First Aid

First Aid covers the medical supplies beyond the bandage. The group holds disinfectants, suture needles, tweezers, splints, pills, medicinal herbs, poultices and surgical gear. Each item treats one kind of problem, from a lodged bullet to a broken bone. The First Aid skill makes every treatment work better. The Doctor is the best occupation for first aid. It starts with the most First Aid skill. The Nurse and the Park Ranger also start with some First Aid skill.

All Medical Categories

Best First Aid

The top pick for each role, by the game's own figures.

For	Name	Image	Stats	Spawn ID
Lightest	Surgical Gloves		0.1 weight	/additem Base.Gloves_Surgical
Heaviest	Box of Cold Packs		1.5 weight	/additem Base.ColdpackBox

Skill and Leveling

The First Aid skill governs every treatment. Its in-game text says it increases the available information for injuries and the quality of medical treatments. First Aid XP comes from treating injuries on the character or on other players. Level 1 needs 75 XP, and level 10 needs 9,000 XP.

Several starts give the skill a head start. The Doctor begins with First Aid 6. The Nurse begins with First Aid 3. The Park Ranger begins with First Aid 1. The First Aider trait and the Former Scout trait each add First Aid 1.

First Aid has five skill books. First Aid I: "A Scouts Injury Guide" covers levels 1 and 2. First Aid II: "Bandaging and Suturing" covers levels 3 and 4. First Aid III: "Emergency Paramedics Manual" covers levels 5 and 6. First Aid IV: "Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body" covers levels 7 and 8. First Aid V: "Surgical Techniques of the Operating Room" covers levels 9 and 10.

VHS tapes also teach the skill, up to level 3. Emergency First Aid, Rosewood Medical First Aid and Combat Wound Management all give First Aid XP.

Disinfection

Disinfectants stop wound infections. The Bottle of Disinfectant fights wound infection, and its tooltip says to use it on bandages to improve healing. Alcohol Wipes and Cotton Balls Doused in Alcohol are used to sterilise wounds and aid recovery from infection.

Alcohol makes homemade disinfectant. Douse Cotton in Alcohol soaks Cotton Balls in Rubbing Alcohol, Vodka or Whiskey. Disinfect Rag does the same for a Rag or a Bandage. The game's guide says a disinfectant on the bandage or directly on the wound helps avoid infection.

Antibiotics treat an infection that has already started. Their tooltip says they fight wound infections. It also warns that they cannot prevent zombification. A Box of Antibiotics holds 12.

Wounds, Glass and Bones

Deep wounds need stitches. The Suture Needle is used in the treatment of deep wounds. Forceps used with a Suture Needle improve the success rate of the treatment. A Box of Suture Needles holds 12.

Foreign objects must come out first. Tweezers can extract broken glass and bullets from the body. Forceps can remove them too. The Multitool also works for bullets and glass.

Broken bones need support. A Splint aids recovery from broken bones and reduces the time taken to heal. Make Splint ties a Rag or a strip of cloth to a Plank, a Tree Branch or a Wooden Rod. It needs no skill. The Comfrey Poultice also aids recovery from broken bones.

Treatment Order

Treat a bad wound step by step. First, take out any glass or bullet with Tweezers or Forceps. Next, clean the wound with a disinfectant such as Alcohol Wipes. Then stitch a deep wound with a Suture Needle. Last, cover the wound with a bandage.

A fracture follows its own order. Fit a Splint to the broken limb first. Then add a bandage over any open wound. A Comfrey Poultice helps the bone mend.

A zombie bite still needs a bandage. The bandage stops the bleeding, even though the Knox Virus cannot be treated. Scratches and lacerations from a zombie also need watching, since they carry a chance of the virus.

Pills and Herbs

Pills handle pain and the mind. Painkillers reduce feelings of pain. Beta Blockers reduce panic. Antidepressants reduce unhappiness over sustained periods. Sleeping Pills help in getting to sleep, and the tooltip notes they are useful when anxious or in pain. Caffeine Pills provide a burst of energy and reduce fatigue.

Medicinal herbs grow in the wild. Plantain aids recovery from wounds when applied as a poultice. Comfrey aids recovery from broken bones. Wild Garlic helps to fight infection. Common Mallow relieves cold and flu symptoms when eaten. Black Sage provides mild pain relief. Ginseng restores endurance.

Herbs dry for storage. Most medicinal herbs have a dried form, such as Plantain (Dried) and Comfrey (Dried). Small plant drying racks dry Comfrey, Wild Garlic, Common Mallow and Black Sage. The dried versions keep the same tooltip effects.

Poultices

Poultices are crushed herbs applied to a wound. Grind Up Plantain makes a Plantain Poultice from 5 Plantain. Grind Up Comfrey makes a Comfrey Poultice from 5 Comfrey. Grind Up Wild Garlic makes a Wild Garlic Poultice from 5 Wild Garlic. Each needs a Mortar and Pestle or a Ceramic Mortar and Pestle.

The poultice recipes must be learned first. The Herbalist trait can find medicinal herbs and craft poultices from them. The Park Ranger starts with Herbalist. The Bushcrafter trait knows the same recipes.

A Plantain Poultice aids recovery from wounds. A Comfrey Poultice aids recovery from broken bones. A Wild Garlic Poultice helps to fight infection.

Surgical Gear

Surgical gear fills out the kit. Surgical Gloves, the Surgical Mask and the Surgical Cap are worn items. Medical Shears count as scissors and can be sharpened. The Stethoscope and the Tongue Depressor round out a doctor's bag. A Tissue equipped in the hand mutes sneezes and coughs.

Hospitals, clinics and medical storage hold the most supplies. Medical storage holds Painkillers, Antibiotics and Alcohol Wipes. Doctor and nurse tools hold Suture Needles, Beta Blockers and Disinfectant. Morgues hold Suture Needles, Forceps and Tweezers. Bathroom cabinets hold Tweezers and the odd box of pills.

Notes

• Every poultice recipe keeps the Mortar and Pestle, so one lasts for many poultices.
• Splints are rare in loot, so learn Make Splint early.

All First Aid