Basic first aid care requires instant movement and demands immediate attention from you. If you know what to do and how to do it in when you find yourself in a situation that requires your prompt assistance this can be vital to the person(s) you are helping.

We all face some type of emergency in our own lives, however, it is having the understanding of what to do in those situations that counts and is extremely necessary for survival. You never know what situation may arise, and it is always good to be prepared for the unknown. Therefore, you must be prepared with the basic knowledge of first aid.

We hope this site may provide you with some useful beginner’s information. Please note that the site is for informational purposes only and you should take a proper first aid course before applying any first aid treatment to another individual.

There are three ligaments that surround the joint of the ankle and therefore mean that there are three different ligaments that could be injured in order to cause the ankle sprain. Because there are three ligaments means that the chances of a sprain to the ankle is somewhat greater than other parts of the body. Symptoms of an ankle sprain are typically swelling and localized pain, accompanied by a loss of function. Sometimes after there have been injuries to the ligaments they are never quite as strong as they were before the injuries. This means that the possibility of future ligament or ankle injuries is heightened.

The treatment following an ankle sprain is typically a four stage process. First the person is instructed to rest the area. This is to protect the place of the injury from further injury. The next stage is to ice the area. Icing the ankle is important because is helps to reduce the swelling as well as to prevent further swelling.

The next stage is compression. Compression is also important to reduce the swelling of the area as well. Last but not least is elevation. Elevation is important to reduce swelling and prevent further swelling by keeping the injury as close to heart level as possible. This prevents any blood from rushing to the area. However, this is not all of the necessary steps that should be taken in order to properly heal and protect the ankle from this sprain as well as future ankle sprains that could occur. Often after ankle sprains have occurred, especially for athletes, it is important to obtain physical therapy.

Physical therapy is necessary to strengthen the ankle again without causing injury because it is guided by a professional. It is sometimes suggested as well, that if the ankle remains weak, that the person wear an ankle splint or brace when doing athletic activities in the future.

How To Determine The Correct Treatment For Cuts And Scrapes

Before beginning a first aid treatment look at the wound. Treatment for cuts and scrapes that are deep, gaping or have a jagged edge need professional medical treatment, especially if an artery or vein has been severed.  When an artery has been cut the blood will be bright red, flow quickly and in spurts. When an artery has been cut, apply pressure to the wound and get medical help immediately. If a vein has been cut the blood will be dark red and the blood will flow more evenly. As with an artery, try to stop the bleeding and seek professional medical advice. Treatment for cuts and scrapes that have fat, bone or muscle protruding will involve getting professional medical help. Many times these types of wounds will require stitches.

Do It Yourself Treatment For Cuts And Scrapes

Once the determination has been made that the wound is minor, treatment should begin. Start by washing the wound with soap and water. Soap that enters the wound will sting so try to keep the soap off the wound if possible but be sure to clean the outer edges where the skin is torn, then carefully rinse the skin to remove all traces of the soap. The best product to use in the

 treatment for cuts and scrapes is an antibiotic cream which is available over the counter. Apply the cream to the surface of the wound liberally then cover it with a wound dressing such as a band aid if the wound is small or a non-sterile adhesive pad if it is a larger wound.

Treatment for cuts and scrapes should take place daily until the wound has healed. In the event the dressing gets wet or becomes soiled, change it immediately. An important part of treatment at home is to watch for infection. Signs of infection include swelling, redness, odor and seepage. Treatment for cuts and scrapes that become infected should be done by a licensed medical care provider. Proper treatment is easy to do at home as long as they are minor. When professional medical help is needed, daily treatment is generally done at home. Knowing the first aid treatment for cuts and scrapes, as well as knowing how to tell the difference between a minor injury and one that needs medical attention, is something everyone should know.

A Simple Three Step Plan For Treating Scrapes At Home

The first step in treating scrapes is to clean the wound once the bleeding has stopped. To stop the bleeding, elevate the affected area, lay a clean, lint free cloth on the wound and apply pressure for fifteen minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, make sure it is slowing down, and then apply pressure again. If the bleeding is not slowing down, consider getting professional medical help.

Once the bleeding has stopped, step two for treating scrapes at home is to thoroughly wash the wound. Use a mild soap and warm water. If soap enters the wound it will sting. It is important that the outer edges of the wound are cleaned so that infection does not become an issue.

Step three for treating scrapes at home is to apply an antibiotic cream to the wound and wrap it so that air born dirt and other bacteria cannot enter the wound. It is important to keep an eye on the wound and the dressing, which should be changed daily. In the event the dressing becomes soiled or wet, change it immediately.

Follow-Up Plan For Treating Scrapes At Home

This simple three step plan used for treating scrapes at home should be used every time the dressing is changed until the wound begins to heal. Once the wound scabs over it is not necessary to redress the wound. It is important, however, to still watch for signs of infection which include swelling, redness, odor and seepage. If any of these signs are present, seek professional medical advice immediately.

Treating scrapes at home is a simple process that anyone can do provided they know what to do and have the proper supplies on hand. Get a first aid kit, keep it stocked and in a visible place in your home. Finally, know some basic first aid. Being prepared makes everyone feel more comfortable even when something simple like treating scrapes needs to be done.

Identifying Cuts And Scrapes That Need Medical Attention

Capillaries, the smallest form of arteries, are where the blood comes from most of the time when cuts and scrapes occur. A cut that is deep, gaping or has a jagged edge needs professional medical attention. Look at the cut to see if there is fat or muscle protruding. If so, the cut may require stitches.
If an artery has been cut the blood will be bright red, flow quickly and in spurts. It is essential to apply pressure to the wound and get medical help immediately when this happens. If a vein has been cut the blood will be dark red and the blood will flow more evenly. As with an artery you should try to stop the bleeding and seek professional medical advice. Scrapes tear or pull the skin off, sometimes removing several layers of skin at once. Most scrapes are minor and can be treated at home. The exception is when the bleeding cannot be stopped or there is damage to other tissues such as blood vessels, ligaments or bones.

Treating Minor Cuts And Scrapes At Home

Minor cuts and scrapes can be treated at home with items generally found in a first aid kit. The first step in treating cuts and scrapes at home is making sure the wound does not need professional medical attention. Once this has been determined, wash the wound with soap and warm water. Elevate the area that is bleeding and apply pressure for fifteen minutes. When the time is up, check the wound to see if the bleeding has slowed or stopped. If it has, then you will want to clean the wound with soap and water again, apply a triple antibiotic cream and dress the wound. If the bleeding has not stopped, reapply the pressure for another fifteen minutes as long as you are sure you are dealing with minor cuts and scrapes. If you are in doubt, seek professional medical care. Knowing what to do before cuts and scrapes happen will save time and help everyone remain calm in an emergency. It is also important to have the proper supplies on hand for treating cuts and scrapes. Being prepared in an emergency, even a minor emergency like treating cuts and scrapes, can be a real life saver.

Working in a medical intensive care unit requires a special type of person. The individual must be able to think on their feet, stay calm under pressure as well as have an ability to work with the most seriously injured and at-risk patients. In addition the staff must also be able to communicate effectively with the families of the patients and help them understand what is being done for the patient and why. Often this communication is essential in helping families and loved ones cope with the serious health issues of the patient.

Some of the issues that the staff working in a medical intensive care unit will need to manage and work with include victims of accidents where there has been severe and profound trauma and injury, victims of heart attacks and strokes, post-operative patients, and patients that are on potentially dangerous types of medical therapies or drug therapies that require constant monitoring. Staff on the medical intensive care unit needs to be ready to resuscitate a patient or provide emergency and life saving treatments whenever required and to work within the unit’s policies and procedures for different emergency treatments.

Working in a medical intensive care unit is a challenging career, but it is also very vital and important in the care of patients. Most professionals work in the medical intensive care unit at some point in time in their residency and training with many choosing to stay in this very dynamic and essential area of patient treatment.

It is sometimes difficult to convince insurance companies and even the general public that regular doctor visits as well as general preventative medical care is the key to longer and healthier lives. According to the American Heart Association there were over 516,000 coronary artery bypass procedures were done on patients in the United States in 2006. Without many of the preventative programs currently in place for patients with risks for heart disease it is likely that this number would be doubled, simply overwhelming the healthcare system. In addition the individuals treated for heart attack and stroke are also placed on preventative medical care treatments that encourage regular exercise, better diet and routine doctors visits to assist in the detection of any possible concerns or reoccurrences.

Medical care in the form of preventative vaccinations is important in both developed and developing countries. Many of the historically devastating diseases such as polio and tuberculosis are kept in check by routine vaccination of children. Typically countries that don’t employ a routine preventative medical care vaccination programs are the only countries these disease will be found.

Other conditions and diseases that are both identified and treated routinely through preventative medical care programs and screenings include diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol and drug related illnesses, dietary and nutritional imbalances and conditions, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In addition screenings for breast and prostrate cancer as well as colon cancer have all shown to be health and cost effective in early diagnosis and treatment, as well as identifying lifestyle changes that would be beneficial for the individual.

Increasing the emphasis on routine preventative health care is considered to be a key point of many of the employee health programs and private insurance programs now offered. Insurance companies are realizing that paying a bit more for preventative care can really decrease the overall costs of treatment in the long run.

Free medical care in the United States is typically provided through non-profit organizations that are grant funded or rely on contributions and donations from the government and the community to be able to offer services. Typically free medical care is limited in scope to vaccinations and emergency clinic type setting, however free medical care for pregnant women or those in specialized treatment type programs may also be provided through local organizations or even medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics.

The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) in the United States operates or subsidizes clinics and treatment facilities in most of the larger counties in all states of the United States. Although these are not completely free medical care facilities they do bill according to the patients ability to pay, so for some individuals the services will be provided at no cost.  As with all hospitals, clinics and treatment centers these subsidized or non-cost clinics are run under the same guidelines and restrictions and regulations as a traditional type of hospital or treatment facility.

Some of the free medical care facilities offer specialized pregnancy care, rehabilitation for alcohol and drug treatment, child vaccination and routine check ups for children as well as even offer dental treatment as it relates to health issues. Often these clinics are not well advertised in the community however contacting a local help line or even talking to staff at the local hospital or clinic is typically the best way to find out what services are available in or around your specific community. Some of the free medical care services are available on a rotating basis through a series of communities so contacting the HRSA is typically the best way to find out the local schedule, time and location for the clinic.

One of the major medical health care trends is the push for increased assisted living quarters and residences that will allow patients to have the level of care that they need while still providing independent living options. This trend is seen in all major centers, especially in countries where the more traditional family care is not as common. This medical health care trend towards more care facilities as well as more home health care options has led to a growing industry providing home health care to patients needing only minimal support right up to those needing ongoing or constant home health care.

Another trend in medical health care is the increase in referrals to specialists at much earlier stages of illness and care. This trend is likely driven by the ongoing legal issues and courts cases that have brought attention to the need for quick and accurate diagnosis of patient health concerns. Many rural physicians even use consultation via web conferencing or internet access to discuss patients and make referrals to specialists.

One of the most concerning medical health care trends in the general public is the increasing number of people that do not have even minimum medical health insurance coverage. The number of non-insured people under the age of 65 increases by over ¾ of a million individuals per year, a number that is very concerning to medical health care providers that are not able to treat patients due to lack of payment options. Increasing concern over the lack of care that can be provided to uninsured patients continuous to put a strain on the system and will require more attention as the trend increases in the future.

Emergency medical centers, urgent care facilities and emergency rooms are all high stress locations to work. Professionals in the field must be alert, composed and able to deal with incredible stress for long shifts with very little down time or time to just sit and relax. One of the key training components of emergency medical centers, urgent care locations or emergency room training is to manage your own emotions and be able to focus completely on the patient at hand, examining all the visual and physical signs of illness, injury or distress as well as evaluating treatment and immediate care.

Emergency medical centers, urgent care clinics or hospitals or even first responders such as EMT’s must be trained in all the basic and advanced levels of first aid as well as the more detailed medical procedures required to effectively relay to other professionals what is happening for the patient. Emergency medical centers urgent care staff must be able to work together as a team to provide the fastest and most effective treatment for the patient at all times. Often this means being able to evaluate a patient’s condition and prioritize treatment based on needs. This requires a very good knowledge of medicine and treatments as well as an ability to ask the right questions and listen closely to the answers.

Often emergency medical centers, urgent care facilities or emergency departments will be divided into different areas for patient treatment, but this will depend on the size of the hospital or clinic. A typical emergency room training will provide the doctor or nurse experience in each one of the areas ranging from resuscitation to drug related treatment, heart attack and stroke, medical and surgical area, pediatric area for treating children and a triage area where a nurse or doctor decides on treatment and priority of treatment. As the doctor or nurse moves through the different areas of the emergency room they typically will specialize in one or more areas, but will still be required to perform any and all duties as required by the patients that arrive at the emergency treatment facility.