The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-09
City Health Officer Tells What
To Do on Vacation.
What To Do in Case of Acct
dents on Camping Parties.
SHOULD KNOW OF FIRST AID
Tells How to Treat Bites and
Stings of Insects.
"Chiggers" Cause Much Dis
comfort to Many Campers.

What to do in case Of accidents
on vacations, camping parties, pic
mics and other occasions in season
has been made the subject of the
Dr.. Earle G. Brown, city health
officer. His title is First Aid
Hints''
BY EARLE C. BROWN, NJ. D.
Every individual should have a gen.
eral knowledge of first aid. While in
cases of serious sickness, a physician
should be called at once, many severe
illnesses may be avoided by simple
first aid remedies. At this season OF
the year, when SO many persons are
on their vacations, camping or going
to the woods on picnics, a knowledge
of first aid principles is especially i'm
portant.
SpIinters.
Small splinters may be removed
from the flesh by means of a needle
that has been passed thru flame or
dipped in a disinfectant solution.
Larger splinters may be removed by
means of knife blade which has been
previously sterilized by flame or dis
infectant. inserting the blade under
the splinter and then grasping 1t be-
tween the thumb and the knife blade.
To avoid infection, iodine should be
applied to the wound after removal Of
the splinter.
Bites and Stings of Insects.
Bites and stings of insects are best
treated by applying few drops OF
ammonia water, or a paste made OF
ordinary baking soda moistened with
water. In the case Of bees and wasps'
the singer is ordinarily left In the
flesh and this should be removed be-
fore the ammonia is applied. Cold
cloths will often relieve the pain and
swelling.
"Chiggers' or 'jiggers" are the fire.
quent cause of an intense itching of
the skin. These tiny insects bore d.
rectly into the skin and cause an in
Illumination. They are very small
inject, red In color and may be re-
times. after exposure, II a bath is
taken and plenty of soap used. fur
Their discomfort will be avoided.
Bruises.
If the bruise is slight. no treatment
is needed. If more severe, cold or
ice water congresses should be used.
Turkish towels, two or three thick
nesses, muslin or linen eight or ten
thicknesses may be used for this pur-
pose. The dressing should be large
enough to cover the injured area, ex-
tend two TO three inches beyond, and
thick enough to retain the moisture
for some time. The compress is
on the bruised area. The dressings
may be changed frequently, or COW
ering such as oiled, silk, waxed paper,
or. in an emergency, a piece or oil
cloth may be used to keep the dress
ing moist. This cover. of course, is
placed on the outside of the COM
press. This treatment may be con-
tinued indefinitely. If the cold COM
presses are used Immediately after
severe bruise, much of the swelling
Al to- ha
Poison Ivy or Poison Oak.
Contact of the skin with poison oak
or poison ivy will produce in many
persons in a few hours an intense in
fIammation of the skin. The vine is
of the climbing variety, with three
pointed leaves on each main stem.
The center leaf is on stem about
an inch long, while the other two,
one on each side, have practically no
stem.
The parts most often attacked are
the exposed portions of the body, the
face, neck, hands and if the person
goes barefooted, the feet. 1t may
spread to other parts of the body. A
few hours after exposure. a red rash
appears, accompanied by some SWELL
ing and itching. Blisters will form
and in the course of a few hours
break: These blisters may become
infected, with the consequent forma-
ton of pus In severe cases, there
may be other symptoms, such as re-
yer and headache. Persons returning
from a trip to the woods should wash
the exposed portions Of the body with
water and plenty of soap. Some of
the lathe- should be allowed to dry
on the skin. The poison is an acid
and the soap, being alkaline, neutral
lies the effect of the acid. Salt water
Is often used to allay the irritation.
II the inflammation is very severe,
a physician should be consulted at
once. as severe complications may re-