Burns. — Burn cases are treated for shock, if present. The 

 burned area is then covered with a sterile ointment, followed by 

 sterile dressings. Morphine can be administered to relieve the 

 patient's pain if necessary. 



(By all means, in all first aid, it must be remembered that in- 

 jured personnel are very susceptible to the effects of cold. Every 

 effort must be made to keep them warm and to get them to warm, 

 comfortable surroundings as rapidly as possible.) 



Maintenance of medical supplies. — The problem of maintaining 

 medical supplies is complicated in cold climates by the fact that 

 liquid drugs freeze and break in their containers. In some cases 

 certain drug products lose their potency on freezing, although 

 some do not and may be safely used after thawing. Experience 

 reveals two interesting facts. First, containers which are not 

 filled to more than 90 percent of their capacity are not likely to 

 break upon freezing ; second, metal containers of drawn construc- 

 tion are more resistant to bursting than those with soldered edges, 

 or glass containers. 



FUEL 



The oil and gasoline available are obvious sources of heat dur- 

 ing the period of rescue. The oil should be drained into any 

 available container before it solidifies. Stoves are fairly easily 

 improvised from cans. 



Below the tree-line, sufficient wood will be available. On going 

 farther north, the available fuel supply becomes less and less. 

 Driftwood, the rare coal deposits, and dwarf willows and grasses 

 will have to serve. To kindle a fire, gun powder, birch bark, and 

 dry leaves will serve as a tinder. 



SHELTER 



For making any kind of shelter, one should first utilize the ma- 

 terials with which one has landed. If in a plane, any of the easily 

 removable sections, such as the cowling, will serve for shelter 

 construction. The cabin of a large plane will provide an excellent 

 temporary shelter. Similar use may also be made of stranded 

 vehicles and of boats. Trees, sod, and snow furnish building 

 material for housing once the immediate crisis is over. See 

 Polar Guide, chapter 18, pages 7 to 16 inclusive, for various im- 

 provisations of livable shelters. 



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