video: ongoing first aid

[zen_en_vert]

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.

Comments

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[dedikated]

So there is a clinic?

[ It's a good thing she's sort of familiar with this - having healers makes basic first aid not exactly an essential skill - but guess who's been completely unaware that a clinic existed and dealing with her injuries herself? ]

text;

[zen_en_vert]

There is; it's on the road the connects the two housing towers.

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[dedikated]

Reet. Least that's something. [ Problems faced when the roofs are your main mode of transport: you have no idea what actually exists. ] Can't say it sounds like a fun job here.

text;

[zen_en_vert]

It's not exactly simple work, but it's worth doing.

text;

[dedikated]

Suppose it is. Someone has to keep people alive down here. [ Because that would be helpful. She hesitates at the keys for a moment. ]

... If it helps, I can give yous enchanted stuff.

If you need anything, let me know.

... Anything you guys need?

text;

[zen_en_vert]

Basically everything, constantly. What kinds of things can you get your hands on? Ace bandages? Clean water? Surplus food?

text;

[dedikated]

Can try and find 'em. I spend a lot of time exploring. [ Mostly because she hasn't bothered to find a base of operations yet.

She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth and eventually types out her initial offer: ] I can make things sense powers - and problems with them - if that's a thing you need. Used to use it at the clinic back home a lot. People overloading their powers and stuff.

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[zen_en_vert]

Could you come have a cup of tea and tell me about that in person? Powers are something I know almost nothing about, and I need to change that.

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[dedikated]

[ after a minute ] Sure. Who am I looking for?

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[zen_en_vert]

Me, from the video. I'm here alone.

The building is painted with trees and such, and has 'clinic' written in red.

text;

[dedikated]

Got it. [ clearly turning thirty has killed her brain.

... That or the drinking. ]

Give me ten minutes.

[[ should we thread this orrrr...? ]]

Action!

[zen_en_vert]

[Bruce sets the device down, and goes back to his cleaning routine for the day.

He makes sure he's out on the porch at about the ten minute mark.]

ayyyy B)

[dedikated]

[ And at, well a little after ten minutes since she actually went by ground for once in her life, a pint-sized pink ball of grouch appears! ]

Dr. Banner, right?

[zen_en_vert]

Bruce is fine.

[He says, politely.]

It's nice to meet you in perseon.

[dedikated]

[ Pushing her sunglasses up her nose, Kate's expression loses the hard lines, settling into something more neutral. ] Kate. [ She gestures to the clinic behind him with a nod. ] Wanna talk in there?

[zen_en_vert]

Sure. Come on in.

[He steps back, to invite her inside.]

I'll get the kettle on.

[dedikated]

What do you have to drink? [ Because somehow she doubts she's getting that whatever-it-is blend her local coffee shop offers, but something is better than nothing. She is, at least, polite enough to wipe off any caked on dirt from her boots before entering the place, glancing around curiously at the state of the place. ]

[zen_en_vert]

Just tea, I'm afraid- and it isn't very good tea at all.

[dedikated]

Not much is good here, is it? [ But, that idle musing aside. ] Milk and two sugars for me.

[zen_en_vert]

Hah. I have... something kind of like jam you could maybe stir in for sweetness?

[dedikated]

[ That sounds vile but... ] Alright.

[ But, with most of the pleasantries out of the way, it's time to get down to business. So Kate pushes her sunglasses up into her hair and pulls up a chair. ] Reet, where should I begin?

[zen_en_vert]

Tell me about the kinds of powers people have in your world?

[While he brings her her teacup.]

[dedikated]

[ She nods her thanks, drumming her fingers against the surface of the table as she runs through various ways of answering that, because there would be a whole lot to cover. ]

Mmm, there's a lot. [ Deep breath, and Kate curls her hands around the cup. ] Telekinetics, Firebreathers, Healers, people who can control minds... 'S kind of a grab bag.

[ Which also seems to be the case here, she's noticed. There's a whole lot of everything, and a lot of it makes even the most powerful people from her home look basic and weak. ] Anything like that where you come from?

[zen_en_vert]

Yes, some. I've even got a little bit of- something not quite typical in me myself, though it doesn't let me do any of that.

Healing, I haven't seen before, though.

[dedikated]

Really? Don't think I'd be in one piece without a healer. [ There a brief quirk of her lips, like that was supposed to be funny. Taking a swig of her tea - and managing not to grimace at the taste, good grief - she turns the cup around in her hands and watches the liquid swirl inside it.

There's a sharp intake of breath, and she adds: ] I, on the other hand, get to make things react to powers. [ Which isn't as bad as it sounds, once she learned to use it. Still, it would be nice to have a power that did something more. ]