Brief description

Essential field care for fractures, burns, and open wounds focused on preventing infection, limiting tissue damage, and stabilizing injuries until healing or evacuation is possible.

Use / Function

• Fractures: Immobilize the injured area to reduce pain and prevent further damage.
• Burns: Stop the heat source and cool the tissue to limit depth of injury.
• Open wounds: Clean, cover, and control bleeding to prevent infection.
• Scale: Individual to small-group first aid.

Operating principle

• Stabilization: Immobilization reduces mechanical stress and pain.
• Cooling: Lowering temperature limits burn progression.
• Barrier: Clean coverings prevent contamination and keep tissue moist.
• Hemostasis: Direct pressure limits blood loss and supports clotting.

How to create it

1. Assessment: Check airway, breathing, and circulation, then identify bleeding, burns, or deformity.
2. Fracture care: Immobilize the joint above and below using padded splints made from Wood and Fabric. Check circulation after tying.
3. Burn care: Cool with clean Water for several minutes, then cover with clean Cotton or Fabric.
4. Wound care: Rinse with clean water, wash surrounding skin with Soap, then apply a clean dressing. Use Alcohol for tools and hands, not directly in deep wounds.
5. Closure (only if trained): Use Needle and Surgical Thread for clean, straight wounds, or use strips of fabric for pressure bandages.
6. Follow-up: Recheck swelling, color, and sensation; change dressings regularly; monitor for infection.

Materials needed

• Essential: Clean Water, Cotton or Fabric, and Wood for splints.
• Tools: Cutting tool, clean containers, and basic first-aid knowledge. Basic Surgery (instruments) improves safety when available.
• Possible substitutes: Healing Herbs for mild antiseptic washes, Beeswax or Animal Fat for protective salves.

Variants and improvements

• Primitive: Cloth strips, bark splints, cold water, and pressure-only dressings.
• Intermediate: Sterilized dressings, Alcohol for disinfection, and structured splints.
• Advanced: Simple Medicines for stable antiseptics and analgesics, and controlled-sterility work areas.

Limits and risks

• Infection: The main risk for wounds and burns without clean handling.
• Circulation loss: Splints or bandages that are too tight can cause tissue damage.
• Hidden injury: Deep burns or fractures may look minor but worsen over time.
• Skill limits: Improper closure, debridement, or alignment can cause permanent harm.