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

[whichend]

[ At this point, Arya would do nearly anything for Bruce, but now that the promise of food is involved, Arya works double time, crossing the bridge into the more ruined parts of the city to scavenge for supplies. She finds a first aid kit that's still mostly intact, and some ratty clothes that she tears off into strips to repurpose as bandages. Arya takes a couple small, smoother sticks as well, because they could be of some use.

About an hour later, Arya uses her foot to knock on the door of the clinic, her arms full of supplies. ]

[zen_en_vert]

[Bruce opens the door to let her in, and laughs, taking a couple of the items off the top of the pile, and steps aside to show her in.]

Wow. Look at all this, how did you manage it?

[whichend]

[ Arya follows, smiling. ]

In the ruined section of the city, across the river. It's a little more dangerous there, but there are a few supplies still left from the people who used to live here, and other items that can be made into something useful. It's a matter of knowing where to look.

[zen_en_vert]

Hm. Be careful- I'm very grateful, but you should bring me for company next time, just in case.

[whichend]

I am careful. [ Arya says, a little indignantly. ] But I would enjoy the company.

[ Once all the supplies are put away, Arya speaks again. ]

It's fine. If you call me Arya in front of others. I -- called myself by that name, publicly, almost half a moon ago.

[zen_en_vert]

Good. It's a lovely name, and it's certainly what I think about when I think of you.

[whichend]

Someday it will be properly mine again.

[ The fact that Bruce complimented her name -- that he thinks about her at all, really -- is enough to make Arya a little flustered, and she double-triple checks that the bandages are in their proper place. ]

Would you like help with the cooking?

[zen_en_vert]

Yes please.

[He says, not because he needs it, but because she needs cooking lessons.]

Through here. Let's take a look at what I found for food today.

[whichend]

[ Arya knows the basics of cooking inside and out -- she's served as a kitchen maid multiple times. Even in the House of Black and White, forced blindness was not an excuse for not chopping the vegetables or baking the bread. She has less experience putting together an entire meal from start to finish, though. She follows Bruce into the kitchen, happily. ]

Have you seen the garden yet?

[zen_en_vert]

No, I haven't gone yet. What are they like?

[He wonders, as he begins to get things down- vegetable and cured bear and the bit of ricelike grain he'd scavenged.]

[whichend]

[ Arya watches attentively, trying to guess ahead of time what Bruce wants to make. ]

Small, for now. Newt is managing them. He's got all sorts of seeds, and with a little time, we may be growing our food. None of the gods' things.

[zen_en_vert]

I hope the light in here supports that, because that'd be wonderful. We know we can't really trust them.

[whichend]

No. We can't. Not after what last happened with the food.

What are you making?

[zen_en_vert]

A good soup. Nice and thick, good food for when you're living actively.

[whichend]

[ As opposed to what other kind of living? The only inactive lifestyle Arya knows is death. She nods anyway. ]

Thick soup is good. What should I do?

[zen_en_vert]

Chop these next.

[He says, and brings her over a whack of not-quite carrots, in the way all the Hadriel food is not-quite.]

And tell me more about what you've been up to. What do you think of Delight?

[whichend]

[ Arya sets to work. Even though the carrots aren't quite what she's used to, Arya barely needs to look at them to chop them up -- she used to do things like this blind. ]

I do not trust her. Smiles are just as easy to fake as glares. But it was nice, not having to sleep for a while.

[zen_en_vert]

Nightmares?

[He wonders quietly, as he continues to help. It wouldn't surprise him, given what he knows of her.]

[whichend]

Sometimes.

[ Even admitting that is nerve-wracking for Arya, a sign of how much she trusts Bruce. ]

And I have to make sure -- I can't be asleep. In case something happens.

[ She has to be awake to protect her friends. She's not going to lose another one, not here. she has to keep watch. ]

[zen_en_vert]

Arya, people take watches for that. No one can be awake all the time. You fall apart.

If you need, there are beds in the back, here. I can stay between you and the front with my eyes open.

[whichend]

[ Arya shakes her head and adds some chopped vegetables to the pot. See, perfectly functional. ]

No I won't. I am used to it, and besides, I sleep well enough. I just do it in the early morning, once everyone is awake. You have enough to do.

[ Arya has been taking care of herself long enough -- she's got this under control. ]

[zen_en_vert]

Yes, and I can keep doing it while you're back there. Just the busy work, between you and the door-

And, it'd make me less worried for you. I spend a lot of time thinking about you, and afraid for you.

[whichend]

[ Worried for her? Arya frowns. That doesn't compute. Bruce has no reason to worry for her; she can take care of herself. And no one has ever worried for her before, not really. Maybe her parents did, a little, but that was because she could never be the lady they wanted. And besides, they're dead now, and none of that matters anymore.

Arya isn't sure if she should be grateful, sad, or frustarated, so she just tries to keep her tone even. ]

You don't need to be afraid for me. I can take care of myself here. It's easier here.