For proper healing, some wounds or cuts may need stitches?  Your first priority with all cuts is to stop all bleeding.  Then determine if additional care is needed. Best practice to control bleeding, is to use direct fingertip or palm pressure upon the wound.  Continue direct pressure until the bleeding stops.

Then clean the wound to remove any dirt or debris.  Plain soap and water works best.  Wounds should be addressed early, at least within the first 8 hours, though in certain situations stitches can be administered up to 24 hours. The longer medical attention is delayed, the higher probability of a bacterial infection. It is best to get medical attention as soon as possible.

Now that the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been cleaned, let’s look for certain signs that would indicate sutures or stitches would be required.

The following are wounds that most likely will need the assistance of stitches:

1. Any cut that is deep where muscle or yellow fatty tissue is visible.

2. Wounds 1 inch or longer in length.

3. Cuts around joints, where the movement of the joint would prevent proper healing.

4. Jagged or gaping wounds.

5. Torn sections with either an open flap or three sides torn away.

5. Cuts to the face or head.

The emergency room is well equipped to handle cuts and wounds. These doctors put in stitches several times a day and are well versed in the process, but cuts to the face or genitals should be treated by a plastic surgeon to reduce the possibility of excessive scaring.

Stitches can remain in place from 5 to 14 days depending upon the location of the wound. Always keep stitches dry for the first 24 hours to prevent infections. Afterward, immediately dry the affected area after bathing. Clean your stitches twice a day and apply an antibiotic ointment. If pus, redness or if the wound begins to smell bad, it may be infected and you should seek medical attention.

Can where you sit make a difference in surviving an air-crash? Most airlines and aeronautic experts say there isn’t a difference but, Popular Mechanics did a study of air crashes from 1971 and found some interesting information on which seats are the safest on an airplane.

It is recognized that there are two times during an air flight when more accidents occur. In fact, over 75% of all accidents occur either during the take-off or the landing of the aircraft. But don’t let this fact deter you from flying. The statistics show that flying, by commercial aircraft, is 22 times safer than driving a motor vehicle on US roadways.

Also, the type of crash had an influence. Certain crashes changed the desired safest seat location, but on average the seats located towards the rear of the plane had the best survival rates. You may be giving away some comfort by choosing a seat towards the rear since the most stable seats especially for those of you that contend with motion sickness, would be the ones directly over the wings.

First class passengers may be more comfortable than the rest of the passengers, but the front of the plane has the lowest survival rates in air-crashes.

Here is the breakdown on survival rates:

First Class 49%

Ahead of Wing 56%

Over Wing 56%

Rear Cabin 69%

So if you are susceptible to motion sickness you may want to consider a seat with the least movement (over the wing), but if you are looking for just safety, then selecting a seat towards the rear of the plane as your best bet.

Whether you’re a child or an adult an accidents and injury can occur at any time. Sometimes it may be difficult to determine if injury or symptoms are serious enough for immediate medical attention.  Though this is not an all-inclusive list, here are a few general guidelines to help you decide if you should make a trip to the Emergency Room.

1. Loss of consciousness. Even if only briefly.
2. Signs of a Heart Attack – For men: difficulty breathing, chest pressure, numbness in any arm and profuse sweating.  For women the signs could be different such as: indigestion, upper back pain, a stiff jaw, nausea and sweating.
3. Signs of a Stroke – Unable to smile on both sides of face, difficulty in raising either arm, speech impairment.
4. Any type of breathing difficulty.
5. Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes.
6. Poisoning.
7. Insect bite or sting where breathing becomes difficult or worsens.
8. Major injury, such as a head trauma, dislocation or if bone is showing.
9. Coughing up blood.
10. Persistent or severe vomiting.
11. Suicidal feelings.
12. Unexplained disorientation or drowsiness.

In general, if you are questioning whether or not to go to the Emergency Room, it would be best to default on the side of safety and seek immediate medical attention. 

Did you know that giving blood can save up to 4 lives? Most of the time we think of blood being used or needed for emergencies, but it is also used for people with cancer, heart disease and sickle cell anemia.

One person can donate one pint of blood, which could be used or given to up to 4 different people. Anybody over the age of 17 and who weighs at least 110 pounds, has the ability to give blood. Giving blood is easy and can give you a great feeling knowing you have helped save another person’s life.

Before donating blood it is suggested you do the following:

• Drink plenty of water and/or juices
• Eat a good breakfast or lunch
• Avoid eating exceptionally fat foods beforehand
• Wear comfortable clothes for easy access to veins

Give the gift of life!