How to Apply Cushion to a Injured Ankle

          If a joint is overstressed, the bones that meet at that joint may get disconnected, or dislocated. When this happens, there's usually a torn joint capsule and torn ligaments, and often, nerve injury. "If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will fracture (split or break). Open fractures(in which bone pierces the skin) can easily become infected" (Handal 72). 

          Its hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. Both are an emergency. I have sprained my ankle before in PE class while sprinting across the gym and around corners. I used these steps to help keep my ankle stay mobilized and have less pressure from walking afterward. These steps are also very helpful if you do not have the right type of material at the moment. The general first aid steps are the same for emergency's.

• If you suspect that the victim has  dislocation or broken bone, and there is severe bleeding, call EMS.
• If you cannot completely immobilize the injury at the scene by yourself, call EMS 

"To immobilize an injured ankle, put a pillow or folded blanket underneath the foot and ankle" (Handal 73).

Steps:

1. First wrap one end of the pillow around the ankle and tie it in 2 places
2. Then wrap the other end of the pillow around the toes and tie it in 1 place
3. Leave the toes exposed
4. Elevate the ankle

Have you ever been in an emergency where you've seen or had to cushion a sprained body part?

How to Apply a Pressure Bandage

          A minor would will stop bleeding by itself by forming a clot. With a serious injury, blood my flow from the wound so quickly that it does not have a chance to clot. Although, "If the bleeding stops, or if you need to free your hands to attend to other injuries or move the victim, a pressure bandage will hold dressings in place and maintain pressure on the wound" (Handal 67).  Make sure you have the right materials, and if able to, wash or clean the wound before bandaging to lower the change of infection. "Call EMS whenever bleeding isn't quickly controlled" (Handal 66).

To apply a pressure bandage, do the following:

1. Hold dressings/fabric firmly in place over the wound

2. Wrap a roller bandage or long strip of cloth firmly around the would, securing the dressings in place.

3. If the wound is on a limb, use overlapping turns. Do not wrap the bandage over and over the same spot

4. Split the end of the bandage into 2 strips, then tie the ends tight. Tie the knot directly over the wound

5. Check to be sure the pressure bandage is not too tight. It should be tight enough to maintain pressure on the wound, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation further down the arm or leg.

6. If you can't detect a pulse beyond the wound, or if the skin beyond the wound is turning bluish, the pressure bandage is too tight.

Once when my 3 year old cousin, fell against a table, we used these same steps to help secure and slow down the bleeding on his wound. It was one of the most effective ways to slow down the bleeding and cause blood loss. Have you ever been in a situation where you've seen or had to bandage yourself or someone? If so, what happened?

The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety: The Heimlich Maneuver

In my book "The American Red Cross: First Aid & Safety Handbook" I was taught and showed how to save a person's life by performing with rapid first aid for choking by doing abdominal thrusts, also called the Heimlich maneuver. My author Kathleen A. Handal explains that "choking is your body's way of trying to remove a foreign object (such as food) from the airway. A choking person's airway may be completely or partially blocked" (Handal 108). Without oxygen the brain can begin to die within 4-6 minutes. Some signs and symptoms of choking are grabbing of the throat with the hand, gagging, pale and bluish skin on face, weak, ineffective coughing; noisy breathing; high-pitched crowing sounds, convulsions and/or loss of consciousness.

"Choking is often associated with eating; alcohol consumption, trauma to the head or face, and young children" (Handal 108). Some warnings are:

• DO NOT interfere if the victim is coughing forcefully and has good air exchange. However, be ready to act instantly if the victim's air exchange worsens
• DO NOT pinch or choke an object that is lodged in the victim's throat. This might force it farther down the airway.

Steps to proceed with Heimlich:

First ask the victim if he or she is choking. If the victim can't answer, the obstruction is life threatening. Call EMS. Then tell the victim you are going to try to help and ask for permission to proceed.
1. Perform abdominal thrusts
2. Stand behind the victim
3. Wrap your arms around the victim's waist
4. Make a fist, place the thumb side of your fist in the middle of the victims abdomen, just above the navel and well below the lower tip with your outer hand
5. Grasps your fist with your other hand
6. Keeping your elbows out, press your fist with a quick, upward thrust into the victim's abdomen. Each thrust is a separate attempt to clear the victim's airway by forcing air out
7. Continue performing this maneuver until the obstruction is cleared or the victim loses consciousness

Have you ever been in a situation where you have almost or had performed the Heimlich maneuver, and what was the situation?