The letters stating that only trained people should suture wounds
are absolutely correct, you must be trained and it definitely falls
into the category of a "skilled intervention."
Clearly, I did not stress this enough.
A good way to get an basic level
(non-skilled) orientation to using medical skills is ride along with
fire and EMS, Hospitals
may allow observers in the ER and
other wards if you can find a good reason. A good way to form a relationship
with health care providers in this situation is to do research for
writing a book. After the releases are signed you will (with due respect
for privacy) possibly even be allowed to photograph stages of treatment
along with taking notes for yourself. Hospitals have a
secondary purpose it is continual training of the doctors, nurses,
techs, and staff so expect a many good teachers. Many fields of work
from engineering to forestry are happy to allow on site interviews
and research if you know how to ask and approach in a professional
manner. These interview notes sessions must be taken for what they
really are
skin deep looks
at these vital highly skilled interventions and hopefully a motivation
to put in the effort to obtain proper certification verifying to the
world (and yourself) that you are qualified in the skills you claim
to posses as well as protection under many state good Samaritan acts.
JWR Adds: I concur that SurvivalBlog readers should
get as much medical training as possible. The time may come when you
folks reading
this have
a
major trauma patient laying before you (for example a gun shot wound,
knife wound, or a farm tractor accident) and no doctor
available to help you for
hours or days. Two of the most crucial skills are learning
how to stop bleeding and how to treat for shock. OBTW, I highly recommend
a new product designed to stop bleeding called Traumadex. It comes
with an instructional DVD that is amazing. (The DVD shows Traumadex
being
applied
to induced
wounds on pigs--even stopping bleeding from a femoral artery!)
Traumadex is now available from Ready
Made Resources and just a few other vendors.
