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First aid tips to help enjoy summer fun with peace of mindBaseball games, picnics in the park, lounging on the beach – these things all speak of summer. Unfortunately, with them comes the potential for health concerns like broken limbs, bee stings and heat exhaustion. In order to enjoy summer fun, it’s nice to have the peace of mind that you will know how to handle any emergencies that might occur. Paramedic and Allina Medical Transportation Supervisor for the New Ulm Medical Center, Patrick Stone, spoke recently to a group of fast pitch softball coaches of the four “Bs” of First Aid basics: breathing, bleeding, bones and boo-boos. “Most bleeding is controlled with direct pressure and elevation,” said Stone. If that doesn’t work, a person should locate the pressure points on the injured player and try to apply pressure there. “Never, ever, ever use a tourniquet.” Bone or muscle injuries can be addressed with a sequence of actions: rest, ice, compression, elevation and splinting. In the case of a head injury, Stone said, “All are serious. You should call 911 and have the person checked out.” A major concern with a head injury is “secondary concussion syndrome,” Stone said. “A player may get hit in the head, rest for a few minutes and seem fine. It’s when they get back in the game and receive that second concussion that could be fatal to them. If a person receives a head injury, they need to be evaluated by a trained professional or sit out and rest.” With open wound-type injuries, it is important to clean out the cut or abrasion and always cover it with clean dressings. Closed wounds, or bruises, can be treated much like a fracture: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Heat emergencies are often treated incorrectly, Stone said, which can be devastating to a person’s system. If a person has overheated, their body temperature should be lowered with cool water and not ice. “The body just can’t take such a dramatic, instantaneous change in temperature,” Stone said. A dehydrated person should be rehydrated with a 50/50 mix of Gatorade and water, avoiding caffeine, energy drinks, and salt tablets. Another important aspect of being prepared to administer first aid is simply knowing ahead of time what you may be dealing with, Stone said. “When people think of first aid, they think injuries. But, it’s just as important to consider medical conditions such as allergies, asthma and diabetes.” Coaches, daycare providers and camp instructors should always know if the people in their care have one of these conditions. “If a parent is dropping a child off for an activity, it is important that they document health conditions on a card, along with their contact information, and give it to the coach, so their child can be safe,” Stone said. The most common summertime allergic reaction is to bee stings, Stone said. If an allergic person is stung by a bee, call 911 immediately. The stinger can be removed by scraping with a credit card and if the person has an epi-pen – as those with severe allergies often do – it should be administered immediately. If a diabetic under your care has an episode of low blood sugar, they should be given something with sugar in it such as a sugar packet, honey, juice or soda (not diet). Finally, if a person is unsure of what to do in any of these scenarios, Stone stressed that calling for an ambulance is always a good idea. “People have this misconception that if the ambulance is called, you have to go to the hospital,” Stone said. “We are more than happy to be called to assess a situation and do what we can on the scene. It doesn’t always mean that transport to the hospital is necessary.” |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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