You can purchase a health card on the internet
which provides savings on medical services, prescriptions,
dental care, eyewear and eye care, hearing and
chiropractic exams and services, and the purchase
of vitamins and nutritional supplements for the
entire family. The health card plan for your entire
family usually starts at $19.95 per month.
HANDY FIRST
AID TIPS
When someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill,
there is usually a critical period before you
can get medical treatment and it is this period
that is of the utmost importance to the victim.
What you do, or what you don't do, in that interval
can mean the difference between life and death.
You owe it to yourself, your family and your neighbors
to know and to understand procedures that you
can apply quickly and intelligently in an emergency.
Every household should have some type of first
aid kit, and if you do not already have one, assemble
your supplies now. Tailor the contents to fit
your family's particular needs. Don't add first
aid supplies to the jumble of toothpaste and cosmetics
in the medicine cabinet. Instead, assemble them
in a suitable, labeled box (such as a fishing
tackle box or small took chest with hinged cover),
so that everything will be handy when needed.
Label everything in the kit clearly, and indicate
what it is used for.
Be sure not to lock the box - otherwise you
may be hunting for the key when that emergency
occurs. Place the box on a shelf beyond the reach
of small children, and check it periodically and
always restock items as soon as they are used
up.
Keep all medications, including non-prescription
drugs such as aspirin, out of reach of children.
When discarding drugs, be sure to dispose of them
where they cannot be retrieved by children or
pets.
When an emergency occurs, make sure the injured
victim's airway is not blocked by the tongue and
that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign
objects. It is extremely important that the person
is breathing freely. And if not, you need to administer
artificial respiration promptly.
See that the victim has a pulse and good blood
circulation as you check for signs of bleeding.
Act fast if the victim is bleeding severely or
if he has swallowed poison or if his heart or
breathing has stopped. Remember every second counts.
Although most injured persons can be safely
moved, it is vitally important not to move a person
with serious neck or back injuries unless you
have to save him from further danger. Keep the
patient lying down and quiet. If he has vomited
and there is no danger that his neck is broken,
turn him on his side to prevent choking and keep
him warn by covering him with blankets or coats.
Have someone call for medical assistance while
you apply first aid. The person who summons help
should explain the nature of the emergency and
ask what should be done pending the arrival of
the ambulance. Reassure the victim, and try to
remain calm yourself. Your calmness can allay
the feat and panic of the patient.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious
person; fluids may enter his windpipe and cause
suffocation. Don't try to arouse an unconscious
person by slapping or shaking.
Look for an emergency medical identification
card or an emblematic device that the victim may
be wearing to alert you to any health problems,
allergies or diseases that may require special
care.
