In class today, Ms. Malinowski, the nurse at South Western High School, came in and taught us how to handle scenarios in which medical attention would be needed. For example, she told us how to deal with a broken arm, an impalement, and burns in a situation where you can’t go to a hospital. First thing she told us to do was to look for supplies; you can use almost anything when you’re in a pinch. If you have a broken arm you can use something as simple as a shirt to wrap it in. In addition, she informed us you can use a shirt or a belt to make a tourniquet to stop excessive bleeding. When someone is bleeding out it’s important to check for breathing (12-20 breaths per minute) and heart rate, and check if they are pale, dizzy, and/or nauseated. Also, it’s important to raise their legs above their heart so that blood can easily get to the brain and lungs. Lastly, she taught us how to help with burns. Burns can be very difficult to deal with because the skin that holds in the fluids inside are gone so you will lose a decent amount of fluids. The first thing you want to do it try and cover the burns with something that doesn't have fibers that are released so that nothing can get into your body.
Everything Ms. Malinowski talked about relates to my apocalyptic scenario and would be helpful information during a plane crash scenario. Many people die during a plane crash, but of the survivors, almost all of them could be injured. Parts of the plane could have impaled people so knowing how to stop the bleeding and that you shouldn’t remove the object is important information. Having an understanding of this kind of information is crucial; it could save a life. I found it interesting that you can use almost anything you can find to help injured people. Anything from your belt to a stick you found in the woods can be used in different situations to make splints or a tourniquet. I am interested in learning more survival medical techniques because you never know when you’ll need them. If something were to happen and there isn’t a doctor there to know what to do, I want to at least have a basic understanding of how to handle different medical situations.
Everything Ms. Malinowski talked about relates to my apocalyptic scenario and would be helpful information during a plane crash scenario. Many people die during a plane crash, but of the survivors, almost all of them could be injured. Parts of the plane could have impaled people so knowing how to stop the bleeding and that you shouldn’t remove the object is important information. Having an understanding of this kind of information is crucial; it could save a life. I found it interesting that you can use almost anything you can find to help injured people. Anything from your belt to a stick you found in the woods can be used in different situations to make splints or a tourniquet. I am interested in learning more survival medical techniques because you never know when you’ll need them. If something were to happen and there isn’t a doctor there to know what to do, I want to at least have a basic understanding of how to handle different medical situations.