Quick Guide to Treating Common Injuries

Threadscore Treatment

Threadscore is not a burn as we think of one. There will be no blistering or 'bubbling' of the skin. Instead, the organism acts like an acid, eating its way through clothing, flesh, and even bone. A threadscore will appear as if the flesh were simply 'melted' away, leaving open blood vessels that ooze or gush blood depending on their size and location. The would itself will be shallow or deep, depending on the severity of the scoring and how quickly the dragon betweened. This scroll covers treatment for human threadscore, as treating the dragon half of the bond is in the realm of dragonhealers.

When a healer is present with a Threadscored rider, the first thing to assess is the severity of the injuries. Minor and major threadscores are treated a bit differently, and the condition of the rider's dragon lifemate affects the treatment as well. All healers should remember to wash their hands in redwort and to rinse all tools such as needles in redwort before use, even in an emergency situation like Threadfall can turn into. When healers need to perform stitchwork, they should rinse their hands in redwort before touching numbweed, and reapply as needed. Otherwise their hands will go numb and they will not be able to perform their work.

Minor Threadscore

Use redwort to flush the threadscore of any remaining debris. If the rider can tolerate the pain, avoid applying any additional herbal preparations to the wound, as the wound will heal faster if exposed completely to air. If the pain is a problem, rinse the wound well with water to remove all traces of redwort, which will negate the effects of numbweed. Apply numbweed sparingly, being very careful not to get the salve on the uninjured skin, as it can blister the skin. The healer can swab redwort carefully on the uninjured skin to provide a barrier if necessary before applying the numbweed. Two drops of fellis in a cupful of wine can be administered for pain, and the patient should be given a mosstea and meadowsweet tea to drink for a sevenday. The mosstea will help prevent infection, the meadowsweet will act as a mild painkiller. The patient should be instructed to watch for signs of infection and return to the Infirmary if needed. Once the wound is 'pinked' or healed over, oil of hyssop can be applied to lessen scarring.

Major Threadscore

Depending on location, major threadscores are life-threatening, but the threat is generally from blood loss in the first moments after scoring. A healer should act quickly, dosing the rider with five drops of fellis in a cupful of wine to render the rider unconscious. Major arterties must be stitched back together, and this is not always successful. If the threadscore is on an extremity, amputation may be necessary to save the rider's life. Numbweed should be applied to the wound liberally before beginning work. To stop bleeding, apply fresh yarrow leaves or tincture of witch-hazel, but this measure is only for minor bleeding. Once bleeding is stopped, the wound should be covered in a poultice of yarrow and mosstea to prevent infection and begin the healing process. The poultice should be changed often, and discontinued to allow the wound to air as the healer determines. The wound should be left uncovered as much as possible to speed healing. Once the initial treatment is over, the patient can be treated with a lighter dose of fellis or adonis if a senior healer determines the need. The patient should be taken off fellis as soon as possible and switched to a meadowsweet and mosstea mixture that will help combat infection. Comfrey tea should be drunk once a day for a sevenday after injury to assist in healing and help combat infection as well. Once the wound is 'pinked' or healed over, oil of hyssop can be applied to lessen scarring.

Fatal Threadscores

Threadscore that covers large amounts of the body and severe scores to the face, throat, and abdominal areas are almost always fatal, and the healer should consult his or her superior to determine whether or not a mercy draught is the best option. In the cases where a rider has lost his or her dragon, but is not fatally injured as well, healers are not involved in the choice to suicide, and under no circumstances should provide the means to do so.

Infected Threadscore

Infection is indicated by reddened, inflamed flesh and possibly yellowish pus around the wound. The site may itch severely. If pus is present, a cornsilk poultice will draw the pus from the wound. Any infected wound should be treated with mosstea poultices, as they do not have the scarring side effects of comfrey. The poultice should be applied once a day until all signs of infection are gone. The patient should be instructed to drink a tea of comfrey and thymus to fight off the infection and strengthen the immune system.

Returning to Fighting Wings

The length of time a rider needs to spend recuperating obviously depends on the wound involved. Some scores require only bandaging to pad the wound so the rider can fly the next Threadfall. Others, depending on location and severity, can require months of recovery. Those that affect the joints (shoulder, elbow, knee, hip) cause the longest recovery times, as well as those that score deeply and injure muscle. A rider's return to his or her wing is at the discretion of the healer and the Wingleader.

Concussion Treatment

A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by sudden shock, as a sharp blow to the head. A simple concussion, brought about by the brain striking the inside of the skull, may result in bruising brain tissue, bleeding inside the skull, and possible loss of consciousness.

Unconsciousness may last a few minutes or a few hours; a longer period usually indicates more serious damage. Other symptoms of a concussion are nausea, dizziness, and headache that may last for several days. There may also be a loss of memory for a period just prior to the injury until several hours after.

Normally, rest is all that is required for recuperation. The victim should relax, avoid medication stronger than willowsalic tea and, if vomiting occurs, avoid solid food. Sleep ought to be postponed for several hours to be certain that no unusual symptoms arise and, once allowed to sleep, the victim should be awakened every two hours to give his or her name and location so as to confirm that there are no complications.

Shock

Shock is both common and has a high risk of death. Shock is the state of not enough blood flow to the tissues of the body as a result of problems with the circulatory system. Signs and symptoms of shock vary depending on circumstances and may include:

• Cool, clammy skin
• Pale or ashen skin
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Enlarged pupils
• Weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness or finting
• Changes in mental status or behavior, such as anxiousness or agitation

Treatment

1. The person must be laid down and the legs and feet slightly elevated

unless this might cause further injury.

1. The patient must be kept still and not moved unless absolutely necessary.
2. If there are no signs of life, such as breathing, coughing or movement, the Healer must begin rescue breathing compressions.
3. Any tight clothing must be loosened and warm blankets applied to the patient to elevate body temperature.
4. The patient must not be allowed to eat or drink anything until their body temperature returns to normal.
5. If the patient vomits or begins bleeding from the mouth, the Healer must turn him or her onto a side to prevent choking, unless there is a suspected spinal injury. In that instance, a team of Healers must turn the patient, keeping the back and neck straight to avoid further injury.
6. In the case of shock due to blood loss, the Healer must first attend the wound, applying pressure to stem the loss of blood and keep the patient warm with heated blankets. Any severe wound must be treated FIRST.
7. Any patient who undergoes any type of surgical procedure must be made aware of the risks of shock due to potential loss of blood or sudden loss of body temperature. Healer ethics require a patient or next of kin to agree to any surgical procedure unless it is an emergency and there is no immediate next of kin to be found
8. Healers performing any scheduled surgery must have an experienced team of Journeymen and senior apprentices in place who are prepared to monitor breathing, heart beat and temperature and must be trained in rescue breathing and chest compressions. Junior apprentices should never be allowed to assist in the procedure, but may be used to provide a continual supply of heated blankets and necessary surgical supplies.