. First aid in illness and injury; . eeding has beenchecked by pressure above the wound, or by a plug in it: in this casea wet compress may be laid upon the wound pending the arrival of asurgeon. The wound, however, should still be watched with increas-ing vigilance, so that any recurrence of bleeding may be observed atonce. Slight bleeding, especially, that from the capillaries, may be readilycontrolled by the application of a little hot or cold water, and by thepressure of dressings which may be applied at once. Cleanliness is of Vital Importance to Wounds. All foreign mattersshould be remov
. First aid in illness and injury; . eeding has beenchecked by pressure above the wound, or by a plug in it: in this casea wet compress may be laid upon the wound pending the arrival of asurgeon. The wound, however, should still be watched with increas-ing vigilance, so that any recurrence of bleeding may be observed atonce. Slight bleeding, especially, that from the capillaries, may be readilycontrolled by the application of a little hot or cold water, and by thepressure of dressings which may be applied at once. Cleanliness is of Vital Importance to Wounds. All foreign mattersshould be removed. Dirt, bits of glass, gravel, or cloth, splinters oiwood, fishhooks, pins or thorns, should be picked out and the woundwashed with clean, or, preferably, clean water with germicides — corro-sive sublimate, carbolic acid, salt, sugar, vinegar, etc. — in contained in water are killed by boiling, and fresh-boiled water may always be used with advantage where antiseptic solu- 136 EMERGENCIES AND ACCIDENTS. Fig. 95. tions cannot be obtained. In washing wounds, use absolutely cleanmaterials, sponges, or masses of absorbent cotton or gauze if available,and failing these, use clean handkerchiefs or other linen, or not use materials torn from the clothing of the patient or by-standers. The wound should not be mopped with the sponge, and except inassisting in the removal of something especially difficult to extract,should not be allowed to be touched by it. The sponge should be dipped into the waterand then held in theclosed hand a fewinches above thewound, with one cor-ner protruding, andgently squeezed so asto cause-a single streamto trickle gently downupon the injured sur-face. The force of theflow of the fluid usedfor washing should bevaried according to thedifficulty of washingaway the dirt; the sizeof the stream can be increased by squeezing the sponge harder, and itsforce by holding it at a greater distance from the wound. Unclean water sho
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