Tag Archives: Hygiene

habits of keeping clean and sanitary in order to avoid illness

First Aid for Minor Cuts, Scrapes, and Burns

Posted by on February 8, 2012 Comments Off

Not all injuries require a trip to the emergency room, but even minor wounds should be cared for in order to prevent infection (especially if you are out in the wilderness) or making them worse and slowing down the time it takes to heal.

Burns:

  • For first and second degree burns resulting from flame or heat, you should run some lukewarm water over the burn and wrap it up securely in a damp cloth.  Try to keep the injury elevated.  Avoid popping any resulting blisters.

Cuts and Scrapes:

  • Wash the injury with water and soap and try to keep the wound clean, watch for redness to appear around the injury, a possible sign of infection.  Wrap the injury in a piece of cloth.  If bleeding won’t stop, you will need to fashion a tourniquet.  You can improvise one with a strip of cloth or a belt.  Tighten the tourniquet the limb above the injury.

 

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Pooping in the Great Outdoors

Posted by on February 6, 2012 Comments Off

If you’re stuck out in the wild and have nothing with which to wipe your ass after defecating, there are a few other good options for getting your butt clean:

  • Not only does it make for an easier, faster defecation, squatting (as opposed to sitting) also leaves your butt clean after the dirty deed is done, so there’s less to clean.
  • Leaves (of the non-poisonous varieties) are always a go-to toilet paper substitute.  Beech leaves are prime.
  • In the cold, snow is a great way to get your ass clean after a good pooping.

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Survial Gear for Staying Dry in the Rain and Snow

Posted by on January 25, 2012 Comments Off

If you find yourself in the wilderness, staying dry is extremely important for your health and hygiene.  Wearing wet clothes can contribute to some illnesses.  In cold climates, staying dry is necessary for avoiding hypothermia.  Having an extra set of clothes in your water-proof bag is a smart idea.

If you know ahead of time that you are going into a wet and possibly cold climate, you should invest in some waterproof gear.  Note that water-resistant gear is not the same thing.  Water-resistant gear can help you stay dry in light rain for a little while.  However, for more severe and long-lasting weather conditions, waterproof gear is the way to go.  Waterproof gear is typically a little heavier than water-resistant gear. Waterproof fabrics shed water because they have been treated with a waterproofing agent or because of how the fabric is woven or what it is made out of.

 

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First Aid Uses for Tea Bags

Posted by on December 30, 2011 Comments Off

Tea bags containing leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant, such as normal white, black, or green teas, can be useful to pack in your fist aid kit or big out bag.  They’re lightweight and take up little space.  These teas, especially black tea, contain a substance called tannins, which are the source of the their medicinal properties.  Tannins have an astringent quality, which ran reduce inflammation of bodily tissue and restricting blood vessels.

Apply a moistened tea bag for relief for the following conditions:

  • Pink eye
  • Sunburn
  • Bleeding gum tissue/wounds in the mouth/knocked out teeth
  • Snow blindness
  • Minor insect bites
  • Bruises/swelling
  • Canker sores
  • Draining a boil
  • Drying out a poison ivy/oak rash
  • Swab your feet with a damp tea bag to get rid of foot odor
  • Relieve razor burn

There are also other uses for tea bags you can consider:

  • Add the contents of used tea bags to planting soil or compost, adding nutrients
  • For tired, puffy eyes, rest two tea bags over your eyes to refresh them
  • Tea or teabags can be used to clean grime off your floors, counter surfaces, mirrors, pots and pans
  • After washing your hair, you can rinse with a cup of tea to condition it, though might not be recommended for those with light-colored hair

Featured Photo by Kate Ter Haar


Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately.

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Survival Skills: Making Soap from Animal Fat

Posted by on November 11, 2011 Comments Off

 

Your own soap probably won't look as nice as this

Soap is a wonderful thing, helping you keep clean and healthy in a world full of germs and bacteria.  If you have no soap, here is a method you can use to make some:

  • Extract grease from animal fat by cutting the fat into smaller bits and cook the fat in a pot.
  • Pour in enough water to the pot to keep the fat from sticking to the pot as it cooks.
  • You should heat the fat slowly and stir often.
  • Once the fat has been rendered, pour the separated grease into another container to let it solidify.
  • Put some ashes in a container with a spout near the bottom.  Pour some water over these ashes, and collect the liquid that drips out of the spout in another separate container. This liquid is the lye. Another technique that works to obtain the lye is to pour the the mixture of ashes and water (called the slurry) through a straining cloth if one is available to you.
  • In a pot, combine using the proportion of two parts grease to one part lye.
  • Place the mixture over a fire, boiling it until it thickens.
  • Once the mixture cools down, you can use it in its semi-liquid form, right from the pot. You may also pour it into a pan and allow it to harden so that you can cut it  up into smaller bars for later use.

Featured Photo by lindsay.dee.bunny
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First Aid: Trench Foot

Posted by on November 11, 2011 Comments Off

The foot condition called trench foot is the result of many, many hours or even days of exposure to damp or wet conditions with a temperature just above freezing.  These conditions cause nerves and muscles to sustain damage, and gangrene is a possibility as well. In the worst cases, flesh dies and you may find it necessary to amputate the extremity.

The best method of prevention is to keep the feet as dry as you can. If you can, bring extra socks with you in a waterproof container. Dry the wet socks against your body. Always wash your feet daily and put on dry socks.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately. Read more »

First Aid: Treating Intestinal Parasites

Posted by on November 10, 2011 Comments Off

They live in here

The best way to avoid worm infestations and other parasites partying it up in your intestines is to take preventive measures.

  • Rule number one – Never go barefoot outdoors or even inside dirty buildings.
  • Rule number two – Avoid any uncooked meat and raw vegetables that’s been contaminated by raw sewage or when human waste has been used as a fertilizer.

If you become infested, you should seek professional medical assistance.  If you have no proper medicine, you can try home remedies. These remedies usually work by the idea of changing the environment inside the gastrointestinal tract.  Here are some home remedies:

  • Salt water method – dissolve about four4 tablespoons of salt in one liter of water and drink. Do not repeat this treatment.
  • Tobacco method – eat one to one and a half cigarettes. The nicotine in the tobacco will kill or a least stun the worms long enough for your digestive system to eliminate the parasitic invaders. If a particularly severe infestation of the little bastards, repeat the treatment in one to two days, but not any sooner.
  • Hot peppers method – Peppers are effective only if they are incorporated as a steady, regular part of your diet. You have the option of eating them raw or put them in larger dishes such soups or rice and meat dishes. They create an environment that helps prohibits parasites from attaching to your intestines.
  • Kerosene method – This one sounds a little crazy, but apparently it can work.  Drink 2 tablespoons of kerosene but not any more than this. If necessary, you can repeat this treatment in one to two days. Be careful that you do not inhale the kerosene fumes as this will cause irritation in your lungs.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately. Read more »

First Aid: Fungal Infections

Posted by on November 10, 2011 Comments Off

Fungal infections are very unpleasant.  Keep the affected skin dry and clean, exposing the infected area to as much sunlight as you are able to. Don’t scratch the affected area. During the Southeast Asian conflict, soldiers used anti-fungal powders, lye soap, chlorine bleach, alcohol, vinegar, concentrated salt water, and iodine to treat fungal infections with various degrees of success.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately. Read more »

First Aid: Fever

Posted by on November 8, 2011 Comments Off
fever first aid

Fever can indicate a number of medical conditions, for example infection. A normal temperature can be slightly different in either direction from the average body temperature of 98.6 F (37 C).  Even just slightly elevated temperatures among infants and young children can indicate serious infection.  Either a below normal temperature or a fever can indicate serious illness in newborns. Among adults, a fever usually isn’t a serious danger until it gets to 103 F (39.4 C) or more.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately. Read more »

Tips For Preventing Disease Transmission

Posted by on October 11, 2011 Comments Off
black biohazard sign

If you are assisting someone with first aid, you need to be conscious of your risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens, or diseases that can be spread through contact with the blood of a sick individual.  These pathogens include the HIV virus and Hepatitis B and C.

  • Make the assumption that all bodily substances/fluids are infectious.
  • Make sure you use barriers to avoid contact with these substances, such as disposable gloves and breathing masks.  Also mind how you remove these protective barriers once you have treated the patient as to not come into contact with potential pathogens.
  • Keep in mind the primary routes of exposure of these pathogens – open wounds and sores or through the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, or eyes.
  • Once you have safely removed and disposed of disease barriers, wash your hands and any areas of possible exposure with antibacterial soap and hot water. Read more »