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The 8 Best Survival First Aid Kits

When a natural disaster or other calamity invades your everyday life, your thoughts turn immediately toward providing your family with the basics of survival — water, food, a power source, fuel, and the other things that ensure you are prepared to deal with an emergency situation. And, of course, you’ll also want to provide for …

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Sunstroke

Sunstroke occurs, when the sun shines on a person’s head and parts of the neck for a long period of time. Unlike sunburns, which are caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a sunstroke is the product of the sun’s long waves which produce heat (heat radiation). When experiencing a sunstroke, the body fails …

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Sunburn

Sunburn is the term for red, sometimes swollen and painful skin. It is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunburn can vary from mild to severe. The extent depends on skin type and amount of exposure to the sun. It may take 12 to 24 hours after sun exposure to know …

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Splinter

Splinters are foreign bodies that are partially or fully embedded in the skin. Splinters usually are wood, but metal, glass, and plastic materials may be considered a splinter. To Remove a Splinter: Wash your hands thoroughly before attempting to remove the splinter. Before trying more invasive method, squeeze the splinter from both sides and the …

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Snow Blindness

Snow blindness is the effect that glare from an ice field or snowfield has on the eyes. It is more likely to occur in hazy, cloudy weather than when the sun is shining. Glare from the sun will cause an individual to instinctively protect his eyes. However, in cloudy weather, he may be overconfident and …

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Shock

Shock may result from trauma, heatstroke, allergic reactions, severe infection, poisoning, or other causes. Shock is essentially a decrease in blood flow to the brain and other important organs. When shock occurs internal organs don’t receive enough oxygen and have difficulty functioning. Types of shock Hemorrhagic (resulting from the loss of blood) Metabolic (resulting from profound …

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R.D.S.

Rapid Deceleration Syndrome. Military term for the very sudden illness that happens at the end of a long fall.

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How To Check Your Pulse

Pulse rate is the number of times a person’s heart beats in one minute. Normal values for pulse rate depend on the person’s age and fitness level. A normal pulse rate for a fit and healthy adult, while resting, can range from 60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM), although athletes who are highly conditioned …

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Nose Bleed

A nosebleed can be scary to get – or see – but try to stay calm. Most nosebleeds look much worse than they really are. The nose has many blood vessels in it to help warm and humidify the air you breathe. These vessels lie close to the surface, making them easy to injure. If …

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Motion Sickness

Motion sickness can happen from any kind of movement, a moving boat, train, airplane, car,etc. Motion sickness is caused by a conflict between your senses. A fluid filled canal in your inner ear that controls your sense of balance tells your brain that your body is moving, while your eyes tell your brain that you …

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How to Treat and Prevent Immersion Syndrome

You may have heard of trench foot as a condition that soldiers contract from wet boots, but did you know that anyone can get it pretty much anywhere there’s water? Trench foot is part of a family of injuries called immersion syndrome that can cause severe damage if treated improperly. Keep reading to learn more …

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How to Treat Hypothermia and Prevent it in the Wilderness

Though we often see it used for drama in fiction or teased for views on reality television, the truth of hypothermia is actually a very serious, life-threatening one. Knowing how to treat hypothermia in the wilderness and how to prevent it all together can mean the difference between life or death. Read on to learn …

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Hives

Urticaria, also known as hives, is an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps or plaques (wheals) on the skin that appear suddenly — either as a result of the body’s adverse reaction to certain allergens (insect stings, sunlight exposure, etc.) or for unknown reasons. Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting. They can …

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