How to Choose the Right Camping First Aid kit
There are many different types of ear injuries and a long list of causes but they all should be treated like an emergency. Ears and eyes are two elements of the human body that you should never take a chance with. If you suspect injury, seek medical treatment.
Causes of Ear Injuries
There are both internal and external ear injuries. A substance or foreign object blocking or damaging the ear canal is extremely serious. Insects can crawl into your ears, especially when camping and kids may pop a Lego in there from time to time too. You should never attempt to remove anything lodged in anyone's ear, including your own.
Diving is another common cause of ear injuries. Basically, any time pressure is applied to your ear canal, the eardrum can be damaged.
Alternatively, there are also external injuries such as damage or lacerations, commonly caused by infected piercings or those that have been ripped out.
Types of Ear Injuries
ñ Auricular Hematoma – This is a blood clot that forms on the outer ear, under the skin.
ñ Eardrum Punctures – Result of an object in the ear.
ñ Eardrum Rupture – Increased water or air pressure causes these types of ear injuries.
ñ Inner Ear Injury – This is also the result of air or water pressure being increased.
ñ Middle Ear Injury – The result of an object in the ear.
ñ Other – Abrasions, contusions and lacerations.
First Aid – Foreign Objects in the Ear
If you are dealing with someone who has or suspects that they have some type of foreign object in the ear, you should:
ñ Reassure the individual so they calm down.
ñ Seek medical treatment immediately.
First Aid – Bleeding Ear
If you are with someone and there is blood coming from their ear, this is a serious cause for concern. Typically, a bleeding ear indicates a head injury so there are basic first aid steps that should be followed.
ñ Gently place a sterile gauze or pad over the ear, not inside the ear!
ñ Lay the individual on their side so that the affected ear is on the ground. This will allow blood and fluids to drain outward.
ñ Always treat the individual as if you are dealing with a serious head injury and do not allow them to fall asleep. You want them to be calm and relaxed yet awake. Reassure them and ask questions so they talk if you feel as though they are going to dose off.
ñ Call for a paramedic or ambulance immediately by dialing 000 in Australia or 911 in the USA.
You never know when you will be in an emergency situation so it is important to keep up to date with first aid training. You might just save a life.
Australia is known world wide as the land of milk and honey. We are so fortunate that we have a country of pristine beaches, immaculate rainforests, rolling country sides and, you guessed it, seven of the ten most dangerous snake species in the world. Making our country side one of the most dangerous places you can visit.
Australians are accustomed with living with these deadly creatures, many of which can be found in or around our homes, in gardens or wood piles. Even around my own home in the City of Brisbane these dangerous small creatures lurk and play. We often will walk outside to find something curled up at our front fence.
All though not every snake species is venomous, if you are bitten by a snake you should always treat it as if it was venomous by applying the pressure immobilization technique. Most people in Australia are not familiar with what is venomous and what is not and in the case of a snake bite, applying a pressure immobilisation bandage quickly could mean the difference between dying or just getting sick.
The pressure immobilization technique works by restricting the lymphatic flow beginning at the toes or fingers and work upwards for the whole limb as far as you can go. The Australian Resuscitation Guidelines state that it is preferable to bandage upwards from below the bite, although it will probably squeeze a small amount of venom centrally; it collapses vessels and is far more comfortable.
If you bind down a limb, rather than up the limb, we have a situation in which it will produce venous congestion and discomfort, so always ensure that the pressure the bandage is applied no greater then what you would apply for a sprained ankle, immobilise the limb with splints or slings and bring medical transport to the patient.
In particular ensure that you call an ambulance immediately. In Australia you would dial 000 (triple zero) for an ambulance or in the United States of America you will dial 911.
It is essential that there are some key activities that you do not do and let me be very clear on this:
- do not kill the snake for purpose of identification
- do not cut or excise the bite site
- do not suck the venom from the bite site
- do not use an arterial tourniquet when treating a snake bite
- do not wash or clean the bite site
- do not elevate the bite site
- do not walk the patient
- do not remove the bandage at any stage
Identification of venomous snakes can be made from venom present on the clothing or skin, so do not try and kill the snake for purposes of identification. Doctors use special kits that help in the identification of the venom. All Australian hospitals carry snake anti-venom. You should also be aware that anti-venom is available for all venomous Australian snakes
If you do live in a location where snakes are regularly seen then it is recommended that you have a snake bite bandage available. In our own home, we have one always available on our kitchen counter.
One-on-One Professional Business Training provides you with a range of first aid courses to help you deal with the situations mentioned in this article. We run regular first aid courses Brisbane at three different locations.
