First aid handbook

Common injuries

Cuts and grazes

Stop the bleeding (if bleeding heavily):

• apply pressure to the area using a bandage or a towel
• raise the bleeding area above your head or rest of body

Dress the cut or graze:

• wash and dry your hands thoroughly
• clean the wound under clean running tap or drinking water (avoid antiseptic if water available because it may damage the tissue and slow down healing)
• pat the area dry with a clean towel
• apply a sterile adhesive dressing, such as a plaster

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cuts-and-grazes/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Dehydration

Signs of dehydration include:

• feeling thirsty and lightheaded
• a dry mouth
• tiredness
• having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine
• passing urine less often than usual

Treatment:

• drink plenty of liquids: preferably water, fruit juice or rehydration drinks
• take breaks in the shade to cool down and reduce water-loss through sweating

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Dehydration/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Rare injuries

Heat exhaustion and Heatstroke

Prevention: drink plenty of fluids, dress in cool (e.g. light cotton) clothes, wear a sun hat and try to take breaks in the shade. Take time to acclimatise to the hot weather.

Signs of heat exhaustion can include:

• tiredness and weakness
• feeling faint or dizzy
• a decrease in blood pressure
• a headache
• muscle cramps
• feeling and being sick
• heavy sweating
• intense thirst
• a fast pulse
• urinating less often and having much darker urine than usual
• HEATSTROKE: confusion, disorientation, seizures (fits) and a loss of consciousness

First aid treatment:

• lie down in a cool place – room with air conditioning or in the shade
• remove any unnecessary clothing to expose as much skin as possible
• cool the skin –e.g. a cool, wet sponge or flannel, cold packs around the neck and armpits, or wrap in a cool, wet sheet
• fan the skin while it’s moist
• get them to drink fluids – ideally be water, fruit juice or a rehydration drink

Most people should start to recover within 30 minutes.

Emergency medical attention should be sought if:

• the person does not respond to above treatment after 30 minutes
• the person has severe symptoms (loss of consciousness, confusion or seizures

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Heat-exhaustion-and-heatstroke/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Bee and wasp stings

• BEEs: Remove the sting
  • As soon as you’ve been stung by a bee, remove the sting and venom sac if it’s been left in your skin. Do this by scraping it out, either with your fingernails or something with a hard edge, such as a bank card. When removing the sting, be careful not to spread the venom further under your skin and don’t puncture the venom sac.
  • DON’T pinch the sting out with your fingers or a pair of tweezers because you may spread the venom. If a child has been stung, an adult should remove the sting.
• WASPs and HORNETs: Move calmly away from the wasp.
  • Wasps and hornets don’t usually leave the sting behind, so they could sting you again. If you’ve been stung and the wasp or hornet is still in the area, walk away calmly to avoid being stung again.

If the bite or sting continues to it:-

• washing the affected area with soap and water
• placing a cold compress (a flannel or cloth cooled with cold water) over the affected area to reduce swelling not scratching the area as it can become infected (keep children’s fingernails short and clean)

Allergic reactions:-

• Seek immediate medical attention (112 for ambulance, or go directly to emergency hospital) if you have swelling or itching anywhere else on your body after being bitten or stung, or if you’re wheezing or have difficulty swallowing.

Snake bites

DO:-

• Remain calm and do not panic. Snake bites are not usually serious and are very rarely deadly.
• Try to remember the snake’s shape, size and colour.
• Keep the part of your body that has been bitten as still as possible to prevent the venom spreading around your body. You may want to secure the bitten body part with a sling (a supportive bandage) or a splint (a rigid support that helps keep the body part stable). However, do not make the sling or splint so tight that it restricts your blood flow.
• Remove any jewellery or watches from the bitten limb because they could cut into your skin if the limb swells.
• Do not attempt to remove any clothing, such as trousers, but loosen clothing if possible.
• Seek immediate medical attention (112 for ambulance, or go directly to emergency hospital).

DO NOT:-

• try to suck the venom out of the bite
• try to cut the venom out of the bite
• rub anything into the wound or apply ice, heat or chemicals
• leave someone who has been bitten on their own
• put anything around the bitten limb to stop the spread of venom, such as a tight pressure band, tourniquet or ligature – it will not help and can cause swelling, even if no venom has been released by the snake; it could also damage the limb, leading to the need for amputation
• try to catch or kill the snake

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-snake/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Medical services in Didim

• 112 for emergency ambulance
• Private Doctors/Clinics:-
  • Dr. Bülent Soytürk
  • Dr. Ersoy Devecioğlu
  • ‘Doctor Bey’ Polikliniği (Yunus Caddesi)
• Hospitals:-
  • Didim Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital): http://www.didimdh.gov.tr/ [Use for emergencies]
  • Söke (Private/insurance), EGEMED Hastanesi: http://egemed.com.tr/

 Sources, reference guides and links

• First Aid Manual, St John’s Ambulance and British Red Cross, 10th edition, published by DK: http://www.dk.com/uk/9781409342007-first-aid-manual/

• St John’s Ambulance website, first aid advice: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice.aspx

• NHS (UK health service) choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/

• Türk Kızılay https://www.kizilay.org.tr/, ve İlk Yardım sayfaları, http://www.ilkyardim.org.tr/