FIRST AID TRAINING
INTRODUCTION
The Scoutmaster Handbook tell us; "Remember that the skills that save a life or treat a serious
injury are not in a kit. They�re in the head of an experienced first-aider. Always take one or more
along."
First aid care is well defined. That is, the care to be given is presented in The Boy Scout Hand-book,
and the First Aid Merit Badge book. It follows treatment prescribed by accepted medical
authorities and must be followed. What is not covered in these text is how to make it come alive in
Scout training, and not be just another dry text book subject. How do you provide hands-on experience
which will reinforce the retention of the skill, and make it FUN to learn. Remember, first
aid must be remembered to be useful. It could be years before it is put to use in an emergency.
TRAINING METHODS
There are a number of ways that first aid is taught and tested for in troop operation. They range
from the simplest, which does not do much to reinforce the training, to as elaborate as your mind
can come up with. This outline will show you how to use some of your resources.
Written Test.
This is a method that would make Scouting just another school classroom.
Verbal Question and Answers.
Example:
"I have a cut an my wrist, it is spurting bright red blood, tell me what you would do for it.
This is a very common method. It is the simplest, requires no preparation and no supplies. It is
done by simply stating a question, and expecting an answer. This method gets the job done, but
turns it into just another classroom testing exercise. It does not provide for hands-on experience to
reinforce the learning.
Verbal Question and Action Example:
"I have a cut on my wrist, it is spurting bright red blood, show me what you would do."
This is probably the most common method used, and could be called the "Show-me" style. Again
it requires very little preparation, but some supplies. It is an improvement over the Question and
Answer method because it has some hands-on, but it lacks anything to make first aid memorable,
no pizzazz. Nothing to really make it stick.
Action Scenario:
Example: "Your patrol is passing a playground when one of the pieces of playground equipment collapses. A child suffers broken bones and severe cuts. Perform the necessary first aid."
In this method an emergency situation is generated with a story line. "Victims" are recruited to
play the parts, tagged with a description of their injuries, and then the scene is staged. The Scout
is then given the story, either verbally or written, and then must react to what he finds. The Scout
is expected to find the injuries, make a decisions, then take the necessary action. This problem can
be made more complex by including multiple injuries, and additional victims. The Scout can be
made to deal with the total problem; shock, sending for help, using others, to move or not move a
victim, and controlling the panic, all part of the total first aid picture. The complexity of the problems
can be increased as the Scout�s skills increase. Action and role playing increases the skill
retention span, whether as the first-aider, or playing the victim. Most Scouts like action oriented
activities, and can become very creative when setting up the problems. This method adds some
excitement to the training. Some examples can be found in Woods Wisdom, in the program features
for First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness.
Realistic First Aid:
The most effective method of preparing Scouts to do first aid is called Realistic First Aid. It can
also be referred to as Moulage Makeup, and is the art of using makeup, or appliances, to simulate
wounds and injuries. The "victims" are made up, and the scene is set, possibly using some props.
Then the Scout is given the story line and turned lose to discover the victims. He must make his
own assumptions, develop a plan, then carries it out. Again he can be required to deal with the
entire situation. The complexity again can increase as the skill level increases. There is a secondary
benefit to this method. Many people react differently to the sight of blood and trauma.
Although no one ever becomes fully comfortable with it, realistic first aid can lessen the impact
when a real emergency is encountered. It might just enable the Scout to better perform if the need
ever arises. It does take more preparation; the makeup, the props, and the staging. The first-aider
and victims should be dressed in old cloths that it would not matter if they become stained, or possibly
cut and ripped. But, the rewards usually out weight the effort, and the impact can make a
lasting impression. Again, most Scouts like action oriented activities, and really get into the role
playing.
CONCLUSION
Make first aid come alive for the Scout. It is not only a interesting, and challenging skill to learn,
but it can make a difference in a life or death situation. To a Scout it can be very rewarding to him
to know he is PREPARED to help someone in distress, or to save a life.
First Aid Makeup
The makeup material for realistic first aid can come from a number of sources. Costume shops,
theatrical supply houses, and mortician supply houses are to name a few. These can usually be
found in the local phone directory. Around Halloween it can be obtained where costumes are
available. The Halloween makeup is usually less expensive, and usually clean up with soap and
water (an advantage, if you ask Mom). There is one supply house that specializes in makeup for
first aid and disaster training. They will send a catalog on request. The address is:
Ben Nye, Inc.
5935 Bowcroft St.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Bottom line, buying commercial makeup can be expensive. But, for some good news, it is possible
to make most of the makeup needed from items found in the home, or can be picked-up inexpensively
at a drug or grocery store. Here are some that can be done.
Skin Putty
Ingredients:
Petroleum jelly
Flour
Food coloring, red
Cocoa
Instructions:
Mix 1 part petroleum jelly with 5 parts flour, and knead well. Add a small, very small
amount (drop) of food coloring and cocoa to color. Add coloring slowly, in very
small portions, until skin tone is matched.
Skin Tissue
Ingredients:
Gelatin, clear
Glycerin
Warm water
Instructions:
Mix gelatin with warm water until a smooth jell, then add small amount of glycerin.
Mix well, and apply to subject. When it becomes tacky it may be shaped into wound. It
can be formed into a flap of skin, or large burn area.
Bone
Ingredients
Chicken bone pieces.
Small pieces of wood stick.
Instructions:
Insert into skin putty wound to simulate bone ends in an open fracture.
Underlying Skin Tissue
Ingredients:
Cold cream
Food coloring, red
Instructions:
Start with about a half tea-spoon of cold cream. Mix small amounts of food coloring, again
use a very small portion, into cold cream until pink flesh color is achieved. Paint
into open wound to simulate the underlying exposed tissue.
Blood
Ingredients:
Food coloring, red
Cocoa
Glycerin
Instructions:
Start with a small amount of food coloring. Add a touch of cocoa to thicken and darken. Then mix in a couple of drops of glycerin.
Blister
Ingredients:
Lipstick, red
Petroleum jelly
Facial tissue
Instructions:
Using lipstick, color area of first-degree burn, rub well into skin. Place a glob of petroleum jelly to be blister on subject. Take a single layer of tissue, tear to shape of the petroleum jelly and cover
Blister
Ingredients;
Rubber cement
Instructions;
Apply in a glob to form a "water" blister. When tacky can be pulled apart to appear as a broken blister. Add some underlying skin tissue, and blood for an open bleeding blister.
3rd Degree Burn
Ingredients;
Eye shadow makeup, black.
Instruction;
Used to blacken skin for a 3rd degree burn. Applied to skin tissue to give the appearance of charred skin.
Bruise, Fracture, and Discoloration
Ingredients:
Eye Shadow, blue and purple
Instructions:
Apply darker at center, then blend outward.
Perspiration
Ingredients:
Spray bottle
Glycerin
Water
Instructions:
Start with water in the spray bottle. Add a small amount of glycerin to the water. Shake well. Spray on subject in a fine mist to form beady perspiration.
General Instructions
1. A base of cold cream, applied to the skin first will help in the removal of the makeup,
and it will help to prevent the food coloring from staining the skin.
2. A supply of five ounce cups with stir-sticks for mixing, and applying will come in
handy.
3. A large supply of paper towels for cleaning up, and a trash bag is a necessity.
4. Use of some plastic drop cloth will prevent the floor from being stained.
5. Again, old cloths are a must. They can get stained, and hard to clean. It is also wise to
warn the parents, ahead of time, so there are no surprises.
6. There should be monitoring to assure the first aid being learned is correct, and proper. It
is often more difficult to unlearn something, then to learn it the first time around.
7. As mentioned before, both the "victim," and the first-aider can get very original in their
acting. This tends to make the activity fun, but it can get out of hand.
8. Finally, the reference, and authority for first aid treatment is the current copy of The Boy Scout Handbook, and the First Aid Merit Badge book.
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