A special category of burns, which may affect military personnel in either a wartime or training situation, is that caused by exposure to white phosphorous (WP or 'Willie Peter"). First aid for this type of burn is complicated by the fact that white phosphorous particles ignite upon contact with air. TREATMENT. Superficial burns caused by simple skin contact or burning clothes can be flushed with water and treated like thermal burns. Partially embedded white phosphorous particles must be continuously flushed with water while the first-aider removes them with whatever tools are available, such as tweezers and needle-nose pliers. Do this quickly but gently. Firmly or deeply embedded particles that cannot be removed by the first-aider must be covered with a saline-soaked dressing, which must be kept wet until the victim reaches medical personnel. When rescuing victims from a closed space where white phosphorous is burning, protect your lungs with a wet cloth over your nose and mouth.

FRACTURES

Many kinds of accidents cause injuries to the bones, joints, and muscles. In providing first aid to an injured person, you must always look for signs of fractures (broken bones), dislocations, sprains, strains, and contusions (bruises).

An essential part of the first-aid treatment for fractures consists of immobilizing the injured part with splints so the sharp ends of broken bones do not move around and cause further damage to the nerves, blood vessels, or vital organs. Splints are also used to immobilize severely injured joints or muscles and to prevent the enlargement of extensive wounds. You must have a general understanding of the use of splints before going onto learn detailed first-aid treatment for injuries to the bones, joints, and muscles.

USE OF SPLINTS

In an emergency almost any firm objector material will serve as a splint. Thus umbrellas, canes, swords, rifles, tent pegs, laths, sticks, oars, paddles, spars, wire, leather, boards, pillows, heavy clothing, corrugated cardboard, and folded newspaper may be used as splints. A fractured leg may sometimes be splinted by fastening it securely to the uninjured leg.

Splints, whether ready-made or improvised, must fulfill certain requirements. They should be lightweight, strong, fairly rigid, and long enough to reach the joints above and below the fracture. Splints should be wide enough so the bandages used to hold them in place do not pinch the injured part. Splints must be well padded on the sides touching the body. If they are not properly padded, they do not fit well and will not adequately immobilize the injured part. When you have to improvise the padding for a splint, you may use articles of clothing, bandages, cotton, blankets, or other soft material. When the victim is wearing heavy clothes, you may be able to apply the splint on the outside, thus allowing clothing to serve as part of the required padding.

To apply splints to an injured limb, fasten them in place with bandages, strips of adhesive tape, articles of clothing, or other available material. Whenever

Figure 10-48.-Types of fractures.

possible, one person should hold the splints in position while another person fastens them.

Although splints should be applied snugly, they should NEVER be so tight as to interfere with the circulation of blood. When you are applying splits to an arm or leg, try to leave the fingers or toes exposed. If the tips of the fingers or toes become blue or cold, you will know that the splints or bandages are too tight. You should examine a splinted limb approximately every half hour, and loosen the fastening when the circulation appears to be impaired. Remember that an injured limb is likely to swell, and splints or bandages that are applied correctly may later become too tight.