Senior Beat
by Carol Higgins Taylor
Special to The Weekly
Do you have a well-stocked first aid kit? If you are like me, you understand the importance of a first aid kit but haven’t really made it a priority.
Trust me. Make it a priority. Recently I bought a mandolin vegetable slicer. I decided to try it out but didn’t bother with the guard because I figured I’d just be careful.
Best intentions as they say. I sliced off a piece of my finger. All I had available was paper
towels which I took with me to the emergency room. I have learned my lesson. Always use the guard and get a first aid kit.
Think about it. Accidents can happen anytime. Falls, bee stings, bug bites, burns, allergic reactions are all possibilities and if they happen, you will be glad you stocked that kit. For information, search first aid kits at redcross.org. The Red Cross recommends these following items be put in the kit:
- 2 absorbent compress dressings, 5 by 9 inches.
- 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes.
- 1 roll adhesive cloth tape,10 yards by 1 inch.
- 5 antibiotic ointment packets, approximately 1 gram.
- 5 antiseptic wipe packets.
- 2 packets of aspirin, 81 mg each.
- 1 blanket (space blanket), available at the Red Cross store online.
- 1 breathing barrier with one-way valve.
- 1 instant cold compress.
- 2 pair non-latex gloves, size large.
- 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets, approximately 1 gram each.
- Scissors. Don’t be tempted to use your household scissors. They are probably laden
with germs and you don’t need them infecting the sterile bandages you are cutting.
- 1 roller bandage, 3 inches wide.
- 1 roller bandage, 4 inches wide.
- 5 sterile gauze pads, 3 x 3 inches.
- 5 sterile gauze pads, 4 x 4 inches.
- Digital thermometer.
- 2 triangular bandages.
- Tweezers
- First aid instruction booklet. Also available at the Red Cross store.
And while everyone should have a working knowledge of first aid, seniors need to be especially vigilant because aging bodies are typically slowing down a bit, and may have failing eyesight and lessening agility.
Poisoning can be caused by prescription drug overdoses. Sometimes elders forget the took their medicine and take it again. Should this happen, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately instead of your primary care provider because the response will be
faster. Getting a message to the doctor could take too long. The center can type the information into a computer and instruct you on what course to take. Always follow their directions to the letter as it could save your life. Then call your doctor. To avoid this, invest in a pillbox that separates each day’s dose of medicine. Also, be sure to keep a current list of all medications on hand. Paramedics will need this information in case of an emergency.
Another problem is choking because the motion of aging digestive tracts slows with age, so consequently the food takes longer process.
Cutting up food, especially meat products, into small pieces, making sure dentures are secure, eating slowly and chewing each bite thoroughly before swallowing can help prevent choking.
Burns can be especially dangerous for the elderly because of an old wive’s tale that recommends treating them with butter. This is the absolute worst thing a person can do. Butter seals in the heat and can make a burn much worse. It is best to use cool water. Do not break blisters as they keep the burned tissue clean and free from infection. If the burn is large, appears deep and skin layers are destroyed, call an ambulance immediately.
If you cut yourself and are bleeding a lot, go to the hospital. You might need stiches or other treatment. It’s always better to be safe than wait to see what will happen.
Learning some first aid, using common sense and calling an ambulance when you need help are good ways to stay well. And get yourself a good first aid kit. It’s immediate help in a box.
Carol Higgins Taylor is an advocate for seniors and owns Bryant Street Public Relations in Bangor. Email her at seniorbeat@gmail.com.