Introduction to Health Science: Emergency Procedures

Introduction to Health Science: Emergency Procedures

• Emergency procedures are a critical component of health science.
• First aid is the initial care given to someone who is injured or ill. It aims to minimize harm until professional medical help is available.
• The golden rule of first aid is "do no further harm." This means avoiding actions that could worsen a situation.
• Examples of situations requiring immediate first aid include loss of consciousness, signs of stroke (poor blood flow to the brain), chest discomfort, and breathing problems.

Contents

• First aid should be administered when necessary to minimize harm.
• Seven steps should be followed to protect both the victim and the rescuer during an emergency.
• Understanding when to perform CPR is an important part of first aid.
• Identifying illnesses and injuries requiring first aid, including signs, symptoms, and treatment, is crucial for effective care.

Introduction

• Healthcare professionals aim to help others in emergency situations.
• It's natural to want to assist and improve outcomes.
• Key examples of someone requiring emergency assistance include:
  • Person unresponsive to voice or touch
  • Experiencing chest discomfort
  • Showing signs of stroke
  • Having breathing difficulties

First Aid

• First aid involves providing emergency care to accident victims and those becoming ill suddenly.
• The goal is to minimize injury or illness until professional medical treatment is possible.
• The golden rule is to avoid making the situation worse.

When an Emergency Occurs

• When caring for an injured or ill person, follow specific steps.
• Crucial steps include protecting both the rescuer and the victim.

Steps in Emergency

• Assess the environment: Checking for safety before approaching. If unsafe, call for help immediately.
• Obtain consent to treat: If the victim is conscious, permission is needed before providing care. Unconscious victims imply consent for immediate first aid. Child victims require parental consent.
• Determine what happened: Trying to gather information about the event.
• Follow standard precautions: Protect yourself from infectious diseases by using personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks and gloves.
• Find help: Get assistance from bystanders or call for professional help.
• Never move the victim: This is crucial to avoid potential spinal injuries.
• Stay calm: A calm and reassuring manner reduces stress for everyone involved.

Protective Personal Equipment (PPE)

• Masks, gloves, and protective clothing are essential for safeguarding health care providers.
• Always use the recommended PPE during emergency responses to prevent cross-contamination.

First Aid Kit

• First aid kits house essential supplies for emergency scenarios.
• These are used to ensure that responses are as efficient as possible.
• Kits must be clearly and completely labelled and easily accessible.
• Check kits regularly for expiry dates and replace any used items.

First Aid Procedures: Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries

• Fractures involve broken bones, categorized as open or closed based on skin involvement.
• Dislocations occur when a joint is disconnected from its socket.
• Procedure for dealing with bone, joint, and muscle injuries include:
  • Do not try to realign misshapen bones or joints. Testing for function can further injure the individual.
  • Do not administer anything by mouth, especially in cases of an open fracture. Cover the wound and do not attempt to clean it. Leave the injury as found and immobilize using support for injured area and regions both above and below. Avoid removing anything from the injury site initially.
• Monitor for signs of circulation issues while keeping the injured person still and using appropriate supports.

First Aid Procedures: Bleeding

• Internal bleeding is blood loss into a body cavity or structure instead of externally.
• Arterial bleeding is characterized by spurts of bright red blood, typically originating from an artery.
• Venous bleeding involves a steady flow of dark red or blackish blood.
• External bleeding demands quick intervention to stop the flow of blood. Apply direct pressure to the wound. Additional gauze and pressure may be required.
• Never look under the dressing to check for the status of wounds.
• Do not apply pressure to injuries over an embedded object, eyes, or head trauma.
• Monitor for signs of bleeding for 15 minutes if occurring on the arms or legs. When not an effective response within 15 minutes use pressure-point control.

First Aid Procedures: Bandaging

• Bandages are used as coverings to help in injuries, and assist with pressure retention to stop bleeding.

First Aid Procedures: Burns

• Burns are injuries from chemicals, heat, electricity, or flammables.
• A burn's degree is determined by its depth and location.
• Minor burns (first-degree) involve only the top layer of skin and are red, painful, and inflamed.
• Partial-thickness (second-degree) burns extend beyond the top layer, resulting in blisters.
• Full-thickness (third-degree) burns destroy all layers of skin and underlying tissues, causing charring or tissue damage.
• Treat small burns with cool water.
• Treatment of serious burns requires medical attention.

First Aid Procedures: Choking

• Choking is a medical emergency requiring immediate action.
• Use the Heimlich maneuver if the person is unable to cough and is choking.
• Identify if the choking situation is present. The victim's reaction is a critical element for assessment. If the choking victim can cough or speak, it signifies an ability to expel the obstructing substance, therefore a further clinical intervention is not immediately required.
• If a person is unable to cough or speak, and appears to be choking, consider the Heimlich maneuver to try to clear the obstruction.

First Aid Procedures: CPR

• CPR is an emergency procedure for cases of cardiac arrest. It combines chest compressions and artificial ventilation.
• If a person is unconscious and not breathing, CPR should be initiated immediately.
• Brain damage can occur in minutes with the absence of oxygen.
• CPR helps maintain oxygen supply and blood flow to the brain until professional medical assistance arrives.
• CPR follows a specific sequence of compressions and breaths/ventilations.

Key Points

• Medical emergencies can occur unexpectedly.
• Act quickly, calmly, and carefully in emergencies.
• Consider becoming certified in first aid and CPR.

Questions

• (A list of possible questions based on the provided document would be helpful here, if you'd like more info on responding in this section).

Additional information

• Important information concerning emergency procedures, like protective clothing and devices is presented throughout this document. Following the steps presented accurately is critical in emergency situations.

This quiz covers essential emergency procedures in health science, focusing on first aid principles and practices. Learn the critical steps to take in various emergency situations, including recognizing signs of illness and when to administer CPR. Understanding these procedures can help minimize harm and provide effective care until professional help arrives.