Welcome to my site, my name is Jess Indaja. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after struggling with my weight throughout my teen years and adulthood. My doctor informed me about all of the dangers associated with my diet and exercise habits. I was encouraged to change the way I ate and moved in an effort to reverse my blood sugar problem. I made the changes, but still struggle with controlling my blood sugar. After going through this trying situation, I decided to make a site that may help others with problems associated with type 2 diabetes. I will discuss diagnostic procedures, treatments and medical research concerning this disease. I hope you visit often and learn all you can to control your type 2 diabetes or help others with this condition.
Fitting your home and family car with a first-aid kit is a fantastic thing to do, since you never know when an emergency will arise. But if an emergency does happen, do you know how to actually use the kit? Here are some common questions as well as some information about what to do.
Do I use a heat pack or an ice pack for a sprained ankle or other swelling?
Instant ice packs or heat packs are fantastic for helping an injury—but they do serve different purposes. For instance, if you get a sprain or pull a muscle, you definitely need to treat it with ice and not heat. Ice constricts blood vessels, thus decreasing blood flow and inflammation. Although inflammation is your body's natural response to fighting infection, applying heat can let inflammation and swelling get out of control, thus increasing your pain.
How do I protect a burn?
When your skin is injured, the first go-to item you may want is a bandage, but burns are different. If you cover a burn with a towel or gauze, the fibers can actually get embedded and stick to the skin, causing pain and infection. You may also be tempted to ice the burn, but again, this is a bad idea since it can damage tissue and even—ironically—cause frost-bite near the burn. Instead be sure to stock up your emergency kit with some antibiotic ointment for mild burns, which can be rinsed lightly with water beforehand. Serious burns obviously need to be treated at the ER.
Do I bandage bleeding or apply pressure?
Some sites will tell you not to use tourniquets because you can damage tissue, mess up blood pressure, and other issues. However, sites like verywell.com say that if you have to choose between a life or a limb, you're obviously going to need the tourniquet in your first aid so a person doesn't bleed out. A good rule of thumb is that you should use clean gauze or a clean towel to apply pressure, but if the bleeding doesn't stop, then you can take the next step and apply a tourniquet.
For other tips, you should look up CPR training in your area. Professionals in these courses typically also go over basic first aid and can tell you exactly what kinds of things you need in your kits. Also keep in mind that while most things in first-aid kits can last forever, some ointments, prescriptions, and so forth should be dated and swapped out every two or three years depending on the recommendations.
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