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First Aid and Minor Ailments

All business travellers who frequently find themselves in a remote area without medical assistance should consider taking part in a first aid course as well as taking a first aid manual along with them. This will give them confidence to deal with emergencies should the need arise. For most business travellers however, medical attention (although not always to the same standard as one would receive at home) is never far away. But learning how to deal with minor emergencies can help keep the situation in hand and sometimes buy you valuable time, especially if you have meetings pending.

First aid is the first assistance or aid, which is given to a casualty. In theory you do not need to be a trained first aider, and part of that assistance might just be the act of calling for help in an emergency situation. You might even need to administer first aid on yourself especially with minor injuries, cuts and bruises. The key to any first aid however is to keep calm and get help if that is what is required.

When you are travelling overseas always make yourself familiar with the local emergency services. In an emergency it is important to know what numbers to dial for the police or ambulance service.

If you travel frequently it is a good idea to carry a small first aid kit with you to help deal with minor cuts and grazes. The kit should contain items such as bandages or dressings, antiseptic cream and a sling.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation always try to find out what has happened and keep an eye out for any further potential danger. Even if you are unable to physically do anything for the casualty, try to keep calm and get help. Often first aid is a mixture of common sense and resourcefulness.

Self-treatment is another aspect of first aid and the following situations will give you some idea of coping with them when you are away from your home environment.

Dealing with Heat and Wounds

A wound at home, with proper care and attention, will usually heal quickly. In a hot climate however, a wound has higher implications due to the heat and increased risk of infection. If you are travelling any cuts or grazes should be washed, antiseptic cream applied and the wound covered properly to prevent further infection from dirt and dust. Heat also increases the risk of fungal infections and boils. Again these should be washed frequently and medical assistance should be sought if the condition worsens.

Dealing with Sunburn

Sunburn should never happen if you use sun cream correctly and follow sun care advice. Frequent burning of the skin is a known factor for increasing your risk of skin cancer. If burning does occur you will need to cool the skin, a cool bath can be soothing. Try to avoid taking a shower, as the spray will irritate the skin making it more painful than it already is. Wearing cool light clothing will help, as well as applying after-sun cream or a calamine based lotion or cream. It is important that you also try to keep out of the sun. If the condition is causing pain, a painkiller can be taken but keep an eye out for infection or extensive areas of sunburn, which would need medical assistance.

Dealing with Sprained Body Parts

A sprain is an injury to a muscle that is responsible for moving a bone. If there is any doubt as to whether the injury is a break or a sprain, medical assistance should be sought. Sprains usually occur to wrists and ankles and can be recognised by an area of swelling accompanied by pain and tenderness. Bruising usually appears quickly and the area is very painful to move. The best treatment for a sprain is in the form of RICE: Rest - Ice - Compression - Elevation.

R - rest the affected body part. Healing will be delayed if you continue to run around from one meeting to the next on a sprained ankle!

I - ice should be applied to the affected area for at least 30 minutes when you initially sustain the injury, followed by application of an ice pack for 10 minutes every hour or so. The ice will help reduce the swelling and it is important to allow time for this.

C - compression bandaging should be applied to a sprained body part. An elastic tube bandage doubled provides excellent support if you have to keep moving and also helps with the swelling. It should be taken off at night and the extremities such as fingers or toes observed for a good blood supply when the ankle or wrist are injured.

E - elevating the injured body part will help reduce swelling and facilitate healing. This might mean using a sling to support a wrist or putting an ankle up on a stool or chair.

When you return to the United Kingdom, your own Doctor should look at any injury sustained while on a business trip. If you receive treatment in another country, try to obtain a copy of the medical notes and treatment received to give to your doctor for reference.