ICE PACK FOR FIRST AID

ICE PACK
Ice pack is a local application of ice over a body segment.

Effects:

1. Relieves pain.
2. Prevents or lessen black and blue discoloration due to capillary bleeding.
3. Stops bleeding especially if applied with pressure.
4. Prevents and reduces swelling.
5. Decrease blood flow to the area.
6. Constricts blood vessels, therefore, decreases tendency to bleeding.

Things Needed:

1. Two bath towels.
2. Two safety pins.
3. Finely crushed ice-amount depends on the size of the area to be treated.
4. A piece of flannel cloth or baby’s blanket.
5. A piece of plastic.

Procedure:

1. Spread the finely crushed ice on the bath towel, forming a layer about one inch thick. Adjust the surface area as needed for the affected part. Wrap the ice and secure it with safety pins.
2. Wrap the area or joint with flannel cloth or towel and place the ice pack, following the contour of the area.
3. Never apply an ice pack directly on the skin. Cover the packed ice with plastic and secure carefully to prevent the bed from getting wet.
4. Treatment time: 30 minutes to one hour. If there is a burning sensation during the ice pack application, the ice pack is not well insulated. Add insulator or add towel flannel cloth.
5. To end treatment, remove the pack, dry the area and observe reaction. Treatment may be repeated after two hours in acute injuries to relieve pain and swelling.
6. Cover or bandage area to avoid chilling, especially in acute sprain ankles.

STARCH BATH TREATMENT AND BENEFITS

Starch Bath
Immersion bath in starchy water for a soothing effect.

Effects:
1. Relieves skin irritation.
2. Soothes burning and itching sensations.
3. Tendency to dry skin.

Things Needed:
1. Bathtub. For babies, big basin may be used.
2. Big drum or plastic water container for adults, big enough to soak the whole body.
3. Two glasses of starch for adult. Half glass for babies and children.
4. One bath towel.
5. Face towel.

Procedure:
1. Fill up the tub 2/3 full with warm water. Water should be deep enough to immerse the affected areas. Use bathtub if whole body is affected.
2. Melt the starch in cold water in a small basin. Mix well the melted starch into the tub water.
3. Undress the patient and assist him into the tub.
4. With face towel, bathe the parts not immersed. Wet the head or hair if the scalp is affected. Immerse patient for 20 minutes, but do not rub him with towel.
5. After 20 minutes, drain the water and pat dry the patient with use soap even for washing hands, unless the physician orders a specific soap.
6. Keep patient warm and avoid chilling.
7. Give daily bath or twice a day, depending upon the patient’s condition.

SKIN ITCHINESS AND ALLERGY

An allergy is a condition of acquired specific alteration, which may be caused by sensitization and exposure to an allergen. Skin itchiness may be due to contact with allergen.

Water Treatment
1. Starch bath. You may use kamoteng kahoy flour for this.
2. Gawgaw or starch powder. Use powder after taking a bath or at bedtime.

Herbal Medication
1. Kakawate or madre de cacao leaves. Crush or chop young leaves and extract the juice. Apply the juice on the skin until itchiness is relieved.
2. Kalatsutsi or graveyard flower sap from leaves or barks. Extract the sap or juice from the leaves and trunk. Mix with coconut oil. Rub the mixture on the affected skin, 2 times a day.
3. Kanya Pistula or golden shower leaves. Rub the crushed leaves on the affected area until relieved from itchiness.

RINGWORM TREATMENT

Ringworm is an infection of the skin, hair and nails with various fungi, producing ring-like lesions with raised borders.

Water Treatment Using Herbal Decoctions

1. Daily bath with bayabas or guava leaves decoction. Boil 10 cups of chopped fresh leaves in ½ gallon of water for 15 minutes. Add enough cold water to fill up one big pail after straining. Bathe with this decoction while still hot.
2. Tabako Leaves decoction shampoo (if head and hair are affected). Boil 10 leaves of fresh tabako leaves in ½ gallon of water for 15 minutes. Cool and drain. Add enough water to fill up a 3-gallon pail. Shampoo hair with decoction, once a day until healed.
3. Kamatigui or touch me not balsam compress or poultice. Crush 5-10 kamatigui or touch me not balsam flower. Amount depends upon the size of the infection. Crush flowers until juice is extracted. Apply directly over the infected part as compress for 30 minutes, 2 times a day.
4. Bawang or Garlic cloves. Peel and crush one clove of bawang or garlic and rub it on the affected area until it gets red. Apply 2 times a day: in the morning after morning bath and in bedtime.
5. Adelfa bark and leaves. Chop a one-foot long branch. Mix with one cup chopped fresh young leaves. Mix the juice with 5 drops of fresh coconut oil. Apply on affected parts, 3 times a day.
6. Akapulko or ringworm bush leaves. Crush 5 leaves. Rub the juice on the affected areas, 2 times a day.

TREATMENT FOR MOSQUITO BITES

MOSQUITO BITES
Infected mosquito bites becomes swollen and painful.

Water Treatment
1. Rub the infected area with wet soap. Don’t rinse with water; let it dry on the skin for two hours. If itchiness is not relieved, repeat after four hours.
2. Keep the surroundings clean and dry. Empty all stagnant water containers in and around the house.

Herbal Medication
1. Kataka-taka or Life Plant leaves. Pound five to 10 leaves and extract the juice. Apply the juice on the bitten part, three times a day.
2. Atis fruit or Sugar Apple. Pound and extract the juice from one unripe fruit. Apply directly on the infected bites, three times a day.