First Aid: To the bone

With summer in full swing and kids excited to head outdoors to play, the possibility of getting injured isn’t a distant possibility. When the injury takes a more serious tone, such as a sprain or a fracture, it’s important to know what to do and not to panic.

How do we tell the difference between a sprain and a fracture?

It is difficult to differentiate as both conditions result in swelling around the injury, bruising of the skin and both feel pretty painful. The best thing to do is to treat the injury as if it is a fracture.

How many types of fracture are there?

Generally, there are two types. Closed fracture is when there is a break in the bone but no damage to the skin or tissue. There will be swelling or skin discolouration at the site of the injury and the injured limb (肢体) cannot move. Open or compound fractures are more obvious as there is a break in the bone, bleeding, and an open wound near the fracture. There is a risk of bacteria getting into the bone, which can cause infection, so seek treatment promptly.

What should parents do?

Parents should:

1. Take clothing off the injured area.

2. If there is no open wound, apply an ice pack to relieve pain and swelling.

3. If a bone fracture is suspected, make a simple splint (夹板) with a board or folded newspapers to immobilise the limb.

4. For open fractures, do not wash the wound or push in any bone that’s sticking out as this causes infection. If the wound continues to bleed, use a clean cloth and press the wound to stop the bleeding. Do not straighten the deformed or curved limbs.

5. If the injury is to the head, neck or back, do not move your child and call 999 immediately.

In a new move, doctors are using feature films in order to encourage their patients to talk more freely about their problems. Supporters of “film therapy (疗法)” say that discussing characters and plot lines from a proper film can help people to understand their feelings better.

One of those using the method is Dr Zhang, a doctor from Shanghai, who charges ¥250 for a one-hour “film therapy” session. He said, “I was treating a woman who had been badly heartbroken in a relationship, and who was experiencing such strong feelings that it was difficult for her to speak about them. I told her that her situation reminded me of On the Waterfront, when the hero realizes his brother is dishonest and he feels a great sense of betrayal (背叛). My patient identified so easily with him that she started to cry. Watching and discussing the film unlocked all the feelings she had buried. Each time she watched and cried, she felt better.”

Dr Zhang admits that film therapy does not work for everyone, but says he has used it successfully with about a third of his clients. “Through the films’ characters, plots and even music, it allows people to face their problems.” He said that Falling Down, in which Michael Douglas plays the part of an unemployed man who is so depressed that he uses violence, was an example of the dangerous results of not letting anger go. “I used this film with a patient who was very upset because he was holding back a lot of the anger he felt towards people who had hurt him,” said Dr Zhang. “We talked about Michael Douglas’s character and the disastrous path he takes, and my patient then realized that he needed to let go of his feelings more regularly so as not to burst out like a time bomb.”

Everybody should have some first aid techniques,because accidents and medical emergencies can happen anywhere at any time and in such an urgent situation lives can be saved. St. John First Aid courses give you the knowledge and confidence to provide effective first aid whenever it is needed.

First Aid Level 1

Ideal for anyone who wants to learn basic first aid or needs to renew their first aid qualification (资格). Courses can be held at St. John or your workplace.

Fee: $162 (includes GST)

Duration: eight hours

First Aid Level 2

Includes all course content from First Aid Level 1,plus an additional half day. Ideal for special first aiders,health and safety managers and anyone who needs a first aid qualification.

Fee: $235 (includes GST)

Duration: twelve hours

Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC)

Advanced training for first aiders who already hold unit standards 6400 and 6402. Ideal for people who require advanced first aid skills or a pre-hospital emergency care qualification for their work.

Fee: $635 (includes GST)

Duration: three days

Child First Aid

Ideal for parents,grandparents and other family caregivers.A recognized qualification for childcare workers.

Fee: $65 (includes GST)

Duration: four hours

Outdoor First Aid

First aid response to accidents and medical emergencies in the wilderness. For groups of eight or more.

Duration: one to two days depending on experience

Sports First Aid

First aid response to common sports injuries and medical emergencies. Includes ACC injury prevention advice.

Fee: $65 (includes GST)(If you are a trainer, you can get a 20% discount.)

Duration: eight hours