(First printed in The Royal Gazette in 2006)

Most people would never dream of sticking their head out of a window during a hurricane.

But according to the assistant director of the emergency department at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), Dr. Roslyn Bascombe-Adams, the majority of injuries treated after Hurricane Fabian in 2003 were a direct result of doing exactly that.

Should you be injured while a storm is raging outside, the situation can worsen without proper medical care. So the The Royal Gazette asked Dr. Bascombe-Adams for some basic First Aid tips.

"With Fabian, roads were inaccessible to traffic so a visit to the hospital was delayed for up to two days," she says. "That's why it is so important to have a basic First Aid kit at home, as well as any prescription medication you might need including inhalers and diabetic supplies."

Dr. Bascombe-Adams adds that the most common injuries treated at KEMH after hurricanes were lacerations.

To treat a bleeding wound at home, she advises putting direct pressure on the wound, preferably with a clean cloth or sterile gauze.

"You will also need to elevate the effected area, which means keeping it above the heart. If the injury is to the head, do not lie down," she warns. "If the patient is experiencing any pain, they can take Tylenol for mild to moderate pain."

She suggests Tylenol because it is considered safe unless the patient has liver disease or allergies.

What do you do if the person faints, or loses consciousness?

Dr. Bascombe-Adams says it is important to keep the person as quiet, or still as possible.

"Get them to lie down and unless they are vomiting, give them Tylenol for pain."

She adds that if the person has broken an appendage, you will need to immobilise the injury by placing a splint next to the limb and wrapping it with bandage to keep it rigid and prevent movement.

A broom handle, or any other straight piece of wood can be used if you do not have a splint in the house and for a broken finger, she suggests using Popsicle sticks.

"If the joint is injured, strap something above and below the joint and if the limb is effected, strap the joint below and above the limb," Dr. Bascombe-Adams advises.

A strong believer in having some form of First Aid training, she suggests at least one person in each household attend a course offered by either St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Bermuda Red Cross, or through community programmes.

Other common complaints during Hurricane Fabian were nosebleeds.

"To treat this, you can put a cold compress to the forehead and back of the head, while putting firm pressure to the bridge of the nose.

"Hold it for no less than 15 minutes," she says. "Never lie down when you have a nose bleed and always keep your head above your chest."

Another common injury the emergency department treats after storms is the removal of foreign matter from eyes.

"You will automatically blink when a foreign body enters your eye and this is the eye's way of flushing out the object, but if the object still does not come out, you will need to patch the eye to prevent blinking until you can get to a hospital," she adds.