any major visible change. Post-concussion syndrome may also occur in some people. This syndrome generally consists of a persistent headache, dizziness, irritability, emotional instability, memory changes, depression, or vision changes. Symptoms may begin weeks or even months after the initial injury.
Although the symptoms tend to go away over time, some victims will need a rehabilitation specialist to oversee a program for their recovery. People who have had a severe concussion also double their risk of developing epilepsy within the first five years after the injury. There is evidence that people who have had multiple concussions over the course of their lives suffer cumulative neurological damage. A link between concussions and the eventual development of Alzheimer’s disease also has been suggested.
Rest is generally the best recovery technique since healing a concussion takes time. For headaches, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) can usually be used, but it is best to avoid aspirin as it can increase the risk of internal bleeding. Check with a doctor before administering medications. Bumps and contusions can be treated with ice packs. Wrap ice in a damp cloth rather than placing it directly against the skin.
Eye Injuries. Do not attempt to treat severe blunt trauma or penetrating injuries to the eye yourself; medical assistance is required in such instances. Tape a paper or Styrofoam cup over the injured area to protect it until proper care can be obtained. As always, if there is an imbedded object, do not attempt to remove it.
In the case of a blow to the eye such as a finger rake, jab, or gouge, do not automatically assume that the injury is minor even if you can see properly afterward. An ophthalmologist should examine the eye thoroughly because vision-threatening damage such as a detached retina could be hidden. Immediately apply an ice compress or bag of frozen vegetables (for example, peas, corn) to the eye to reduce pain and swelling. If you experience pain, blurred vision, floaters (black spots that move around), starbursts (fireworklike bursts of color or light), or any possibility of eye damage, see your ophthalmologist or emergency room physician immediately.
The most common type of eye injury is a chemical burn. This is typically from an accident rather than from having something thrown into your face during a fight, but that does happen too on occasion as well since fire extinguishers, hot coffee, and the like make good impromptu weapons on the street. Alkaline materials (such as lye, plasters, cements, and ammonia), solvents, acids, and detergents can be very harmful to your eyes. If you are exposed to these types of chemicals, the eyes should be flushed liberally with water immediately. If sterile solutions are readily available, use them to flush the affected eye. If not, go to the nearest sink, shower or hose and begin washing the eye with large amounts of water. If the eye has been exposed to an alkaline agent, it is important to flush the eye for ten minutes or more. Make sure water is getting under both the upper and lower eyelids.
Chest Wounds. Large chest wounds can cause a lung to collapse, a dangerous situation. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cloth and bandage it in place. If bubbles begin forming around a wound of significant size (open area that is greater than about an inch in diameter), cover that area with plastic or similar material that does not allow air to pass through. Tape the dressing in place, leaving one corner open to allow air to escape with exhalation.
Most normal stab and bullet injuries will not cause a sucking chest wound because the hole from the wound is smaller than the opening in the trachea. Consequently, it will not cause negative pressure, which inhibits breathing. If you seal a wound that does not need it, you run the risk of tension pneumothorax, which can cause a complete cardio respiratory arrest and subsequent death. If advanced medical care is readily available it is generally more important to transport the victim to the hospital quickly than it is to seal off the wound with anything more than a breathable sterile dressing.
Abdominal Injuries. For abdominal injuries, try to keep the victim lying down with his or her knees bent if possible. If organs are exposed, do not apply pressure to the organs or push them back inside. Remove any clothing from around the wound. Apply moist, sterile dressings or clean cloth loosely over the wound. Keep the dressing moist with clean, warm water. Place a cloth over the dressing to keep the organs warm.
Broken Bones. Broken bones should usually be splinted to keep the injured part from moving and increasing the damage. There is a variety of ways to create an effective splint. The method you choose will be based in part on what materials you have available, the position you find the injury, its location on the body, and a variety of other factors. The most important thing is to pad and immobilize the injury to the extent possible. A basic rule of splinting is that the joint above and below the broken bone should be immobilized to protect the fracture site. For example, if the lower leg is broken, the splint should immobilize both the ankle and the knee.
Anatomic splints affix the injured body part to a convenient uninjured one such as tying one leg to the other. A soft splint can be made from a towel, blanket, jacket, or similar material. A rigid splint can be made from boards, tightly rolled magazines, and similar materials.
Shock. Shock can occur whenever there is severe injury to the body or the nervous system. Because shock can cause inadequate blood flow to the tissues and organs, all bodily processes can be affected. Vital functions slow down to dangerous levels. In the early stages, the body compensates for a decreased blood flow to the tissues by constricting blood vessels in the skin, soft tissues, and muscles. This causes the victim to have cold, clammy, or pale skin; weakness and nausea; rapid, labored breathing; increased pulse rate; and decreased blood pressure. As shock progresses, the victim will become apathetic, relatively unresponsive, and eventually lapse into unconsciousness.
One quick and dirty way to identify shock is by observing a delayed capillary refill response at the fingertips. Press downward on the tip of the fingernail until the skin underneath begins to turn white and then release the pressure. A normal pink appearance should return within two to three seconds. If it takes four to six seconds or longer for normal color to return, the victim is experiencing low blood pressure at the extremities, a clear sign of shock.
You should have already treated any major injuries such as bleeding or broken bones before treating for shock. This care will help ameliorate the source of the shock, but there is more that you can do. Keep the victim lying down, elevate his legs about a foot or so above his chest, and cover him with a blanket or coat to prevent loss of body heat. If the femur (thighbone) has been broken from a gunshot or blunt traumatic injury, however, do not elevate the injured leg as bone fragments may shift around and cause serious internal bleeding. Check the victim’s airway, breathing, and circulation on a regular basis until medical help arrives. It is not advisable to give liquids to shock victims.
Infection. If you have been injured by a weapon that breaks the skin, infection is a possibility even after medical treatment. If the wound area becomes red or swollen, throbs with pain, discharges pus, or develops red streaks, contact medical personnel immediately. If you begin to develop a fever, it may also be a sign of infection. Seek direction from your physician as to how to bandage your injury, how frequently to change the dressing, and how best to clean the wound to minimize the chances of infection.
It’s smart to learn first aid. Even if you never have to use it to care for yourself, odds are good that you will find opportunities to help others. If you study martial arts and learn how to hurt other people, it’s even more important to understand how to help them as well.
Handling Blows to Your Self Esteem
Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts.
If you attain and adhere to the wisdom of my strategy, you need never doubt that you will win.
Physical blows are oftentimes easier to endure than mental ones. For example, Wilder knows an aikido instructor who was in the wrong part of town at the right time and got into a nasty brawl. He not only lost, but also lost badly, taking a severe beat down. While it’s tough to lose a fight, it’s especially tough for a martial arts instructor. In this case, it shook the very foundation of his
