FIRST AID
FIRST AID KIT
YOUR FIRST AID KIT SHOULD CONSIST OF THE ESSENTIALS:
First Aid Manual (clearly explains how to handle basic problems
Basic Bandages (assorted adhesive bandages, athletic tape, moleskin)
Basic Drugs/Lotions (aspirin, antiseptic, antacid tablets)
Basic First Aid Tools (tweezers, small mirror, razor blade)
CPR Shield
THE EXTRAS (FOR LONG TRIPS):
Additional Bandages (gauze pads, ace bandages, butterfly bandages)
Additional Drugs/Lotions (burn ointment, skin lotion, Calgary)
Additional First Aid Tools (sling, basic splint, instant ice pack)FIRST-AID DICTIONARY
_____--for first-aid purposes, 8 years old and up
BABY--for first-aid purposes, a child under one year old
BRADYCARDIA--slow heartbeat
CHILD--for first-aid purposes, over one year old and up to the age of 8
CPR--Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
EXPOSURE--hypothermia
FRACTURE--a break or crack in a bone
HEAT EXHAUSTION--condition where the body temperature rises above normal and person feels sick and dizzy
HEAT STROKE--very serious condition when the body loses ability to regulate its own temperature and internal temperature rises to a dangerous level (104 F and above)
HYPOTHERMIA--body becomes too cold (below 95 F)
HYPOXIA--low level of oxygen
LACERATION--rough, ripped wound
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (MI)--heart attack
SHOCK--insufficient oxygen getting to where it is needed in the body
TACHYCARDIA--heart beating too quickly
UNCONSCIOUSNESS--interruption of brain's normal activity so that it is no longer aware of its surroundings
ASPHYXIATION Top
Asphyxiation is a loss of consciousness due to the presence of too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood. The victim may stop breathing for a number of reasons (i.e. drowning, electric shock, heart failure, poisoning, or suffocation). The flow of oxygen throughout the body stops within a matter of minutes if a person's respiratory system fails. Heart failure, brain damage, and eventual death will result if the victim's breathing cannot be restarted.
RESCUE BREATHING
RESPIRATORY RESTORATION
A person suffering from asphyxiation should be given rescue breathing. Before you begin rescue breathing, be certain that the victim has actually stopped breathing.
1. Kneel beside the victim, place your ear near his nose and mouth, and watch his chest carefully. You should feel and hear the breaths and see his chest rise and fall if he is breathing.
IF HE IS NOT BREATHING..
1. Provide an open airway. Carefully place the victim on his back and open his mouth. If any material is blocking the airway, it must be cleared out.
2. Tilt the victim's head back by placing the heel of one hand on his forehead and the other hand under the bony part of his chin to lift it slightly.
3. Straddle his thighs, placing one palm slightly above the navel but well below the breastbone. Cover this hand with the other and interlace the fingers.
4. Without bending your elbows, press sharply on the victim's abdomen 6-10 times.
5. Turn the victim's head to one side and sweep out any contents in his mouth with your fingers.
6. If the victim's breathing is not restored after removing the object, reposition his head in the head-tilt/chin-lift position and continue breathing for him as long as is necessary or until help arrives.
7. If there are no signs of breathing , pinch the victim's nostrils closed. Seal your mouth over the victim's mouth and blow two full breaths. A rising chest indicates that air is reaching the lungs. If the stomach is expanding instead, the victim's neck and jaw are positioned improperly. Gently push on the victim's abdomen with the palm of your hand until the air is expelled, because the extra air in the stomach may cause vomiting.
8. Look, listen, and feel again for signs of breathing. If the victim is still not breathing on his own, continue blowing into his mouth one breath every five seconds until help arrives.
INFANTS:
If you are working with infants or a small child, position your mouth so that you can blow through the child's nose and mouth at the same time. Give two puffs, using your mouth and cheeks for breathing air into the infant's lungs (to keep from over inflating the lungs). Administer one breath every 3-4 seconds.
BLEEDING Top
EXTERNAL BLEEDING:
1. Apply direct pressure. Place a clean, folded cloth over the injured area and firmly apply pressure. If blood soaks through, do not remove it. Instead, cover that cloth with another one and continue to apply pressure to the wound for 7-10 minutes. If the bleeding is from the ear, place a clean bandage over the ear, lay the victim on his side, and allow the blood to drain out through the bandage.
2. Elevate the injury. Position the wounded part of the body above the level of the heart if possible while you apply direct pressure.
3. Know the pressure points. If direct pressure and elevation do not sufficiently slow the blood flow, find a pressure point. Large arteries found close to the skin's surface supply blood to the head and to each arm and leg. The most common pressure points used during first aid are located in the upper arms and in the creases above the upper legs. Apply pressure to the closest pressure point to the wound so that the artery is pressed between your fingers and the bone directly behind the artery. If using the pressure point on a leg, you may need to use the heel of your hand instead of your finger.
4. Resort to a tourniquet. On very rare occasions everything listed above may fail. To prevent the victim from dying, you should apply a tourniquet. Once a tourniquet is applied, it should not be loosened or removed until the victim has reached medical help. Use a tourniquet ONLY if everything listed above has failed. If you use a tourniquet, write down somewhere on the victim the time it was applied, so medical personnel will know how long it has been in place.
INTERNAL BLEEDING:
Internal bleeding results when blood vessels rupture, allowing blood to leak into body cavities. It could be a result of a direct blow to the body, a fracture, a sprain, or a bleeding ulcer. If a victim receives an injury to the chest or abdomen, internal bleeding should be suspected. He will probably feel pain and tenderness in the affected area.
Other symptoms to watch for:
1. cold, clammy skin
2. pale face and lips
3. weakness or fainting
4. dizziness
5. nausea
6. thirstiness
7. rapid, weak, irregular pulse
8. shortness of breath
9. dilated pupils
10. swelling or bruising at the site of injury
The more symptoms that are experienced, the more extensive the internal bleeding is.
WHAT TO DO FOR THE VICTIM:
1. Check for an open airway and begin rescue breathing if necessary.
2. Call for medical help as soon as possible and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.
3. The victim may rinse his mouth with water, but DO NOT give a victim of internal bleeding anything to drink.
CHEMICAL BURNS Top
1. Remove clothing on or near the burn area. Never pull clothing over the head with a chemical burn. You may need to cut the clothing.
2. Wash the area thoroughly with low pressure water for at least 20 minutes.
3. Apply a clean dressing to the area.
4. Get medical attention as soon as possible.
CONVULSIONS Top
A convulsion (violent, involuntary contraction or muscle spasm) can be caused by epilepsy or sudden illness. Convulsion, or seizures, are not likely to cause death unless the victim stops breathing. The victim should be check by medical personnel.
SYMPTOMS:
1. victim's muscles become stiff and hard, followed by jerking movements
2. he may bite his tongue or stop breathing
3. face and lips may turn a bluish color
4. may drool excessively or foam at the mouth
WHAT TO DO:
1. Clear all objects away from the victim and place something soft under his head
2. Do not place anything between his teeth or in his mouth
3. Do not give the victim any liquids
4. If the victim stops breathing, check to see that the airway is open and begin rescue breathing
5. Stay calm and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.
Most convulsions are followed by a period of unconsciousness or another convulsion.
HEATSTROKE Top
1. Cool the body of a heatstroke victim immediately.
2. If possible, put him in cool water; wrap him in cool wet clothes; or sponge his skin with cool water, rubbing alcohol, ice, or cold packs.
3. Once the victim's temperature drops to about 38 °C you may lay him in the recovery position in a cool room.
4. If the temperature begins to rise again, you will need to repeat the cooling process.
5. If he/she is able to drink, you may give him some water.
6. DO NOT GIVE A HEATSTROKE VICTIM ANY KIND OF MEDICATION.
7. You should watch for signs of shock while waiting for medical attention.
ELECTRIC SHOCK Top
1. Remove the victim from the source of electricity before you touch him. Either turn off the master switch to disconnect the power, or use a nonmetal, dry object such as a stick to pull the wire or electrical source away from the victim's body.
2. If he is not breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately; a victim whose heart has stopped breathing needs CPR.
3. If the person is unconscious, but is breathing and has a heartbeat, you should place him in the recovery position and monitor his breathing and heart rate until medical help arrives.
THE PROPER TREATMENT
CUTS:
1. Cleanse area thoroughly with soap and warm water, carefully washing away any dirt.
2. Apply direct pressure to wound until bleeding stops.
3. Put sterile bandage on wound.
4. If cut is deep, get to a doctor as quickly as possible.
ABRASIONS (SCRATCHES):
1. Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.
2. If it bleeds or oozes, bandage it to protect it from infection.
SIGNS OF A INFECTED WOUND:
1. swelling
2. redness
3. pain
4. may cause fever
5. presence of pus
NOSEBLEEDS Top
CAUSES:
1. nose injury
2. strenuous activity
3. high blood pressure
4. exposure to high altitudes
5. blowing your nose too hard
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A NOSEBLEED:
1. sit down
2. Lean slightly forward to prevent blood from running into your throat.
3. Place cold, wet cloths on your nose to constrict the blood vessels in your nose and stop the bleeding.
4. If blood is coming from only one nostril, press firmly at the top of that nostril.
5. If both nostrils are bleeding, pinch your nostrils together for at least 10 minutes.
6. If bleeding continues, apply pressure for another 10 minutes.
7. If the bleeding is the result of direct injury to the nose, only gentle pressure should be applied.
8. If heavy bleeding persists or if nosebleeds recur frequently, consult a physician.
POISON IVY, POISON OAK, AND POISON SUMAC
SIGNS:
1. rash
2. blistering
3. swelling
4. burning
5. itching
TREATMENT:
1. Remove any contaminated clothing.
2. Wash the affected area of skin thoroughly with soap and cool water to remove any poisonous residue. Be sure the water used to clean the area does not spread poison by running over other parts of your body. Using a washcloth could also spread the poison.
3. Rinse the area with rubbing alcohol.
4. Apply calamine lotion to the area to relieve itching and burning.
5. If the victim develops a fever for several days or experiences an excessive amount of inflammation, irritation, oozing, or itching, he/she should be treated by a doctor.
THE EFFECTS OF ITS VENOM
The bite of a coral snake poisons the nerves. The wound mark of a coral snake is different from that of a pit viper. The coral snake chews instead of piercing the skin. It causes a bruise at the site of the wound. A coral snake bite does not need a constricting band because its venom does not enter the bloodstream.
SNAKEBITES Top
1. Get the victim away from the snake.
2. Check the snakebite for puncture wounds. If one or two fang markings are visible, the bite is from a poisonous pit viper.
3. Remember what the snake looks like. The doctor will need to know this to provide the proper treatment.
4. Keep the victim calm, lying down, and with the bitten arm or leg below the level of his heart to slow the blood flowing from the wound to the heart. The more the victim moves, the faster the venom spreads through the body.
5. Clean the wound. Be sure to wipe away from the bite. This keeps any venom on the unbroken skin around the bite from being wiped into the wound.
6. Watch for general symptom (i.e. sharp pain, bruising, swelling around the bite, weakness, shortness of breath, blurred vision, drowsiness, or vomiting.
7. Get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.
If any of the above mentioned symptoms occur within 30 minutes from the time of the bite, and you are over two hours away from medical help, tie a constricting band (3/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide) two inches above the bite or above the swelling. The band needs to be loose enough to slip a finger underneath it. The band slows blood flow away from the bite, keeping the venom from reaching the heart. The band must be applied within 30 minutes after the time of the bite to be effective. If the swelling spreads, move the band so that it is two inches above the swelling.
THE EFFECTS OF ITS VENOM
The pit viper's venom poisons the blood. Once the venom enters the bloodstream, it starts destroying red blood cells. This causes decreased oxygen supply to the body because red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen to all parts of the body. The venom interferes with all the body systems because of the reduced oxygen supply. As the venom begins to take effect, the victim may panic.
Signs and Symptoms
BLACK WIDOW
1. has appearance of a small pinprick
2. dull, numbing pain
3. headache
4. shortness of breath
5. tight feeling in chest
BROWN RECLUSE
1. immediate stinging sensation
2. forms an ulcer encircled by a red ring (looks like bull's eye on a target) after a few hours
3. weakness
4. fever
5. joint pain
6. nausea
7. shock
A bite by either of these spiders needs to be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.
FIRST DEGREE BURNS Top
First degree burns damage the outer layer of skin.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. redness
2. mild pain
3. swelling
TREATMENT:
1. Immediately submerge the affected part in cold water.
2. Hold it under cold running water, or place cold, wet cloths on it until the pain decreases.
3. Cover with a clean, dry gauze dressing for protection.
SECOND DEGREE BURNS Top
Second degree burns go through to the second layer of skin.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. blisters
2. rough, red skin
3. swelling
4. extreme pain
TREATMENT:
1. Immerse in cold water or have cold, wet cloths applied to it immediately.
2. Gently blot area dry. Do not rub. Rubbing may break the blister, opening it to infection.
3. Cover wound with dry, sterile bandage.
4. If burn is located on arm or leg, keep limb elevated as much as possible.
Second degree burns should heal within a few weeks.
THIRD DEGREE BURNS Top
Third degree burns are less painful than second degree burns because the nerve cells in the affected tissue are actually destroyed, but the damage is greater. The burn goes through to the third layer of skin.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. whitish or charred appearance
TREATMENT:
1. Do not remove any clothing near or at the site of the burn
2. Do not apply cold water or medication to the burn.
3. Place clean, dry cloths (i.e. strips of a clean sheet) over the damaged area.
4. If burns are on arms or legs, keep the limbs elevated above the level of the heart.
5. If victim has burns on face, check frequently to make sure he is not having difficulty breathing.
6. Get victim to a hospital at once.
DISLOCATIONS Top
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The most common dislocations occur in the shoulder, elbow, finger, or thumb.
LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:
1. swelling
2. deformed look
3. pain and tenderness
4. possible discoloration of the affected area
IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED..
1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from moving.
2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow blood flow to the area
3. A doctor should be contacted to have the bone set back into its socket.
FRACTURES Top
A SIMPLE FRACTURE does not pierce through the skin. If it is not cared for properly, it could become a compound fracture.
If a fracture is suspected..
1. check for swelling around the affected area
2. there may be discoloration of the skin
If the victim complains of tenderness and pain in the area or says that he felt or heard a bone snap, see a doctor immediately.
A COMPOUND FRACTURE pierces through the skin. Serious bleeding may occur with this kind of wound. Do not apply pressure to a compound fracture to stop the bleeding.
What to do for a compound fracture:
1. Cover the injured part with a sterile pad
2. Apply a splint to keep the bone from causing further injury to the surrounding tissues
3. Wait for medical help
4. Avoid moving the victim, but keep him warm, comfortable, and reassured. Applying a splint
RESPONSIBLE REACTIONS Top
HOW TO HANDLE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
KEEP CALM. Remaining calm while helping the victim will help he/she to keep calm and cooperate. If the victim becomes anxious or excited the extent of the damage from the injury could be increased.
PLAN QUICKLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. Learn basic procedures, or have your first aid manual available, so you can care for the victim.
SEND FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP. Reaching help quickly could save a life. Know your local emergency telephone numbers.
BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE INJURED PERSON. Let the victim know that help is on the way and try to make them as comfortable as possible. Showing care and concern for the victim can give them hope during their circumstances.
SPRAINS Top
SIGNS OF A STRAIN:
1. affected joint begins to swell immediately
2. joint may also turn black and blue due to the escaped blood from torn blood vessels
3. victim will experience excruciating, shooting pains at the time of the injury because many nerves are injured in a sprain
TREATMENT:
1. RICE treatment
2. Thermotherapy (applying moist heat) promotes healing but should not be applied to a muscle or ligament injury for at least 24 hours because heat will increase the swelling. After the swelling has gone, you should alternate applying cold compresses and moist heat to the injury.
3. To treat the injury with warm, wet packs, place a water-dampened towel in a microwave oven for about 30 seconds. Check to make sure the towel is not too hot before placing it on the skin. If a microwave oven is not available, run a towel under very hot tap water, wring it out, and apply it to the injury.
4. A sprained arm should be placed in a sling.
Most sprains take at least 6-8 weeks to heal.
STRAINS Top
DIFFERENCE IN SPRAINS AND STRAINS:
SPRAIN--involves injury to the ligaments around a joint
STRAIN--involves injury to a muscle or tendon
TREATMENT:
1. At the time of the injury, begin the RICE treatment.
2. For lower back strain, rest will often bring relief to the strained muscle. If not, alternate cold compresses with moist heat, allowing a time of rest between the treatments.
