Accidents happen. When they do, the trained firstaider can save life, limit injury, ease pain and anxiety, and summon appropriate medical help. First aid is a satisfying aspect of any therapeutic system, and every household should have at least one first-aider, trained in practice and theory.
Homeopathy has an important part to play in many accident and emergency situations, especially in the treatment of minor flesh wounds. But there is no substitute for attending a well-run first aid class and getting 'hands-on' experience. The basic information given here will help you to help others, but it is not a substitute for a practical first aid course.
The first aid procedures in this section have been updated with information from the First Aid Manual authorised by the British Red Cross and revised in 2006, also from the UK Resuscitation Council website guidelines of 2007. Knowledge and procedures evolve, sometimes quite rapidly and although we will update this site regularly, some advice may no longer be current. Neither is there international agreement on First Aid procedures so they may differ from the recommendations of your own country.
Aims of First Aid
These are, in order of priority: to preserve life; to minimize the effects of injury; to relieve pain and distress; and to summon medical help as quickly as possible, which usually means telephoning the emergency services or taking the sufferer to hospital.
Homeopathic First Aid
Emergency measures following accident or injury are not intrinsically orthodox or homeopathic. They are a mixture of common sense and a modest understanding of human biology. Homeopathic remedies are only given after the threat to life has been removed. Their purpose in first aid situations is to calm the mind, relieve pain, and help the body to heal itself.
For minor injuries, choose the appropriate remedy from the alternatives given. But in a serious situation, the overriding priorities are to save life and get expert help as swiftly as possible.
Granules or drops are the easiest way of administering homeopathic remedies in emergencies: they can be put directly on the tongue and dissolve very quickly. If you only have pilules, crush one between two clean spoons and dissolve it in a teaspoon of warm water.
| The basics of a first aid kit are:
Sterile gauze
Crepe roller bandages
Butterfly sutures
Sling or triangular bandage
Roll of sticking plaster
Scissors
Safety pins
If these are not to hand, you will have to improvise. Shirts, sheets, tights, belts, tissues, etc. all have their uses in emergencies. |
If the person is unconscious, pull open the lower lip and drop the remedy between lip and gum. If the person vomits immediately after you have given a remedy, repeat the dose.
Never give more than 6 doses of any emergency remedy; if the Vital Force is able to respond, it will rapidly do so. Dose frequency depends on the severity of the situation. If the dose frequency recommended does not seem to be stabilizing the situation, shorten the time between doses. In most cases, 30c remedies are more appropriate than 6c.
If the person concerned is very emotionally upset, worried, or panicking, give 4 drops of the Bach Rescue Remedy as well.
Click here for more information about homeopathic remedies and how to use them.
For cleaning wounds use Hypericum and Calendula Solution (5 drops of mother tincture of each in 0.25 litre [½ pint] of boiled cooled water). Arnica ointment is useful for bruises.
(For details of a special homeopathic first aid kit, contact the British Homoeopathic Association)
Priorities in an Emergency
- Don't become a casualty yourself. This may sound facetious, but you cannot help anyone if you yourself are hors de combat. Don't jump into the water to save someone if you cannot swim. Think twice about dragging someone clear of a burning car - the petrol tank may be about to explode. Cool logic is often forgotten in emergencies.
- Remove the casualty and yourself from immediate danger. If there is no danger, do not move the casualty - you may cause further injury. The condition which is most life-threatening is the condition which should be dealt with first.
- Make sure that the person is breathing and that the heart is beating. If not, give cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (see Breathing and Circulation).
- Check for and stop severe Bleeding.
- If the person is unconscious or shows signs of failing consciousness, put him or her in the recovery position and check the pulse at regular intervals (see Unconsciousness). Never leave an unconscious person alone unless this is unavoidable.
- Treat any serious Wounds or Burns and immobilize any Fractures or Dislocations.
- When the casualty's condition is stable, take steps to prevent Shock and place in the recovery position (see Unconsciousness). Keep the person warm but not too hot. Do not give anything to eat or drink, except in specific situations such as Burns, Heatstroke or Hypothermia. There may be internal injury, or the person may need a general anaesthetic in hospital later.
Getting Medical Help in an Emergency
Away from home, contact Emergency Medical Services. Otherwise try and get hold of your medical practitioner; if he or she is not immediately available, contact Emergency Medical Services. Only if you are in an isolated situation, and there is likely to be considerable delay before help can get to you, should you consider taking the casualty to hospital yourself.
If possible, get someone else to phone the emergency services, otherwise contact Emergency Medical Services at the first opportunity. Usually the person who answers the telephone will ask a series of questions designed to extract the most vital information first. Respond calmly, answer clearly, and be prepared to give details of how many casualties are involved, the types of injuries, the kind of help needed, the exact location, and your phone number.
If the emergency services are not required, arrange for transport to the nearest Accident and Emergency department, or ring your local medical doctor.
Examining the Casualty
Check immediately for breathing and pulse (see Breathing below), and continue to check and record the pulse every five minutes. Try to find out from the casualty, or from a witness, exactly what happened. If the injured person is conscious, ask if there is pain and where, and examine the body very gently but firmly for bleeding, bruising, or limb deformities, comparing both sides of the body.
Note the colour of the person's skin. Pallor may indicate Shock. Feel the forehead with the palm of your hand. If it feels very hot, the casualty may have a fever; if it feels cold, he or she may be going into shock. Examine the pupils of the eyes. Are they very large or unequal in size? Smell the breath for alcohol. Look for any 'Medic-alert' cards, bracelets, or neck chains which warn of a medical condition such as Epilepsy, Diabetes, or Haemophilia; these usually indicate the kind of help that is required.
Record the results of your examination if you can, and pass them on to the medical helpers when they arrive. |
Back to Ailments & Diseases
