Whilst 1st Aid Courses provide training for ‘major injury’ or trauma, it is important to understand that on projects it is more often you see ‘smaller’ illness or injury related to the conditions and environment. Common health problems or illnesses that you may encounter on project include:
- Boils: At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After four to seven days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. Treatment – Keep the area clean and covered. Take antibiotics if advised.
- Infected Mosquito Bites: Scratching mosquito bites and breaking the skin on a bite will likely lead to mild/serious infection. Once the skin is broken, infection is quite likely in tropical humid conditions on project. Avoiding bites (best solution): , use a lot of insect repellent, where loose long clothes & covered shoes at night, avoid being outside at night & use mosquito net. Reducing risk of bites getting infected: Avoid itching! Take oral antihistamines, apply antihistamine cream, if skin is broken – clean with antiseptic and apply plaster to reduce risk of infection.
Treatment – If infected: If swollen, red and hot bite is infected. Keep the area clean and covered, take antihistamines. If bad swelling occurs around the area or you don’t see improvement within 48 hours antibiotics may be required.
- Cuts (including coral cuts): many cuts can be treated in the community and are covered in your basic first aid training.
Treatment: Wash hands & wear PPP – Stop bleeding, clean wounds thoroughly, dry the area and cover with a sterile plaster/dressing. Change dressing regularly to keep it clean, avoid getting cut wet to promote faster healing. The dressing can be removed once the wound has closed itself/scabbed over. Be very cautious of open wounds in rural Fiji as they are more prone to infection in these conditions.
Seek medical support if the cut is deep, especially dirty (e.g. coral cuts can become easily infected so may need professional cleaning) or in a sensitive area. In some cases stitches may be required.
- Diarrhoea & Vomiting: (Gastroenteritis) Signs include loose bowel motions or vomiting episodes.
Treatment – Sipping fluids consistently. Drink ORS or electrolytes. Eat when you can. A doctor’s trip for antibiotics may be necessary and in more serious cases a IV drip may be required.
- Constipation: Difficulty in emptying the bowels due to hardened faces.
Treatment – Drink lots of water. Eat pawpaw and other fruits. Take laxatives where required.
- Heat Rash: You can develop heat rash when your pores become blocked and sweat can’t escape. The cause of heat rash is often friction on the surface of the skin.
Treatment – Bathe or shower in cold water, and then let skin air dry, rather than using a towel. Avoid using creams or lotions that may block pores further.
- Dehydration: Signs include headaches, very dark urine, dry skin, feeling dizzy, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, lack of energy & fainting.
Treatment – Sip small amounts of water. Drink ORS or electrolytes. A drip may be required in severe cases.
- Bed Bugs: Signs include a raised itchy bump with dark centre and lighter swollen surrounding area or small red bumps in a line or zig zag pattern. The bites will often itch and occur at night.
Treatment – Wash / Boil all sheets or clothes. Apply sprays to mattresses or pillows. Sun all items that may have been in contact with the bugs.
- Scabies: Scabies is not an infection, but an infestation of tiny mites called Sarcoptes. Scabies can cause severe itch, and a red rash on skin of infected areas.
Treatment: Creams or lotions (from pharmacy) that can be applied across the entire body to remove and kill mites.
- Hand, foot and Mouth: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFM) is a common viral infection that causes painful red blisters in the mouth and throat, hands and feet. It is easily passed on through coughs, sneezes, faeces and fluid in the blisters. To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease – avoid contact with people, wash hands often, cough into tissues, do not share towels or cutlery, wash bedding on hot. If advised by a medical profession, it might be best for the individual to isolate to stop the spread.
Treatment: You cannot take medicines to cure H,F &M but can get cream to reduce itchiness of rashes. It usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. To help symptoms – drink fluids, avoid hot/spicy foods, take painkillers for discomfort.
- Tonsillitis: Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils (usually visible) caused by a viral infection or, less commonly, a bacterial infection. Symptoms include sore throat, pain swallowing, coughing, headache, temperature.
Treatment: If tonsillitis is viral symptoms usually pass in 3-4 days make sure to rest plenty, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers where needed. If it is caused by bacteria antibiotics may be required. Typical signs of a bacterial infection include white pus-filled spots on the tonsils, no cough and swollen or tender lymph glands.