The Health Blog

During my rotation in the Department of Surgery at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, I’ve encountered quite a number of lacerated wounds secondary to dog-bite referred by San Lazaro Hospital for suturing. However, we don’t advise these kinds of wounds to be sutured because they are considered dirty.

Instead, we just advise the following:

1. Wash the bite area vigorously with soap under running water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Apply any anti-septic like povidone iodine or 70% alcohol.
3. Do not cover the wound with bandage of plaster.
4. Do not put anything over the wound like pounded garlic, plant juices, coffee or chilli powder that are believe as cures. These things are nonsterile and may just result to infected wounds.
5. Go to a nearest health center, physician or any hospital to get shots of vaccine immediately.

1. Clean cut and dry. Wash your hands well with soap and water, if available. Plain hand soap is still a good way to wash cuts.

2. Apply a petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or any wound cream available. There’s no need of using antiseptic creams in an uninfected wound.

3. Cover cut or wound with sterile gauze (available in drug stores) this way it will allow are to get to the area without exposing it to dirt and germs.

4. Use bandage tape or a plaster to secure the gauze. Avoid putting too much plaster or tape.

5. Repeat these steps for 3-4 times daily and see the result.

Home care can help open the sinuses and alleviate their dryness.

• Promote drainage
1. Drink plenty of water and hydrating beverages. Hot tea is often recommended.
2. Inhale steam two to four times per day by leaning over a bowl of boiling hot water (not while the water is on the stove) or using a steam vaporizer with a towel over the head and bowl to prevent the escape of the steam. Inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. Taking a hot, steamy shower may also work. Mentholated preparations, such as Vicks Vapo–Rub, can be added to the water or vaporizer to aid in opening the passageways.

As soon as you feel the first symptoms of a migraine attack, drink a caffeinated beverage. While caffeine has been thought to trigger a migraine, once it starts the caffeine will actually help by opening up constricted blood vessels. Make sure you drink plenty water for the duration of the headache. Even mild dehydration can worsen headache symptoms.
A warm shower or bath may help at the onset of the symptoms. If you are not able to take a shower, try putting a cool compress on your head. Sit quietly in a darkened room. This will help ease light or noise sensitivity as well as nausea. A face massage can ease the headache pain and stimulate blood circulation. A warm foot soak is also good for blood circulation.

Some herbal remedies are known to prevent or ease a migraine headache. Dried herbs can be used to make teas or tinctures. Herbal extracts are potent and need to be diluted before use. Capsules come in many herbal combinations and are readily available at most natural or health food stores.

Rest and ice applied early after the injury help to decrease swelling and pain.

1. Ice helps to decrease swelling by constricting blood vessels, by decreasing fluid accumulation, and by cooling and numbing the area.

• Apply ice for 20 minutes an hour every hour while awake, for the first 24 hours. Ice should not be applied directly to the injury.
• To avoid potential cold injury to the site, wrap the ice in a cloth or use a commercial ice pack. A bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth makes a good ice pack.

2. Protect the area from further injury. Stay away from athletic or other possibly injurious activities until after the eye has healed.

Photo courtesy of Medline Plus

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, particularly in a medical emergency. In any emergency you have to be ready with your first aid kit. Many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination.

Scuba divers are prone to get jellyfish stings. Jellyfishes are aquatic animals that can cause a “sting” when they come into direct contact with humans or other animals. The stingers, which are called nematocysts, are usually located at the ends of the tentacles and contain poisons that can be toxic to humans.

Symptoms of jellyfish stings include skin reactions such as skin eruptions, which appear as a painful, raised, red rash that itches, and usually at the area of skin that came into direct contact with the jellyfish. Rarely, Rsevere jellyfish stings can cause weakness, headaches, vomiting, muscle spasms, fevers and chills, and difficulty with breathing, and even shock.

What to do when you are or see a victim of jellyfish stings?

1. If you are the rescuer, protect yourself from contact with the jellyfish or jellyfish tentacles. Consider protective clothing and gloves. Remove the victim from the water.

Important reminders before attempting to stop the bleeding:

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water, if available.

2. Put on medical gloves, if available, before applying direct pressure to the wound. If gloves are not available, use many layers of clean cloth, plastic bags, or the cleanest material available between your hands and the wound.

3. Have the injured person hold direct pressure on the wound, if possible, and elevate the injured area.

4. Use your bare hands to apply direct pressure only as a last resort.