Page Six

THE FIRST AIDER

Gardner, Kansas

Treating Athletic Injuries

A Discussion of First Aid and the Treatment of Injuries
Received in Athletic Competition

Seventh Annual Revision

What is First Aid?

With reference to athletic injuries
it means the care and treatment of
all minor accidents that are continu-
ally happening to the members -of
your squad—not only the first treat-
ment, but the subsequent care neces-
sary to prevent infection or compli-
cations.

Your problem is to keep your play-
ers in the game at top form and ready
to give their best performance. Hcw
best can this be done? What do you
have to do, and why?

Athletic injuries naturally divide
themselves into three groups.

First, there are some things the

player can do for himself. It is your

job to tell him what to do, and how
to do it, and then see that he does it.

Properly sterilizing all scratches and-

places where the skin is broken—no
matter how small, preventing blist-
ers and galled skin, stopping a sore
throat or cold—in the early stages—
keeping the bowels regular, diet, etc.
These little things can become major
problems when neglected.

Therefore, outline a course of in-
struction on personal First Aid treat-
ment and hygiene for these minor
things and insist that it be followed
by every athlete.

In the second group there are those
injuries that should be treated by the
coach or trainer—larger open wounds,
boils, stiff and sore muscles, sprains,
bruises, “charlie horse.”

These must be given personal sup-
ervision, because they are the ones
that reduce efficiency—keep the men
on the sidelines—prevent team work
and lower chanees for victory.

In the third group we have injuries
that should not be handled by the
coach—fractures, internal injuries,
concussions, injuries to the eye, ear,
or teeth—those should be taken im-
mediately to your Physician.

—o—

Open Wounds

Your first problem—the one occur-
ing most often—is the treatment of
open wounds.

By open wounds, we mean cuts,
clips, strawberries, skinned elbows, or
knees or any place where the skin
is broken.

It is-a scientific fact that the only
cause for infection in new wounds is
the entrance of bacteria into the
wound.

°

blisters or strawberries.

 

 

If these wounds are not immediate-
ly sterilized, the pus germ (staphlo-
coccus) enters. One single germ can
grow into 8 million overnight.

It is necessary for the blood to
combat these germs and ccnsiderable
time and energy are consumed before
they are killed and carried away. This
time and energy can be saved if the
wound is properly treated.

es

Treatment of Open Wounds

Use Nitrophen immediately on all
wounds where the skin is broken.

1. It sterilizes thoroughly in 90
seconds.

2. It penetrates deeply.
3. It checks excess bleeding.

_ 4. It keeps its germicidal strength
indefinitely.

5. It anaesthetizes—relieving pain.

7. It is ideal for treating cuts,
scratches, floor burns, fire burns,

; It is a modern germicide contain-
ing all the elements for quick and
complete sterilization.

Directions—Saturate a piece of cot-
ton with Nitrophen and place it over
the wound. While sterilization is com-
plete in 90 seconds, it is advisable
that the cotton be left on for three
or four rainutes.

Nitrophen goes

killing harmful
wound.

farther than just
bacteria in the

If given these extra minutes, it
will seal the bleeding capillaries, co-
agulate the lymph, draw the torn,
Jagged edges of the wound together
and prevent the forming of toxin,
which is produced by the decomposi-
tion of destroyed tissues. When this
treatment is completed, the wound

is ready for an antiseptic dressing.
—Q—-

Excessive Bleeding

For excessive bleeding from open
wounds, use a thick pad of bandage.
This is made by folding the bandage
back and forth many times. Saturate
this pad with Nitrophen and place on
the wound. Fasten on tightly with
bandage and adhesive tape.

If bleeding still persists, a blood
vessel has probably been severed
and a tourniquet should be applied.

Care should be taken in the use

 

Published by the Cramer Chemical Co.

of a tourniquet. It should not be
twisted too tightly—just enough to
stop the bleeding and should be
loosened every ten minutes. Remove

| tourniquet as soon as bleeding has

stopped.

For nose bleed, twist a pledget of
cotton onto a wood applicator—sat-
urate with Nitrophen and apply into
the nostril.

—o—.

Directions for Preparing an
Antiseptic Dressing

Take a piece of gauze pad or piece
of folded sterile. bandage, large
enough to overlap the wound gener-
ously on all sides. Cover this with a
coating of Healing Ointment, one-
eighth inch thick and lay over the
wound, being sure that you get com-

 

 

ANTISEPTICS

NITROPHEN

A powerful germicide.
Sterilizes in 90 seconds.
Stops bleeding. Relieves
pain.

 

Wholeeale
School
Price
A-O27- Bottle-= 2-2 $0.60
Pint. Bottle=22 02" 1.50
Quart Bottle______ 2.25
Gallon Bottle_____.- 6.00
ANTISEPTIC POWDER
Prevents galled = skin.

Dries perspiration, re-
duces friction. Used in
shoes as foot powder.

Scere
ANTisePric
xe

% Pound Can______ $0.25

 

Government formula,
full 70 per cent. Sold in
pints only. Extra pure.

 

 

4.| Pint Bottle________ $0.35
STRINGENT

Effective gargle, checks
Flu, Tonsilitis, etc.

4 Oz, Bottle______- $0.25
Pint Bottle__._._._ .60
Quart Bottle__..__ 1.00

Gallon Bottle__.____ 2.50