199609
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199609 [2016/06/17 11:23] – [Basic Rule in Treatment (continued from August 'first aid notes')] vievems | 199609 [2016/06/17 12:00] – [Come to Cairns] vievems | ||
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As many of you know my reason for coming to Cairns is to gain experience as a tour guide and this I am certainly doing. My initiation has been pretty torrid, almost daunting but at the same time very rewarding. I am currently working for only one company, "The Adventure Company" | As many of you know my reason for coming to Cairns is to gain experience as a tour guide and this I am certainly doing. My initiation has been pretty torrid, almost daunting but at the same time very rewarding. I am currently working for only one company, "The Adventure Company" | ||
- | The Adventure Company runs sea kayak trips off the coast to some beautiful coral islands, canoe trips down the Mulgrave River, mountain | + | The Adventure Company runs sea kayak trips off the coast to some beautiful coral islands, canoe trips down the Mulgrave River, mountain |
fire. I get fed so well all the time that it's a wonder I haven' | fire. I get fed so well all the time that it's a wonder I haven' | ||
- | Cairns is growing city, there is building work going on everywhere. I understand there are more hotel rooms per capita then anywhere else in the world and I can believe it! There are masses of tourists, many of them from overseas, and most of them on a whirlwind visit. For instance many of those who come through "The Adventure | + | Cairns is a growing city, there is building work going on everywhere. I understand there are more hotel rooms per capita then anywhere else in the world and I can believe it! There are masses of tourists, many of them from overseas, and most of them on a whirlwind visit. For instance many of those who come through "The Adventure |
Company" | Company" | ||
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Finally the big temptation is to go north up The Cape to "The Tip". I am currently looking for an opportunity to do just that so if you are interested please let me know and I'm sure I can work something out. | Finally the big temptation is to go north up The Cape to "The Tip". I am currently looking for an opportunity to do just that so if you are interested please let me know and I'm sure I can work something out. | ||
+ | |||
As you may have guessed I am missing you guys a whole lot so if you feel like coming up for a visit you will be very welcome. Let me know before you book anything as I can arrange some excellent deals from this end (except airfares). | As you may have guessed I am missing you guys a whole lot so if you feel like coming up for a visit you will be very welcome. Let me know before you book anything as I can arrange some excellent deals from this end (except airfares). | ||
- | My address in Cairns is: | + | My address in Cairns is: 286 Gatton Street, Westcourt 4870. My phone number is 015 066 870. |
- | 286 Gatton Street, Westcourt 4870. My phone number is 015 066 870. | + | |
Good walking. | Good walking. | ||
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There was no general business so the meeting proceeded to the announcements and closed at 2133. | There was no general business so the meeting proceeded to the announcements and closed at 2133. | ||
- | ==== Notices ==== | + | ===== Notices |
=== Some Enchanted Evening - Thursday October 17 === | === Some Enchanted Evening - Thursday October 17 === | ||
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- | ==== A Snippet From Column 8 ==== | + | === A Snippet From Column 8 === |
observer Barbara Bruce | observer Barbara Bruce | ||
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===== First Aid (continued from August 'first aid notes' | ===== First Aid (continued from August 'first aid notes' | ||
- | **2. Basic Rule in Treatment** | + | === 2. Basic Rule in Treatment |
First aid courses teach **DRABC** as the basic way of treatment. This check list may only take a couple of seconds but should be followed on all occasions. | First aid courses teach **DRABC** as the basic way of treatment. This check list may only take a couple of seconds but should be followed on all occasions. | ||
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EAR and cardiac massage are not covered in these notes, see Additional Information below. | EAR and cardiac massage are not covered in these notes, see Additional Information below. | ||
- | === Signs & Symptoms === | + | __Signs |
Signs are the clues which the first aider observes from the patient; eg colour, temperature, | Signs are the clues which the first aider observes from the patient; eg colour, temperature, | ||
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Symptoms are giddiness, dizziness, headache. | Symptoms are giddiness, dizziness, headache. | ||
- | 3 Hypothermia Exposure (too cold) | + | === 3. Hypothermia Exposure (too cold) === |
Occurs when the body core cools too much, from prolonged immersion in cold water, damp clothes on a cold, windy and rainy day (NB chill factor), coupled with physical exhaustion and hunger. | Occurs when the body core cools too much, from prolonged immersion in cold water, damp clothes on a cold, windy and rainy day (NB chill factor), coupled with physical exhaustion and hunger. | ||
- | Signs & Symptoms | + | |
- | Treatment | + | __Signs |
- | mild cases wrap the casualty up and give warm, sweet drink (NB not too hot to scald, and make sure the casualty can have sugar). Give chocolate to eat. For severe cases cuddle up together in a sleeping bag with plenty of skin to skin contact. Don't be shy or embarrassed, | + | |
- | 4 Hyperthermia (Heat Exhaustion - too hot). | + | Irrational thinking, slurred speech, stumbling, consciousness. |
- | Included here are severe sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. For sunburn see bums below. Heat stress is an elevated body temperature and occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature by sweating. It can occur on bushwalks when the temperature is high, the humidity is high, wearing too much clothing, strenuous walking such as climbing. Heat stroke is extreme heat exhaustion. | + | |
- | Signs & Symptoms | + | __Treatment__ |
- | dizziness, feeling hot, exhausted but restless, muscular cramps, fast and shallow breathing, skin pale and clammy, pulse rapid and weak. | + | |
- | Treatment | + | Do not give alcohol to drink. Do not expose to excessive external heat. Immediately do what you can to prevent further heat loss and then get to a sheltered spot. For mild cases wrap the casualty up and give warm, sweet drink (NB not too hot to scald, and make sure the casualty can have sugar). Give chocolate to eat. For severe cases cuddle up together in a sleeping bag with plenty of skin to skin contact. Don't be shy or embarrassed, |
- | or cooler place-in the shade. | + | |
- | P 14 | + | === 4. Hyperthermia (Heat Exhaustion - too hot) === |
- | 5 Shock | + | |
- | The body's response to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues. The body reacts to shock by directing blood away from the less important tissues to the vital organs (brain, heart and | + | Included here are severe sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. For sunburn, see burs below. Heat stress is an elevated body temperature and occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature by sweating. It can occur on bushwalks when the temperature is high, the humidity is high, wearing too much clothing, strenuous walking such as climbing. Heat stroke is extreme heat exhaustion. |
- | kidneys). Shock may result from severe bleeding, severe burns, loss of fluids by vomiting or dehydration or an accident such as a fracture. Shock, called an anaphylactic shock may also result from severe allergic reaction to insect bite. | + | |
- | Signs & Symptoms | + | __Signs |
- | giddy, may lose consciousness, | + | |
- | Treatment | + | Headache, dizziness, feeling hot, exhausted but restless, muscular cramps, fast and shallow breathing, skin pale and clammy, pulse rapid and weak. |
- | 6 Sprains & Fractures | + | |
- | For treatment sprains and fractures are the same, however the severity of the injury may be very different. If in doubt treat a sprain or suspected fracture as a fracture. Sprains and fractures may also cause shock. For bushwalking, | + | __Treatment__ |
- | Signs & Symptoms | + | |
- | an unusual angle, bone fracture protruding from the skin, inability to carry the full weight on the | + | Remove casualty to a cool or cooler place - in the shade. |
- | leg, shock, swelling of the joint, inability to move the fingers, wrist, toes, foot or great pain in doing so. Secondary injuries may be concussion, grazing, cuts and bruises from a fall. | + | |
- | Treatment | + | === 5. Shock === |
- | 7 Snake Bite | + | |
- | Assume the snake is venomous. Identify the snake if possible but do not waste time trying to catch it and maybe getting bitten yourself The majority of bites are to the lower leg with the rest to the hand or forearm. Bites elsewhere are difficult to treat, but the first aid is the same. The current (1996) theory and treatment for snake bite is as follows; because the snake venom travels along the lymph system to the heart, treatment is to apply pressure to the affected part of the body in order to slow down the rate of travel of the venom. At a slow rate the body can rid itself of the venom, | + | The body's response to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues. The body reacts to shock by directing blood away from the less important tissues to the vital organs (brain, heart and kidneys). Shock may result from severe bleeding, severe burns, loss of fluids by vomiting or dehydration or an accident such as a fracture. Shock, called an anaphylactic shock, may also result from severe allergic reaction to insect bite. |
- | Signs & Symptoms | + | |
- | the bite site, and one or more of the following: disturbed vision, nausea and vomiting, headache, drowsiness and fainting, sweating, pain in the abdomen, difficulty in breathing, diarrhoea, shock. | + | __Signs |
- | Treatment | + | |
+ | Feels weak, faint, giddy, may lose consciousness, | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Treatment__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | If unconscious apply DRABC, turn onto the casualty' | ||
+ | |||
+ | === 6. Sprains & Fractures | ||
+ | |||
+ | For treatment sprains and fractures are the same, however, the severity of the injury may be very different. If in doubt treat a sprain or suspected fracture as a fracture. Sprains and fractures may also cause shock. For bushwalking, | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Signs | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leg, foot or arm at an unusual angle, bone fracture protruding from the skin, inability to carry the full weight on the leg, shock, swelling of the joint, inability to move the fingers, wrist, toes, foot or great pain in doing so. Secondary injuries may be concussion, grazing, cuts and bruises from a fall. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Treatment__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | First DRABC, then carefully remove the casualty to an area free of danger and where treatment can be given. Surface wounds, cuts etc. may need to be attended to before treatment of the fracture. Immobilise the limb with a splint using wide bandages to spread the pressure and padding on the splint to prevent local pressure. For leg injuries, if splinting one leg with the other put padding between the bony places: knees and ankles. Watch for shock and treat accordingly. If the casualty is in pain, a pain-killer may be appropriate. (Depending | ||
+ | |||
+ | === 7. Snake Bite === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Assume the snake is venomous. Identify the snake if possible but do not waste time trying to catch it and maybe getting bitten yourself. The majority of bites are to the lower leg with the rest to the hand or forearm. Bites elsewhere are difficult to treat, but the first aid is the same. The current (1996) theory and treatment for snake bite is as follows; because the snake venom travels along the lymph system to the heart, treatment is to apply pressure to the affected part of the body in order to slow down the rate of travel of the venom. At a slow rate the body can rid itself of the venom. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Signs | ||
+ | |||
+ | Puncture marks at the bite site, and one or more of the following: disturbed vision, nausea and vomiting, headache, drowsiness and fainting, sweating, pain in the abdomen, difficulty in breathing, diarrhoea, shock. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Treatment__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Do not wash the bite site (at the hospital, a sample of the venom can be taken to identify the type of snake), cover the puncture with a dressing then bandage the whole limb with a crepe bandage firmly (as for a break or sprain) starting from the bite down to the extremity of the limb and then working upwards. Apply a second crepe bandage over the first. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (To be continued) | ||
199609.txt · Last modified: 2016/06/17 12:29 by vievems