It is the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before seeking proper medical care / attention. It includes the things that people can do for themselves to save bad situations.
Aims of First Aid
To preserve life or keep person alive
To prevent condition from getting worse
To promote recovery
To stop further bleeding
First-Aid Kit
A first-aid kit is a bag, case or a box containing basic medical supplies that are designed to be used on someone who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets a standard for first aid kits of being green, with a white cross, in order to make them easily recognizable to anyone requiring first aid.
The common kits used in the school may contain: Alcohol or non-alcohol antiseptic wipes, band- aids, cotton balls Iodine, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, Saline, dressings ,eyewash antiseptic solution, Ice pack, blade, pair of scissors, etc
Function of Items in First aid Kit
Alcohol-free wipes disinfect a wound.
Ointment disinfects and kick starts treatment of a wound.
Pads clean the area around a wound, wipe away any liquid, or use with tape as a secured cushion
Gloves protect a wound from infection, as well as your hands.
Masks protect your mouth from inhaling any fumes or particles. Plus, who wants to breath all over a person when you’re tending to their wound
Standard bandages are long, thin, and rolled up. This type of bandage is used to stop bleeding and act as support for joint injuries.
Triangle bandages are bandages that have a triangle shape. This type of bandage is easily foldable and perfect for sterilization or putting pressure on large wounds.
Wound dressing is a large sterilized pad that is typically used for more major injuries. This type of dressing applies enough pressure to minimize or even stop bleeding while emergency services are on their way.
Band aids are typical bandages that are usually small in size. They have sticky ends and a plush middle that applies pressure, so a wound is covered and stops bleeding. Band aids are typically used for minor injuries.
Pain relievers, such as paracetamol which lessen pain from an injury.
Scissors to cut bandages and other products that come rolled up.
Tape to secure bandages and dressings.
Tweezers to clean a wound.
First aid guide where you can refer to product information and general step-by-step processes, so you can practice good first aid.
Some Conditions That Calls for First Aid
Bleeding
It is the escape / loss / flow of blood from a damaged blood vessels Hemorrhage – large amount of bleeding in a short time or a heavy release of blood within or from the body. External bleeding –seen blood coming from an open wound (outside the body)
– often overestimated Internal bleeding – inside the body
– often underestimated
There are 3 kinds of external bleeding according to the blood vessel that is damaged:
Arterial Bleeding
bright red colour
under pressure, comes out in spurts
the most serious
fast rate
large blood loss
less likely to clot (clot only when blood flow is slow)
dangerous : it must be controlled
Venous Bleeding
dark red colour
low pressure
blood flow steadily
it is easier to control
most veins collapse when cutbut
bleeding from deep veins can be as massive as arterial bleeding
Capillary bleeding
blood oozes
usually not serious
easily controlled
often it clots and stops itself
Bleeding – clinical symptoms
Sudden loss of a large quantity of blood results in shock:
cold and pale skin
weak, and fast pulse
mental disorders, fear, unconsciousness
What to do?
The first aid is the same regardless of the type of bleeding
The most important thing is to control bleeding
External bleeding
Steps:
Protect yourself (gloves or improvisations)
Manual control of external haemorrhage
Expose the wound (remove or cut clothing) to find the source
Place sterile pad or clean cloth and apply direct pressure (fingers, palm, hand) = pressure over the wound
If bleeding from arm or leg – elevate extremity above the heart level + pressure over the
Wound
If bleeding continues – continue + apply pressure against the bone at pressure points
(Brachial or femoral points)
Use pressure bandage – you have free hands for help to other victims
For application of direct pressure – use ring pad
Tourniquets – rarely on the extremities – it can damage nerves and vessels
When you need it – use wide, flat materials and write the time of application.
Internal bleeding
skin is not broken
blood is not seen
difficult to detect
can be life threatening
traumatic and non-traumatic origin
What to look for?
“Swelling“ on extremities in case of trauma
Contusion of the skin
Painful, rigid, tender abdomen
Vomiting or coughing up blood
Black stools or stool with bright red blood
What to do?
Steps:
Check ABCs
Expect vomiting – keep the victim on his/her left side
Treat for shock:
Elevate legs
Cover the victim to keep him/her warm
Do not give a victim anything to eat and drink (prevention of lung aspiration, can cause complications during surgery)
Splinting extremities
↓bleeding
↓ pain
Prevents nerve and vessels injury
Nose injuries – nosebleeds
Two types
– anterior – most common (90%)
– posterior – serious and requires medical attention
What to do?
Place victim in a seated position
Keep his/her head tilted slightly forward so blood can run out, not down the back of the throat, which can cause choking, nausea or vomiting
Pinch (or have victim pinch) all the soft parts of the nose together between thumb and two fingers for 5 minutes
Apply an ice pack over the nose and cheeks
Seek medical attention – if the bleeding continues or you suspect a broken nose or posterior nosebleed
Shock
It is a circulatory system failure when insufficient amount of blood is provided for different parts of body.
Rapid weak pulse or pulseless on peripheral arteries
Unresponsiveness, when shock is severe
What to do?
Treat life-threatening injuries
Lay the victim on his/her back
Raise the victim´s legs (if no evident injury) – drain of blood from legs to the heart
Prevent body heat loss (blankets)
Splinting of long bones fractures
Seek immediate medical attention
ABC
In case of severe shock – prevent per oral intake
nausea + vomiting
🡻 inhaling foreign material into the lungs
🡻complications during surgery
Provision of Oxygen …
Bruises (suffusions) = a form of internal bleeding, but not life threatening
Open wounds – types
Abrasion – the top level of skin is removed = painful – (nerve endings)
Laceration – skin is cut with jagged, irregular edge
Incision – smooth edges (surgery) – bleeding depends on the depth, the location and the size of the wound
Punctures – deep narrow wounds (nail, knife), the object may remain impaled in the wound
Amputation, avulsion – the cutting or tearing off of a body part – finger, toe, hand, foot, arm or leg
Open wounds – What to do?
Protect yourself – use medical gloves if possible or several layers of gauze or clean cloth and apply pressure on the wound (your bare hand should be used only as a last resort)
Expose the wound – to see where the blood is coming from
Control the bleeding
Do not clean large extremely dirty or life threatening wounds.
Let hospital emergency department personnel to do the cleaning
Do not scrub a wound
Wound care
Shallow wounds should be cleaned to prevent infection – risk of restarting of bleeding by disturbing the clot
For severe bleeding, leave the pressure bandage in place until medical attention.
To clean a shallow wound
– wash inside the wound with soap and water
– irrigate the wound with water from a faucet (tap)
– for a wound with a high risk for infection (animal bite, very dirty or ragged wound or a puncture) seek medical attention for wound cleaning
Cover the area with a sterile dressing
Open wounds – Amputations
Control the bleeding
Treat the victim of shock
Recover the amputated part, take it with the victim
– it does not need to be cleaned
– wrap it with a dry sterile gauze or clean cloth and put it in the plastic bag
– keep it cool, but do not freeze
Seek medical attention immediately – 18 hours is the maximum time allowable for a part that has been cooled properly. Muscles without blood lose viability within six hours.
Open wounds – impaled objects
What to do
Expose the area – remove or cut away clothing surrounding the injury
Do not remove or move an impaled object – movement of any kind could produce additional bleeding and tissue damage
Control any bleeding with pressure around the impaled object
Shorten the object if necessary – stick or trunk of the tree, wooden or iron bar..
Burns and Scalds
Rank among the most serious and painful injuries.
Can be classified –
thermal (heat) burns – contact with hot objects, flammable vapour, steam or liquid
chemical – acids, alkalis and organic compounds (petroleum, kerosene…)
electrical – severity of injury depends on the type of current, the voltage, the area of body exposed and the duration of contact
1st-degree burns (superficial): surface (outer layer) of the skin is affected
characteristics – redness, mild swelling, tenderness and pain
2nd-degree burns: affect partial thickness of the skin
characteristics – blistering and swelling, severe pain
3rd-degree burns:penetrates the entire thickness of the skin and deeper tissues
characteristics – no pain, skin looks waxy or pearly grey or charred
What To Do
Stop the burning
Check ABCs
Determine the depth (degree) of the burn
Determine the extentof the burn – rule of nine – how much body surface area is affected by burns – head 9%, complete arm 9%, front torso 18%, back 18%, each leg 18%, victims hand excluding the fingers and the thumb, represents about 1% of victims body surface
Determine which parts of the body are burned – burns of the face, hands, feet and genitals are more severe
Seek medical attention
Burns and scalds – what to do in case of 1st and small 2nd-degree burns
Aim of the care – reduce pain
– protect against infection
– prevent evaporation
Cooling – immerse the burned area in cold water – apply cold until the part is pain free (10-45 minutes)
Sterile bandage or clean cloth
Fluids orally
Analgesia
Shock treatment
Burns and scalds – what not to do
Do not remove clothing stuck to the skin – pulling will further damage the skin
Do not forget to remove jewellery as soon as possible – swelling could make jewellery difficult to remove later
Do not apply cold to more than 20% of an adult´s body surface (10% for children) – widespread cooling can cause hypothermia. Burn victims lose large amount of heat and water evaporation)
Do not apply ointment, butter or any other coatings on a burn except of sterile dressing or clean cloth
Do not break any blisters – intact blisters serve as excellent burn dressings
Burns and scalds – what to do in case of large 2nd and 3rd-degree burns
Do not apply cold because it may cause hypothermia
Cover the burn with a dry, non-sticking dressing or a clean cloth
Treat the shock by elevating the legs and keeping victim warm with a clean sheet or blanket
Seek medical attention
Chemical burns – what to do
Immediately remove chemical by flushing the area with water – brush dry powder chemicals from the skin before flushing (water may activate a dry chemical) – protectyourself
Remove contaminated clothing and jewellery while flushing the water
Flush for 20 minutes all chemical burns (skin, eyes)
Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile dressing or clean pillowcase or sheet
Seek medical attention immediately for all chemical burns
Chemical burns – what not to do
Do not apply water under high pressure – it will drive the chemical deeper into the skin
Do not neutralize a chemical even if you know which chemical is involved – heat may be produced, resulting in more damage. Some product labels for neutralizing may be Save the container or label for the chemical´s name.
Fractures
– closed fractures – skin is intact
– open fractures – skin over the fracture is damaged or broken
What to look for: D-O-T-S
Deformity – abnormal position
Open wound
Tenderness
Swelling
What to do
Determine what happened and the location of the injury
Gently remove clothing covering the injured area
Examine the area by looking and feeling for D-O-T-S
Check – C-S-M – circulation, sensation, movement
First aid: R-I-C-E procedures (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
Use a splint to stabilize the fracture – 1 joint above and 1 joint under broken bone
Seek medical attention
Joint injuries
– the most frequently affected are shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips, knees and ankles
Signs and symptoms
Deformity (main sign)
Pain
Swelling
What to do?
Check – C-S-M – circulation, sensation, movement
First aid: R-I-C-E procedures – rest, ice, compression, elevation
Use a splint to stabilize the joint in the position in which it was found
Do not try to put displaced parts into their normal position – nerve and blood vessel damage could result
Seek medical attention
Poisoning
Most often causes –
ingestion – drugs, alcohol, or both of them, toxic food (mushrooms) or fluids
inhalation – narcotics and carbon monoxide or other toxic gases
intravenous, transcutaneous or intramuscular application of drugs in addict people
Clinical signs
polymorphous
mostly altered mental status
altered vital functions
Convulsions
Evaluation of vital functions – examine ABCs followed by
history +
physical examination.
History is ofprimary importance, but at altered mental status may be difficult
Obtain as much information as possible from the patient, from the family and from anyone else who was at the scene.
The most important questions
What poison is involved?
How much was taken?
By what route was the poison taken (e.g. by mouth, skin exposure)?
When was it taken?
What else was taken with it? (combination of drugs and ethanol)
Besides vital functions are regularly examined, observe:
Oral examination – the odour of the breath is diagnostic clue hydration (opiates, atropine vs. organophosphates, strychnine)
Examination of the skin – marks of drugs use, cyanosis, red skin colour (due to cyanide or carbon monoxide), dry skin
Call for help and transport the patient to the hospital
Monitor vital function during the transport – ABCs
Bring with the patient to hospital all drugs, empty blisters and boxes of the drugs that are present at the scene.
Provoke vomiting in co-operative person
Don’t give any fluids and do not provoke the vomiting in people with altered state of consciousness.
Specific poisonings antidotes:
Ethylene glycol → alcohol
Methyl alcohol → alcohol
Alkali → juice or vinegar or lemon
Acid → milk
How to practice first Aid
The most common term referred to in first aid is ABC. This stands for airway, breathing, and circulation.
Airway: Make sure the airway is clear. Choking, which results from the obstruction of airways, can be fatal.
Breathing: Once the airways are confirmed to be clear, determine whether the person can breathe and if necessary provide rescue breathing.
Circulation: If the person involved in the emergency situation is not breathing, the first aider should go straight for chest compressions and rescue breathing. The chest compressions will promote circulation. This saves valuable time. In emergencies that are not life-threatening, the first aider needs to check the pulse.
.As soon as ABC has been secured, the first aider can then focus on any additional treatments. The ABC process must be carried out in that order. However, there are times when a first aider might be performing two steps at the same time. This might be the case when providing rescue breathing and chest compressions to an individual who is not breathing and has no pulse.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Breaking down these words helps to provide a description of the procedure:
-Cardio means heart.
-Pulmonary means lungs.
-Resuscitation means to restore to life.
Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is bringing the heart and lungs ‘’ back to life’
CPR is a procedure involving repeated cycles of compression of the chest and artificial respiration performed to maintain blood circulation and breathing for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) and/ or whose heart has stopped (cardiac arrest).The signs of cardiac arrest are unconsciousness, no reactivity, absence of normal breathing
Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops. Therefore, it is very important that blood flow and breathing be continued until trained medical help arrives.
Purpose of CPR
It is to restore and maintain oxygen rich blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs if the heart or lungs stop working on their own.
Indication of CPR
intoxication
electrocution
drowning
acute suffocation
severe trauma
stroke and alike
First Aid Sequence Of CPR
Unconscious victim
.
.Make sure the scene is safe. The victim should be flat on his back and his mouth should be checked for debris. Then tap the person on the shoulder and shout “Are you OK?” to ensure that the person needs help.
Shout for help
. If it’s evident that the person needs help,
call or ask a bystander to call 112,
begin administering assistance.
Open Airway
Open the airway.
With the person lying on his or her back,
tilt the head back slightly to lift the chin.
Check breathing
Check for breathing. Listen carefully, for no more than 10 seconds, for sounds of breathing. (Occasional gasping sounds do not equate to breathing.) If there is no breathing begin CPR
Chest Compressions
Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest. Use your body weight to help you administer compressions that are at least 2 inches deep and delivered at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.
Rescue breaths
Deliver rescue breaths
With the person’s head tilted back slightly and the chin lifted,
pinch the nose shut and place your mouth over the person’s mouth to make a complete seal. Blow into the person’s mouth to make the chest rise.
Deliver two rescue breaths, then continue compressions.
Note: If the chest does not rise with the initial rescue breath, re-tilt the head before delivering the second breath. If the chest doesn’t rise with the second breath, the person may be choking. After each subsequent set of 30 chest compressions, and before attempting breaths, look for an object and, if seen, remove it.
Continue CPR steps. Keep performing cycles of chest compressions and breathing until the person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, or a trained medical responder arrives on scene
Summary of CPR First aid Sequence
Unconscious victim → Shout for help → Open airway → Check breathing → Chest compressions → Rescue breaths
UNIT FOUR
FIRST AID
It is the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before seeking proper medical care / attention. It includes the things that people can do for themselves to save bad situations.
Aims of First Aid
First-Aid Kit
A first-aid kit is a bag, case or a box containing basic medical supplies that are designed to be used on someone who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets a standard for first aid kits of being green, with a white cross, in order to make them easily recognizable to anyone requiring first aid.
The common kits used in the school may contain: Alcohol or non-alcohol antiseptic wipes, band- aids, cotton balls Iodine, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, Saline, dressings ,eyewash antiseptic solution, Ice pack, blade, pair of scissors, etc
Function of Items in First aid Kit
Some Conditions That Calls for First Aid
Bleeding
It is the escape / loss / flow of blood from a damaged blood vessels
Hemorrhage – large amount of bleeding in a short time or a heavy release of blood within or from the body.
External bleeding –seen blood coming from an open wound (outside the body)
– often overestimated
Internal bleeding – inside the body
– often underestimated
There are 3 kinds of external bleeding according to the blood vessel that is damaged:
Bleeding – clinical symptoms
What to do?
External bleeding
Steps:
Wound
(Brachial or femoral points)
Internal bleeding
What to look for?
What to do?
Nose injuries – nosebleeds
Two types
– anterior – most common (90%)
– posterior – serious and requires medical attention
What to do?
Shock
It is a circulatory system failure when insufficient amount of blood is provided for different parts of body.
Three components:
– blood
– plasma
– extracellular fluids (vomit, diarrhoea, sweating, urine…)
What to look for?
What to do?
nausea + vomiting
🡻 inhaling foreign material into the lungs
🡻complications during surgery
Bruises (suffusions) = a form of internal bleeding, but not life threatening
Open wounds – types
Open wounds – What to do?
Let hospital emergency department personnel to do the cleaning
Wound care
– wash inside the wound with soap and water
– irrigate the wound with water from a faucet (tap)
– for a wound with a high risk for infection (animal bite, very dirty or ragged wound or a puncture) seek medical attention for wound cleaning
Open wounds – Amputations
– it does not need to be cleaned
– wrap it with a dry sterile gauze or clean cloth and put it in the plastic bag
– keep it cool, but do not freeze
Open wounds – impaled objects
What to do
Burns and Scalds
Rank among the most serious and painful injuries.
Can be classified –
characteristics – redness, mild swelling, tenderness and pain
characteristics – blistering and swelling, severe pain
characteristics – no pain, skin looks waxy or pearly grey or charred
What To Do
Burns and scalds – what to do in case of 1st and small 2nd-degree burns
Aim of the care – reduce pain
– protect against infection
– prevent evaporation
Burns and scalds – what not to do
Burns and scalds – what to do in case of large 2nd and 3rd-degree burns
Chemical burns – what to do
Immediately remove chemical by flushing the area with water – brush dry powder chemicals from the skin before flushing (water may activate a dry chemical) – protectyourself
Chemical burns – what not to do
Fractures
– closed fractures – skin is intact
– open fractures – skin over the fracture is damaged or broken
What to look for: D-O-T-S
What to do
Joint injuries
– the most frequently affected are shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips, knees and ankles
Signs and symptoms
What to do?
Poisoning
Most often causes –
Clinical signs
Evaluation of vital functions – examine ABCs followed by
History is ofprimary importance, but at altered mental status may be difficult
Obtain as much information as possible from the patient, from the family and from anyone else who was at the scene.
The most important questions
Besides vital functions are regularly examined, observe:
Don’t give any fluids and do not provoke the vomiting in people with altered state of consciousness.
Specific poisonings antidotes:
How to practice first Aid
The most common term referred to in first aid is ABC. This stands for airway, breathing, and circulation.
.As soon as ABC has been secured, the first aider can then focus on any additional treatments. The ABC process must be carried out in that order. However, there are times when a first aider might be performing two steps at the same time. This might be the case when providing rescue breathing and chest compressions to an individual who is not breathing and has no pulse.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Breaking down these words helps to provide a description of the procedure:
-Cardio means heart.
-Pulmonary means lungs.
-Resuscitation means to restore to life.
Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is bringing the heart and lungs ‘’ back to life’
CPR is a procedure involving repeated cycles of compression of the chest and artificial respiration performed to maintain blood circulation and breathing for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) and/ or whose heart has stopped (cardiac arrest).The signs of cardiac arrest are unconsciousness, no reactivity, absence of normal breathing
Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops. Therefore, it is very important that blood flow and breathing be continued until trained medical help arrives.
Purpose of CPR
It is to restore and maintain oxygen rich blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs if the heart or lungs stop working on their own.
Indication of CPR
First Aid Sequence Of CPR
.
.Make sure the scene is safe. The victim should be flat on his back and his mouth should be checked for debris. Then tap the person on the shoulder and shout “Are you OK?” to ensure that the person needs help.
. If it’s evident that the person needs help,
call or ask a bystander to call 112,
begin administering assistance.
Open the airway.
With the person lying on his or her back,
tilt the head back slightly to lift the chin.
Check for breathing. Listen carefully, for no more than 10 seconds, for sounds of breathing. (Occasional gasping sounds do not equate to breathing.) If there is no breathing begin CPR
Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest. Use your body weight to help you administer compressions that are at least 2 inches deep and delivered at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.
Note: If the chest does not rise with the initial rescue breath, re-tilt the head before delivering the second breath. If the chest doesn’t rise with the second breath, the person may be choking. After each subsequent set of 30 chest compressions, and before attempting breaths, look for an object and, if seen, remove it.
Continue CPR steps. Keep performing cycles of chest compressions and breathing until the person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, or a trained medical responder arrives on scene
Summary of CPR First aid Sequence
Unconscious victim → Shout for help → Open airway → Check breathing → Chest compressions → Rescue breaths
Attachments1
ASSIGNMENT : ASSIGNMENT 4 MARKS : 15 DURATION : 1 week, 3 days