Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CHAPTER XXIIIACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES : THEIRBACKWOODS TREATMENTThe present chapter isboiled down for the use ofmen of little or no surgical experience, who maysuddenly find themselves wounded, or with an injuredcompanion on their hands, when far awayfrom any physician.In operating upon a comrade, the main things areto keep cool, act promptly, and make him feel thatyou have no doubt that you can pull him throughall right. Place him in a comfortable position, andexpose the wound. If you cannot otherwise removethe clothing quickly and without hurting him, rip itup the seam. First stop the bleeding, if there isany; then cleanse the wound of dirt (but do notwash it) ; then close it, if a cut or torn wound;then apply a sterilized dressing; then bandage it inplace. Of course, if the injury is serious, you willimmediately send a messenger hot-foot for a surgeon,provided there is any chance of getting one.As for the patient himself, let him never say die.Pluck has carried many a man triumphantly throughwhat seemed the forlornest hope. Let me take spacefor an example or two.Kit Carson once helped to amputate a comrade'slimb when the only instruments available were arazor, a handsaw, and the kingbolt of a wagon.Not a man in the party knew how to take up anartery. Fine teeth were filed in the back of thesaw, the iron was made white-hot, the arm wasremoved, the stump seared so as to close the blood-422