Freezing And Frostbites.—Use ice water and snow to start with. Keep the patient cool until he is thawed out. Massage and gradually work up to a warmer temperature.
Fractures are of three kinds; simple, compound and comminuted.
Simple: Bones do not penetrate the skin (may be single or double).
Compound: Bones penetrate the skin and cause infection.
Comminuted: Bone is shattered.
Indications of a fracture are: Pain, redness, swelling and mobility where it ought not to be.
Treatment.—Find out the kind of fracture. Paint the wound and put on first aid packet; replace the clothes and splint the break. Splints should not be too long so as to cause any friction or annoyance to the patient. They may be made out of any available material, such as rifle, bayonet, shingle, piece of board, scabbard, etc. Bind them firmly but not too tightly.
Artificial Respiration.—This subject is worthy of more treatment than it can be accorded here. Any text on first aid will explain thoroughly the Schaefer method, which is now the standard method in the army. Points to be remembered in this method are; remove foreign articles from the mouth; curl the little finger over the 12th rib; avoid the pelvic bones; hold the arms straight and apply the pressure by means of the whole body brought forward; take care not to break a rib; do not give up too soon.
Trench Foot.—This is due to long standing with legs and feet in wet clothes. There are three types:
Mild: Symptoms are numbness and a slight swelling.