The Bangle

We all take certain measures to prevent accidents but despite our best efforts emergencies arise. You trip and fall... unintentionally come in contact with exposed wiring... step on a rusty nail... or literarily bite off more than you can chew... And when an accident happens, time is not on your side. Besides a well-stocked and functional First Aid Kit, preparation and skills are the most important tools you can have at your disposal.

This section of our on-line course will introduce you to a number of common emergency situations and their respective First Aid responses. A quiz at the end of the section can be used to gauge how well you've retained what you read. Feel free to return to any area of this section as many times as you feel are necessary until you feel comfortable that should an accident happen, you are well equipped to deal with it appropriately.

A good First Aid Kit should be checked and restocked periodically and should always contain the following items: | |

|Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes | | |

|Sterile gauze pads in assorted sizes | | |

|Hypoallergenic adhesive tape | | |

|Scissors | | |

|Tweezers | | |

|Needle | | |

|Ace bandage | | |

|Moistened towelettes | | |

|Antiseptic | | |

|Thermometer | | |

|Tongue blades | | |

|Splints in assorted sizes | | |

|Petroleum jelly | | |

|Assorted sizes of safety pins | | |

|Anti-bacterial soap | | |

|Antibiotic ointment | | |

|Latex gloves and face mask | | |

|Sunscreen | | |

|Aspirin and/or ibuprofen | | |

|Ice Pack | | |

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| |If the victim was bitten by an unprovoked undomesticated animal such as a raccoon or a squirrel, |

| |an immediate shot may be necessary to prevent the possibility of a rabies infection. |

| |Contrary to common belief, a human bite can sometimes be more dangerous than that of an animal because human saliva contains many more types of bacteria which may cause |

| |infection. |

| |A bite from a domestic pet can be painful but rarely requires a visit to the emergency room and unless obvious bodily harm was sustained, a simple precautionary treatment|

| |will suffice. |

| |Use anti-bacterial soap and water to thoroughly clean the bite wound. |

| |Apply antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin to prevent infection. |

| |If the injury resulted in broken skin, dress it with a sterile bandage and replace the dressing frequently. |

| |If the bite is deep, the victim may need to be treated for a puncture wound. |

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| |A typical bruise is a contusion caused by traces of blood escaping from small vessels that lie close