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Heya, friends and followers! I see many of you are heading out to #BlackLivesMatters rallies, and that is good and right. As someone who as gone to many rallies and protests acting as a medic, I wanted to start a thread of some safety and first aid tips so you can ensure...
...your own safety and look after your fellow protesters if needed. First off, the picture below is a good start on a first aid kit. You can pick them up pre-packaged, but you can often build your own cheaper. Get extra compresses and gauze, as you'll tend to be dealing with...
...more cuts and bleeding; for the same reason, get extra gloves and change gloves often. Especially in the chaos of an active protest, using your protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, respirator or mask) is important, for your safety and everyone else's.
Especially with COVID still out there, make sure to mask up! And change out of your clothes as soon as you get home, putting them either directly into the wash, or into a bag. Then shower (not bathe) before putting on clean clothes. Minimize your risk of exposure as much as...
...you can. Okay, back to the actual protest, and some things you might have to deal with.
I mentioned packing extra compresses and gauze, and that's because cuts, scrapes, and contusions are some of the most common things you will deal with. Even at the most peaceful...
I mentioned packing extra compresses and gauze, and that's because cuts, scrapes, and contusions are some of the most common things you will deal with. Even at the most peaceful...
...of protests I have had to patch people up; one young lady tripped over a potted plant while chanting and cut her arm from wrist to elbow. Even without active violence a protest or rally is an energised, heightened situation, and accidents are more likely to occur.
Most wounds will be minor and can be treated effectively by putting direct pressure on them with gauze or a compress; if the injured person is conscious and aware you can have them hold the bandage in place themselves. If you are dealing with a patient who is unconscious...
...remember A - B - C: AIRWAY - BREATHING - CIRCULATION. Make sure that their AIRWAY is open and not damaged; confirm whether they are BREATHING by observing whether their chest is rising or falling; check their pulse at the wrist or throat to determine if they have CIRCULATION.
Note that if you have an unconscious and unresponsive patient and they are not B-ing or C-ing, start CPR if you know how and have someone call 911. The sooner they get CPR and support from trained professionals, the better their outcome will be.
But maybe things aren't as serious as ABC and bleeding. Maybe you are "just" dealing with someone who has been tear gassed and/or pepper sprayed. Carry water and a jug of milk with you. Alternate rinsing their eyes, first with the milk (to counteract the most common...
... irritants) and then water to rinse the milk out (and give them a bottle of water to rehydrate, at that point they will need it). If there's time you might ask if they are lactose intolerant, as some severely allergic folx will react to any soft tissue contact with milk.
That's some quick first aid basics. Hopefully there are medics attending your protest or rally to help with more serious stuff. And of course I highly encourage you to take a first aid course. It is never a waste of time to know how to care for yourself and your fellow humans...
...in an emergency. Tangent, but I think first aid should be taught in junior high and high school as part of the biology courses, and it's frankly ridiculous that that isn't a thing yet. But I digress...
Look after yourselves out there! Stay safe, fight the good fight!
Look after yourselves out there! Stay safe, fight the good fight!
Okay, a few more tips. Speaking of pepper spray, the best option is of course not to get it in your eyes in the first place. Easier said than done, but if you can get ahold of a good pair of swimming goggles, those will go a long way toward keeping your eyes clear. They aren't...
...perfect, as some police-grade pepper sprays also contain a bronchio-inhibitor (think an inhaler but in reverse) that can be breathed in. But a good swim goggle/mask combination can spare you a lot of pain. Just remember: if you are sprayed, do not touch your face, or remove...
...any of your protective gear, until you have thoroughly rinsed off any affected areas. It's a rookie mistake to get pepper sprayed, then pull off your goggles and let the spray dribble into your eyes anyway.
Quick note: Consent to care is very important! Always ask first ("Can I help you?") and be prepared to accept the answer no. In most places forcing first aid on someone is assault, so respect a no! And continue seeking consent at each stage of care. "Can I touch your neck?"...
..."I'd like to bandage your arm, is that okay?" In most cases the answer will be yes, but keep checking in with your patient. Calmly talking to them and asking questions they can answer has the side benefit of calming them and restoring a bit of control to them in a situation...
...where they are stressed and maybe feeling out of control. And if the person is unconscious it is generally assumed that they consent to treatment in their best interests. If they regain consciousness, however, remember to explain what is happening and seek their consent.
