Every Scout should not only know how, but should from frequent practice be able to do the right thing in every kind of accidental injury.
In an accident when you are alone with the injured person, if he is unconscious lay him on his back with his head a little raised and on one side so that he does not choke, and so that any vomit or water, etc., can run out of his mouth. Loosen the clothing about his neck and chest. See where he is injured, and treat him according to what you are taught in learn “First Aid.”
If you have found the man lying insensible you should carefully examine the ground round him for any “sign,” and take note of it and of his position, etc., in case it should be afterwards appear that he had been attacked by others.
[Practise above, one girl as patient, the other to find her. Make “sign” round the patient.]
If you are out with a patrol and an accident happens, or you find an injured man, the patrol leader should direct one scout to go for a doctor; she herself will attend to the patient with one Scout to help her. The second will use the other Scouts in assisting by getting water or blankets, or making a stretcher, or keeping the crowd back by forming a fence with their ropes.
As a rule it is best to keep the patient quite quiet at first; unless it is necessary, do not try to move him; and don’t bother him with questions until he recovers a bit.
Broken Limbs.—How to tell when a limb is broken.
There is generally a swelling and pain about the place where the bone has broken, and sometimes the limb is bent in an unnatural way and the patient cannot use it.
The broken limb should not be moved about at all, but should be straightened and bound to something stiff that will keep it stiff and straight while the patient is being moved to hospital or home.
Splints.—The stiff thing that you tie to the injured limb is called a splint. This may be anything such as a wooden batten, Scout’s staff, tightly rolled newspaper, etc.