How to Treat a Bullet Wound

Gunshot wounds are one of the most traumatic injuries you can suffer. It's difficult to assess the extent of damage done by a gunshot wound, and it typically far exceeds what you can reasonably treat with first aid. For this reason, the best option is to get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible. However, there are some first aid measures that you can take before professional assistance arrives.

Part1

Providing Basic First Aid

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   Establish that you are in a safe position. If the victim was shot unintentionally (e.g., while hunting), make sure that everyone's firearm is pointed away from others, cleared of ammo, safe, and secured. If the victim was shot in a crime, verify that the shooter is no longer on the scene and that both you and the victim are safe from further injury. Wear personal protective equipment, such as latex gloves, if available.
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   Call for help. Dial 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you are calling from a cell phone, be certain that you can provide the operator with your location. The operator will have difficulty locating you otherwise.^[1]
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   Keep the victim in place. Do not move the victim unless you must do so to keep him safe or access care. Moving the victim could aggravate a spinal injury. Elevating the wound can limit bleeding, but should not be considered unless you are confident that there is no spinal injury.
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   Act quickly. Time is your enemy in treating the victim. Victims who reach medical facilities during the "Golden Hour" have a much better likelihood of surviving. Try to keep your movements swift without making the person feel more upset or panicked.
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   Apply direct pressure to control bleeding. Take cloth, bandage, or gauze and press directly against the wound using the palm of your hand. Continue for at least ten minutes. If bleeding does not stop, check the location of the wound and consider re-positioning yourself.^[2] Add new bandages over the old; do not remove bandages when they become soaked. ^[3]
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   Apply dressing. If the bleeding subsides, apply cloth or gauze to the wound. Wrap it around the wound to apply pressure. Do not, however, wrap so tightly that the victim loses circulation or feeling in her extremities.^[4]
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   Be prepared to treat the victim for shock. Gunshot wounds frequently lead to shock, a condition caused by trauma or loss of blood. Expect that a gunshot victim will show signs of shock and treat them accordingly by making sure the victim's body temperature remains consistent — cover the person so that he does not get cold. Loosen tight clothing and drape him in a blanket or coat. Typically you would want to elevate the legs of someone experiencing shock, but refrain from doing so if they might have a spinal injury or a wound in the torso.^[5]
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   Give reassurance. Tell the person that she's okay and that you're helping. Reassurance is important. Ask the person to talk to you. Keep the person warm.

   • If possible, ask the person about any medications she is taking, any medical conditions (i.e. diabetes, hypertension), and any drug allergies she may have. This is important information and may distract her from her wound.
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   Stay with the person. Continue to reassure and keep the victim warm. Wait for the authorities. If the blood congeals around the bullet wound, do not remove blood mats on wound, as this is acting to stopper the blood and prevent any more from flowing out.Assessing the Victim's Status
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      Remember the A, B, C, D, E's. For advanced treatment it is important to consider the status of the person. A, B, C, D, E is an easy way to remember the important factors you should consider. Assess these five critical factors to see what sort of assistance the victim requires.^[6]
   2. 2
      Check the airway. If the person is talking, his airway is probably clear. If the person is unconscious, check to make sure that his airway is not obstructed. If it is and there is no spine injury, perform a head tilt.^[7]

      • Apply gentle pressure to the forehead with the palm of one hand, while placing the other under the chin and using it to tilt the head back.^[8]
        
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      Monitor breathing. Is the victim taking regular breaths? Can you see her chest rising and falling? If the victim is not breathing, sweep her mouth for obstructions and start rescue breathing immediately.
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      Check circulation. Apply pressure to any bleeding, then check the victim's pulse at the wrist or throat. Does the victim have a discernible pulse? If not, begin CPR. Control any major bleeding.
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      Look for disability. Disability refers to damage to the spinal cord or neck. Check to see if the victim can move his hands and feet. If not, there may be an injury to the spinal cord. Look for compound or obvious fractures, dislocations, or anything that looks out of place or unnatural. If the victim shows signs of disability, you should refrain from moving him or her.
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      Check for exposure. Look for an exit wound. Check the victim as thoroughly as possible for other wounds that you may be unaware of. Pay special attention to the armpit, buttocks or other difficult-to-see areas. Avoid completely undressing the victim before emergency help arrives as this may advance shock.

   Part3

   Treating a Wound in the Arms or Legs

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      Elevate the limb and apply direct pressure to the wound. Carefully assess the situation to determine that there is no sign of disability or any wounds that would suggest the victim sustained a spinal injury. If this is the case elevate the limb above the heart to reduce blood flow. Apply direct pressure to stop bleeding as described above.
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      Apply indirect pressure. In addition to direct pressure, it is also possible to apply indirect pressure for limb injuries to limit the blood flow to the wound. This is done by putting pressure on arteries or, as they are sometimes called, pressure points. They will feel like particularly large and hard veins. Applying pressure to them will limit internal bleeding, but you need to apply pressure to verify that the artery applies to the wound. ^[9]

      • To slow blood flow to the arm, press on the brachial artery on the inner side of the arm, opposite the elbow.
      • For groin or thigh injuries, apply pressure to the femoral artery, between the groin and the upper thigh. This one is particularly large. You will have to use the entire heel of your hand to reduce circulation.
      • For lower leg wounds, apply pressure to the popliteal artery, behind the knee.
   3. 3
      Make a Tourniquet. The decision to apply a tourniquet should not be taken lightly because it might result in loss of limb. But if the bleeding is extremely severe and you have bandage or fabric on hand you can, consider making a tourniquet.

      • Wrap bandage tightly around the limb, between the wound and the heart, as close to the wound as possible. Wrap around limb several times and tie a knot. Leave enough fabric to tie a second knot around a stick. Twist stick to restrict blood flow.^[10]
        

   Part4

   Treating a Sucking Chest Wound

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      Recognize a sucking chest wound. If a bullet has penetrated the chest, it is probable that a sucking chest wound exists. Air is coming in through the wound, but not coming out, collapsing the lung. Signs of a sucking chest wound include a sucking sound emanating from the chest, coughing up blood, frothy blood coming from wound, and shortness of breath. When in doubt, treat the wound as a sucking chest wound.^[11]
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      Find and expose wound. Look for the wound. Remove clothes from wound. If some fabric is stuck to the wound, cut around it. Determine if there is an exit wound and if so apply procedure to both sides of the victim’s wound.
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      Seal the wound on three sides. Take airtight material, plastic is best, and tape it around the wound, covering all sides except for the bottom corner. Oxygen will escape from this hole.^[12]

      • As you seal the wound, encourage the patient to completely exhale and hold his or her breath. This will force air out of the wound before you seal it.^[13]
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      Apply direct pressure to both sides of the wound. It is possible to do this with two pads over each wound, held very tightly in place by a wrapped bandage.
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      Carefully monitor the patient's breathing. You can do this by talking to the conscious patient, or watching the chest rise and fall.

      • If there is evidence of respiratory failure (stopping breathing), reduce pressure on the wound to allow the chest to rise and fall.
      • Prepare to perform rescue breathing.
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      Do not release pressure or remove the seal you made when medical assistance arrives. They will either use your seal or replace it with a better one.
10. 
    

9 Street Survival Skills for the Concrete Jungle

If you would like to ensure that you can take whatever the concrete jungle has to throw at you, here are nine skills you need to have.

1. Lockpicking

The trademark of big cities is lots of buildings, and lots of buildings means lots of locks. In normal circumstances, these locks may be an afterthought. However, in a disaster scenario, being able to get past them could mean the difference between life and death.

Brush up on your lockpicking skills and invest in a good, portable lockpicking kit. In the right situation, these things could prove incredibly valuable. To learn more, check out these 3 ways to open locked doors.

2. Blending In

How do you hide in a place where there are thousands if not millions of eyes everywhere you turn? The answer is that you hide in plain sight. The art of blending in is one that is really underappreciated, however, in an urban area it is often the best way to ensure you are not the target of whatever catastrophe is taking place.

Martial law officials, foreign invaders, desperate scavengers, and more are all more likely to target someone who catches their attention for any reason at all. In these scenarios, it’s best to be just another indistinguishable face in the crowd. Here are some gray man tips to help you blend in during a crisis.

3. Self-Defense

If you don’t intend to carry a weapon on you during your visit to the city, it’s a great idea to have a few self-defense skills that you can rely on. Of course, in the vein of blending in, physical confrontations should be avoided if at all possible. If you do have to defend yourself, though – for whatever reason – you need to make sure that you have what it takes to come out on top.

4. Scavenging

One great thing about urban areas is that there is no shortage of materials and supplies available if you know where to look and you have an eye for making use of the unordinary. Scavenging is more of a mindset than it is a skill that is taught.

You just need to keep your eyes open and develop a bit of creative talent for repurposing what you find into something useful. Here are some places to scavenge for supplies after the SHTF.

5. Situational Awareness

When you’re surrounded by people, there’s often a lot to take in and process. This is especially true in hectic situations such as after a disaster. With that said, developing an acute situational awareness and the ability to quickly take in everything going on around you is one of the best ways to ensure your survival in an urban area.

This starts with really tuning in your focus to your surroundings and trusting your instincts above all else. In many cases, this type of situational awareness can help you escape dangerous situations before they ever develop. Here are a few ways to enhance your situational awareness.

6. Navigation

Too many people are completely reliant on their GPS when it comes to navigating an urban area. However, if those GPSs ever stop working, there are going to be a lot of people who are lost and in trouble. To avoid being one of them, take the time to learn the area you are visiting and get comfortable with the idea of navigating it without any technological aid.

Buy a map that you can bring with you and memorize a few escape routes just in case you lose it. If things go south, these navigation skills could be the difference between getting out quickly and getting caught wandering around a maze of concrete and steel.

7. Escaping a Riot

The middle of a major riot in an urban area is not a place you want to be under any circumstance. Just think back to the LA riots for an example of how dangerous these riots can become and how quickly they can spiral out of control. Of course, escaping a riot isn’t nearly as simple as walking away. If it were, there would be far fewer innocent bystanders who died in the chaos.

Before you visit a major city, take the time to research the best way to escape a riot in case you are caught up in one. There’s a lot of great information out there about this designed to help you get out of the middle of a riot as quickly as possible. Here’s what to do if you’re caught in a riot while driving.

8. Communication Skills

Urban areas mean lots of people, and knowing how to deal with people when necessary is an important survival skill. If you can develop a knack for communicating with people, talking them down from violent situations, and reading their intentions based on what they do and say, you’ll have a much easier time navigating the often complex and sometimes dangerous human interactions that take place after a disaster has struck.

9. Driving

If you think driving through a big city under normal circumstances is a nightmare, imagine what it would be like to drive through one during or immediately after a major disaster. Of course, many times driving anywhere in these scenarios won’t be a possibility; in a situation where everyone is trying to get out, traffic jams can quickly shut the entire road system in the city down.

However, if you get out early enough or if there’s been time for the dust to settle, you may be able to effectively escape the city via your vehicle – assuming of course that you have the driving skills necessary to navigate a major city during heavy traffic congestion and highly stressful situations. It’s certainly no easy feat but, like anything else, it can be learned. By the way, make sure you have a good vehicle.

32 Survival Skills Your Child Should Know And Be Able To Do ASAP!

1. Grow vegetables from seeds. This isn’t the easiest skill to master and you’ll need expert advice.
2. Have local edible and medicinal plant foraging skills. This book is a must-have for foraging beginners.
3. Knowledge of dietary needs and how to meet them using wild plants and game
4. Make a fire and know fire safety
5. Cook on an open fire
6. Open a can of food with and without can opener (rub can lid ridge on cement and then pry open with knife)
7. Be able to tell if food is too spoiled to eat
8. How to safely use a knife
9. How to shoot a sling shot
10. How to hunt small game with snares, traps and sling shot
11. How to fish and hunt, using  a bow and gun when old enough
12. How to clean fish and wild game
13. Find water and identify if it’s safe to drink
14. Filter and boil water to drink
15. Basic first aid
16. Basic hygiene practices
17. Find or build a shelter in the wilderness
18. How to stay warm, cool, and dry in the elements
19. How, why and when to stay hidden
20. Self defense is another important basic survival skill everyone should know, not just kids.
21. How to make a basic weapon and how to use it
22. Be able to run and walk a good distance and be in generally good shape
23. How to climb a tree to get away from predators, get directional bearings, and hunt
24. How to read a map and use a compass
25. How to read the sky for directions, time and approaching bad weather
26. Know where family and friends live if they need to find them
27. How to sew so they can mend clothing or any fabric and even make things such as bags or scrap quilts
28. How to barter and trade (Kids naturally do this with their toys so teach them at garage sales.)
29. How to be responsible for themselves and to be aware of their surroundings at all times
30. Have a natural curiosity and good problem solving skills
31. Be hard working and a self starter and a family helper not a complainer!
32. Have a strong faith in God (morals, memorize Bible verses, prayers, songs, and have a hope for heaven). Ultimately, everyone reaches a point in which their physical, mental, and emotional abilities are completely taxed. Spiritual survival can make the difference between giving up and finding strength from somewhere to hang in there, just one day at a time.