s to be seriously
affected by the poison you have allowed to escape into his body, you
must not loosen the bandage again, but leave it in place and take the
chance of mortification.

Wounds Without Severe Bleeding

These constitute the majority of all wounds. Use the Red Cross Outfit
as described in the slip contained in the outfit. The pressure of a
bandage will stop ordinary bleeding if firmly bound into place.

Wounds With Severe Bleeding

A scout must be prepared to check severe bleeding at once, and he
should then dress the wound. Bleeding from an {268} artery is by far
the most dangerous. Blood coming from a cut artery is bright red in
color and flows rapidly in spurts or jets. As the course of the blood
in an artery is away from the heart, pressure must be applied on the
heart side just as a rubber pipe which is cut must be compressed on
the side from which the water is coming in order to prevent leakage at
a cut beyond. The scout must also know the course of the larger
arteries in order that he may know where to press on them. In the arm
the course of the large artery is down the inner side of the big
muscle in the upper arm about in line with the seam of the coat. The
artery in the leg runs down from the centre of a line from the point
of the hip to the middle of the crotch, and is about in line with the
inseam of the trousers. Pressure should be applied about three inches
below the crotch. In making pressure on either of these arteries, use
the fingers and press back against the bone. You can often feel the
artery beat under your fingers, and the bleeding below will stop when
you have your pressure properly made. Of course you cannot keep up the
pressure with your fingers indefinitely in this way as they will soon
become tired and cramped. Therefore, while you are doing this have
some other scout prepare a tourniquet. The simplest form of tourniquet
is a handkerchief tied loosely about the limb. In this handkerchief a
smooth stone or a cork should be placed just above your fingers on the
artery. When this is in place put a stick about a foot long under the
handkerchief at the outer side of the limb and twist around till the
stone makes pressure on the artery in the same way that your {269}
fingers have. Tie the stick in position so it will not untwist.

[Illustration: How to apply first aid dressing.]

_Warning_: When using a tourniquet remember that cutting off the
circulation for a long time i