Supplements to Member Lectures

GA 246 — 13 August 1914, Dornach

65. Samaritan First Aid Course I

There are two types of bleeding wounds:

arterial blood. This is bright red and comes in streams or gushes, it spurts. Here the wound must be bandaged from the wound to the heart organism, i.e. on the limbs from bottom to top. The end of the bandage is [split], knotted and the two outermost tips are placed around the bandage and tied tightly - not on the wound!
venous blood. This is dark red or bluish in color. Then, firstly, the wound itself must be bandaged (as above, but remaining only at the site of the wound itself), and secondly, the circulation of blood must be closed off so that the wound is between this first bandage and the body [(i.e. under the wound in the case of the arm)]. It must not be too long, there must be no stiffness or blueness of the fingers; then it should be loosened.
head wound. The bandage is placed around the head a few times and then turned vertically in the other direction. The place where this is done is held in place by the following turns. More turns over the wound than vertically on it! Finally, finish with a safety pin, preferably on top of the head (but not on the wound!).

In all three cases, gauze should be placed on the wound first, then absorbent cotton. [Gauze is best first, then absorbent cotton].

In the first and second cases, or in the case of a broken arm, place it in a cloth first. Triangular cloth or, if square, fold it twice. Place the hand of the affected arm on the tip of the cloth, fold it over, place one of the other two tips over the shoulder (in the case of the left arm over the right shoulder), the other over the other shoulder [(i.e. left shoulder in this case)]. Tie together at the back. The end of the last lace is first wrapped a little around the hand. You can pin the hand together with the cloth with a safety pin so that you can get the hand or arm up.

For wounds with arterial blood, the arm must be held up during dressing. If there is no one around to help, the arm should be propped up on something.

Wounds must be kept at rest; also do not touch them too much with water! If they become dirty, they should first be cleaned with an anti- or aseptic agent (wash hands aseptically for five minutes first, boil instruments and so on). If the wound is not dirty, it should be left completely alone. The area around the wound can be cleaned well. All antiseptic agents and so on hold back the healing power very much. The main healing power comes from the organism itself. 4. if there is no bandage to tie the wound, the artery above the wound (pulse, upper arm, neck artery) should be kept stiffly closed, perhaps for 10 to 15 minutes.

5 If the wrist is broken, use a fairly wide, strong bandage. Stretch out the hand well. When winding, start with the hand. Wrap the first turn over the thumb at an angle, then the hand without the thumb. Fold the bandage over each time you go up. Leave the elbow free and bandage a little beyond the elbow[; finish with safety pins]. In an emergency, it can be done with any cloth.

6 Broken lower leg. The shoe and stocking are quickly cut downwards. Hold the leg by the foot and stretch it out well. Place a large piece of absorbent cotton around the leg. Then place a piece of wood, stick or umbrella or whatever is as flat as possible underneath and to the right and left of the leg. Tie this together in three different places with bandages cut into strips (1. above the knee, 2. at the ankle, 3. in the middle - just not at the fracture site). Tie the knots on the wood, not on the leg.

Hold the leg up. Place a pillow or similar under the leg.

7 Splintered skullcap. Cut away the hair or, in an emergency, comb it away. A cloth cut open on the left and right is placed over the head, the front tips are knotted together crosswise behind the head, the back tips in front of the head. The back tips must be tied together first, as this gives them strength. The same can also be used in the case of a head wound if there is no bandage, but then of course first apply gauze or absorbent cotton. Can also be used for chin injuries. The uppermost tips are simply placed behind the head, the lowermost ones over the head (but crosswise).

nose wound or damage. Gauze, absorbent cotton, then bandage over the nose and vertically on top. Over the ears, as with the head wound, or with a split bandage as above.