SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
169 
secure back, however, as it is not easy to hold the arm 
against much of a weight from the patient's body. 
(c) Improvised Stretcher. When the patient shows 
any sign of shock, is unconscious, has a serious frac- 
ture of some bone or bones, has a serious injury to any 
part of the body, or is bleeding excessively, he must be 
carried lying down. It may be that there will be no 
regular stretcher at hand. In that case one must be 
improvised. A serviceable one can be made from ordi- 
nary grain or flour bags by cutting the two corners at 
the bottom and running two poles inside the mouth of 
the bags and through the holes. 
A workable stretcher can be made from coats by turn- 
ing the sleeves inside out, passing the poles through the 
sleeves and buttoning the coat over the poles. This brings 
the turned sleeves on the inside. A five-bar gate or a door, 
if it can be gotten without delay, also make satisfactory 
emergency stretchers. 
A stretcher may also be made out of dress skirts, 
with or without poles. Put the skirts together, bottoms 
slipped past each other, and slip the poles through, as 
with the bags. If no poles are available, roll the edges 
of the skirts over several times to form a firm edge, 
and carry with two or four bearers, as the size and 
weight of the patient make necessary. 
Minor Injuries and Emergencies 
Minor injuries may or may not need the aid of a 
doctor, and you must learn to use judgment as to the 
necessity of sending for one. We will consider these 
minor injuries in groups to remember them more easily. 
1. (a) BRUISES; (b) STRAINS; (c) SPRAINS 
(a) A Bruise is produced by a blow which does not 
break the skin, but does break the delicate walls of the 
capillaries and smaller veins, thus permitting the blood 
