How you can save a life - First aid
- Mar 6, 2016
- 3 min read
This blog is slightly special in the fact that it is my first one during the Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. You can support this by reading my blog (or other information on bleeding disorders), share it with others and even donating. This year you can also add a graphic to your Facebook and Twitter pictures using this Link.
Another reason this is slightly special is that it is my second ever blog but the topic is already a request. I am currently living in the Czech Republic where you can be prosecuted if you do no help supply first aid. A colleague of mine has therefore asked me how he you administer first aid to someone with a bleeding disorder.
My first response was, if I'm conscious I will know what is needed and can talk you through it. Many sufferers of bleeding disorders are probably in the same boat as we have had to grow up knowing this sort of thing in case of an accident. He then asked "but what if we are in the mountains, middle of nowhere, you are unconscious and bleeding. What do I do?".
Now, this is a good question. I had to think about it myself. If you follow the standard first aid RICE procedure AND CALL AN AMBULANCE, you will actually have done all that you can. For those of you that may need a recap:
Rest - Sit or lay them down (if they are not already on the floor) and to not perform any weight bearing activities for 24 hours
Ice - Apply ice to the focal point of the injury. If ice is not available, anything that is cold will help. If it is a burn, only ever use running water.
Compression - Compress the injury. This will reduce the blood flow to the area helping it clot and reduce swelling/bruising.
Elevation - Elevate the area of injury higher than the heart. This will make it harder for blood to flow to the area and help the blood that is there to return to other areas of the body.
Calling the ambulance should be done as soon as possible. Although you can slow the bleeding, with medical disorders, it often is not enough to stop it. Specialist medication may be needed depending on the severity. If I know there is a chance of an injury, I take some medication with me which can help clotting if minor injuries, but for more severe injuries, I need to go to the hospital to be treated.
Hopefully anyone you know will have told you of their disorder, maybe given you a rundown of what to do and told you where their medication is. It is very helpful to inform the ambulance of all this if you can remember.
If you cannot remember or it is some you do not know, while waiting for the ambulance you can look for some of the below identifiers (this is also the case for diabetics and other medical issues):
1. A medical SOS bracelet, necklace or watch. This will say SOS or have medical symbol on it (see pictures)
2. A medical card within their wallet/purse. This will usually have a red heading to catch your eye
3. An app on their phone which will identify you from the lock screen
4. Those are the main three but more can be found here.
If any of these are found, you should inform the ambulance on the phone or upon arrival. It will often change the medication or procedures they implement. For example, not to provide aspirin for pain relief as this thins the blood further.
So that is how you should provide First Aid, the same as everyone else. Call and ambulance and give them RICE. Just inform the ambulance of a medical condition if you know of one or look for an identifier while you are waiting for them.
Thank you for reading. If you made it this far, I will let you in on a little secret. For every £10 that is donated during the Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month, I will place an entry into a prize drawing. At the end of the month a winner will be selected from a hat. That is 1 entry for £10, 2 entries for £20, 3 for £30 and so on. Please, help raise awareness and support for those with bleeding disorders.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AnthonyIronman2016 Imagine the strength that others can gain purely by being given the knowledge of what they are capable of. I am hoping to support the Haemophilia Society to provide more sufferers with this knowledge and in turn help them reach their potential. Will you join me?
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