wrapped in plenty of newspapers or old clean blankets.

Cleanliness is the key. Keep your kitchen clean and dry. Don't allow pets near food or worktops. Wash hands in warm water with soap before touching food - and always after touching pets, dirty nappies, the dustbin or going to the toilet, and cover up cuts and grazes.

Keep worktops, chopping boards and utensils clean with hot soapy water. Dry them thoroughly after washing, preferably with disposable paper towels. When you are preparing food, wash utensils and worktops between stages - don't use the same knife or chopping board for raw meat, cooked food and fresh vegetables without washing them between times. Ideally, keep one chopping board for raw meats and another for other foods. Wash vegetables, fruit and salads thoroughly whether homegrown or shop-bought.

Preparation and Cook Sense. Follow package instructions carefully on prepared or cook/chill foods. When required, thaw frozen food completely before cooking – it is best in the fridge or microwave. A warm room may hurry up defrosting but it also helps bacteria to grow. Cook meat thoroughly - if possible use a meat thermometer which penetrates the joint to check that temperature at the center has reached 70 С This is especially important for large joints or poultry. When cooking foods from frozen, ensure they are similarly cooked right through. Poultry should always be defrosted completely and thoroughly before cooking.;

The Government's Chief Medical Officers have advised until further notice that everyone should avoid eating raw eggs and home-made uncooked egg dishes such as mayonnaise, mousses, ice-cream and raw eggs mixed with drinks. If you are sick, elderly, pregnant or preparing food for toddlers and babies then any egg in the meal should be thoroughly cooked until the white and yolk are solid. For healthier people there is very little risk from eating eggs cooked, however you prefer them. Food made with pasteurized eggs is all right for everybody.

Everyone can eat hard cheeses, processed  cottage cheese and cheese spreads. However, high numbers of listeria bacteria can sometimes contaminate certain soft cheeses such as blue vein types. Pregnant women and those particularly susceptible to infection are advised to avoid these types of cheese.

Reheating Food. Cooked food shouldn't be left to cool for more than one hour before putting it into the fridge or freezer. Never keep it in the fridge for more than one or two days before eating. Food should never be reheated more than once and then only until it is piping hot right through. Special advice has been issued to pregnant women and those particularly susceptible to infection about the need to reheat certain foods to minimize the risks of listeriosis. For these special groups retail cooked and chilled meals and ready to eat cooked poultry should be reheated until they are piping hot.

Safety Tips. Take chilled or frozen food home as quickly as possible.

Keep your fridge/freezer at the correct temperature - buy a fridge thermometer.    Cook food thoroughly.

Do not eat raw eggs.

Observe microwave standing times.

Store raw and cooked foods separately.

Check dates on goods, use food within the recommended period.

Do not reheat food more than once.

Keep pets out of the kitchen. Wash hands after handling them.

Keep your kitchen clean and dry, wash and dry utensils between preparation stages.

Always wash your hands with hot soapy water before preparing food.

 

I. Fill in the following table reviewing the main rules to prevent food poisoning:

Places of close  Recommended actions                           Prohibited actions

contact with food
1) Shop                   a) Check the dates on the goods. a)Do not take damaged packs
                         b) Mind the hygiene of the stuff b) Do not touch unpacked food                                                                      
                          c)...                                           c)...       
2) Way  home
3) Your house
4) Your kitchen

II. Match A and B:

A                                                                         B
1) contaminating                                                 a) eggs
2) internal                                                            b) bacteria
3) pregnant                                                          c) poultry
4) broken                                                             d) meat
5) soft                                                                   e) dates
6) pasteurized                                                       f) temperature
7) cooked                                                             g) food
8) useful                                                               h) cheese
9) recommended                                              i) woman
10) raw                                                             j) packets

III.Make up sentences. (Use every word!):
1) but, bugs, of, cannot, bacteria, kill, most, growth, slow, fridges, can, the, they, common.
2) any, bacteria, food, get, at, can, our, stage, into.
3) freezer, in, home, the, as, get, fridge, the, soon, you, put, goods, or, as.
4) touching, warm, soap, food, in, wash, with, hands, before, water.
5) diarrhea, and, poisoning, of, stomach, are, food, pain, symptoms, vomiting.

 

 

AGGRESSIVE DOGS GET EVER MORE DANGEROUS

According to the State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision, 46 percent of people bitten by animals in Moscow last year were attacked by domestic dogs and 10 percent by cats. Stray dogs bit only 38 percent of people while stray cats account for 3 percent. The rest were attacked by a variety of animals: rodents, monkeys, and even bears.

In all, 32,832 people sought medical assistance for animal bites last year, 9 percent of them being seriously injured.

The number of people who have problems with animals keeps growing. And, apparently, this is becoming a trend.

"Owing to a greater number of animals in the city, Moscow has the dubious honor of having one of the highest levels of registered bites," says Lyudmila Tsvil, an epidemiologist at Gossanepidnadzor's Infection Supervision Department. "Many will acquire a pet just for fun and then chuck it out. Such animals are more aggressive, they do not trust people. Generally, ill-bred animals are a product of ill-bred owners.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 children get bitten by dogs in Moscow every year. This is hardly surprising. They ran about, ride bicycles, and sometimes try to play with strange dogs. A dog, however, does not always need a cause to attack.

Increasingly, people are attacked by "well-to-do" canines that have owners - mainly Rottweilers and bull terriers - that is, aggressive dogs bred specifically for fighting and guarding purposes.

Back in 1995, the Moscow city government issued a resolution whereby "overaggressive" dogs are subject to mandatory registration with Internal Affairs Main Administration agencies on the residential basis. That is to say, almost like firearms. The owners of such dogs are supposed to take a special training course. And they must walk their pets muzzled and on a short leash. All pets must be registered and vaccinated against rabies, which is free with domestically made vaccine, while imported vaccine costs a lot of money.

Sanctions for violation of pet maintenance regulations are negligible. For example, the owner of a dog that has mauled a child can get off with a mere 10 or 15 ruble fine.

Luckily, unlike the bite record, the incidence of rabies in the city is very low: one or two people a year. However, even this must be a cause for concern, given that rabies is fatal.

This year a 27-year- old man from a Moscow suburb died of rabies at Infection Hospital № 1. He had been bitten by a fox and not duly vaccinated against rabies, which led to a tragedy.

Rabies has existed as long as the animal world itself. It affects every species of mammal - from mouse to man. This dangerous virus is passed on by the bite of a rabid animal, through its saliva or a scratch made by it. Moreover, it can penetrate even undamaged skin and mucous membranes. Rabies was described way back by Hippocrates: In those days bites were seared with red-hot iron. That did not help, of course. It was not until.1885 that Lois Pasteur invented a vaccine, modifications of which are still used today.

It should be born in mind that the incubation period of the disease lasts for ten days, during which time the affected pet looks perfectly harmless even though it can easily dispatch its owners to the next world. So it's better to err on the side of caution and have your pets vaccinated.

If, however, you have been bitten by a strange animal, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Incidentally, the notorious 40 shots against rabies is history now. Today the course of treatment consists of 6 shots - still free.

From Moscow News, June 21-27, 2000

 

I. Rearrange the sentences in the order in which the information is given in the text:

1. Rabies has existed as long as the animal world itself.

2. Moscow has the dubious honor of having one of the highest levels of registered bites,

3. If you, however, have been bitten by a strange animal you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

4. Rabies was described way back by Hippocrates.

5. Sanctions for violation of pet maintenance regulations are negligible.

6. Rottweilers and bull terriers are aggressive dogs bred specifically for fighting and guarding purposes.

7. Luckily, unlike the bite record, the incidence of rabies in the city is very low.

8. Many people will acquire a pet just for fun and then chuck it out.

9. The number of people who have problems with animals keep growing.

10. All pets must be registered and vaccinated against rabies.

11. Today the course of treatment consists of six shots - still free.

 

II. Prepare the law project with the rules of behavior for the owners of pets. What must they do and what cannot be done?

III. Compose a list of animals that can be aggressive and dangerous for people:
a) dogs;
b) cats;
c)...

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Homeopathic remedies are made of incredibly small doses of natural substances.  The following are mentioned in the text:

Aconite - борец ядовитый, царица - трава

Antimonium tartaricum – «рвотный камень», содержит медь, железо и сурьму

Apis mellifica - медоносная пчела

Arnica - баранья трава, арника горная

Arsenicum album - мышьяк белый

Belladonna - красавка

Bryonia. - переступень белый

Calendula officinalis - цветки календулы

Chamomilla (German chamomile) - ромашка аптечная

China – кора хинного дерева

Coffea cruda - кофейное дерево

Cuprum metallicum - медь

Ferrum phosphoricum - фосфат железа (III)

Gelsemium - жасмин желтый

Glonoine  - гомеопатизированный нитроглицерин

Ledum - багульник болотный

Phosphorus - фосфор

Pulsatilla nigricans (wind flower) - прострел луговой, ветреница

Pyrogenium – препарат  животного происхождения

Ruta graveolens - садовая рута, рута пахучая

Sabina - можжевельник донской

Veratrum album - чемерица белая

A true emergency is a life-threatening condition. There are only two situations that qualify as true emergencies: serious bleeding and obstruction to breathing.

Other urgent conditions requiring prompt help such as shock, sudden collapse, poisoning, eye trauma, fever, sunstroke, and heat prostration are usually also considered emergencies, and the following will provide you with up-to-date first-aid procedures and a description of one of more indicated homeopathic remedies for these and other situations.

Homeopathic remedies both stimulate the body's defense mechanism and make the patient more comfortable. The combination of homeopathy and standard first aid offered in this chapter can make any emergency less of one, even while you are awaiting further medical help.

 

BLEEDING

To stop bleeding from a cut or injury, press sterile gauze (or the cleanest material available) firmly over the wound. If this doesn't help, apply firm pressure on the blood vessel above the wound. When the bleeding stops, bandage the dressing firmly in place, and take the patient to a doctor.

Choose one of the following internal homeopathic remedies that most closely fits the situation:

Arnica. Your first choice if bleeding has been caused by injury, or if the patient is suffering from shock.

China. Weakness from loss of blood, as indicated by faintness, dimming vision, ringing in cars, and in extreme cases, air hunger (gasping for breath or yawning).

Sabina. When there is threatened abortion and uterine hemorrhage. Remedy may or may not prevent abortion but will improve condition of patient.

Phosphorus. For a profuse nosebleed often caused by vigorous noseblowing, or any type of hemorrhage; when small wounds bleed profusely.

BEYOND FIRST AID: If bleeding has been caused by a pathological condition, a first-aid remedy cannot cure the underlying condition. However, it can help control the bleeding until proper treatment has been given.

 

OBSTRUCTION TO BREATHING

The brain and other vital organs require a steady supply of life-giving oxygen. Breathing may become obstructed from choking on food or other foreign objects; also, from drowning, allergic swelling of the throat, or severe asthma attack. Prompt action is necessary to restore the flow of oxygen and avoid permanent damage to vital organs.

 

CHOKING

The choking victim is unable to speak or-breathe. If someone collapses while eating and is not breathing, the person is probably choking. You must act quickly; a person choking on food will usually die in four minutes.

Use one of the two variations of the Heimlich Maneuver, devised by a surgeon, Dr. Henry J. Heimlich, and then administer a remedy if necessary.

Standing Heimlich Maneuver. When the victim is standing or sitting, stand behind him and wrap your arms around the victim's waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it thumbside in against the victim's abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with the other hand, and press into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat the Heimlich Maneuver several times until food pops out.

Lying-down Heimlich Maneuver. If the victim has collapsed and is too heavy for you to lift, turn the victim face upward and kneel astride the victim's hips. With one hand on top of the other, place the heel of the bottom hand on abdomen slightly above the navel and below the rib cage. Press into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat the thrust several times if necessary. If you are a small rescuer who cannot reach around the victim, you can save the person with this position - by using your own body weight to perform the Maneuver.

If the patient suffers from the effects of fright after a choking episode, give a dose of Aconite. Aconite is made from the plant monkshood, and was used as a medicine by the ancient Romans. If patient feels bruised and sore as a result of a too-forcefully applied Maneuver, give Arnica.

 

DROWNING

Recently, it has been shown that the Heimlich Maneuver can evacuate water from the lungs. Therefore, to revive a drowning victim, first perform the Heimlich Maneuver as for choking. Second, clear the airway as quickly as possible by wiping out the victim's mouth and lowering the head or turning over the abdomen. Then follow immediately with mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. If the heart has stopped beating, give complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which includes external compression of the chest to massage the heart.

Persist in your efforts until help arrives. Unlike the choking victim, who will die in four minutes unless aided, drowning victims who have been submerged for as long as half an hour have survived.

As soon as possible, give Antimonium tartaricum, made from tartrate of antimony. Antimonium tart., one of our valuable remedies from the mineral world, is indicated when the patient is cold and blue, is covered with clammy sweat, has rattling respiration, and is drowning in the body's own secretions, whether from actual drowning or from respiratory or cardiac failure. Dosage: Every ten to fifteen minutes, or until improvement is evident.

Since it is dangerous to put anything in the mouth of an unconscious person, soften two tablets in one-quarter teaspoon of water, and place inside the cheek or under the tongue the medicine will work as long as it is in contact with the mucous membranes. If the patient is breathing through the mouth and the tissues there are very dry, moisten your finger with a little water before placing the tablets on the inside of the cheek or on the tongue.

 

ALLERGIC RESPIRATORY SWELLING

A rare but serious occurrence is a sudden swelling of the tongue or tissues of the throat -which may close off the airway. This allergic, or anaphylactic, shock may occur after a highly sensitive person has been stung by a bee or has taken penicillin.

Regardless of the type of allergy, Apis melliflca has proved lifesaving in this type of respiratory emergency. If you are hypersensitive to bee stings, you would do well to carry Apis at all times. If possible, consult a homeopathic physician as to the advisability of carrying high-potency Apis.

 

SHOCK

Even minor injuries may be accompanied by some degree of shock. You hammer your finger instead of the nail and experience a sudden, clutched feeling in the stomach, increased pulse and breathing rates. The more serious the injury, the greater degree of shock. Symptoms are pale, cold, clammy skin, rapidly rising pulse, restlessness, shallow breathing, a feeling of impending disaster. These symptoms are due to circulatory disturbance and consequent lack of oxygen supply to the nervous system and other tissues.

To lessen shock, reassure the patient. Place on back with legs elevated (except in cases of head and chest injuries, when the head should be slightly higher than the feet). You want the blood to flow to the brain; gravity can help.

Loosen the patient's clothing. Keep patient warm with blankets but avoid overheating as it leads to further loss of fluids by sweating. If person is conscious and thirsty, administer a hot drink such as sweetened tea, but nothing cold.

Arnica is the best remedy for shock. Give Arnica every fifteen minutes, then taper off as the patient shows signs of improvement (if necessary, see section on "Drowning" for instructions on giving a remedy to an unconscious person). If the person is agitated, restless, extremely fearful, give Aconitum napellus (Aconite) instead of Arnica.

 

FAINTING

When for any reason the blood flow to the brain is insufficient to supply needed oxygen, nature forces the person to assume the most favorable position for restoring that supply - the person keels over and lies flat, which helps provide the brain with sufficient oxygen. So note what the wisdom of the body dictates and follow suit. Place the patient face up and loosen tight clothing. Don't allow people to crowd around; this will interfere with the person's air supply.

If the cause of fainting has been determined, one of the following remedies will help:

Chamomilla (German chamomile). For severe pain.

China. For loss of blood.

Coffea cruda. For excitement.

Pulsatilla nigricans (wind flower). For hot, stuffy atmosphere.

A person who has repeated fainting spells will benefit from constitutional treatment by a homeopathic physician.

BEYOND FIRST AID: A simple faint may be caused by fright, and emotional upset, severe pain, or poor ventilation. On the other hand, a faint may indicate something more serious such as internal bleeding or a heart attack. (A heart attack is usually accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, or occasionally, abdominal pain.) If fainting lasts more than a few minutes, keep patient warm and take him or her to a hospital emergency room.

 

POISONING

Food poisoning is caused by contaminated food or toxic substances such as poisonous berries or mushrooms. The defense mechanism responds to the presence of these dangerous substances, attempting to expel them by vomiting, often accompanied by cramping and weakness.

If the poison is known to be food rather than a corrosive substance or petroleum product, induce the victim to vomit by giving syrup of ipecac, available from drug stores without prescription. Dosage: One tablespoon of syrup of ipecac mixed in one cup of water. (One-half tablespoon for children under one year.) If no vomiting occurs in fifteen minutes, repeat dose. If need be, stick your finger into the victim's throat to induce vomiting.

If this is a case of food poisoning, or ptomaine poisoning, after the vomiting give Arsenicum album. Arsenicum is made from deadly poison, arsenic, which, in its homeopathically potentized state, is an effective and safe remedy.

Countless times I've recommended Arsenicum for this unpleasant condition, and thus far, it has never failed me. The other day, Mrs. Jones called in great distress. She knew that the meat she had had in a restaurant the night before had tasted "funny". About 4 a.m., she began vomiting and developed diarrhea. I advised Arsenicum every hour, three or four times, then only if vomiting or diarrhea continued or if she felt weak. That day, Mrs. Jones wisely abstained from eating; the next day appetite returned, and she was back to normal.

Here's where homeopathy works along with your body instead of opposing it. Mrs. Jones's system was trying to get rid of toxic material, an unpleasant but necessary process. The homeopathic remedy gave the defense mechanism a little push in that direction. Taking an antiemetic or antidiarrhea medicine might have forced her body to retain this poisonous matter.

BEYOND FIRST АШ: Do not induce vomiting if the poison ingested is a corrosive substance such as acid, ammonia, cleaning fluid, drain cleaner or lye, or a petroleum product such as kerosene, turpentine, or paint thinner. While vomiting, a person could inhale these substances into the lungs, more dangerous than having them in the stomach. Do not induce vomiting if the poison is an unknown substance or if the victim is unconscious. If possible, administer the antidote recommended on the container from which the poison came, or if unknown, dilute the poison in the stomach by giving one teaspoon to one tablespoon of activated charcoal stirred into a glass of water. Repeat frequently. Call your doctor or a poison-control center immediately; keep telephone number of center posted in a prominent place. If you know what the poison was, inform your doctor or take container to the emergency room of your nearest hospital.

 

FEVER

We have placed "fever" in this chapter on emergencies, but as you learn to understand the workings of the body, you will realize that fever is an ally. Although an elevated temperature does signal a disturbance, the fever is not the disease but a symptom of disease - a useful indicator that the body is engaged in fighting a disease or infection.

Here we again part company with traditional medicine. The ordinary doctor is trained to suppress fever with aspirin or other medications known as febrifuges. The homeopath regards fever as an important part of the healing process. Dr. William Gutman, in his book, The Little Homeopathic Physician expresses this concept very well:

Fever is our strongest weapon in the fight of nature against all bacteria; through its influence all healing reactions are accelerated, the heart beats faster in order to carry the blood, containing all healing matters, quicker to all the organs, respiration is speeded up, thus increasing the intake of the all-important oxygen.

Suppressing fever opposes the healing process,

So, when you develop a fever, we do not treat the fever. We aim to strengthen your body to give it all the help we can to repel the invader. We recommend extra rest, plenty of fluids, light diet - commonsense measures with which you are probably familiar.

Next, we choose a homeopathic remedy, not based on the fever alone but on the total picture of all your symptoms. This remedy stimulates your body's defense mechanism to deal with the harmful forces. For first-aid purposes, however, certain homeopathic remedies are more frequently indicated in ailments that include fever.                                       

Aconite. Sudden onset of symptoms. Patient is intensely nervous and restless, anxious and fearful. Skin is dry and hot, with a full bounding pulse.

Arsenicum. Patient is fearful and restless and has burning pains relieved by warmth. Very thirsty for frequent sips of water; there is rapid prostration and increasing weakness. Worse after midnight.

Belladonna. Sudden onset of symptoms. Patient has a flushed face, high temperature;pulse is strong and rapid; little or no thirst. May become delirious.

Bryonia. Patient prefers to lie still; worse from the least movement - whether swallowing or turning head or even moving eyes. Very thirsty; drinks large quantities of water. Usually pale and quiet.

Ferrum phosphoricum. Gradual onset of symptoms. Patient has red cheeks and throbbing head as in Belladonna, but symptoms are milder. Pulse fast but not strong; better from cold applications on head.

Gelsemium. Patient is chilly, aches all over, doesn't want to move. Dull headache, droopy eyes, heavy limbs, chills up and down back. Despite fever there is no thirst.

Phosphorus. Patient has fever and chills, night sweats, a thirst for cold drinks. This remedy is often needed when a head cold goes into chest. The sick Phosphorus child with a temperature of 104 may appear to be perfectly well. Person may be hungry despite the fever.

Pyrogenium. This is the remedy most often indicated in blood poisoning. Patient's temperature goes up and down, pulse is weak and rapid. Restless, aches all over, has chills, is alternately hot and cold and complains that the bed is hard.

BEYOND FIRST AID: If you develop an unusually high fever, sponging face and forehead with lukewarm water will reduce the fever somewhat and make you more comfortable. If fever persists or continues to rise, contact your physician.

 

SUNSTROKE

On a hot day, when a person becomes overheated, the cooling mechanism - the evaporation of sweat from the skin - may fail. The victim's skin is hot and dry, body temperature can soar as high as 106 degrees, with the pulse rapid and strong. The person is dizzy, nauseated, weak, and generally has a headache. He or she may vomit, go into convulsions, become delirious.

Choose one of these two homeopathic remedies and give every fifteen to thirty minutes until patient improves.

Belladonna. Victim has burning, dry flushed skin, dilated pupils, a strong pulse. Glonoine (made from nitroglycerin). Same symptoms as Belladonna plus a bursting headache.

Cool the victim off as quickly as possible by pouring liberal amounts of cool water over the skin. Or place a cold compress on the person's head and wrap a cold wet sheet around the body. Give cool drinks to be sipped slowly, but nothing with alcohol or caffeine.

BEYOND FIRST AID: A dry, hot skin, or rapidly rising temperature may indicate a life-threatening emergency. Call an emergency squad. Meanwhile, follow homeopathic and commonsense measures.

 

HEAT PROSTRATION

This condition is caused by excessive exposure to heat plus dehydration usually attributable to lack of water or to drinking alcoholic beverages. Unlike sunstroke, victim's pulse is not pounding and seldom exceeds 100 beats per minute; the skin is cold and clammy. Other symptoms are similar to those of sunstroke —weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, irritability, sometimes cramping muscles.

Choose one of these two homeopathic remedies for this condition.

Veratrum album. This remedy is useful in most cases of heat exhaustion. There is prostration with clammy sweat, pallor, nausea, marked weakness, and sometimes rapid pulse.

Cuprum metallicum. If, in addition to Veratrum alb. symptoms, the patient suffers from cramps, this is the appropriate remedy.

Have victim rest in a shaded area, or in air-conditioned room, with cold cloth on the head. Urge the person to drink several glasses of water, each with one-half teaspoon of salt.

Prevention, of course, is the best medicine here. In hot weather, drink plenty of fluids and salt your food well, unless advised otherwise by your physician. Abstain from alcoholic drinks if you expect to be out in the sun.

 

SPRAINS

A sprain is an injury to the soft tissue about a joint, causing muscles, ligaments, and tendons to be stretched or torn. A ligament is a band of fibrous tissue tying bones together. A tendon is a fibrous band that connects a muscle to a bone. The most common sprains are of the ankles, fingers, wrists, and knees.

Since shock is always present when a sprain occurs, give a dose of Arnica. Arnica controls shock as well as bleeding in the tissues, and may be all that is needed. If, however, after a day or so improvement seems at a standstill, Ruta graveolens will help. Ruta acts on torn and wrenched tendons, ligaments, and also on the bruised periosteum, or bone coverings.

COMMONSENSE MEASURES: Elevate the injured part. Apply an ice bag or cold compress, and a firm bandage for support.

BEYOND FIRST AID: If the sprain seems severe, seek professional help.

 

WOUNDS

A wound is a break in the skin, and often the soft tissues beneath the skin are damaged as well.

There are four types of wounds: incisions, lacerations, scratches and abrasions, and punctures. An incised wound is clean cut. A lacerated wound is torn, and may be jagged. An abrasion is a scrape which rubs off the top layer of skin. A puncture wound is made by a sharp object such as a nail, tack, or pin.

Calendula officinalis, prepared from the tall, wild marigold, "the herb of the sun," is the chief homeopathic medicine for wounds. The late Dorothy Shepherd, a British homeopath who had vast experience treating wounds as a medical officer at an outpatient center in London during World War II, describes Calendula as "the most satisfactory wound dressing I have come across... [It] is not an antiseptic in the true meaning of the word, but germs do not thrive in its presence. It inhibits their growth, I find, and even when wounds are already badly infected, I have seen offensive purulent discharges become clean and sweet smelling in a day or two."

Until ten or fifteen years ago, surgeons scrubbing before an operation dipped their hands in iodine or alcohol and painted a form of iodine on the patient's skin. Today, surgeons have discontinued using these strong antiseptics, realizing that they are very irritating to the tissues and inhibit healing. So, we may hope that as homeopathy becomes better known, an adventurous surgeon will do as Dr. Carleton, a New York surgeon in 1900s, did, and use Calendula in die operating room.

Homeopaths have always depended on Calendula as a first-aid measure. When my daughter Delia was in second grade, her favorite stunt on a winter day while wearing slippery sky pants was to run over the oiled classroom floor and land on her knees. One day, a splinter ran through her pants and became imbedded in her knee, like an arrow. Not being a doctor at the time, I took her to a kindly neighborhood physician who removed the splinter and applied an antiseptic. Having been raised in a homeopathic family, I promptly washed off the antiseptic when we got home and applied Calendula. The puncture wound healed quickly with no infection.

Calendula is not the only external wound remedy. Hypericum and Ledum are also useful in treating wounds, and each has its special attribute. Hypericum lotion is particularly effective in relieving pain of injured nerves. Ledum lotion is helpful for puncture wounds and sprains.

Note that Arnica, our old standby, is missing from this list of external wound remedies. Never apply Arnica tincture or lotion to an open wound; it will usually irritate the skin severely.

I discovered this, much to my sorrow, when my daughter Anne, as a little girl, got a nasty cut on her hand when a glass broke as she was washing dishes. I cleaned it up; then, in my ignorance, I applied Arnica lotion. The cut healed but blisterlike eruptions developed around the edge of the wound. They subsided slowly during the course of a week

 

SCRATCHES AND ABRASIONS

These can be extremely painful and dangerous if the raw skin is contaminated with dirt or other foreign matter. Do not use any strong substance, such as iodine, that can burn the skin or irritate the delicate exposed tissues. When the epithelium, your protective shell, has been rubbed off, anything you put on the wound will be readily absorbed and can injure those delicate cells whose protective covering has been removed. Clean the area gently but thoroughly with Calendula lotion.

If you're over twenty-five, you probably grew up having your cuts and scrapes treated with tincture of iodine. You're not likely to forget it - the pungent smell, the searing pain as the applicator touched your raw skin.

Iodine was once a staple item in every school and home first-aid kit.

Now we scarcely hear about iodine. The authors of a popular family health guide, published in 1976, write: "All wounds should be washed with soap and water or a mild antiseptic solution." One reason for the decline of iodine was the observation that alcohol in solution tends to evaporate, leaving a more concentrated solution. As a result, many users of iodine suffer chemical burns.

BEYOND FIRST АШ: If foreign matter is ingrained in the wound, treatment should be performed by a physician.

 

INSECT STINGS

Bees, Hornets, and Wasps

These are among the most common insect stings. Immediately following an insect sting, one experiences a violent burning pain followed by itching and redness at the site. Sometimes a welt like a hive appears and then gradually subsides over the next few hours.

One of the most widely used homeopathic remedies for bee stings is Apis mellifica. Apis is made from the whole honey bee. Long before Apis was "proved," American Indians knew the healing properties of the honey bee. A physician in 1847 described how an Indian woman, a member of the Narragansett tribe, prepared the medicine from the crude bees. "She enclosed the bees in a covered tin pail, and placed them in a heated oven until they were killed, and then after powdering them, administered one in syrup every night and morning."

As described in the U.S.Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, the live bees are now placed in a clean wide-mouthed stopped bottle, which is shaken to irritate the bees. A mixture of glycerin, distilled water, and alcohol is poured into the bottle, and the bees soak in this mixture for ten days. The internal remedy is made from dilutions of this tincture.

Apis symptoms are: burning stinging pains, a rosy swelling rather than bright red, puffiness rather than firm, hard swelling, and worse from heat. This combination of symptoms indicates a need for Apis, whether the problem is a bee sting or edema from a kidney ailment.

Unless the bee sting is really severe, an external remedy such as Ledum tincture will suffice. Take a cotton applicator and apply a drop or two of tincture. You need only a small amount, and, besides, the concentrated alcohol in the tincture may in itself have an antidotal effect on the venom.

If you don't have Ledum tincture on hand, substitute Arnica, or Calendula.

These tinctures work rapidly as I observed last summer when Virginia, a houseguest, was stung by a wasp. The sting became very tender and annoying, so I brought out my bottle of Ledum tincture and dabbed on a drop or two. I went out of the room to put the bottle back and, when I returned, Virginia greeted me happily with the announcement that the tenderness was gone. There was only a faint redness to indicate the site of attack.

 

From Dictionary of Medical Folklore

Most of us still believe in magic, and most of the magic we believe has to do with medicine. We may call these pieces of advice "old wives' tales", but who among us is absolutely certain, one hundred percent, that an apple a day does not keep the doctor away or that we cannot avoid colds simply by keeping our feet dry?

I began to accumulate a little collection of newspaper and magazine clippings about medical old wives' tales. Some of the clippings seemed to prove one tale or another true; some false. That's how this book, Dictionary of Medical Folklore by Carol Ann Rinzler, appeared.

 

DOG BITES

A human bite isn't as dangerous as a dog bite. Wrong. Because so few people take human bites seriously, they may be even more dangerous. The human mouth is brimful of all manner of microorganisms that can invade your bloodstream if the bite breaks trie skin. It can be just as dangerous to hit someone in the mouth and break the skin on your knuckles against his teeth. If you ignore this kind of wound, it may quickly progress to an infection. To avoid problems, see your doctor right away any time you are bitten, either by a human being or an animal.

Who's most likely to be bitten by another person? Dentists seem a reasonable guess, but when a doctor at the University of Miami School of Medicine simply asked people who came to the emergency room with a bite what they did for a living, the most common answer was, police officers.

Let the dog who bit you lick the wound to speed healing. A bad idea, say the experts at the Animal Medical Center in New York. The dog's rough tongue can irritate the wound, and the bacteria from his mouth can infect the wound.

 

SNAKEBITE

Whiskey is an antidote for snakebite. No. Like snake venom, alcohol lowers blood pressure. Giving whiskey to someone who has been bitten by a snake will only increase the chances of shock.

If you move quickly or get excited after being bitten by a snake, the venom will spread faster. It is true that anything that increases the circulation of blood to your muscles may hasten the spread of the venom injected when a poisonous snake bites. Staying calm enough to get medical help in a hurry definitely does a long way towards reducing the ultimate effects of any bite by a poisonous snake.

To reduce the severity of a snakebite, make an x-shape incision in the wound and suck out the venom. A bad idea. Although medical treatment for snakebite may involve cutting into the wound and mechanically suctioning the venom, an amateur who crosscuts a snakebite can cause serious damage to nerves and tendons close to the surface of the skin. Sucking the wound increases the chances of infection by transferring bacteria from the mouth to the open wound. The best treatment for a poisonous snake bite is a fast trip to the hospital. For first aid, people travelling in an area far from a hospital should carry and learn to use a snakebite kit.

 

FOOD POISONING

You can tell when food is spoiled by the way it smells. Not necessarily. Although many of the organisms that spoil food and make it dangerous to eat do make the food smell bad, some do not. For example, Clostridium botulinum, whose toxin causes the deadly form of food poisoning called botulism, spoils food without making it smell bad.

C. botulinum, an anaerobic microbe that flourishes in the absence of air, is most likely to be found in canned or vacuum-sealed foods. As it grows, it releases gases that may actually cause a can of food to bulge outward. If you find a can bulging at the end, throw it out without opening the can; the botulinum toxin can contaminate your can opener.

Heating food protects you against food poisoning. Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no. Thorough cooking at high temperatures can kill many of the potentially dangerous bacteria and/or parasites in raw fish, poultry, pork, beef and milk. But you should never rely on reheating to make questionable leftovers or canned food safe. And no amount of cooking, regardless of the heat, will neutralize the toxins in such hazardous plants as the poisonous varieties of Amanita mushrooms, or in shellfish contaminated with the microorganisms known as "red tide," or in foods contaminated with environmental poisons such as pesticides or toxic metals.

The mold on cheese is safe to eat. It depends. Molds that are indigenous to the cheese, such as the one that grows inside blue cheese, are safe to eat. But mold that springs up uninvited on cheese should be considered potentially hazardous. The safest course: Toss out the cheese.

 

POISONING, ANTIDOTES FOR

Taken together, burnt toast, milk of magnesia and strong tea is a "universal antidote". No. Alone, each of these once seemed a sensible antidote for a specific kind of poison. Burnt toast contains carbon that might sop up various toxins in the stomach. Milk of magnesia is a basic (alkaline) solution once thought to neutralize acid poisons or coat the stomach walls and prevent the absorption of poison. Strong tea, an acid, was thought to neutralize basic (alkaline) poisons. A liquid, it was assumed to dilute the poison and make it less toxic.

None of these old-fashioned, generalized antidotes is considered safe and effective today, when modern toxicology tailors its antidotes carefully to the poison.

Caution: For specific information and help in an emergency poisoning, dial 911, your local Poison Control Center or your physician.

Make someone who has swallowed a poison vomit it up. This is a dangerous prescription for anyone who has swallowed a caustic poison such as drain cleaner, a poison containing a petroleum distillate, or a poison that has induced drowsiness. Vomiting a caustic poison will increase damage to the esophagus as the corrosive chemical comes back up. Vomiting petroleum distillates can force particles into the lungs that cause chemical pneumonia (a lung infection due to the presence of foreign material). Forcing a drowsy person to vomit may make him choke or inhale particles of vomit, again raising the possibility of pneumonia.

Caution: As a general rule, never induce vomiting in someone who has swallowed poison without checking first with your doctor, a toxicologist or the Poison Control Center.

 

POISON IVY

"Leaves of three, let them be" This is excellent advice, an example of medical folklore at its scientific best.

Poison ivy plants can look like low bushes or sturdy vines. They can grow in damp forests or dry, rocky places. Their leaves can be long or short, shiny or hairy, oval or elongated, with smooth edges or saw tooth ones. Their co1or can change with the season - green in spring and summer; pink, red or yellow in the fall. But one thing never changes: the leaves on a poison ivy plant are always grouped in threes.

If it has three leaves, please don't pick the pretty plant.

Eating the leaves of the poison ivy plant will immunize you against a reaction.

This is a false and potentially dangerous piece of folklore. Eating poison ivy leaves confers no immunity against the plant. Worse yet, it may cause an internal case of poison ivy allergy.

The offending chemical in poison ivy is urushiol, an oily substance found in every part of the plant, from the berries right down to the roots. If you swallow poison ivy leaves, the urushiol in the leaves may cause the same burning, itching, blisters and swelling inside your mouth and your gastrointestinal tract as it does on your skin.

If the poison ivy plant is dry and dead, it's no longer hazardous. Wrong. Even plants that look like they have long since given up the ghost can contain active urushiol.

 

HEADACHE

A vinegar-soaked compress on your forehead cures a headache.

May be. In medicine, irritating substances (called "counter-irritants") are sometimes applied to the skin in an effort to divert the patient's attention from his pain. That's the principle behind some over-the-counter arthritis remedies that make the skin feel warm. If yours is a tension headache caused by tightened muscles on the side of your face, the irritant fumes from the vinegar compress may be enough to take your mind off the pain and allow the muscle spasm to subside.

Press the white side of a lemon peel against your head to cure a headache. Another counter-irritant. But this one should be used with caution because the oils in the lemon peel are potential allergens. If your skin reddens or itches under the peel, take it off immediately.

 

FEVER

Feed a cold and starve a fever.

Or is it the other way round? Either way. It is impractical advice.

When you have a fever (a normal defense mechanism that inhibits the growth of some disease organism), your body is burning energy more quickly. Theoretically you need more calories than normal. But it's hard to eat when you have a cold because your sense of taste, which is linked to your ability to smell the food you eat, is out of whack. In addition, people who are running a fever may also have an upset stomach.

The usual compromise, therefore, is to pass up the food and take enough liquids to prevent dehydration. The liquids will also keep mucous membrane in your nose moist, making it easier for you to clear your nose and cough up mucus from your throat. How much is enough? The most common recommendation is eight glasses a day. Which liquid you choose is irrelevant. Chicken soup, though pleasantly warm and tasty, is no more or less effective than plain water or juice.

 

CHOKING

When someone is choking on a piece of food, lift his arms over his.head and slap him on the back. Bad advice. Lifting the arms over the head has no effect at all on a piece of food stuck in the throat. Smacking the choking person on the back may make things worse by dislodging the food so that it falls further back into the throat.

 

DROWNING

Drowning people come up for air twice before going down for the third time. This is a neat formula that owes a lot to the "magic" number three, but it isn't necessary valid. Bodies will bob to the surface just as long as there is enough gas inside to make them buoyant in the water. The gas may be either the air in living lungs or, later on, the gases formed by decomposition after death, which is why it is virtually impossible to keep a corpse from rising out of the water unless you anchor it to something really heavy.                                                                            "J

People drown more quickly in fresh water than in salt water. The most important cause of death by drowning is asphyxiation, the oxygen starvation caused by swallowing enough water to block air from reaching the lungs. In this regard, salt water and fresh water are equally lethal.

But a contributing cause of death by drowning may be heart failure triggered by chemical changes in the blood caused by absorbing water through the tissues of the lungs. In this case, the kind of water you inhale may make a slight difference.

It is a rule of physics that solutions flow through membranes (in this case, body tissue) from the side where the solution is less concentrated to the side where it is more concentrated. This phenomenon is known as osmosis.

Fresh water is a less concentrated solution than blood. If it flows into your lungs, fresh water will move quickly across membranes into your blood stream, creating a sudden increase in the amount of fluid flowing through your circulatory system. This leads to an imbalance in the chemicals (electrolytes) that enable the heart to send electrical signals from cell to cell. The result may be irregular heartbeat and/or heart failure.

Salt water, on the other hand, is more dense than blood. If it flows into your lungs, liquid (water) from your