Field Medicine

Every warrior, for the safety of themselves and others, should know at least the basic treatments for common wounds.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided herein is in relation to a role playing game based on a fictional book series. None of the information provided herein should be used to treat yourself or your pets. Please consult someone trained in first aid, Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or another appropriate professional before attempting to treat a living creature.

Cuts, Scrapes, & Lacerations

Cuts, scrapes and other lacerations are amongst the most common injuries that a warrior will receive. It is not feasible for a grown warrior to flee back to the medicine cat every time they bleed like a hungry kit wailing for its mother.

Treatment

  1. Staunch Any Severe Bleeding
    • If bleeding cannot be halted, send immediately for the Medicine Cat while attempting to control the bleeding.
    • If bleeding is mild or easily stopped, proceed to the next step.
  2. Clean the wound
    • If light cleaning fails to cleanse the wound, bandage with mouse fluff and report immediately to a Medicine Cat.
    • If light cleaning removes any debris, or there is no debris, proceed to the next step.
  3. (If Possible) Treat with an Antibacterial Substance
    • If available chew and apply an antibacterial substance as a poultice, then Proceed to the next step.
    • If such a substance is unavailable, proceed to the next step.
  4. (If Possible / Required) Bandage the Wound
    • If all bleeding is stopped and seems unlikely to resume, do not bandage.
    • If bleeding resumes at any time re-clean and bandage the wound. Report to an MC as soon as possible.
    • If the wound is likely to be contaminated with dirt or a similar material, bandage it.

Substances to Know

  • Mouse Fluff – Used to staunch bleeding. (CoSC does not acknowledge the Cobweb as a useful substance)
  • Marigold Petals – Used in Antibacterial Poultices
  • Borage Leaves – Used in Antibacterial Poultices

Puncture Wounds

Due to the nature of the cats world puncture wounds are rather common injuries that can lay infection deep within the body of a cat. Good treatment to such wounds will prevent the worst of infections and help encourage healing of these potentially dangerous wounds.

Treatment

  1. Access the wound
    • If the puncturing object is still in the wound, do not remove and send immediately for the Medicine Cat while keeping the injured cat still and comfortable.
    • If the puncturing object is no longer in the wound, proceed to the next step.
  2. Staunch Any Severe Bleeding
    • If bleeding cannot be halted, send immediately for the Medicine Cat while attempting to control the bleeding.
    • If the bleeding is mild or easily stopped, proceed to the next step.
  3. Clean the wound (preferably in running water)
    • If light cleaning fails to cleanse the wound, bandage with cobwebs and report immediately to a Medicine Cat.
    • If light cleaning removes any debris, or there is no debris, proceed to the next step.
  4. (If Possible) Treat with an Antibacterial Substance
    • If available chew and apply an antibacterial substance as a poultice, then Proceed to the next step.
    • If such a substance is unavailable, proceed to the next step.
  5. Bandage the Wound
    • If bleeding resumes at any time re-clean and bandage the wound. Report to an MC as soon as possible.
    • If materials for bandaging are not close at paw report immediately to a Medicine Cat.

Substances to Know


Broken Bones

Warriors face a danger of broken bones, particularaly due to the uneven terrain or facing larger enemies such as dogs. Good treatment in the field can take a broken leg from being a career ending injury into a minor disability or a short term annoyance.

Treatment

  1. Access the wound
    • If the wound is “open” (the skin is broken) use the instructions in section 2
    • If the wound is “closed” (the skin is not broken) use the instructions in section 3
  2. Treat an “Open” break
    1. Do all that is possible to reduce bleeding and keep the victim comfortable
    2. Send immediately for a medicine cat (if Possible), but do not leave the victim alone. Stop as this step is a Medicine Cat is coming, it is best to leave the setting of broken bones to a trained cat.
    3. If the victim and the helper are the only cats involved, the helper should attempt to set the bone by pulling the paw end of the limb away from the body until the bones align.
      • Proceed to treat the open wound as you would in accordance with that field medicine.
    4. Once the cat is comfortable and stable and it has not already been done, fetch a medicine cat while keeping the victim as still as possible.
  3. Treat a “Closed” break
    1. Immobilize the limb by keeping the victim as still as possible & access the break
      • If the break is sever, keep the cat immobile and fetch a medicine cat
      • If the break is minor (some mobility is maintained in the limb, there is very little ‘grinding’, ect) take the cat immediately to the Medicine Cat.