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PrintWhat Would You Do: Treating Injuries On Your Own
From the Everglades to the backcountry of the keys, there are plenty of places to explore in South Florida. But if you go out alone, you could be taking matters into your own hands. Tonight, 7's Charles Perez tells what to do if you get hurt but you can't get help.
(WSVN) -- There is plenty of wilderness to explore in South Florida ...
But when you go off into the wild ... you take a chance of getting hurt.
Next thing you know, you're on the ground...
And knowing what to do could save your life.
It might be broken... What do I do?
One of the most common injuries ... a broken bone.Your main concern ... stabilizing the bone, so the break doesn't get worse.
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You need to make a splint out of what you have and what you have around you."On a boat, you could use pieces of a fishing pole.
In the woods ...
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Something like this would be ideal. That is actually part of a palm frond." To secure the limb, be resourceful.Charles rips T-shirt with teeth, and then ties splint. "I'm gonna take this and loop this around a couple of times if I can," he says.
Another common injury ... a puncture wound or a cut from a sharp object.
"So in this case, this sharp piece of wood goes right into my leg," Charles supposes.
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First thing you'll probably want to do, once you realize that you're bleeding, is put some direct pressure on there. Hold it with some significant force."If your bandage becomes soaked ... leave it on ... and add another one.
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You want it snug, so there's a decent amount of pressure on there."Charles ties bow on leg.
Also make sure to elevate the wound above your heart.
If the bleeding still won't stop ... you need to find your pressure point.
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There are two pressure points you should be familiar with. The first one is called brachial artery which is up underneath your muscle here."As for the legs ...
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It's between the crease of your hip and your upper thigh. It's called your femoral artery."Charles says, "I'm alone in the woods, I'm camping ... I got a little fire going here ... suddenly I burn myself."
Another common wilderness injury is a burn."
You want to cool the area that was burned. Typically using water."But forget homemade remedies like butter.
Instead, think necessities.
The reality is that you're probably not going to take a first aid kit like this, if you're going for a walk in the woods ... so, lets take a look inside to see what you absolutely have to have to make sure you're safe.
Start by taking a triangular bandage - it can be used for a sling or to wrap wounds.
Also throw in some bandages and a towel.
Bec
ause a towel, I can basically use for dressings or for splinting.And remember, if you do get hurt, go for help as soon as possible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: cperez@wsvn.com