Student Health 101 General Health
A Reference Guide to Student Health

Emergencies and Injuries

Stings and Bites

Bleeding (Severe)
Severe lacerations, or cuts, can cause severe or brisk bleeding.

TREATMENT

Professional Care

1. Call 911 immediately
2. Have the victim lie down and elevate the site that is bleeding. Do not attempt to clean the wound.
3. Press firmly on the wound with a cloth. If blood soaks through, apply a second cloth on top of the first, while maintaining steady pressure.
4. Press firmly on the pressure points (in the arm under the biceps muscle, in the leg in the groin area) if the bleeding is not stopping.

Blood Under the Nail
Bleeding under a nail after any injury to a finger or toe can be very painful. A small cut in the tissue under the nail bed itself usually causes the blood to collect, leading to increased pressure and pain, because the blood is unable to escape.

TREATMENT

Home Care

Apply ice after any injury to minimize pain and swelling.
Make a hole in the nail to drain the blood if you experience severe pain and throbbing.
To drain the blood:
1. 1. Straighten a paper clip. Hold one end with a hot pad and heat the other in a flame until red hot.
2. 2. Place the heated paper clip tip on the nail over the collection of blood and let it burn through the nail. This may take a few tries, but should not be painful because the nail itself does not have nerves. The blood will escape and the pain should be relieved once the hole is complete.
3. 3. Soak your finger in warm soapy water several times a day.

Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:

You experience severe pain, swelling, redness, fever, or pus
Your tetanus vaccination status is unknown

Bruises
Bruises, or contusions, are caused by direct trauma to the small blood vessels under the skin. Bleeding in these tissues causes the black and blue coloration of a bruise.

TREATMENT

Home Care

Apply ice or cold packs to the area for 15 to 20 minutes, several times a day, for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling and pain.
Keep the bruised area elevated.
Apply a heating pad or warm towels if you still have pain two days after the initial injury.

Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:

You experience severe pain, fever, redness, or pus
You begin to bruise easily and/or have multiple unexplained bruises

Burns
Heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation can cause burns. A burn is classified by its depth. A first-degree burn, such as mild sunburn, affects only the outer skin layer, which is dry, red, and painful. A second-degree burn involves several layers of skin. This burn is red, swollen, painful, and blistered. A third-degree burn involves all layers of skin and may involve underlying tissues as well. In this type of burn, the skin is dry and white or charred black in appearance. Nerve injury in a third-degree burn may cause minimal pain or a complete lack of pain.

TREATMENT

Home Care

Run cold water over the burn immediately. Continue to 10 to 15 minutes. Do not use ice.
Remove rings and jewelry in case swelling occurs.
Evaluate the extent of the burn. For small first and second-degree burns:
1. 1. Dress the area with loose gauze and keep elevated.
2. 2. Take Tylenol® or Advil® for pain and change the dressing at least once a day.
3. 3. Leave blisters intact. If blisters do break, clean the area with water, apply an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin® and cover with a loose dressing.

Professional Care
Seek immediate medical attention if:

You suspect you have a third-degree burn
The burn involves the face, hands, feet, genitals, or joint area
The burn involves an area of more than a few inches
The pain lasts more than 48 hours
Any signs of infection are present (increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus or fever)
Your tetanus vaccination status is unknown

PREVENTION

Install working smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher in your home
Set your water heater to 120°F (49°C) or less
Stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother the flames if your clothing catches on fire.

Chest Pain/Heart Attack
Chest pain is a symptom of a variety of medical conditions. Illnesses ranging from pneumonia to muscle strains, indigestion to rib fracture, may all cause chest pain. However, chest pain is also a major symptom of heart attack.

Chest pain from a heart attack is usually felt as a crushing or squeezing sensation. The severity can range from sharp to mild. Other symptoms of heart attack include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, an irregular or rapid heartbeat, or pain radiating to the arm, neck, or jaw.

TREATMENT

Professional Care
Call 911 or emergency services immediately if you have any symptoms of a heart attack.

PREVENTION
The best way to prevent a heart attack is to live a healthy lifestyle. To reduce your risk:

Exercise regularly.
Eat a healthy, low-fat diet.
Avoid smoking.

Choking
Choking occurs when an object (usually food) becomes stuck in the windpipe. Someone who is choking cannot talk, cough, or breathe, and frequently grabs her neck. The victim may turn blue and become unconscious.

TREATMENT

Professional Care

Call 911 immediately if you suspect choking.
Perform the Heimlich maneuver on adults and children over the age of one year who are choking and can not breathe or speak.

To perform the Heimlich maneuver on a conscious victim:

1. Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around her abdomen.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side of that fist against the abdomen just above the belly button, well below the rib cage.
3. Give a quick upward thrust into the victim’s abdomen with both arms.
4. Repeat this process until the object comes out or the victim becomes unconscious.

PREVENTION

Take small bites of food and chew thoroughly
Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol before eating
Prevent children under three years of age from handling small toys or foods such as peanuts and hard candies.

Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts - A cut, or laceration, occurs when the skin is sliced open.

TREATMENT

Home Care

1. Assess the degree of bleeding
2. Attempt to stop the bleeding.
- To stop minor bleeding:
- Apply direct pressure over the wound for ten to 15 minutes.
- Wash the cut well with soap and water once the bleeding stops.
- To stop severe bleeding:
- Follow the instructions in “Bleeding” on page 8
3. Determine whether the cut requires stitches. Stitches are likely needed for cuts that are a quarter of an inch (0.6 cm) deep or gaping; cuts over a joint; cuts on the hand, face, eyelid, or lips; and cuts where bleeding is not easily controlled.
4. Seek emergency care if:

You think a cut may require stitches or if you are uncertain if stitches are required. Most lacerations should be stitched within six hours of the injury to prevent infection.
You are uncertain of your tetanus vaccination status, have any signs of infection (redness, pus, swelling, severe pain, or fever), or if the initial cut appears dirty or contains foreign materials such as wood or gravel Scrapes - A scrape, or abrasion, occurs when the top part of the skin is injured, such as in a scraped knee. Scrapes are usually quite dirty.

TREATMENT

Home Care

1. Attempt to remove large pieces of debris with tweezers and then cleanthe wound thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Apply steady pressure with a bandage or cloth to stop bleeding.
3. Use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin®, and a non-stick bandage.

Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:

You have any signs of infection (redness, pus, swelling, severe pain, or fever) or heavy bleeding
You are uncertain about your tetanus vaccination status

Fever
A fever is a body temperature greater than 100.4ºF (38.0ºC) when taken by mouth. It is a symptom, not a disease. A fever is usually a sign that your body is fighting infection. Most healthy adults tolerate fevers without any long-term problems.

TREATMENT

Home Care

Take Tylenol® or Advil® to help reduce your fever.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Take a sponge bath with room-temperature water.
Determine the underlying cause of the fever (with assistance from a physician) and treat it.

Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:

You have a persistently high fever of 103ºF to 105ºF (39.4º to 40.6ºC) or more for more than six hours, despite home treatment
You experience a fever with any of the following:
Shortness of breath and cough
Pain behind the cheekbones or above the eyes
Pain or burning with urination
Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
A very stiff neck and headache
Confusion or change in behavior
You experience a low-grade fever of 100.4ºF to 102ºF (38.0ºC to 38.9ºC) that lasts more than one week

Frostbite
Frostbite is a freezing of the skin or underlying tissue that occurs as a result of exposure to cold temperatures. It can occur quickly in very cold weather or in conditions where wind chill speeds up body heat loss. Frostbite generally affects the toes, feet, fingers, earlobes, and nose. It leaves skin feeling hard, cold, pale or blue, numb, and possibly blistered.

Frostnip is an early form of frostbite characterized by numbness and whitening of the skin.

TREATMENT

Take shelter from the cold and wind.
For mild frostnip to small body areas:
Warm the area by breathing on it through cupped hands, or by placing the frostnipped region into the warm underarm area.
For frostbite:
Avoid rubbing or massaging the area.
Re-warm affected area in warm water (101ºF to 104ºF, 38.3ºC to 40ºC).
Seek emergency care.

PREVENTION

Stay dry, wear multiple layers of clothing, and keep all potentially exposed areas (ears, nose, etc.) well covered if you expect to spend any length of time in the cold.
Always wear a hat in the cold and consider wearing mittens rather than gloves.

Heat Stroke/Exhaustion
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that strikes when your body’s cooling mechanism fails. Signs of heat stroke include a very high body temperature; hot, dry skin; the absence of sweating, and confusion or loss of consciousness.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by fatigue; light-headedness; nausea or vomiting; headache; and cool, clammy, pale skin. It is the result of fluid and body-salt losses that may occur when you are working or exercising in hot weather.

TREATMENT

Home Care
At the first signs of heat exhaustion:

Move to a cool area, loosen your clothing, and sponge your face and neck with cool water.
Drink cool water or sports drink in large quantities, a little at a time.

Professional Care

Call 911 or go to the emergency room with any signs or symptoms of heat stroke.

PREVENTION

Avoid strenuous outdoor physical activity during the hottest part of the day.
Wear light, loose-fi tting clothing when spending prolonged time in the sun or heat.
Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day. Drink more or consider sports drinks such as Gatorade® if you are working or exercising in hot weather.
Be aware of signs of heat illness.

Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds generally respond well to home treatment. The most common causes are nasal trauma, nose picking, cold and allergies, dry air, and medications.

TREATMENT

Home Care

1. Sit up with your head tipped slightly forward.
2. Pinch the nostrils shut and hold uninterrupted pressure for 15 minutes.
3. Repeat if necessary.
4. Avoid blowing your nose for the next 24 hours.

Professional Care
Seek immediate medical care if:

Bleeding does not stop
Blood runs down your throat
You feel dizzy or light-headed
You have recurrent nosebleeds

PREVENTION

Humidify your home if you live in a dry climate.
Gently apply petroleum jelly on the inside of your nose to prevent bleeding in a dry environment.

Stings and Bites
Animal Bites - Dogs and cats are the most common perpetrators of animal bites. Bites from wild animals that may carry rabies, such as skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes, are less common, but often more dangerous. In the United States, physicians assume that animals such as rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits, do not carry rabies. Pet dogs and cats that have been vaccinated rarely have rabies; however, their bites may lead to bacterial skin infections. Contact your local health department if a wild animal or pet with an uncertain vaccination history bites you.

TREATMENT

Home Care

Wash the bite area immediately with soap and water if a healthy pet bites you.
Check with the veterinarian regarding the pet’s vaccination status.

Professional Care
Seek Medical attention if:

Any wild animal or a pet with an uncertain vaccination history bites you
The bite breaks the skin for evaluation for possible antibiotic treatment and tetanus update

PREVENTION

Never approach or touch a wild animal.
Do not handle sick or injured animals.
Do not disturb animals while they are eating.

Insect Bites and Stings - Reactions to insect stings and spider bites are very common. Bee stings are extremely common and potentially deadly. A normal response includes pain, redness, localized swelling, and itching; however, some people have severe allergic reactions that include hives, shortness of breath, facial or tongue swelling, dizziness, and chest pain. Such reactions could be life threatening.

TREATMENT
Carry an emergency epinephrine (adrenalin) kit at all times and know how to use it if you every have experienced a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting. Normal reactions can be treated safely at home.

Home Care
To remove the stinger:

1. Gently scrape the stinger out of the skin. Avoid squeezing it, because this may release more venom.
2. Wash and apply ice to the area.
3. Apply a paste of baking soda and water or meat tenderizer and water to the area.
4. Take a nonprescription antihistamine such as Benadryl® for itching and swelling.

Professional Care
Call 911 or otherwise seek emergency medical attention for any of the following:

Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the face or tongue
Hives
Diffuse rash
Chest pain
Dizziness

PREVENTION
To avoid bee stings when outdoors:

Wear light-colored clothing.
Avoid perfumes and colognes.
Avoid going barefoot.
Stay clear of nest and hives.

Tick Bites - Ticks live in animal fur or feathers and are generally found in grass and wooded areas. They can fasten themselves onto the skin and feed on blood. Most do not carry diseases; however, some can transmit infection.

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by a deer tick bit and occurs in various regions of the United States. Early symptoms include a “bull’s eye” rash, characterized by redness with a clear or white center at the bite site, which develops days to weeks after the initial bite. Flu-like symptoms and joint pain may also occur. Untreated or unrecognized Lyme disease may progress to heart and nervous-system problems.

TREATMENT
The longer the tick remains attached, the higher your chance of acquiring a tick-borne illness. Do not attempt to smother the attached tick with gasoline or petroleum jelly or burn the tick off. These treatments may increase the chance of disease transmission.

Home Care
To remove the tick:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
2. Pull straight out and avoid twisting the tick.
3. Clean the area well.

Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:

You are unable to completely remove the tick
You live in an area where Lyme disease is common
You develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms

PREVENTION

Wear light-colored clothing and tuck pant legs into your socks when working or playing in grass or wooded areas.
Apply insect repellant according to label directions.
Check yourself regularly for ticks while outdoors.
Remove your clothing and check your entire body carefully after returning indoors.

Student Health 101 General Health A Reference Guide to Student Health

Emergencies and Injuries

Student Health 101 General Health
A Reference Guide to Student Health