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Lacerations.—Lacerations that occur in skiing are rarely severe enough to need a tourniquet, and only as a last resort should one be applied, inasmuch as frostbite may develop quickly when the blood supply is shut off. All effort should be directed to stopping the flow of blood by pressure of a compress over the wound. This can almost always be done. Then sterilize the skin with the skin antiseptic; apply sterile compress and take the injured person to medical aid. If medical aid is not available within six hours, the following procedure should be performed: Wash out the wound with clean salt solution (see p. 135). Apply skin antiseptic to the skin only; if laceration is large, antibiotic capsules are recommended (see Compound fractures). Press the skin edges together and fasten as adequately as possible with adhesive "butterflies" (see fig. 15); apply sterile gauze dressing and bandage firmly but not too tightly. |
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