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How To Plan for Floods and Flooding

June 4th, 2014 | Posted by Charles Omondi in Environmental Emergencies - (0 Comments)

Floods cause unimaginable damage with loss of lives being the main one and it is why it is important to plan for floods. It’s imperative to ensure that you plan for floods in ample time for the natural disaster to be properly managed. Millions of people living around areas prone to floods ignore the pending danger. They resort to waiting for the disaster to occur so that they can act instead of acting first. Read on to learn more on what needs to be done.

Before the Flooding Starts

The most important thing should be to check warnings issued in your local area. You’ll be in a much better position to plan for floods when you’re aware of the no go zones. Furthermore, you will be able to receive helpful information for home protection during floods. Barricade the house using sandbags. The bags can be purchased from hardware stores. Move swiftly and purchase the bags sooner rather than later because their demand will rise when flood arrives.

An emergency kit should be used to carry vital items such as a first aid kit. Plan for floods by making sure that the kit is assembled beforehand. Other items to include in the kit are: Water, torch and insurance policy. Since floods often affect power lines, have extra battery packs ready. Valuable items such as personal documents must be kept in sealed bags.

When Flooding Starts

Safety should be the number one priority once flooding starts. Forget about salvaging belongings as this can easily lead to your own peril. When vacating the area, opt to swimming through rather than walking. It will be much easier to move from one area to another this way. Use bridges for crossing rivers. Do not walk close to riverbanks to avoid getting swept away by the current.

The best way to plan for floods is having an evacuation strategy ready. Such a strategy will help you to establish the most appropriate time to leave the house. Remember, floodwater may be contaminated and this is why you must avoid contact with it. This can only be achieved when you vacate in ample time.

After Flooding Stops

There are numerous types of dangers present even after the flooding stops. On that note, avoid using electrical appliances and gas awaiting clearance from the relevant authorities. They must be checked for safety before they can be used again. All foodstuffs that contain traces of floodwater are contaminated and should, therefore, be thrown away. An effective plan for floods will include access to clean, safe water. If you don’t have bottled water, boil water from the tap.

Floods are quite depressing mainly because of the huge losses that they bring. Call 911 and talk to the operator for instructions when the disaster strikes. The line is usually operational on a 24-hour basis which means that you can get help at any time. Report to designated relief camps if you do not have relatives nearby to live with until the crisis passes. Having adequate food and supplies is an important part of your plan for floods; you never know how long the floods may take.

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Trauma Triad of Death

March 25th, 2014 | Posted by vanfirstaid in Environmental Emergencies - (0 Comments)

The trauma triad of death is a group of interrelated symptoms which includes, hypothermia, coagulopathy and acidosis that if left untreated, may lead to death.Trauma Triad

The trauma triad of death is a group of interrelated symptoms that if left untreated, may result to irreparable tissue damage and even death. These three conditions is a vicious cycle that begins with hypothermia that will eventually result to coagulopathy due to the temperature dependence of all clotting mechanisms. This will be followed by acidosis. The three conditions will compound one another in an intensifying chain of events. When an individual begins to show the trauma triad of death, it is considered a medical emergency.

Hypothermia is considered the entryway to the triad as clotting mechanisms are dependent on the temperature. When the body decreases in temperature, no clotting occurs, leading to coagulopathy. As a result, haemorrhage will cause a decline in blood pressure and amount of available oxygen, resulting to the cells transforming to anaerobic metabolism. Subsequently, the release of lactic acid will further inhibit clotting and cellular function. Consequently, there will be a reduced cardiac output causing even less oxygen to be available. The decreased myocardial performance will also lead to hypothermia.

Trauma Triad of Death: Hypothermia

Hypothermia is when the body temperature drops to below the temperature essential for normal metabolism and other body functions to occur. The following facts are known about hypothermia, the first step in the trauma triad of death:

  • Occurs when body is below 35°C (95°F), versus normal body temperature which is approximately 37°C plus minus 0.5°C (98.6°F)
  • Body is losing more heat than it is producing
  • May affect thinking and lead to confusion
  • Usually caused by spending too much time outside in an extremely cold weather

Trauma Triad of Death: Coagulopathy

                Blood clotting is essential to stop bleeding. Normal blood clotting is temperature dependent, thus when the core temperature is too low, certain body functions cannot occur, which includes coagulopathy. Thus, bleeding may be difficult to control. The following facts are known about coagulopathy, the second step in the trauma triad of death:

  • Also called bleeding problems, as there is impairment in body’s ability to clot
  • Series of steps that involves 20 different plasma proteins (also called coagulation or blood clotting factors)
  • May cause excessive bleeding

Trauma Triad of Death: Acidosis

Acidosis is a condition wherein there is too much acid in the body fluids. Acidosis is caused by too much carbon dioxide in the body or due to too much acid production. The following facts are known about acidosis, the third step in the trauma triad of death:

  • Proper blood pH should be within the range 7.35 to 7.45
  • Proper pH levels is maintained by the kidneys and lungs
  • May lead to depression of the central nervous system

Causes of Trauma Triad of Death

The following are some examples of causes that may lead to the trauma triad of death:

  • Car accidents
  • Falling from great heights
  • Severe bleeding or haemorrhage
  • Shock

First Aid Management for Trauma Triad of Death

It is necessary to apply first aid in first signs of hypothermia or severe bleeding to prevent the onset of trauma triad of death. Because trauma leads to the triad of death, following steps are generally recommended:

  • Call for emergency medical services.
  • If protective gear is available, make use of them.
  • If there is bleeding, it is necessary to control bleeding. Apply deep, direct pressure using an absorbent cloth or dressing. Keep the pressure in place and apply dressings over the old ones.
  • Check for the victim’s circulation, airway, breathing, disability/ deformity and exposure.
    • Check for the victim’s pulse by the groove on the neck. If no pulse is detected, initiate CPR. Give 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breathings.
    • If the victim is unconscious, ensure that there is no obstruction in the airway. Turn the victim’s head to the side.
    • To check for breathing, position own cheek a few inches from the victim’s nose and mouth. Feel for air and watch for rise and fall of chest. Begin rescue breathing if necessary.
    • Cover the victim with a blanket or coat to avoid heat loss.

It is necessary to be observant for symptoms of the trauma triad of death in cases of emergencies. Enrol in First Aid Training and CPR Courses to learn how to recognize symptoms, and effectively and properly perform CPR to victims. CPR is a lifesaving technique that can be useful in avoiding the onset of the trauma triad of death.

Sources:

Acidosis. (2011). National Institute of Health. Retrieved on October 15, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001181.htm

Bleeding Disorders. (2011). National Institute of Health. Retrieved on October 15, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001304.htm

Hypothermia. (2012). National Institute of Health. Retrieved on October 15, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hypothermia.html

Stopping the triad before it starts. (ND). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on October 15, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/medicalprofs/trauma-triad-of-death-tue1012.html

 

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