September 22nd, 2010Herbal First Aid Part II - First Things First
by Kurt King, Master Herbalist, author of Herbs to the Rescue
There are six basic steps that apply in any first aid situation. They are:
1) Stay calm and think first before you act.
2) Check if person is breathing and if there is a heartbeat. (Pulse check on wrist or neck arteries. Visually notice chest action for breathing.) If person is not breathing or pulse cannot be found, administer emergency CPR immediately.
3) Check for severe bleeding (hemorrhage).
4) The next priority is to examine for shock (Shock is a serious condition of acute circulatory collapse, usually brought on by severe blood loss or trauma). Then examine for head injuries, fractures, lacerations and dislocations.
5) Begin treating person accordingly using a good “bed-side manner,” calming and reassuring the person to help prevent shock or hysteria.
6) Find adequate shelter for the injured person, out of the harsh elements. Keep person warm, calm and reassured that all is going well.
WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE FIRST AID KITS:
1. Keep a kit in the trunk of each of your vehicles
2. Take a smaller kit with you when you travel by plane or train (be aware of any safety restrictions on items in your kit while traveling)
3. In your home
Printable Version: http://www.herballegacy.com/First_Aid_II.pdf
September 29th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I would like to know about keeping herbal 1st aid kit in the car, The heat especially. Wouldn’t heat decrease the active herbal ingredients?I thought herbs are better if kept in a cool place. I am a new student of herbal medicine, so this is probably a silly question.
October 19th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Andrea, you are right, herbs are best kept for extensive periods of time in cool and dark places. The car is not an ideal place to keep herbs, however it is an ideal place to have an emergency first aid kit with herbs. You can do a few things to keep temperature better by trying to park your vehicle in shaded areas, avoid placing the kit in areas of direct sunlight/heat inside the vehicle, you could even insulate the kit with a cooler bag and cold packs if you are planning a long trip in the heat, and many other things like this. When the time comes that you find yourself in an emergency, nothing will make you happier than knowing you truly have the herbs/tools you need, they will still be powerfully effective despite a little warmth.