Where There Is No Doctor 2011 41
2. Food
If the person is too sick to eat solid foods, give her soups, milk, juices, broths,
and other nutritious liquids (see Chapter 11). A porridge of cornmeal, oatmeal, or
rice is also good, but should be given together with body-building foods. Soups can
be made with egg, beans, or well-chopped meat, fish, or chicken. If the person can
eat only a little at a time, she should eat several small meals each day.
3. Cleanliness
Personal cleanliness is very important for a seriously ill person. She should be
bathed every day with warm water.
Change the bed clothes daily and each time they become dirty. Soiled or
bloodstained clothes, bedding, and towels of a person with an infectious disease
should be handled with care. To kill any viruses or germs, wash these in hot soapy
water, or add some chlorine bleach.
4. Changing Position in Bed
A person who is very weak and cannot turn over alone should be helped to
change position in bed many times each day. This helps prevent bed sores (see
p. 214).
A child who is sick for a long time should be held often on her mother’s lap.
Frequent changing of the person’s position also helps to prevent pneumonia, a
constant danger for anyone who is very weak or ill and must stay in bed for a long
time. If the person has a fever, begins to cough, and breathes with fast, shallow
breaths, she probably has pneumonia (see p. 171).
5. Watching for Changes
You should watch for any change in the sick person’s condition that may tell you
whether he is getting better or worse. Keep a record of his ‘vital signs’. Write down
the following facts 4 times a day:
temperature
(how many degrees)
pulse
(beats per minute)
breathing
(breaths per minute)
Also write down the amount of liquids the person drinks and how many times
a day he urinates and has a bowel movement. Save this information for the health
worker or doctor.
It is very important to look for signs that warn you that the person’s sickness is
serious or dangerous. A list of Signs of Dangerous Illness is on the next page. If
the person shows any of these signs, seek medical help immediately.