Over on Prodie Tips, the author writes what people ought to be able to do in an emergency. This article was promoted on Twitter and featured on a site called Kirtsy. Kirtsy is a social bookmarking site aimed at women.  The author is promoting above average fitness as a means to save your life.  He says you should be able to jump over an obstacle waist high, run 200 yards at top speed and do 15-20 pull-ups to ensure this kind of fitness is available in an emergency.  I haven’t needed any of those skills in any emergency I have personally encountered since I got out of the Army.

I have needed to stop a bleeding cut.  You do that with elevation, pressure and leaving the bandage on.  Most people come to me with minor bleeding that won’t stop.  I ask how they know it won’t stop. They tell me they keep lifting the bandage and peeking.  Once they get to me, we put on a pressure dressing and 9/10 times after their wait to see me the bleeding is stopped.  Really big wounds need gauze or what ever you have packed in them and then a pressure dressing applied.  Knowing how to treat a bleeding nose is important also.

You need to be able to take your own pulse and have the ability to take a temperature and blood pressure at home.  If you call me after hours for advice on an illness, your “Vital Signs” are valuable information.  If you can tell me what they are, I can give you  better advice.

When you seek medical help and you are asked what is wrong, don’t tell the person asking you, your diagnosis.  They really aren’t interested in your opinion unless you have a repetitive problem caused by a chronic condition.  You need to describe accurately your symptoms in order of appearance.  What do you experience?  When did it start? What makes it better or worse?  How severe are the symptoms?  Do you have any other health problems?  What medications are you on? (If you can’t remember the names and dosages write them down and carry them with you. Don’t tell me “something for my blood pressure” - know the name and dosage.)

As far as fitness goes, I think you should be able to carry someone of your ideal weight piggy-back for one mile.  You should also be able to drag twice your weight over the ground for 20-30 yards.  You should be able to walk 5 miles over hilly, uneven terrain without excess fatigue or soreness.  These three things could allow you to save someone’s life.

Other things to know are how to use an automatic external defibulator(AED)- the kind you find in malls and public places.  How to do one rescuer CPR and what to tell bystanders to do.  There is a social norm that keeps people from helping (read Cialdini’s book Influence), but if you tell one of them what to do directly, they will respond with gusto. Learn how to splint a possibly broken finger, arm and leg.  Know when to move someone and when not to.

I think these are more important things to do in an emergency.  Being in good physical condition could save your life but knowing principles of first aid more than likely will save morbidity and mortality of yourself and others more often.

What do you think?  Write a comment below on your emergency tips.  Been a reader for a while?   Go to my “testimonials” category -look at the top of the page-and write a testimonial why you subscribe/read.

Then look at my contest rules published in featured articles 6 Nov and take action to win and iPod Shuffle.  I know you don’t want it but who are you going to give a nice gift to this year.  Win it and give it away.  Looks like one person could walk away with it for just 35 points. Competition is slim right now.  Go for it!