by Doug on February 8, 2010
Getting cuts and scrapes are just a fact of life. Most of the time, they can be taken care of by cleaning them, using some antibiotic ointment on them, and covering them with a band-aid or gauze. Bacterial skin infections are common – some are simply annoying, yet others can be deadly. There’s a “super bug” lurking that sometimes gets into those cuts and causes serious problems. MRSA, or “staph infection,” is an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria that isn’t easy to overcome. Many times patients pick up this type of infection in hospitals.
To help you keep from dealing with the “bad bugs”, here are some tips for prevention of infection from cuts, scrapes, and punctures:
- First, stop the bleeding. Hold pressure on the wound for about 10-20 minutes with a clean cloth.
- Next, clean the area with soap and water. Hydrogen peroxide is helpful at first, but may hinder healing if used too often.
- If the wound has foreign material in it, use some tweezers that you have cleaned with alcohol to remove if it is along the edge, otherwise do not go any deeper, as that could push bacteria deeper into the wound.
- Use a first-aid antibiotic ointment or cream.
- Clean the wound three times per day.
- Puncture wounds also must first be cleaned with soap and water. The same steps as treating cuts and scrapes apply to these type injuries.
- If any of these places begin draining, or redness and swelling occurs, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Stepping on nails is a common way of getting a puncture wound. These may become more easily infected because bacteria and debris can get pushed into the tissue. If the person is wearing tennis shoes, the foam in them can harbor bacteria (Pseudomonas) that can lead to serious infection in the tissues. Other puncture wounds caused by bites (human or animal), wood splinters, or plant materials can easily cause infection.
Most persons in the United States have received a tetanus shot. The period of time for a booster shot is 10 years. However, if the wound is in a tetanus-prone area or very dirty, a booster shot would be given if the person had not received one in the last five years.
Taking the time to properly keep a wound (regardless of how small it is) clean and using some type of medication to help it heal, is a lot better than dealing with an infection later on. Don’t just brush off a minor scrape because it could become a major pain! Keeping a first aid kit at home, work, and in your car wouldn’t be a bad idea, as you’d be prepared all the time!
Tagged as:
cut,
danger,
puncture wound,
Safety,
scrape
by Doug on February 5, 2010
In November, the Texas Department of Public Safety released this warning to parents: Mexican cartels and gangs are recruiting in Texas schools and towns. This is true not only in Texas, but other states that share a border with Mexico. The Texas DPS is warning parents across the state to be aware of these violent organizations that are recruiting Texas youth in our schools and communities with the prospect of cars, money, and notoriety. They send the message that if they get caught, the sentence will be minimal.
These cartels are constantly seeking new ways to smuggle humans and drugs into Texas and the U.S., and now use state-based gangs to support their operations on both sides of the border. Juveniles that live along the Texas-Mexico border are particularly susceptible, due to the poverty level that their small cities have. In 2008, teenagers from the counties along the Texas-Mexico border accounted for 9% of the population in the state, but 18% of the felony drug charges and gang-related arrests.
There are drug cartels operating training camps near the border. They train recruits, ranging from Mexican Army deserters to American teenagers to carry out many assignments, including murder. Young persons have no idea what they are getting into; they are risking their lives for the promise of riches. Many do it to bring in money for their families.
Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas DPS, warns: “As these dangerous organizations seek to co-opt our children to support their criminal operations, it is more important than ever that parents be aware of these risks, talk to their children and pay attention to any signs that they may have become involved in illegal activities.”
The U.S. Border Patrol has started a program this past year called “Operation Detour”. Part of the operation is a film presentation that is shown to high school students, depicting the graphic side of what happens to youth who get involved with cartels. The program will be expanded along the entire US-Mexico border. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the District Attorneys in Texas border counties are working together to detect, disrupt and deter Mexican cartel-related crime along the Texas-Mexico border.
For the safety of our young people, parents must get involved if they suspect their kids are taking part in illegal activities. The United States has a lot of work to do to curtail the demand for drugs and stop the flow of drugs into our country.
Source: Texas DPS
Tagged as:
boarder,
danger,
drugs,
mexico,
threat
