First Aid Lecture 10

Eye Injuries

• A good general rule in treating eye injuries is to get professional care quickly.
• Eye injuries can involve underlying bone and soft tissues, and can lead to permanent damage.
• All eye injuries should receive immediate medical attention.
• Almost half of all serious eye injuries occur at home.
• Assessment for eye injuries involves:
  • Checking eye sockets, lids, and eyeballs for bruising, swelling, laceration, or pain.
  • Checking for redness, pus, and foreign objects.
  • Checking pupils for size, shape, evenness, and reaction to light.
  • Checking eye movements in all directions; looking for abnormal or paralyzed gaze, or pain with movement.

Basic First Aid Care for Eye Injuries

• Never put direct pressure on the eyeball.
• Don't irrigate except for chemical burns or foreign objects.
• Don't put ointments or medicine in the eye.
• Don't remove blood or blood clots.
• Don't try to force the eyelid open except to irrigate.
• Have the victim lie down and stay still.
• Limit use of the uninjured eye.
• Give the victim nothing by mouth.
• Get a physician's evaluation.

Foreign Objects in the Eye

• If not removed, can cause significant damage.
• Pain is often severe.
• Light may cause further irritation.
• Never let a victim rub the affected eye.
• Ask the victim to blink or cry to help remove objects.
• Attempt to remove only objects that are not on or in the cornea.
• Call 123.

Do's and Don'ts for Foreign Objects in the Eye

• Never rub the eye.
• Never examine an eye for a foreign body until you have washed your hands thoroughly.
• Never be rough; this may aggravate the injury to the eyeball.
• Never remove a foreign body with a toothpick, match, knife blade, magnet, or any other instrument.
• Always send the patient to a physician if the foreign body is embedded in the eye.

Removing Foreign Objects from the Eye

• Blink a few times and let the eye move the particle out.
• Pull down the lower eyelid and see if the body lies on the surface of the lid's lining membrane.
• Grasp the lashes of the upper lid gently between the thumb and forefinger, have the patient look downward and pull the upper eyelid upward.
• Grasp the lashes of the upper lid gently between the thumb and forefinger, have the patient look upward and pull the upper eyelid forward and downward over the lower eyelid.
• Flush the eye out with clean water using a small bulb syringe or an eyedropper or eye bath.

Blows to the Eye

• Immediately apply an ice compress to the eye to reduce pain and swelling.
• A black eye or blurred vision can be a sign of damage inside the eye.
• Check for eyeball injury.
• If the eyeball is injured, seek medical help immediately.

Broken Nose

• Signs and symptoms include:
  • Moderate to severe pain.
  • Swelling of the nose and surrounding region.
  • Bleeding from the nose.
  • Noticeable bruising around the nose or eyes.
  • Breathing difficulties.
  • Broken cartilage of the nose.
  • Excessive mucus secretion from within the nasal cavity.
• Complications of a broken nose include:
  • A change in the size or shape of the nose, or a crooked or bent nose.
  • Multiple nose injuries, especially during childhood, increase the risk of damage to the tissues and structures in the nose.
  • Trouble breathing or nasal stuffiness.
  • An infection of the nose, sinuses, or bones in the face.
  • An abnormality in the tissue that separates the nostrils.
  • A hole in the septum.
  • Severe infection, such as meningitis or a brain abscess.

Treatment for Broken Nose

• Reassure the casualty; let him breathe through the mouth.
• Let him sit upright and lean forward.
• Ask him to pinch his nose with the index finger and thumb.
• Tell him not to release pressure to check if bleeding has stopped.
• Apply an icepack for 10-15 minutes; this may be continued for a few days thereafter.
• Tell him to avoid bending down and keep the head elevated, while resting.
• Administer a painkiller for controlling pain.
• Use a nasal decongestant in case of a minor breathing difficulty due to nose block.

Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)

• Some people have a severe allergic reaction to insect bites and stings.
• Severe reactions can affect the whole body and may occur very quickly, often within minutes.
• Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
  • Swelling on the face, lips, and throat.
  • Difficulty in breathing, swallowing.
  • Hives.
  • Faintness, dizziness.
  • Confusion.
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • Nausea, cramps, and vomiting.
  • Shock!
• First aid for anaphylaxis:
  • Call 123 or arrange for transport to hospital immediately!
  • Administer the epinephrine pen.
  • Loosen tight clothing and cover the patient with a blanket.
  • Turn the patient on his side to prevent choking if there is vomiting.
  • Be prepared to perform CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Snake Bites

• Snake bites can be deadly if not treated quickly.
• Children are at higher risk for death or serious complications due to snake bites.
• The right anti-venom can save a person's life - getting to hospital as quickly as possible is very important!
• Most deaths occur because the bitten person has an allergic reaction, is in poor health, or because too much time passes before he or she receives medical care.