hadriel | video: ongoing first aid

Hello everyone. My name is Doctor Banner, and I help organize the clinic here in Hadriel. About a month back, I talked on here about wound care, given the shortage of effective antibiotics in the city.

Now, since none of us can do the normal thing and just google this, I'd like to go on a bit more today about what to do if you or someone you know is bleeding.

First of all, if at all possible, wash your hands. I know that out on the ground you might not be able to do that, but whenever you can, treat injuries with clean hands, or even better, a pair of gloves.

The acronym that they use in first aid training is RED, for blood. Red, as in rest, elevation, and direct pressure. If you can get the person sitting down and as calm as possible, that's good- elevate the injury above their heart, if you can, then apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding.

You do it with clean fabric if you have it- bandages are ideal, but you can do clothing in a pinch. If someone is deeply cut and in danger of bleeding out, I've seen it done with duct tape applied directly to the skin, but I wholeheartedly caution against it unless it's literally a life or death emergency.

After this stage, get yourself or your friend to the clinic, or do home care to get the dirt or debris out of the cuts. Gravel, filth, anything of any kind needs to be cleared away with clean water, with soap and a washcloth, or with tweezers cleaned with alcohol. In the real world, this is where you'd be sent to get a tetanus shot, which I have absolutely no ability to give any of you right now- so just. Try really hard not to get tetanus. I'll see if I can scrape something together; anyone who hasn't had a tetanus booster in the last ten years may want to consider coming by, if I can work it out.

For a long time we used hydrogen peroxide, iodine or an iodine-containing cleanser, which can be irritating to tissue already injured. Best medical practice is not to apply those sorts of really astringent products any more, and to stay with soap, and an applied antibiotic.

We do have more of the topical creams and ointments available in the clinic now, so if you'd like to come by, I can give out a small supply. On any injury, bandages need to be changed once a day, or sooner if they're wet or dirty.

Now; stitches. Any deep cut will need stitches. If you see muscle, if you see fat, if the wound appears gaping or at all jagged, you need stitches. Adhesive is not a substitute, tape is not a substitute, stitches are the only thing that minimize your risk of infection, never mind scarring, which I assume few of you care about. Let me stress again that with the level of medical care here, an infection is likely to be fatal. I know that even our fatalities aren't technically consistently fatal, but let's be better safe than sorry. Stitches, I can teach in person, or we can go over next time.

I think I covered pretty much everything else in the infection post- if you'd like any more information about that or reminders, don't hesitate to let me know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Just one of the empty houses, I'm afraid. It's the best we could do.

[He doesn't recognise her. Bianca considers, and quickly discounts, the possibility that he might be pretending; Dr Banner of the Barge was intelligent enough, but both versions were straightforward.

The memory gives her confidence; she, herself, is anything but straightforward. She can handle him.]

It has been many years, but I do have some nursing experience.

Good. Come by, I'll give you the full orientation. What tower are you leaving from?

I'm not in a tower, Doctor, I have a house. Don't worry, I'll find you.

[Alone, Bianca takes a moment, her hands on Bud and Lou's heads, to calm her breathing and steady her heartbeats. The Bruce Banner she knew on the mirror barge was terrifying, and she is neither arrogant or insane enough not to have been frightened of him.

This, she reminds herself, is almost certainly not that man. This one is probably sincere in his desire to help. This one will be a valuable ally, and she would be stupid to let old fears stop her securing him as such.

A short while later, she knocks at the makeshift clinic's door.]

Doctor Banner? It's Bianca.

Bianca?

[He asks- and right, right. He opens the door and pokes his head out.]

Right- how can I help you today?

[She should probably have left Bud and Lou behind, but Bianca feels braver when they're with her: so Bruce opens the door to a slight, dark woman flanked by large, spotted beasts, her fingers curled protectively in the fur of Lou's neck.

The hyenas, too, remember Dr Banner, and unlike Bianca, lack the capacity to understand divergent universes: their fear is much less equivocal, and they stiffen at her sides.]

We spoke on the network, Doctor Banner. I'm the one with nursing experience?

Yes, it's nice to meet you. And- these are?

[Two very angry hyenas who he hopes she has some kind of context for, given the way they're looking at him.]

Staying outside, Doctor Banner, don't worry!

[She touches each of them on the nose, both reassuring and reiterating stay outside, no fighting, and smiles up winsomely at the doctor.]

Good boys. Bud and Lou. My fellow refugees on this interdimensional journey.

Have you been here long, Doctor?

About five months, I think, though calendars are difficult to maintain- it hasn't always been a twenty four hour day/night cycle.

And thank you- it's as close to sterile in here as we can keep it- come on in.

[Stepping back, holding the door for her.]

You've done very well with the limited resources here, Dr Banner.

[She is bright, her chin up: walking into his domain terrifies her and Bianca would die before she allowed anyone to see it.]

...before I arrived here, I was on a barge. A sort of ...prison boat, in space. One got rather used to crisis conditions, there.

[This is perfectly true, but it's not why she says it.]

I've heard of that. People coming here from somewhere else like it.

[He says, perking up with interest- and no recognition.]

What was the transition like?

Oh, I've been in rough and difficult places before, Doctor Banner. I'm tougher than I look, you know.

[She manages to add a smile to this: Bruce is feeling less and less threat-like with every word.]

Of course, some people took it very badly. Though we did also have magical healers - even resurrection, much like Hope.

Has he not been willing to provide medical supplies?

I haven't spoken to him about it. I don't trust him.

[He says, with a shake of his head.]

We're winging it on our own.

video: ongoing first aid

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