Poison Ivy Rash

 It is usually not hard to identify a child with a poison ivy rash, especially a classic case of poison ivy, which might include a child with a known exposure to poison ivy after a camping trip, hike in the woods, or day at the lake, who then develops a red, itchy rash all over his body a few days later.
After exposure to the leaves, stems, or roots of a poison ivy plant, children develop symptoms of poison ivy within 8 hours to a week or so, including:

• an intensely itchy rash
• red bumps that often are in a straight line or streaks, from where the poison ivy plant had contact with your child's skin
• vesicles and blisters that are filled with fluid

Keep in mind that children exposed to poison sumac and poison oak, other members of the genus Rhus or Toxicodendron, can get these same symptoms that are generically referred to as poison ivy symptoms above. (Using medical terminology, these children develop rhus dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis, an intensely pruritic, linear, erythematous, papulovesicular rash after exposure to the urushiol oil in poison ivy.)
Other characteristic signs and symptoms of poison ivy are that the rash will worsen over days or weeks without treatment with steroids, the rash may not go away for up to three weeks without treatment, many children will have worsening symptoms with each exposure, and that some areas of a child's skin that had less exposure to the poison ivy plant will get the rash later than others.

This article is taken from- http://pediatrics.about.com/od/poisonivy/a/06_psn_ivy_rash.htm

First aid

First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a non-expert person to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.
While first aid can also be performed on all animals, the term generally refers to care of human patients.

History

The instances of recorded first aid were provided by religious knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller, formed in the 11th century, providing care to pilgrims and knights, and training other knights in how to treat common battlefield injuries. The practice of first aid fell largely in to disuse during the High Middle Ages, and organized societies were not seen again until in 1859 Henry Dunant organized local villagers to help victims of the Battle of Solferino, including the provision of first aid. Four years later, four nations met in Geneva and formed the organization which has grown into the Red Cross, with a key stated aim of "aid to sick and wounded soldiers in the field". This was followed by the formation of St. John Ambulance in 1877, based on the principles of the Knights Hospitaller, to teach first aid, and numerous other organization joined them with the term first aid first coined in 1878 as civilian ambulance services spread as a combination of 'first treatment' and 'national aid' in large railway centres and mining districts as well as with police forces. First aid training began to spread through the empire through organisations such as St John, often starting, as in the UK, with high risk activities such as ports and railways.
Many developments in first aid and many other medical techniques have been driven by wars, such as in the case of the American Civil War, which prompted Clara Barton to organize the American Red Cross.^[3] Today, there are several groups that promote first aid, such as the military and the Scouting movement. New techniques and equipment have helped make today’s first aid simple and effective.

Aims

the key aims of first aid can be summarized in three key points:

• Preserve life - the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives
• Prevent further harm - also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening,or danger of further injury, this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.
• Promote recovery - first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound

First aid training also involves the prevention of initial injury and responder safety, and the treatment phases.
 To know more information about it click here...

An immediate treatment of snack bite:

Snake bites can be deadly and it cause infection or allergic reaction in some time.
Each poison is venomous, but some of these are dangerous for alive. Snacks are looks greasy and very snoopiest. For the breakable environment of wildlife area snack is very important.
In United State nearly 8,000 people caught by poisonous snack bite and 9 to 15 victim die in each year. In India nearly 200,000 people are bitten by snack. Just over 50,000 people die every year and under 140 deaths per day for this reason. People who live near forest or wild area are familiar with various types of snacks. When some people about to go for some campaign, hiking, visiting they can face to face of some snacks. All of those peoples can be aware about the pose of the dangerous snacks because most of time victim will die for the wrong treatment for unnoticing of the exact snack by which they were bitted. Sometime they think the snack is nonpoisonous and suffer from the infections.
Poisonous snacks:
Some snacks have venomous bites. They are…..

• Rattlesnake
• Copperhead
• Cottonmouth Water Moccasin
• Coral Snake

Symptom of poisonous bites:
You can masseurs about the venomous snack bite by some symptom in your body parts if you are bitted from some snack. Your wounded will be fulfilling. Tooth marks in your skin and growths the side of the biting. Small localized area will pain cruelly. You’ll fell lightheadedness, weakness and look pale. Your vision will be fuzzy, excessive growth and you will fall in fever. You will fell thirsty, loss your muscle coordination. You’ll fell sickness, stinging, lack of felling and vomiting will running. You will loss your rhythm.
Immediate treatment:
There is most important to take an immediate treatment for the patient. Some time you can’t predict the seriousness if someone is bitted by snack. In this time you can response for this if you know about a little bit of this matter like a first aid.

Firstly wash this place with soap and water. Then tied the bitten area and keep it above the injured area and lower than the heart. Dressing it clean, clear cloth for reducing the discomfort and growth and monitor the vital signs. If there is impossible to reach to medical care within 30 minuets then it is necessary to apply a bandage, wrapped two to four inches above the bite, to help slow the venom. This should not stop the flowing of blood from the vain and bandage should not be loose enough to slide a finger under it.
Physicians use antivenin - an antidote to snake venom to treat snake bites. Antivenin is created with horse’s blood serum. It is derived from antibodies of horse's blood serum. Because antivenin is obtained from horses you must be carefully managed.
Avoid the biting of snack:
You have to careful about it so that you will not be bitten from any snack. Don’t go too close of a snack or don’t want to kill or hurt them and leave them alone. Avoid the hiking path. Remain long time in long grass when you wearing long thick leather boot. Don’t touch or step those places which you can’t see. Be alert when you climbing on the rocks

Handy First Aid Tips

When someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill, there is usually a critical period before you can get medical treatment and it is this period that is of the utmost importance to the victim. What you do, or what you don't do, in that interval can mean the difference between life and death. You owe it to yourself, your family and your neighbors to know and to understand procedures that you can apply quickly and intelligently in an emergency.
Every household should have some type of first aid kit and if you do not already have one, assemble your supplies now. Tailor the contents to fit your family's particular needs.
Don't add first aid supplies to the jumble of toothpaste and cosmetics in the medicine cabinet. Instead, assemble them in a suitable, labeled box (such as a fishing tackle box or small took chest with hinged cover), so that everything will be handy when needed. Label everything in the kit clearly, and indicate what it is used for. Be sure not to lock the box - otherwise you may be hunting for the key when that emergency occurs. Place the box on a shelf beyond the reach of small children, and check it periodically and always restock items as soon as they are used up.
Keep all medications, including non-prescription drugs such as aspirin, out of reach of children. When discarding drugs, be sure to dispose of them where they cannot be retrieved by children or pets.    
When an emergency occurs, make sure the injured victim's airway is not blocked by the tongue and that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign objects. It is extremely important that the person is breathing freely. And if not, you need to administer artificial respiration promptly. See that the victim has a pulse and good blood circulation as you check for signs of bleeding. Act fast if the victim is bleeding severly or if he has swallowed poison or if his heart or breathing has stopped. Remember every second counts.
Although most injured persons can be safely moved, it is vitally important not to move a person with serious neck or back injuries unless you have to save him from further danger. Keep the patient lying down and quiet. If he has vomited and there is no danger that his neck is broken, turn him on his side to prevent choking and keep him warm by covering him with blankets or coats.
Have someone call for medical assistance while you apply first aid. The person who summons help should explain the nature of the emergency and ask what should be done pending the arrival of the ambulance. Reassure the victim, and try to remain calm yourself. Your calmness can allay the fear and panic of the patient.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person; fluids may enter his windpipe and cause suffocation. Don't try to arouse an unconscious person by slapping or shaking.
Look for an emergency medical identification card or an emblematic device that the victim may be wearing to alert you to any health problems, allergies or diseases that may require special care.

This article is taken from- http://www.pioneerthinking.com/firstaid.html

Safety Guidelines for India

Some safety guidelines for India are suggested here, so that you don't face any avoidable problem. Read on to know about the guidelines for traveling in India:

• Find out about the infectious diseases endemic in India and countries to which you will be traveling, and get the appropriate shots and pills, and take the appropriate medications with you if your doctor thinks it's necessary.
• You should be aware of the local laws and customs prevailing in India. This will help in making your trip hassle free.
• It is better to keep your contacts at home and in India well informed of your whereabouts and activities. Also, keep copies of your important travel documents with them for any unforeseeable in the future.
• Don't keep your wallet in the rear pocket. Keep it in an inside jacket pocket or side trouser pocket.
• All valuables and important papers (jewelry, passports, return tickets, etc) should be kept in your hotel's safe deposit box. Never leave them unattended in your room. Avoid carrying large sums of cash on your person.
• If any unexpected or unknown person comes to your hotel room, exercise caution. It is better not to open the door to unsolicited room service or maintenance people. In case of any suspicion, call the reception or the front desk of the hotel.
• Don't hand over your luggage to any person other than a member of the hotel's bell staff. Make sure to collect a receipt for stored luggage. Never leave your luggage or other expensive items, unattended at airports, bus stands, taxi stands or railway stations.
• Don't take the advice of taxi drivers for the purpose of accommodation.
• If you have a meeting with a potential client or any other unknown individual, it is better to meet in a public place, like a restaurant.
• Don't use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly lit streets. Avoid traveling alone at night.
• Avoid conversing or arguing in loud tones. Never ever discuss your travel plans or any other personal matter with strangers.

This article is taken from- http://www.india-travel-agents.com/india-guide/safety-tips.html