URBAN SURVIVAL HANDBOOK

11 EFFECTIVE FIRST AID TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU

SAVE LIVES
(HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST DISASTER)
 COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2015
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 01: What Is Trauma And The Basics Of First Aid
Chapter 02: Fixing Cuts And Bruises
Chapter 03: Fixing Sprains And Strains
Chapter 04: Fixing Dislocations
Chapter 05: Attending To Broken Bones
Chapter 06: CPR And Mouth To Mouth
Chapter 07: Resuscitation Equipment
Chapter 08: Snake Bites
Chapter 09: Creating Solutions
Chapter 10: Administering Relief Medication
Chapter 11: Surviving The First Disaster
Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
Traumas are everyday occurrences. From the simple paper cuts to the most
serious car accidents and the most of the times sudden and fatal heart attacks
and strokes. Even when everything is working as it should be and the medical
assistance arrives in a timely fashion, it is of critical importance to intervene
as soon as possible after an incident that has resulted in a wound or a trauma,
to optimize the chances of recuperation by the victim. Just imagine how
much more this intervention becomes an absolute necessity, if there is any
kind of crisis and there can be no access to a medical facility (at least not
immediate or within a certain time period), or a remote possibility of a
turnout of appropriately trained medical personnel on the scene.
Most, if not all, families maintain a first aid kit at home or in their car, in a
place that is easily accessible and with its contents always handy. However, it
is not at all certain that they know how to use these contents, or even what
they are. In fact, in most cases, opening the kit for the first time whenever
they need it, is the first time that they take a look at what’s in the box. And
most of the times the contents of a first aid kit are just enough to handle very
simple bleeding cuts and nothing more.
It is not necessary to equip a house like a hospital to be able to handle all
kinds of circumstances that require first aid. On the contrary, in the great
majority of incidents, it is possible to do a great job with things that can be
derived by simple household tools and things in our closets. But some tools
and machines are indeed necessary, if a decisive first aid intervention is
required.
Before we immerse ourselves in any kind of discussion on how to provide
first aid, let it be clear that under no circumstances are the contents of this
book to be regarded as any kind of medical guide or handbook. The intention
of the author is to provide information and tips and nothing else. It is
strongly recommended that medical field training seminars by eminently
qualified professionals are attended before any attempt to address wounds or
traumas is made. The author guarantees that the information is updated and
accurate but under no circumstances is he to be held liable for the
implementation of any techniques mentioned in the contents herein, if no
proper training has been received prior to the attempt of rendering first aid.
The reasons behind the above statement are simple. While it is easy to
address a simple cut, create a makeshift stretcher and relatively easy to make
a splinter for a broken bone, it requires some practice to administer the most
important techniques of CPR or “mouth to mouth” (techniques that can save
or lose lives) and definitely instructions by an appropriate professional on
how to reset a bone or perform a Kocher Maneuver to a dislocated shoulder.
It is most imperative that a person administering first aid always considers
himself or herself as a layperson and nothing more, unless he or she has
acquired qualification credentials. No matter how well you learn or acquire
experience in providing first aid, you must always act as if you have no
professional occupation with the subject. This means that you should always
be extra careful and NEVER forget to implement every safety precaution
necessary. For the medical personnel it has become second nature to perform
what needs to be done. For you it has not. They can react fast and correct a
mistake. You may not be able to.
There are always two very important issues to keep in mind. The first one is
to not lose your head, keep your composure and focus on the situation at
hand. It will do no good to anyone, if you do things in a hurry and
improperly. If you panic it will immediately be noticed by the victim, it will
fill them with stress, anxiety and agony, and the situation will be nothing
short of a disaster.
And this is the second issue to remember. Always try to keep the victim calm
and reassured that everything will be fine. Make sure that what you do at
least appears confident and with a feeling that you know what you are doing,
even if you yourself are not sure of it. In an emergency tending to the
psychology of the victim is just as important, if not more, as tending to the
injuries. It would be preferable to use humor and unexpected punch lines,
rather than a calm voice and a serious face.
We can only say that if you pay attention to the information, get some
practice in, and build some self-confidence, everything will indeed go fine.
 CHAPTER 1:
WHAT IS TRAUMA AND THE BASICS OF
FIRST AID
According to the medical definition, the term “trauma” has two meanings.
The first one refers to very difficult and unpleasant experiences that cause a
person to develop emotional and mental problems that last for quite some
time. This meaning is not in the purview of this book and will be discussed in
other publications. What we are interested in is the second part of the
definition which defines trauma as a wound or injury to a human body of
either a minor or a major severity.
When the term was first introduced circa 1863, it meant the disruption of the
continuity of the skin. The concept behind that definition was that since the
skin is the biggest organ of the body and its natural protection from external
agents, everything that penetrated this protection and produced a bleeding
wound would be called a trauma. This definition was later found to be
inadequate to fully describe the term and it was redefined as mentioned
above.
Whenever a person suffers a sudden wound or injury, he or she is always in
need of first aid. The term refers to the assistance required so that the wound
or injury may be sufficiently addressed and treated immediately (for example
applying a band aid to a cut), prevented from worsening, prevented from
becoming life threatening (as in situation in need of mouth to mouth or CPR)
and hasten or help the recovery and healing process. This assistance can be
provided either by appropriate tools and equipment that are available close
by, or by tools and equipment devised by improvisation on site.
The first thing any person should do when such a sudden incidence occurs is
to look for a first aid kit. Very few people know what should be included in
such a kit. It is a great mistake not to consult with a pharmacists on what
should be included in such a kit. The following list includes the items
recommended by Red Cross:
Absorbent compress dressings Antiseptic wipe packets
Adhesive cloth tape Adhesive band aids
Antibiotic ointments Aspirin
Gloves Roller bandages of different types
Sterile gauze pads of different sizes A thermometer
Scissors A breathing barrier
Hydrocortisone ointments Instant cold compress
A first aid manual Tweezers
Triangular bandages Sterile syringes and needles

In the following chapters we will discuss the usefulness of each of the above
items on a per case basis. However, before you even begin to render
assistance you need to assess a few things. Here is a list:

Ø Call for help.

The fastest the professional first responders arrive the better it will be.
Since it is just as essential for the victim to receive immediate first aid, it
would be best to assign the calmest of the bystanders to call for an
ambulance. If this is not possible, you should call them yourself and
provide the necessary information.

Ø Danger.
If there is any danger to you, to any bystanders and to the victim, you
should not render any assistance and wait for trained personnel. For
example you should not put yourself in jeopardy, if there is danger of a
building collapse or a fire.

Ø Airway.
If the victim is not breathing you need to check if the air pathways are
clear. If not make sure that the victim receives plenty of air. If, the victim
is still not breathing the first thing to do is mouth to mouth.
Ø Heartbeat.
Check for pulse either at the wrist or the neck. Bring your head above the
victim’s heart and listen for a heartbeat. If there’s none, you need to drop
everything else and administer CPR. The use of a defibrillator may be in
order but you should avoid it unless you have full knowledge and/or
previous experience on how to use it.

Ø Consciousness.
Check if the person promptly responds to questions, has awareness of the
conditions and if they have feeling to their extremities.

Ø Bystanders.
Send them away. There should be ample and clear space for you to render
assistance, for the victim to breathe and for the professional personnel to
have immediate and easy access when they arrive.

Ø Take charge of the situation.

Too many people talking and advising you what to do will confuse you
and will not allow you to think properly. Establish authority and focus on
the victim. Do not allow people to shout over your head on what to do.
Especially if they disagree with each other.

Ø Take precautions
If possible wash your hands before touching the victim to reduce the
danger of an infection and wear gloves. Avoid breathing and coughing
over the wound or the face of the victim.

Ø Cover the victim.

A person that has been injured runs the risk of getting sick and catch a
cold. After you have rendered assistance make sure that the victim is
covered by a blanket or a jacket to maintain thermal balance.

All the above are of course applicable wherever the first aid is not to be
rendered for a simple cut that needs a plaster, or any other situation that
involves a household accident or a case where you and the victim can walk
away from the scene and go someplace where the wound could be treated
with ease and comfort. Even better if this place could be a pharmacy or a
medical facility.

The following chapters will show you how to handle each different kind of
trauma.
 CHAPTER 2: FIXING CUTS AND BRUISES
A simple cut is an everyday situation. Whoever handles knives in the kitchen
or objects with sharp edges anywhere in a household, runs the danger of
suffering a cut. Depending on how deep the wound is, the treatment may be a
very easy and fast process or a complicated one. Two things are NOT
supposed to happen:
A) It is a natural move to put a finger that is cut in the mouth and start
sucking the blood. This is a rather bad idea. It is most likely to transmit
bacteria and other harmful agents that exist inside the mouth to the
wound.
B) It is also a very bad idea to cover the wound with the palm of the hand.
There is a great risk of the wound suffering an infection that way.
A simple shallow cut just needs to be cleaned and covered with a band aid. If
the area it covers is extended (beyond what a band aid can cover), then it is to
be covered with a long sterile gauze pad and kept in position with a couple of
pieces of adhesive cloth tape.
The situation is more complicated with a deep cut. The first thing to do is try
to contain the bleeding. If the blood that comes out of the wound is dark
colored and is rolling out without pressure this means that the blood vessel
producing the blood is a vein. You need to apply pressure with either the
hand or a tourniquet (depending on the location of the wound) from where
the wound is and towards the extremities (the fingers and the toes).
Respectively, if the blood coming out of the wound is of pure red color and
comes out with pressure in bursts matching the heartbeats, then the blood
vessel producing the bleeding is an artery and the pressure is to be applied
from the wound towards the heart.
The initial distance from the wound in both cases is about a palm’s width
from the wound. Remember to loosen the pressure point every ten minutes. If
you are using a tourniquet it is recommended that every time it needs to be
loosened, the position it is placed is also to be changed by a few inches.
If the cut is in a position that no pressure can be applied by the fingers or a
tourniquet try using a clean cloth to cover the wound and apply pressure with
the fingers around it. It would be best if that was an absorbent compress
dressing.
In any case of a deep wound with excessive hemorrhage it is imperative to
call for help. If you manage to contain the bleeding then clean the wound and
apply a clean absorbent compress dressing, or a sterile gauze of appropriate
size kept in place with a roller bandage.
Whenever there is an injury where there is no apparent bleeding but the blood
vessels underneath the skin have been ruptured due to a blow or an impact,
and there is discoloration of the skin, this is called a bruise.
There is no need to call for a specialist in case of a bruise unless there is
excessive and very painful swelling in the bruised area, it keeps up three days
after the injury and there is formation of a hematoma (lump). However, it is
imperative to visit a medical establishment if after the incident that caused the
bruise there is bleeding from areas of the body such as the nose, the gums, or
there is blood in the urine or stool.
All you have to do to render first aid is to wrap an ice pack in a towel or dip a
cloth in cold water and apply it at the bruised area. Keep it there for 10
minutes and repeat the process as many times during the first couple of days
as necessary. If there is pain, use ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol)
drugs to reduce it. These medicines will also decrease swelling. A simple
bruise should go away within a couple of days.
Cuts and bruises may happen any time and for any reason. And most of the
times after first aid is promptly rendered there is no need to seek medical
assistance. As long as you keep cool and composed nothing can go wrong.
For more serious injuries keep reading the chapters to follow.
 CHAPTER 3: FIXING SPRAINS AND
STRAINS
Another usual incident that causes need for first aid is a sprained wrist or
ankle. The term “sprain” refers to a motion that wrenches or twists the
ligaments of a joint violently, resulting in pain and swelling but not a
dislocation of the joint. A similar injury resulting by the stretching or tearing
of a muscle or a tendon is called a strain.
Both sprains and strains are to be treated the same way. There is no need to
seek medical assistance for mild cases, but more severe ones may require
surgery if the ligaments, the muscles and the tendons have been torn.
Whenever such an accident occurs it’s the natural reaction to avoid any kind
of stress in the injured location. This is a good defense mechanism which
prevents further damage. However, there is a mistake that most people do in
the case of a sprained ankle. They continue to step on their hurt leg finding
the least painful position. They either step on the toes or on the outer side of
the sole.
This is not the best of choices. Any kind of weight is to be taken off the feet.
In fact the victim should stay off his or her feet altogether and rest. For you
that renders first aid, you need to support the victim from the side of the leg
that is hurt and do not allow the foot to touch the ground until a suitable
seating position can be found.
The first thing to do is to elevate the sprained or strained part of the body
above the heart level. This will decrease swelling and take some of the pain
away. Then you need to wrap an icepack in a towel and position it over the
injured part for no more than 20 minutes. This process is to be repeated four
to eight times per day for two days.
You will also need to wrap the injured part with an elastic compression
 bandage which is to remain in place for two days. Initially this bandage
should be tight enough to reduce the mobility of the injured part, but not so
tight as to reduce the blood flow. A good rule of thumb to know if the
bandage is correctly wrapped is to watch the color of the skin towards the
extremities after the bandage is wrapped.
If the skin turns reddish then the bandage is too tight and you need to loosen
it. Hone your skills on this with the following practice:
a) Take a cylindrical object that presents minimal friction.
b) Hold it horizontally in a steady position.
c) Wrap the bandage around in two complete circles
d) Draw the bandage from the loose end. If it is unwrapped it’s not tight
enough. If it remains wrapped but looks like the bandage is stretched to
the limit, it’s too tight. The ideal wrapping is for the bandage to remain
wrapped, but since it is elastic it must be able to stretch out if necessary.

The final step is to use acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen containing

pain killers to reduce the pain and the swelling.

If all the above is performed properly and the injury is a normal sprain or
strain, the injured part should be back to normal within 2 or 3 days. It’s time
to seek medical intervention when:

Ø There is severe pain whenever the injured part is moved or touched

Ø There is increased bruising
Ø There is increased warmth, swelling, pain, redness and streaks which are
indications of an infection
Ø There is no improvement after 5 days
Ø The injured part feels numb or there is a feeling of “pins and needles”
Ø There is sustained trouble on bearing weight

It would be much preferable to prevent such injuries from happening instead

of treating them after the fact. The best way to do that is to avoid carrying on
exercises and heavy jobs within the household without having warmed up the
muscles first. It is an accident waiting to happen if you go to lift up a crate
without first stretching up.
 CHAPTER 4: FIXING DISLOCATIONS
A dislocation is a more serious injury than any of the above and it needs
medical intervention to be properly treated and healed. A dislocation occurs
in a joint between two bones when there is an abnormal separation. It can be
either a full or a partial dislocation and it is caused by a sudden trauma
incurred by an impact or a fall.
It can occur in any part of the body there is a joint and it can damage all the
surrounding tissues like the ligaments, the muscles, the tendons and the
nerves. You can visually identify a dislocation by the deformity of the joint
area. However, this may not always be evident so the following are to be
looked for:
Ø Instability of the joint
Ø Difficulty in moving the joint
Ø Reduced muscle strength
Ø Stiffness
Ø Intense pain
The full treatment requires for the joint to be “reduced” back to its normal
position. Unless you have received proper medical training you should never
attempt anything of the sort. There are actually only a few things that you can
do to provide first aid in a case of dislocation:
A) Either transfer the victim to a medical establishment for further assistance
by a transport means that will allow you to keep the joint immobilized, or
call emergency services.
B) Immobilize the joint. Use a splint or a bandage to completely block any
motion.
C) Put ice on the injury to reduce the swelling and control any internal
bleeding and accumulation of fluids.
D) Use an analgesic drug in combination with a muscle relaxant or a
sedative if you have any available. This will both reduce the pain and
 make it easier for the professional medical personnel to perform the
relocation procedure.

For informational purposes only and as a reference, should there be a case

where there is no access to a medical facility, here are some of the techniques
that can be used to put a dislocated shoulder, which is the most common
dislocation, back in place without the need of any tools, or equipment:

The Kocher maneuver.

It’s the easiest one but it is avoided as it can have neurovascular
complications and if not performed properly and can result in arm fractures.
It is performed by rotating the arm and adducting the elbow toward the chest.

The external rotation method.

It is a variation of the Kocher maneuver and it involves moving the elbow to
90o and slowly adducting the arm towards the victim. The arm should be
carefully rotated stopping in frequent intervals to allow the muscle spasms to
subside.

The Stimson technique.

Position the victim prone on a bed with the injured arm hanging over the
edge of the bed or the surface used. Attach 10 pounds of weight on the wrist.

The scapular manipulation.

This technique has a 92 to 96% success rate and is performed with the victim
in a prone position with 5 to 15 pounds of traction to the wrist. The lower part
of the scapula is to be rotated medially and the upper part laterally.

Even if you are forced to implement any of the above techniques and the
shoulder would seem to be back to normal, as soon as access to a medical
facility is possible, take the victim there for a full medical examination and
proper attendance.
 CHAPTER 5: ATTENDING TO BROKEN
BONES
A broken bone is a very serious injury and must be treated in a medical
facility. As easily understood the term defines the separation of any bone into
2 or more parts. The treatment requires resetting the bones to their normal
position and immobilize the injured bone so that it can heal. In many cases a
nail may be required to keep the parts of the bone together and is placed in
position surgically.
Should you need to provide first aid for a person with a broken bone, here are
a few things you need to consider first:
1) If there is heavy bleeding, in which case you need to contain the bleeding
first. This is achieved by applying pressure to the wound with a clean
cloth or a bandage, or a tourniquet above or below the wound as
described in the first aid for deep cuts in reference to the blood vessels
producing the hemorrhage.
The tourniquet should be further away this time. If the broken bone is in
the legs, apply the tourniquet at the hip or the ankle. If the broken bone is
in the wrist or forearm and the blood is coming from an artery, apply the
tourniquet as close to the arm pit as possible. If it’s a vein then apply
pressure around the wound only.
2) If the slightest touch or motion causes pain in which case you can only
immobilize the victim completely and ask or send for urgent medical
assistance. If there is no deformation or the bone has not penetrated the
skin apply a splint above and below the fracture.
3) Do not try to reset the bone especially if it has pierced the skin.
4) If you suspect that there is a broken bone in the back, neck or head apply
an ice pack wrapped in a towel and completely immobilize the victim.
 You can do nothing else.
5) The same as above is recommended should the fracture be located in the
pelvis, hip, upper legs, scapula, clavicle or chest.
Two things are imperative no matter where the fracture is located. The
application of an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cloth (never put the ice
directly on the skin) and to treat the victim for shock. You will understand if
this is the case, when the victim feels ready to faint or takes short and rapid
breaths. In this case you need to lay the victim down and keep the head lower
than the trunk. If possible lift the legs.
Should there be a case where splints are possible, first of all select the correct
ones. If the break is in the legs, the length of each splint should be about three
quarters of the leg and placed on the inside and the outside, half below and
half above the knee. Pad them for more comfort and tie them in place with
bandages, a piece of cloth or even ropes if there is nothing else around. Keep
in mind that the point is to keep the leg completely immobilized.
Similarly if the broken bone is in the arm below the elbow, the length of each
splint should be equal to the distance between the elbow and the wrist. Again
the splints are to be placed on the inside and outside, and tied in place just
below the elbow and at the wrist. A bandage should be tied to hold the arm in
a horizontal position hanging by the neck.
If the bone has been broken in the low parts of the arm just above the elbow,
no splints can be applied, but you can keep the arm still by a long bandage.
Bring the forearm as close to the neck as possible and:
1) Bring the end of the bandage around the wrist of the hurt hand by making
a U and tying the upper parts of the U with adhesive cloth. Do not wrap
the adhesive cloth around the wrist.
2) Bring the bandage around the neck and across the shoulder towards the
armpit of the hurt arm. Start wrapping the hand gently but firmly. Wrap it
all the way down to the wrist with overlapping circles.
3) Pass the free end of the bandage between the wrist and the tied ends of
the U. Make a small knot to keep the bandage in place.
4) Pass the free end of the bandage across and around the waste, behind the
 back and bring it to the level of the elbow of the hurt arm.
5) Make another U just above the elbow and tie the free ends.
Make sure that this entire wrapping is firm enough to completely immobilize
the fractured bone but not as tight as to prevent normal blood flow.
In any case other than a broken hand, do not try to move the victim and wait
for the ambulance. A victim with no other injury than a broken hand can still
move and be taken to a medical facility for further treatment.
 CHAPTER 6: CPR AND MOUTH TO
MOUTH
There are plenty of cases after an accident or in a drowning, that a person’s
heart may stop beating, or they may stop breathing. This is a life threatening
situation and must be dealt FIRST and IMMEDIATELY, regardless of any
other considerations. There is no point in rendering first aid for other injuries
if the victim is dead.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or better and most widely known as CPR, is
to be performed on a victim whose heart has stopped beating. Checking the
pulse at the wrist or the neck and placing the ear right above the chest will tell
you if this is the case or not.
To perform CPR you need to be at the victim’s side. What is very important
is the height. If the victim is on the ground the height is set, but if the victim
is on a table or a surface, his body must be no higher than the level of your
belt. Step up on something if necessary but make sure that whatever you step
on does not give way. Cross the palms of your hands and bring them above
the victim’s heart.
Start pressing vertically downwards. Each compression must be at least 2
inches deep and as sudden as possible. At each compression you speak the
count and the words “one thousand”, i.e. “one, one thousand” ”two, one
thousand” “three, one thousand”. Every ten compressions check the pulse.
Continue the process until the pulse returns or the victim resuscitates and
regains consciousness. If you are doing it for more than five minutes and it
has not produced an effect, then it would be useless to continue.
The mouth to mouth technique is to be used to people that have stopped
breathing. It involves creating a seal between the rescuer’s and the victim’s
mouths with the rescuer ventilating the victim. It is strongly recommended
that a gauze be placed on the victim’s mouth as a barrier from direct contact
between the two mouths.
First you must pull the head a little backwards so that the air passage in the
victim’s throat is clear. Make sure that there are no other obstacles inside the
victim’s mouth that may block the air. Keeping an eye on the chest of the
victim, block the victim’s nose and blow a normal amount of air into the
victim’s mouth. Each time you blow into the mouth, the chest must rise. If
not, the air is not making it to the lungs and you need to recheck that the air
passages are clear. The rhythm should be that of a normal breathing which is
15 to 18 breaths per minute.
Mouth to mouth could become mouth to nose if there are maxillofacial
injuries or the remains of vomit inside the mouth. In this case you need to
blow the air through the victim’s nose and shut the mouth to prevent the air
from escaping through there.
Continue the process until the victim begins to breathe on its own. Again, if
you keep it up for more than five minutes, it will become useless.
In the case that both a CPR and mouth to mouth need to be administered, it
would be best if you enlist the assistance of a second person to either perform
the compressions or blow the air through the mouth. Every four compressions
there should be an interruption for the mouth to mouth ventilation.
If you cannot enlist anyone’s help then you should make 15 compressions
and then interrupt to ventilate twice.
If the victim has just been rescued from drowning then it is most probable
that he or she has swallowed a fair amount of water. The second that the first
breath is drawn, you need to turn the victim’s head to the side, as this water
will have to come out and if the head is not turned, it will return back into the
victim’s throat.
It would be advisable to get some practice in for both techniques, supervised
by someone who has been appropriately trained to make sure that you do
them properly.
 CHAPTER 7: RESUSCITATION EQUIPMENT
So far we have discussed first aid processes that can be rendered with the
help of just the contents of a first aid kit. There may be instances where there
may not be medically trained personnel available but you can have access to
medical equipment which can assist you greatly. Let’s take a look at the most
important pieces that can come across your path:
A) The Defibrillator.
This is probably the most important machine to have around to resuscitate
a victim whose heart has stopped. It generates a preset amount of
electrical energy directed to the heart with the purpose of making it start
working again. The easiest to use is the portable defibrillator which is
automated and requires very little knowledge. If one comes within your
reach, remember to read the label with the settings of the initial charge
and the maximum voltage allowed. You also need to remember:
a) To apply gel or lubricant to both paddles. If you don’t the victim will
sustain burns.
b) To wait for the defibrillator to charge. It has not broken down if you
press the button and nothing happens.
c) To make sure that everyone is clear away from the victim to avoid
getting electrocuted. It’s not enough to shout “clear”. VERIFY
VISUALLY that everyone is not in contact with the victim.
d) Place the electrodes diagonally above and below the heart and press
the discharge button. If the first attempt fails, try a second one with the
same charge before you adjust the voltage to a higher setting. If after
the second attempt at the maximum voltage allowed the victim has not
regained heartbeat, then there is no point in continuing the effort.
e) Clean the electrodes after use.
B) The Bag Valve Mask.
 This is most handy for a mouth to mouth as it negates the need for contact
between the rescuer’s and the victim’s mouths. It’s a simple manually
operated mask equipped with a bag which you squeeze manually to expel
air into the patient. Its use requires both hands with one keeping the mask
in place to create the seal and the other to squeeze the bag and ventilate
the victim.
C) The CPR Mask.
Like the big valve mask only in a smaller size which affords portability
and easy storage. It creates the seal without the need to use the hands. It is
extremely useful should you be required to administer both CPR and
mouth to mouth.
D) Adrenaline.
If you have prefilled syringes of adrenaline handy you may prolong the
amount of time for CPR. Usually they come in dosages of 1 mg which is
an amount sufficient for 4 or 5 minutes of CPR.
It is necessary to repeat once more that before using any of the above, some
practice or familiarity should be established with their proper use, with the
supervision of an appropriately trained person. It is strongly recommended to
refrain from the use of adrenaline and a defibrillator, if there has been no
prior familiarity established with their proper method of use.
On the other hand, purchasing a big valve and a CPR mask on your own
(they are not expensive) and adding them to the first aid kit at home or in the
car is a very useful solution even if you never use them (God willing).
 CHAPTER 8: SNAKE BITES
It wouldn’t be too frequent of an event in a city environment, but in the
countryside it would be very probable that a person who has no knowledge of
plant and/or animal life, to fall victim to a snake bite. Especially snake bites
are amongst these particular cases that a rescuer cannot lose composure and
must act quickly to save the life of the victim.
Ideally, it would require to identify the type of snake responsible for a bite, to
know if the venom could have local or general systemic effects. However,
this may not be possible, so the general guidelines for rendering first aid in
case of a snake bite are:
A) Protection from further attacks.
Most snakes bite once and withdraw. But there are varieties that keep
attacking until their lair is dead, and other ones that lurk in ambush for the
possibility of a different victim. Therefore, you must protect the victim,
yourself and any other bystanders from being bitten.
It is completely out of the question to move the victim so it is imperative
that other protection measures are taken, like sending the bystanders far
away, wearing protective covers and thick boots yourself and spread
snake repellant on the surrounding grounds. Gasoline is a very good
option in this case.
B) Do not hunt the snake.
Let others do it. It would be a waste of precious time for the victim.

C) Keep the victim calm at all costs.

Emotional stress increases the blood pressure and facilitates the blood
flow, which means that the venom will be carried around the tissues
faster. Keep repeating that 70% of the snake bites are not life-threatening.
This is also a case that calm voice works better than humor. Laughter is
also a heartbeat increasing factor and neither you, nor the victim needs
 that.
D) Keep the affected limb below heart level.
This will delay the blood from returning to the heart and other tissues.
E) The victim should not have drinks or food.
The old beliefs that drinking alcohol can reduce or negate the effects of
snake venoms have been proven incorrect by the relevant research. On
the contrary alcohol speeds up the absorption of venom. This rule
includes stimulants and pain killers.
F) Get help.
Many people in the countryside keep anti-venom medication for the
snakes known to be common in their area at home. Appeal for help in the
closest household available. If you are close to a pharmacy send someone
to ask for some. Arrange transportation through a means where the victim
can be held as immobile as possible, and get them to the emergency room
of a hospital immediately.
G) Apply pressure immobilization.
Do not use a tourniquet. Use an elastic bandage to contain the venom
within the bitten limb the longest possible. Bandage the affected limb 2 to
4 inches above the bite and move towards the heart. The wrapping should
be as tight as in a sprained ankle. Then use splints to keep the limb
immobile as if the bone was broken.
H) Uncover the bitten area.
Cut away any clothes or any other objects around the bite. If it begins to
swell there should be nothing restricting it.
Some of the old techniques that were used to render first aid to snake bites
have been proved dangerous and actually ineffective. Therefore, you should
not:
A) Cut the bitten area open.
B) Try to suck out the venom with a pump or your mouth. Only a small
portion of the venom will be taken out and you run the risk of getting
infected yourself. You also run the risk of infecting the victim with
bacteria that you may be carrying.
C) Immerse the limb into warm water or sour milk.
D) Apply potassium permanganate or chromic acid to the wound. Both
substances have been proven carcinogenic and toxic.
E) Cauterize the affected area or apply silver nitrate (the infernal stone). This
can be even more threatening than the venom itself.
Many old-timers in the countryside will insist that you use one of the above
techniques especially sucking off the venom. DO NOT. Disallow any
intervention to your work.
 CHAPTER 9: CREATING SOLUTIONS
Many times people have been hurt and need to be carried some distance
before making it to an area where professional help can be provided.
Especially if there are no means for contact like a cell phone. This means that
you, as a rescuer, may have to come up with makeshift solutions that will
allow you to transfer the victim without exposing him or her to any further
danger.
It could also be the case that it may not be possible for a victim to be move at
all and you may need to devise means of protecting them from the elements
of nature and possible infections, until professional assistance arrives on the
scene.
Creating a stretcher
You need two strong and straight pieces of wood. They should be as long as
the height of the victim plus the distance of your standard step multiplied by
two. If the victim is 5 feet 7 inches and your standard step covers 20 inches,
then the two poles should be 8 feet and 11 inches long. Their diameter should
not be greater than what your hands can handle.
After you have located the two poles, take 2 or 3 pieces of clothing with
sleeves, ideally without buttons or zippers. Turn the sleeves on the inside of
the cloth and pass each pole through each sleeve. If you use a piece of
clothing with buttons or zipper make sure that these are on the side where the
victim will be laid upon. The clothes should be as thick and as strong as
possible. If necessary use two layers.
Use belts or straps to encircle the two poles at the points between each piece
of clothing that you have used. This will provide stability and additional
strength to the stretcher to be able to lift more weight. Tie an extra piece of
cloth and / or a towel to the side that the victims head will be place to be used
as a pillow.
If there is another person present that can help you carry the stretcher with the
victim on, then the tallest one should carry the side of the stretcher where the
victim’s legs are. And you should keep in mind that when the two of you are
walking carrying the stretcher, you should use opposite feet to prevent
rocking the victim. When you put forth your right leg, the other stretcher
carrier should be putting forth his left.
Creating a shelter
If you cannot move the victim then you need to protect him or her from
exposure to the sun, the rain and the wind. You will need 8 to 10 pieces of
wood at least 5 feet long. Use belts or straps or ropes (if you have any) to tie
the edges of some of the pieces to create at least three reversed Vs. Burry the
feet of the reversed Vs to the ground and tie horizontal pieces at the joints to
create a sort of tent frame.
Then use clothing with similar zippers. Zip the left side of one cloth to the
right side of the other to create a long sheet to drop over the tent frame. Again
the clothes should be as thick as possible. If you have raincoats and tarpaulins
place them on top to create a waterproof barrier in case of rain.
This kind of solutions is useful when you have a situation where you have to
provide first aid in the countryside. Within a city there usually is no need for
such solutions as everything you may need is within a few minutes of reach
and items in your household can be modified to be used as the circumstances
require.
Nevertheless it is always useful to train your mind into devising solutions in
the heat of the moment. A fast thinker can achieve better results than a person
who sticks to what he or she has learned and freezes at the absence of a tool
or a piece of equipment.
 CHAPTER 10: ADMINISTERING RELIEF
MEDICATION
In the previous chapters we discussed about various kinds of drugs that can
be administered to relieve the pain. We have also discussed on what kind of
medication should be included in a first aid kit. Now, is the time to discuss
what are these drugs are used for.
Antibiotic ointments
The previous practice to prevent a wound from infection was to clean it up
with alcohol or oxygen peroxide and then apply iodine. This practice is still
used in many countries. Research has found that this method actually
damaged the skin and had only a limited effect. Applying an antibiotic
ointment on top of a wound before covering it with a bandage, serves the
purpose of keeping bacteria and other infectious agents away.
Hydrocortisone ointments
These are anti-inflammatory compounds that are meant to reduce the
inflammation in a wound and the resulting discomfort. They are also meant to
keep the skin moist and prevent any crusting, scaling and itching. The wound
must be completely cleaned and then soaked thoroughly before the
application, which should be sparingly and exactly as described in the
directions.
Analgesics
These are actually the scientific term for painkillers. They act on the
peripheral and central nervous system and the type of medication to be used
is determined by the severity and type of pain, along with the possibility that
other medication is prescribed and received.
What you will be mostly dealing with, are the non-steroid anti-inflammatory
painkillers such as aspirin, paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen and their
derivatives. Use only as indicated in the directions for use in the box. If there
is a need for stronger painkillers like morphine or oxycodone you need to
consult a doctor before administering.
Atropine
You are not likely to run across an instance that it could be necessary but you
should know that it is to be used immediately after poisoning by certain
insecticides and nerve agents like sarin and VX. It can be found in single
dose containers and could be very handy to have around especially in a
period where various acts take advantage of these agents to target
unsuspecting people.
Antihistamine
There may be cases where a person may develop an allergic reaction to
whatever it was that caused the wound or injury. To reduce the symptoms of
this reaction it could be very useful to have antihistamine medication handy
in your first aid kit.
Insect – sting medication
So far we have discussed injuries and snakebites but there is also the case of
being attacked by insects like spiders, bees, wasps and others. Especially in
the case of insects with stings, these must come out of the wound the soonest
possible. However, it is always useful to have safe medicinal compounds
handy to negate the effects of this kind of injuries.
The general rule of thumb when administering drugs during first aid is to
never administer more than the dosage indicated in the directions manual and
to never administer medication that you think could work or others around
you say that it will.
 CHAPTER 11: SURVIVING THE FIRST
DISASTER
Whatever we have discussed thus far has the purpose of information, as well
as, most of all, preparation. Most of the accidents that you may be required
to render first aid are limited to your household, your work place and an
excursion. No one expects you to render assistance in a more generalized
manner.
However, the better prepared you are, the better you will survive should the
occasion ever arises. In the first chapter we have included a list of the basics
that should be included in a first aid kit. It’s time to discuss preparedness for
other contingencies. And this includes transforming the kit to a full box. Here
is a list of the additional items that can be placed there:
Butterfly bandages or adhesive wound closure strips. These act like
stitches and can keep a deep wound closed until a doctor properly tends it.
They may come in very handy should there be a very deep cut.
Blister treatment. Burns, or excessive walking, or walking with unfit shoes
can cause blisters. They are bags full of fluid and they may burst open or you
may have drained them. You need to wash them with soap and water and
apply a water-based gel-pad dressing. Do not remove the blistered piece of
skin.
Hemostatic gauze. The usual gauzes absorb blood but do not stop it. There is
a different type with hemostatic properties that can be used wherever the
bleeding is excessive.
Liquid bandages. These can come very handy if you do not have any other
means of treating a wound with antibiotic ointment and covering it with a
roller bandage.
Poison ivy and oak preventives and treatments. It’s a frequent occurrence
to lean against a wall covered with poison ivy or to touch an oak and get
poisoned. There are drugs available on the market specially formulated to
treat such incidents.
The list is quite big and can go on for pages. The point of the exercise is to be
as prepared as possible for the majority of what might happen. However, this
is not only a matter of creating a first aid box and filling it up with all the
necessary tools, drugs and equipment.
It is also a matter of mindset. If you can’t undergo full training on rendering
first aid (it doesn’t matter if you never use what you’ve learned
professionally), you should acquire knowledge and practice by searching
over the internet for the appropriate articles, reading books and flyers and
paying attention to what professional aid personnel are doing.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions on what should be done in a specific
situation. It’s better to pester someone and get an answer than finding
yourself in need to do something and discovering that you are absolutely
clueless. If one does not respond to your questions, someone else will.
Whenever a box of a medicinal compound is found in your home, do not
hesitate to read the instructions even if the drug is not meant for you. It could
also be useful to keep these instructions in a drawer for reference or
comparison with other similar medication. Sometimes these instructions do
not just tell you how to use the medicine. They also provide very useful
general information that you ought to know about.
The wider your knowledge on the subject is, the easier it will be to do what
will be necessary should the situation arise. It will also be easier to assert
authority and persuade people that you know what you are doing. And, most
of all, the more you know, the more confident you will be in your own
abilities and the better aid you will be able to render.
Nevertheless, under no circumstances are you to build such an
overconfidence that will cause you to think that you are just as good as a
doctor. You are not! Not even close! Not even at the level of a properly
trained ambulance assistant. You may have learned a lot, you may have
acquired the ability to provide efficient and well placed first aid, but
professionals are always aware of conditions and secrets that you are not.
And you must always keep that in mind.
 CONCLUSION
First aid is a crucial and decisive intervention. It may mean the life or death
for an individual who has been unfortunate, careless or unprepared enough to
fall victim to a sudden impact, fall or blow that caused his need for first aid.
If you are willing to undertake the job of his or her rescuer, you should never
underestimate the importance of what you do - even if it involves a simple
cut.
However, this importance must not fill you with stress and anxiety. These
can bring about only the worst possible results. Remember that the person
laying in front of you is probably in a state of shock, in pain and agony and
needs to feel reassured that everything is going to be OK. And you are the
one that is supposed to provide these reassurances.
And you cannot do that if you have not kept your calm, your composure and
your confidence. Any lack of these elements will immediately by understood
by the victim and this will make him even more stressed, anxious, depressed
and in agony than he or she should be. Additionally, it will fill him with
despair. And that’s the worst thing that can happen.
To render first aid is also a badge of honor for you, if it’s not about an
incident at home. It means that you are there to help. It means that you are
there because you care. Otherwise you would be standing along with the rest
of the bystanders who are curiously observing you. Doing nothing at all. And
ready to intervene and criticize and prevent you from doing what needs to be
done.
But this badge of honor requires frequent updating and acquisition of
knowledge in new techniques, advances in science that render old ones
obsolete, discoveries that determine that some of the existing ways are not as
effective as they should be. And it is imperative that you remain aware of
these issues.
However, first aid is also what the term says, first aid. It is not treatment, it is
not a cure, it is not the result of the proper attendance given by doctors and
trained first responders. It is aid with the purpose of assisting and making it
easier for the professionals to do their jobs efficiently and with the best
possible results for the victim.
Thinking that you may provide the same levels of attendance as a doctor or a
first responder is a huge overestimation of your abilities. While it is possible
that you could provide such assistance, thinking this way will eventually lead
you to a mistake that may prove damaging to the victim or even fatal.
And then it will be you in need of psychiatric help and anti-psychotic
medication to reduce the somatic symptoms that will result from the remorse
and guilt that you will be feeling.
To briefly recap your physical actions:
Ø Assert authority and send all bystanders away. Assign one of them to
call for help if you cannot do it yourself for whatever reason.
Ø Establish a clear area so that the victim may have plenty of air and the
first responders have easy and immediate access
Ø Assess the situation. Do not attempt any rescue if you suspect there is
danger to you or to others. While you may not care for any physical
damage that may occur to you, you should be greatly concerned for the
possibility of been infected with a harmful bacteria or a transferable
disease.
Ø Focus on the victim and their needs. Do what you need to with
confidence and faith. Do whatever it takes to calm the victim down and
transmit a feeling that everything is in order. A little humor and a smile
might help a lot better than a serious face and a shouting voice.
Ø Take all the necessary precautions. Never disregard a safety measure as
not necessary.
One last thought before the epilogue is written. Just think of what you will
feel after you have performed promptly, the victim has been saved and they
look at you with gratitude in their eyes and the words “thank you for a job
well done!” in their mouths.
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 Preview Of Urban Survival
Handbook:
Prepping For Survival During A
Zombie Apocalypse
(A Special Disaster Scenario Edition)

Home Base
We’re going to begin by talking about the home base, i.e. the place where
you will be spending a lot of time once the apocalypse knocks out the power
and other such social niceties. It’s crucial that you prepare your home base
for the eventualities of the zombie apocalypse by looking at your entrance
and exit strategies, its overall durability, and its defensibility. We’re going to
look at this in two stages: Before the Apocalypse then During the
Apocalypse. Finally, we will finish with what do you do when your base isn’t
adequate. This should help you cover any eventuality when it comes to the
decision of where to live and how to survive there.
Before the Apocalypse
WATER: Like any major disaster the zombie apocalypse can be planned for.
There is no telling when it may happen, but there are certain things you can
do to make sure you’re ready should the problem present itself. Take a page
out of general disaster preparedness and make sure you have a way to get
potable water. They say a gallon per person per day, so that might be quite a
bit of water. You will also want to consider how you’re going to get water
once the supply you have on hand runs out. If you’re in an area where it rains
significantly, you will want to consider a rain barrel or other method of
collecting rain water. You can also use any outside water features such as
nearby lakes, rivers, or ponds. Just keep in mind you’re going to have to
decontaminate that water in some way. This will help you to be able to
stretch your water to survive any eventuality.
FOOD: Food can also be stockpiled prior to the apocalypse. You will want to
make sure you have a can opener as canned goods are your best bet for
keeping food should the power go out. There are no hard and fast guidelines
for how much food to keep on hand, but considering no one can be certain of
how long the zombie apocalypse will last, stockpiling as much food as
possible is a safe bet. You may also want to consider starting a garden. While
going outside may become a risky endeavor, having some food coming from
outside your house can help to stretch the canned food for a longer period.
You will also want to consider how or with what you will be cooking. With
no power, it may be rather hard to use the stove. This is when having a
charcoal or wood burning grill could be quite useful. However, keep in mind
that using one could possibly attract others to your base.
COMMUNICATION: While there is still time make sure you get batteries,
charge phones, and keep a hand crank radio around. If the power goes out,
you’re going to want to still be able to keep in touch at least for as long as the
battery lasts and the radio is to give you a listening ear to the outside world.
Without nationwide electricity, the radio is the next best thing to insure the
masses get the message.
HOUSE FEATURES: When considering your house features, make sure you
have accounted for a sturdy door or doors and strong windows. If you can,
board up windows to make sure there are fewer ways in. Doors can be
barricaded with movable barricades to allow you to enter and exit the base.
This assumes you are living in a house, probably one floor. If you’re living in
an apartment building, you have fewer abilities to make changes to the
building itself, but the bonus of having a staircase leading up to your door
which creates a defensible position of getting you up off the ground.
However, it does make entrance and exit a bit trickier. Scout your building
for alternative means of exiting such as a balcony or fire escape.
During the Apocalypse
WATER: If you followed the earlier instructions, you have some water
already saved. This is good, but it is a finite supply so ration accordingly.
Things like flushing toilets can fall by the wayside for a while in order to
conserve your water. However, no matter how good you are at rationing,
eventually you are going to have to find a new water supply. At that point,
you have two options: find a house with water still available or find an
outside water feature such as a river or lake. I will cover both more
extensively in the foraging section. In short form however you should first
scout the other houses nearby assuming there isn’t a water feature close
enough to be of immediate use. However, if there is water close by, make use
of that. Just be careful, there are zombies out looking to feast on your brains.
Take a quick route there and if you’re being followed on the way back, do
one of two things: either get far enough ahead that they can’t follow you
directly back home or take out your pursuit and then head back home as
quickly as possible.
FOOD: Finding food once the apocalypse is in full swing is a lot like finding
water. Either you can try another nearby home to see if they have anything
you can eat or you can try place more extensively like your local grocery
store. Just keep in mind, your local grocery store may already be picked clean
by those who made a run on supplies before the disaster happened.
COMMUNICATION: With the power out, you’re going to have to use less
tech heavy ways to communicate. In some movies, you see people using
things like whiteboards to get their message across. Use whatever you can.
HOUSE FEATURES: The Zombie Apocalypse is in full swing. There are
zombies around every corner. If you didn’t make major home improvements
before the fall, now would be a good time. Make sure that you’ve covered,
closed off as many of the windows as you can. If you can get the giant doors
like in “I Am Legend” that would be great. However, if you can’t, simply
wooden things such as plywood should keep your windows from being
busted in. This also reduces the likelihood you being seen. Doors are another
matter. You are going to want to keep at least one door open so you can enter
and exit from the house. Now, if this door must be on the first floor, creating
a way to bottleneck zombies and make them easier to get rid of is useful. You
don’t necessarily want live zombies traipsing around your property because
where there is one, more will follow. You want to keep your space as much
of a zombie free zone as you can. If this is unavoidable, you live in a heavily
populated area or there is simply something drawing them to your locale,
then do everything you can to make your entrance and exit as unobtrusive as
possible so you have a better chance of getting in and out alive.
This covers the basics of what to do before the apocalypse and during the
apocalypse to create a home base you can be proud of, but what about if you
can’t possibly make your current home into somewhere close to zombie
proof? That entails moving from point A to somewhere a little more
defensible like point B.
Click Here To View Urban Survival Handbook: Prepping For Survival
During A Zombie Apocalypse (A Special Disaster Scenario Edition)
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