First Aid PDF: First Aid Guide

Introduction to Basic First Aid  Legal Issues Around First Aid ! First Aiders must: " Get permission to help ! Assumed consent if the victim is unresponsive or a young child with no caregiver " Only give care they are trained to provide " C...

Introduction to Basic First Aid  Legal Issues Around First Aid ! First Aiders must: " Get permission to help ! Assumed consent if the victim is unresponsive or a young child with no caregiver " Only give care they are trained to provide " Continue Care ! Give care until another trained person takes over, too tired to continue, scene becomes unsafe, person no longer needs first aid  Lowering Risk of Infection ! For first aider: " Wear gloves – do not touch outside of the glove when removing " Wash your hands " Use a face mask ! For victim: " First aider uses gloves and a mask " Use clean/sterile dressings " Check circulation below the injury before and after applying a bandage " If blood soaks through, apply more bandages over existing ones " Monitor open wounds for infection ! Look for redness, swelling, or discharge and get medical attention if infection is suspected  Check, Call, Care ! Check " Scene safe? " Clues to what happened? " Is the person responsive? " Checks ABCs ! Airway – if it is not open, head-tilt/chin lift ! Breathing – watch chest for 5-10 seconds ! Circulation – quickly check for life-threatening bleeding ! Call " If the person is unresponsive or has life-threatening condition call 911 ! Care " Care for life-threatening conditions first " Monitor, keep victim comfortable, put them in the recovery position if necessary  Shock ! Life-threatening condition ! Look for " Anxiety, confusion, cool clammy skin, pale skin, weakness, rapid breathing, excessive thirst (do not give them anything to drink), nausea/vomiting, drowsiness or loss of responsiveness ! Call 911 ! Care: " Treat suspected cause of shock " Provide continued care  Choking ! If the person is able to cough/speak encourage them to cough ! If the airway becomes blocked " Call 911 " Alternate between two of the following ! Back blows – support front of victim and give 5 firm back blows between shoulder blades ! Abdominal thrusts – place your fist above the bellybutton and give 5 quick inward and upward thrusts ! Chest thrusts – place your fist in the middle of victim’s chest and pull back quickly 5 times " If the victim is a baby ! Sit or kneel with baby face down on your forearm and supporting the head, give 5 back blows. ! If the object doesn’t come out flip the baby (making sure to support the head), and use 2 fingers or knuckles to give 5 chest compressions ! Repeat until object is removed or baby becomes unresponsive " If you are by yourself call 911 and perform abdominal thrusts against an object such as a chair " If the victim becomes unresponsive, ensure 911 has been called and begin CPR  Circulation Emergencies: Stroke ! Occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted ! Look for " Dizziness or confusion, unresponsiveness, loss of bladder or bowl control " FAST: Face (numbness or weakness – especially on one side), Arm (numbness or weakness – especially on one side), Speech (abnormal, loss, difficulty speaking or understanding others), Time (time is important – call 911 right away) ! Have the person rest and note when the signs and symptoms began  Circulation Emergencies: Bleeding ! Direct pressure ! Call 911 if the bleeding is difficult to stop or control " Maintain direct pressure when applying a dressing and bandage " If blood soaks through apply another bandage on top ! Internal bleeding " Look for bruising/pain in injured area, tender, swollen, or hard soft tissues, blood in saliva or vomit, severe thirst, nausea, or vomiting, and/or anxiety " Call 911 and have victim rest  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) ! Used when someone is unresponsive and not breathing ! Call 911 and get an AED ! If you are alone and the victim is a child or baby, do 5 cycles (2 minutes) of CPR before taking victim with you to call 911 and get an AED ! To perform CPR " Do 30 chest compressions – hands (fingers for baby) in centre of chest. Push deep and steady – 110-120 compressions/minute " Give 2 breaths – open airway, use barrier device, give just enough air to make chest rise " If breaths go in, repeat 30 compressions and 2 breaths until another trained person takes over, you are too tired to continue, the scene becomes unsafe, there is an obvious sign of life " If breaths don’t go in, reposition head and try another breath and look in mouth for object after each set of chest compressions " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUaxt8OlT3o  AED ! Dramatically increases chance of survival ! Remove victim from water before use ! To use " Open and turn it on – listen to instructions " Apply pads and follow prompts " Continue CPR  Breathing Emergencies ! Asthma - Call 911 if necessary " Move person away from any triggers " If available, help them take their medication (inhaler) ! Shake inhaler and remove cap ! Inhale inhaler taking full slow breath ! Cold breath as long as comfortable ! Anaphylaxis - Call 911 " If available, help victim use their epinephrine auto-injector ! Remove cap ! Firmly push tip into thigh (should hear a click) and hold for 5-10 seconds ! Rub injection site for 30 seconds ! If condition does not improve within 5 minutes, repeat the dose ! Have victim rest quietly until help arrives  Burns ! Call 911 and get an AED if the burn " Makes it difficult to breathe " Was caused by chemicals, explosions, or electricity " Is full thickness, or includes a large amount of broken skin or blisters " Covers the hands, face, neck, genitals, or a large area ! Care " Cool the area for at least 10 minutes " Remove jewelry and clothing from burn site (unless it is stuck) " Cover burn with loose, dry, sterile dressing  Burns Continued ! Chemical Burns " Put on protective equipment " Brush chemicals of skin and remove clothing with chemicals on them " Flush with cool water for at least 15 minutes ! Electrical Burns " Make sure electrical current has been turned off " Keep victim still " Look for (and treat) two burns – entry and exit points " Closely monitor ABCs  Impaled Objects ! Call 911 ! Leave object in place ! Stabilize object without putting pressure on it ! Secure dressings in place  Head, Neck, and Spinal Injuries ! Suspect a head, neck, or spinal injury if there is a fall from height, a diving injury, a victim found unresponsive for unknown reasons, strong blow to torso, head, or jaw, or if victim was electrocuted or struck by lightning ! Look for " Severe pain/pressure in head, neck, or back " Blood or other fluids from ears or nose " Bruises (around eyes and behind ears) " Seizures " Nausea or vomiting " Unequal pupil size or impaired vision or breathing " Loss of bladder or bowel control " Partial or complete loss off movement of a body part " Changes in behavior, awareness, or responsiveness " Dizziness/loss of balance " Weakness, loss of sensation, or tingling ! Call 911 and get an AED ! Have victim stay as still as possible – if they are unresponsive, support head in position found  Eye Injuries ! Call 911 if an object is impaled in or near the eye, if the eye is out of the socket, or if a chemical is in the eye ! If there is something in the eye, but not impaling it " Ask victim to blink " Gently flush eye with running water " If object hasn’t been removed get medical attention ! If a chemical is in the eye gently flush eye for at least 15 minutes – make sure water is running away from unaffected eye  Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries ! Call 911 if " Injury is to pelvis or thigh bone " Area below injury is numb, cold, pale, or blue " Bone is protruding through skin " Cannot safely move victim ! Care: RICE " Rest " Immobilize " Cool " Elevate  Sudden Medical Emergencies ! Diabetic " If the victim can safely swallow, have them eat sugar " Call 911 if victim is not fully awake, victim has a seizure, or condition doesn’t improve within 10 minutes of having sugar ! Seizures " Call 911 if you do not know victim’s medical history, the seizure lasts more than a few minutes, the victim has several seizures in a row, or if the victim is unresponsive for a prolonged period " Protect victim from injury " Do not hold them down " Roll victim into recovery position – may be drowsy/disoriented for up to 20 minutes  Types of wounds The main purpose of first aid care for wounds is controlling the bleeding and preventing infection. Types of wounds: abrasion-Scrape on the skin Incision-Cut or injury by sharp object laceration-Jagged irregular injury with tearing puncture-Wound caused by sharp pointed object avulsion-Tissue torn or separated from body amputation-Body part cut off  Abrasion !  Incision !  Laceration !  Puncture !  Avulsion !  Amputation !