FIRST AID & FLIGHT PROBLEMS

What travel incidences might you need first aid for?

What flight problems might you advise on?

FIRST AID

Exposure to blood and bodily fluids?

Rabies exposure

Otitis Externa

INSECT BITES AND STINGS?

INSECT BITES AND STINGS alternative treatments

Onion for insect stings. Aloe Vera Infused oil of St Johns Wort Apis Mel 30c Relief of pain and swelling from insect bites and bee stings
(Ody 1997) (Ody 1997)

FLIGHT PROBLEMS

DVT

Barotrauma

http://www.who.int/ith/mode_of_travel/cab/en/index.html http://www.who.int/ith/mode_of_travel/diving/en/

JET LAG
Melatonin
Interaction with caffeine may moderately raise melatonin levels. By reducing metabolism by the cyt p450 isoenzyme cyp1a2. Quite a few possible interactions but particularly with cimetidine and SSRIs
http://www.cks.nhs.uk/sleep_disorders_shift_work_and_jet_lag/managemen t/scenario_jet_lag/jet_lag#-399545

Passiflora

Valerian

http://www.who.int/ith/mode_of_travel/jet_lag/en/index.html

TRAVEL SICKNESS
HERBAL REMEDIES Ginger, peppermint.
PEPPERMINT Mentha piperita prevents vomiting, antispasmodic. Give drop doses of tincture or drink an infusion while travelling. Older children can be given peppermint sweets. Do not use for babies. It can reduce milk flow, so take with caution internally while breastfeeding.

 GINGER Zingiber officinalis has been used as a medicinal herb in the West for at least 2,000 years. The dried root is used for travel sickness. 1-2 capsules x 200mg before a journey for travel sickness. Chew a piece of crystallized ginger to ease nausea. Ginger and anti-coagulants possible interaction, ? but not clear evidence. Williamson, Driver & Baxter (2009) advises to increase monitoring, but not practical while travelling. Ginger and nifedipine possible interaction. ?
(Cochrane Library, 2010)
(Williamson, Driver & Baxter 2009)

ACCUPRESSURE Sea Bands good to recommend for children, pregnant women and anyone who cannot take travel sickness medication Cochrane review (2010) found both ginger and sea bands to be effective for nausea in pregnancy.

Scopoderm TTS patches

Patch, self-adhesive, pink, releasing hyoscine approx. 1 mg/72 hours when in contact with skin, net price 5 = 10.16. Label: 19, counselling, see below Dose motion sickness prevention, apply 1 patch to hairless area of skin behind ear 56 hours before journey; replace if necessary after 72 hours, siting replacement patch behind other ear; child under 10 years not recommended Counselling Explain accompanying instructions to patient and in particular emphasise advice to wash hands after handling and to wash application site after removing, and to use one patch at a time Side effects
Somnolence and dizziness -very common eyelid irritation -common side effect. In patients whose case history indicates there might be raised intraocular pressure, an ophthalmological examination should be performed before Scopederm TTS is used.

Transdermal drug delivery systems: patches

Backing Device containing drug

Skin

Drug enters systemic circulation via blood vessels in the basal skin layers

Drug released from device permeates skin

Nelsons travella
6c homeopathic potency of Apomorph Staphisagnia, Cocculus Theridon, Petroleum Tabacum, & Nux vomica. Also contains lactose and sucrose

Case studies

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES USED IN FIRST AID

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR GASTROENTERITIS

SLIPPERY ELM bark Ulmus fulva

GOLDEN SEAL dried rhizome Hydrastix canadensis

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR DIARRHOEA

Berberis
Amoebic dysentery and diarrhoea. Bacteriacidal, fungicidal and amoebicidal. No interactions found. (Williamson,
Driver & Baxter, 2009)

GENTIAN root Gentiana

Macrophylla & G. scabra

Aniseed
Carminative and paracitiside. No know interactions.

Cinammon
Diarrhoea. (Williamson, Driver & Baxter , 2009)

SUNBURN AND PRICKLY HEAT

Vitamin E cream or Aloe Vera Gel use open a capsule three to four times prevents scarring daily. Reduces pain and scarring. Aloe Vera juice use every hour , also moisturises. (Balch & Balch
(Balch & Balch 2000)

2000)

OTHER REMEDIES
Nelsons Calendula cream is a soothing multipurpose skin cream. Prepared from the Calendula (Marigold) plant - well known for its healing properties, it helps treat rough skin Active ingredient: Calendula officinalis tincture 0.9& v/w.

GRAPHITES Cream 30g

For Dermatitis A homoeopathically prepared soothing cream which helps protect sensitive skin against the irritation & discomfort caused by dermatitis. ACTIVE INGREDIENT . Graphites 6x 9% v/w.

Arnica Cream 30g

Active Ingredient Arnica montana tincture 0.9% v/w

A first aid application, effective for all types of bruises resulting from injuries, knocks and falls. It contains arnica prepared from the alpine plant Arnica montana - a topical herbal remedy traditionally used in the symptomatic treatment

Balch, P. & Balch, J. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional. (3rd Ed.). USA: Avery. Clinical Knowledge Summaries, (2010). Insect bites and stings Management. Retrieved December 10, 2010, from http://www.cks.nhs.uk/insect_bites_and_stings/management/detailed_answ ers/advice_on_prevention_of_bites_and_stings/choice_of_insect_repellent Cochrane Library, (2010). Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting (Structured abstract). Retrieved 10 December, 2010, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/cldare/articles/DARE12005003629/frame.html Cochrane Reviews, (2010) Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea (Review). Retrieved December 10, 2010, from http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003048.html Lockie, A. (1998). The Family guide to homeopathy. (2nd Ed.). London: Hamish Hamilton. Ody, P. (1997). The Complete Medicinal Herbal. (2nd Ed.). London:Dorling Kindersley. Williamson E, Driver S, Baxter K. (2009). Stockley's Herbal Medicines Interactions. (1st ed.). London: Pharmaceutical Press, 2009.

REFERENCES