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

[ Nice, Ronan. ]

Allergies. They teach us how to use Epi-Pens, and then we carry them everywhere as if you can manage that after a sting.

[ Spoilers: you can't. They are next to useless, because he'd need someone else to do it anyway, but he still carries them. ]

Anyway: I can do that, in case it's ever relevant.

Yes. You should actually be making sure the others know how to use your epinephrine for you.

I've used something like that with a tranquilizer, before. I- don't know if they've told you about my problem.

[ He should --

Make sure they can use it. That had never really occurred to Gansey. He’d never want to put the burden on them, he thinks, though the real truth is that he deals with that danger by acting like it’s not there. He’s aware this is not, perhaps, the best idea in the world. ]

I…well. That’s a fair point, I suppose.

They didn’t mention that, though. My friends tend to be careful with other people’s secrets.

[ They have a lot of experience. He’s watching Bruce curiously now. ]

Why – do you need tranquilizers?

Because of a complex medical problem.

When I become angry, my body... reacts. Swells, changes. Grows, in fact, and distorts. I become very dangerous.

Oh. Jesus, and I thought allergies were a problem.

[ It sounds like Jekyll and Hyde. That's Gansey's thought. That's kind of what he's picturing. ]

So is there something here that you can be injected with? I mean, if there were, I could probably...do that for you. If it came to it.

Oh- no thank you. It's far too risky. I mean, I might very well turn on you for attempting it.

It’s that dangerous?

What triggers it, then? Is there a way that we can help you?

Any feeling of anger or intense fear. Near death experiences and very bad pain. I've lived with it for most of a decade, it's really mostly contained- but what you can do for me is just get back when I tell you to, if I tell you to.

All right. I promise you, I will.

It can’t be a very easy thing to talk about. Thank you for doing that, Doctor.

Ronan has seen me in that form. So has Noah. They can fill you in on the details. They should, too.

They tend to be respectful of other people's secrets. I'll ask them, though, if that's what you want.

Ronan is protective enough that he'll tell you everything you need to know.

All right. I still would like to help, though, regardless. If that’s still fine with you.

Absolutely. Come along with Adam, next time he's stopping by.

Okay. Thanks, I appreciate that.