Important: Safety Warning
This page gives first-aid or emergency advice that predates modern medicine and can make an emergency worse. Do not follow it. In any medical emergency, call emergency services and follow current first-aid guidance.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Some Kitchen Kinks: Jewish
A very embarrassing dislocation is that of the lower jaw. This occurs usually in consequence of extreme yawning or sometimes in laughing. A friend of mine, an intern in a Jewish hospital, was called several times each week to a home for the Jewish, to reduce the dislocation of the lower jaw of an old Hebrew who had the happy faculty of dislocating his jaw at very frequent intervals and often at very inopportune times. We are surprised that this occurs as frequently as it does, but really it is still more remarkable that it does not occur with greater frequency among the members of the opposite sex, especially at the high-school age. Where such an accident occurs the victim is found with his mouth wide open, with the saliva dripping from its corners, and unable to speak distinctly.
To reduce the inflammation, wind a handkerchief thickly around both thumbs, padding them well, to avoid injury by the sudden closing of the mouth when reduced. Place the thumbs on each side of the lower jaw, inside the mouth and as far back as possible. Then press firmly downward and backward, when the jaw will be felt to slip into place.
When in place, bandage to hold in position.
FRACTURES Broken Bones. A layman should not attempt to set a bone. For general purposes we recognize two kinds of broken bones: First, those which do not break through the skin and, second, those in which the bones do protrude through the skin.
The thing to do in a fracture is make the injured person comfortable, and keep the injured part perfectly at rest. Handle the fractured limb very carefully, cut off the clothing, lay the limb on a splint, placing enough cotton or soft material underneath the injured part to make it comfortable, then bandage lightly to prevent the edges of the bones from moving upon one another.
In compound fractures, dress the wound and cover with gauze, cotton, and a bandage.
In a fractured hand the splint should extend from the elbow beyond the fingers. Remember to pad the splint, having a thick wad of padding under the palm of the hand. Place the arm in a sling.
In fracture of a finger a splint should be placed against the finger on the palmar surface and extended from tip of finger to the wrist. Pad the splint and bind to the finger, and support it by placing the arm in a sling.
A broken wrist should have a splint extending well up the forearm.
Broken Forearm. - Usually both bones are broken. I would advise placing two splints padded evenly with plenty of cotton, on the arm HEALTH HINTS-WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY 1129 from elbow to tips of fingers, then bandage and place in sling. - Upper Arm Fracture. Place splints on each side of the arm and bandage to the body. If the fracture is high up toward the armpit, place a pad of folded lint in the armpit and extend under the arm; then bind the upper arm to the side of the chest and place the elbow in a sling.
In fractures of the collar bone or shoulder blade, bring the hand up across the chest to the opposite shoulder, and bandage the arm to the chest.
In fracture of the ribs, if it is necessary to move the patient, strap the affected side with strips of adhesive plaster from the spine to the chest bone.
In fracture of the jaw, put the bones in place and bind a bandage across the head, relieving the bones of all strain. All that can be done in fracture of the nose is to pack the nose with gauze and stop the bleeding.
DROWNING (1) Loosen clothing, if any. (2) Empty lungs of water by laying the body on its stomach and lifting it by the middle so that the head hangs down. Jerk the body a few times. (3) Pull tongue forward, using handkerchief, or pin with string, if necessary. (4) Imitate motion of respiration by alternately compressing and expanding the lower ribs, about twenty times a minute. Alternately raising and lowering the arms from the sides up above the head will stimulate the action of the lungs. Let it be done gently, but persistently. (5) Apply warmth and friction to extremities. (6) By holding tongue forward, closing the nostrils, and pressing the "Adam's apple" back (so as to close entrance to stomach), direct inflation may be tried. Take a deep breath and breathe it forcibly into the mouth of patient, compress the chest to expel the air, and repeat the operation. (7) Don't give up!
People have been saved after hours of patient, vigorous effort. (8) When breathing begins, get patient into a warm bed, give warm drinks, or spirits in teaspoonfuls, fresh air, and quiet.
PRONE PRESSURE METHOD A new method of producing artificial respiration has recently been discovered by the noted physiologist, Dr. E. A. Shaefer. He calls it the 66 prone pressure method" because the patient lies at full length face down, and pressure is made with the hands of the operator on the back over the lower ribs, and then relaxing the pressure. This is continued alternately about twelve times a minute. Thus the air is forced out and sucked in, making a frequent exchange of air in the lungs. The advantages mentioned for this method are that it is very efficient, is exceedingly simple, can be done by one person and without fatigue, and that because of the position of the patient allows the tongue to fall forward and the mucus and the water to escape from the mouth and thus not block up the throat.