First Aid and Emergencies Questions PDF

Giving First Aid MAIN IDEA​ ​First aid is the immediate care given to someone who becomes injured or ill until regular medical care can be provided​. Some emergencies are minor. You cut your fingertip and it bleeds. A friend falls while skateboarding and injures his or her knee. These types of inju...

Giving First Aid MAIN IDEA​ ​First aid is the immediate care given to someone who becomes injured or ill until regular medical care can be provided​. Some emergencies are minor. You cut your fingertip and it bleeds. A friend falls while skateboarding and injures his or her knee. These types of injuries should be cleaned with soap and warm water. They can also be wrapped in a breathable bandage. Other emergencies can be life-threatening. Taking immediate action can mean the difference between life and death. Knowing basic first aid may help you deal with some emergencies while you wait for help to arrive. You can prevent further injury and may even speed recovery if you know what to do in an emergency. Knowing what not to do is equally important. Anyone who has received first aid should be taken to a medical provider as soon as possible. Steps to Take in an Emergency How can you tell if an emergency is life-threatening? A victim’s life is considered in danger if the person: (1) has stopped breathing, (2) has no heartbeat, (3) is bleeding severely, (4) is choking, (5) has swallowed poison, (6) has been severely burned, or (7) cannot respond to you. People in these situations need help immediately. Call for help and then begin to treat the victim. Proper training is needed to give first aid. In an emergency, the American Red Cross suggests the following strategy: Check-Call-Care. Check the scene and the victim.​ Often something you see, hear, or smell will alert you to an emergency. Is someone calling out in trouble? Have you heard glass shattering? Do you smell smoke or anything unusual that makes your eyes sting or causes you to cough or have difficulty breathing? These sensations can signal a chemical spill or toxic gas release. Make sure the area is safe for you and the victim. Move the victim only if he or she is in danger. Call for help.​ Call 911 or the local EMS number. ​EMS​ stands for “emergency medical service.” When making a call for help, stay calm. Describe the emergency to the operator and give a street address or describe the location by using landmarks. The operator will notify the police, fire, or emergency medical service departments. Stay on the phone until the operator tells you to hang up. Care for the person until help arrives.​ After you have called for help, stay with the victim until help arrives. Carefully loosen any tight clothing on the victim. Use a coat or blanket to keep the person warm or provide shade if the weather is warm. This will help the person maintain a normal body temperature. Avoid moving the victim to prevent further pain or injury. Only move the victim if he or she is in danger, such as in the path of traffic. Hands-Only™ Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) may be necessary if the victim is unconscious and unresponsive. This lifesaving technique is described later on in this lesson. Universal Precautions Viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can be spread through contact with an infected person’s blood. As a result, steps should be taken to minimize contact with another person’s blood. To protect yourself when giving first aid, follow universal precautions​.​ Wear protective gloves while treating a victim. If possible, use a facemask or shield, when giving first aid for breathing emergencies. Cover any open wounds on your body with sterile dressings. Avoid touching any object that was in contact with the victim’s blood. Always wash hands thoroughly after giving first aid. READING CHECK Explain​ What information should you give when calling 911 or another emergency number? First Aid for Choking MAIN IDEA​ ​Abdominal thrusts can help save someone who is choking​. Choking kills more than 3,000 people every year in the United States. When a piece of food or some other object blocks a person’s airway, oxygen cannot reach the lungs. If a person is clutching his or her throat, that is the universal sign for choking. Symptoms of choking include gasping or wheezing, a reddish-purple coloration, bulging eyes, and an inability to speak. If a person can speak or cough, it is not a choking emergency. However, if the choking person makes no sound and cannot speak or cough, give first aid immediately. A person can die from choking within minutes. If an adult or child is choking give the person eight quick blows to the back. To perform back blows, stand slightly behind the person who is choking. Place one of your arms diagonally across the person’s chest and lean him or her forward. Strike the person between the shoulder blades eight times. If this does not dislodge the object, use abdominal thrusts​.​ The proper technique for performing abdominal thrusts is shown in the figure in the Lesson Resources panel. Infants who are choking require a different first-aid procedure. If an infant is choking, hold the infant face down along your forearm, using your thigh for support. Give the infant five back blows between the shoulder blades. If this does not dislodge the object, turn the infant over and perform five chest thrusts with your fingers. If you are alone and choking, there are two ways to give yourself an abdominal thrust. First, make a fist and position it slightly above your navel. With your other hand, grasp your fist and thrust inward and upward into your abdomen until the object dislodges. Another technique is to lean over the back of a chair, or any firm object, pressing your abdomen into it. READING CHECK Identify​ When does a person need first aid for choking? Rescue Breathing and CPR MAIN IDEA​ ​Hands-Only™ CPR is for older children and adults who have stopped breathing​. All organs need oxygen-rich blood to work properly. If the heart stops beating, the flow of blood to the brain stops, too. When the brain stops functioning, breathing also stops. If you are confident that the victim is not breathing, it is necessary to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends two forms of CPR. A trained person will perform CPR that combines chest compressions with rescue breathing​,​ and focuses on chest compressions. A person who is untrained in giving CPR can perform ​Hands-Only™ ​ ​CPR​. This form of CPR focuses only on chest compressions. In an emergency, if no trained person is present, an untrained person should begin Hands-Only™ CPR before medical professionals arrive. Hands-Only™CPR for Adults The first step is to call 911. Before performing CPR, tap the victim and shout, “Are you OK?” Check the victim for signs of movement and normal breathing. Put your ear and cheek close to the victim’s nose and mouth. Listen and feel for exhaled air. Look to see if the chest is rising and falling. Performing chest compressions on a victim who is still breathing normally can cause injury. If the victim is unconscious and there is no response, begin Hands-Only™CPR. The Steps of Hands-Only™ CPR for Adults, shows where to position your hands over the victim’s chest and begin compressions. Try to give 100 chest compressions each minute, until the victim responds or until paramedics arrive. A trained person will then begin CPR that includes chest compressions and rescue breathing. The AHA recommends taking a class in conventional CPR, which includes training in rescue breathing and giving chest compressions. Conventional CPR may be better than Hands-Only™ CPR for some people including:  Infants and young children An adult who has collapsed A person who is drowning or suffering life-threating breathing problems Shock MAIN IDEA​ ​Shock is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Shock is a life-threatening condition. Injury, burns, and severe infection can cause a person to go into shock, as can heat, poisoning, blood loss, and heart attack. Always look for the signs of shock when providing first aid because it can result from a medical emergency. Signs to watch for include cool, clammy, pale, or gray skin; weak and rapid pulse; and slow, shallow breathing. The eyes may have a dull look with the pupils dilated. The victim, if conscious, may feel faint, weak, confused, and anxious. If you think someone is in shock or about to go into shock, call for medical help and take these precautions: Help the person to lie down on his or her back with feet raised slightly higher than the head. Try to keep the person as still as possible. Loosen tight clothing. Use a blanket, coat, or any available cover to help keep the person warm. Do not give the person anything to drink. Roll the person onto his or her side to help prevent choking in the event of vomiting or bleeding from the mouth. First Aid for Severe Bleeding MAIN IDEA​ ​To control bleeding, apply a cloth and direct pressure to the wound and elevate the wound, if possible​. Severe bleeding can be a life-threatening emergency. Blood loss prevents oxygen from getting to the body’s organs. When providing first aid to a person who is bleeding severely, follow universal precautions. Avoid touching the person’s blood or wear gloves, if possible. Always wash your hands when you are finished. If the person has a wound that is bleeding severely or needs other medical help, call 911 before taking action. Wash the wound with mild soap and water to remove dirt and debris. Then follow these steps to control the bleeding: If possible, raise the wounded body part above the level of the heart. Cover the wound with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. Press the palm of your hand firmly against the gauze. Apply steady pressure to the wound for five minutes, or until help arrives. Do not stop to check the wound; you may interrupt the clotting of the blood. If blood soaks through the gauze, do not remove it. Instead, add another gauze pad on top of the first and continue to apply pressure. Once the bleeding slows or stops, secure the pad firmly in place with a bandage or strips of gauze or other material. The pad should be snug, but not so tight that you cannot feel the victim’s pulse. Stay with the victim until help arrives. READING CHECK Explain​ What should you do if the cloth you have used to cover a wound is soaked with blood? First Aid for Burns MAIN IDEA​ ​Flush minor burns with cold water for at least 20 minutes. Major burns require medical attention as soon as possible​. Burns can affect all parts of the body, including the eyes and the airways. Burns to the skin are rated by degree. An explanation of the three degrees of burns is listed below. Minor burns to the skin may not require professional medical attention. Burns affecting the eyes and airway always require medical attention. Being safety conscious can help you avoid burns. For example, never play with matches or fire. Handle hot foods carefully. Avoid making the water too hot in the shower. Sunburns can be serious, too. Protect yourself by wearing sunscreen, staying covered, and limiting time in the sun. If you do get burned, make sure the burn gets treated. The following is a list of the different types of burns and ways to treat them. A first-degree burn,​ or superficial burn, is a burn in which only the outer layer of skin has burned and turned red. There may be pain and swelling. To treat this type of burn, flush the burned area with cold water for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice. Then loosely wrap the burn in a clean, dry dressing. Most sunburns are first-degree burns. A second-degree burn,​ or partial-thickness burn, is a moderately serious burn in which the burned area blisters. With a second-degree burn, there is usually severe pain and swelling. A burn no longer than 2 to 3 inches in diameter can be treated as a first-degree burn. Flush the burned area with cold water (not ice) for at least 20 minutes. Elevate the burned area. Loosely wrap the cooled burn in a clean, dry dressing. Do not pop blisters or peel loose skin. If the burn is larger, or is on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or a major joint, get medical help immediately. A third-degree burn,​ or full-thickness burn, is a very serious burn in which all the layers of skin are damaged. There may be little or no pain felt at this stage. Third-degree burns usually result from fire, electricity, or chemicals. Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention. Call 911 or another emergency number immediately. Do not try to remove burned clothing. Reduce the heat on the affected area and then cover with a cool, clean, moist cloth. Only a medical professional should treat full-thickness burns. READING CHECK Describe​ How should you treat all first-degree burns and second-degree burns that are less than 3 inches in diameter? First Aid for Other Emergencies MAIN IDEA​ ​Animal bites, bruises and sprains, broken or dislocated bones and poisonings require different types of treatment​. Other common emergencies include insect and animal bites, bruises and sprains, broken or dislocated bones, and poisonings. Insect and Animal Bites Insect bites and stings can be painful but are not usually dangerous unless the person is allergic to the venom of the insect. If an allergic person has been stung, get medical help immediately. For all other bites and stings follow these steps: Remove the stinger by scraping it off with a firm, straight-edged object. Do not use tweezers. Wash the site thoroughly with mild soap and water. Apply ice (wrapped in a cloth) to the site for ten minutes to reduce pain and swelling. Alternate ten minutes on and off.  To treat animal bites, wash the bite with soap and water. Apply pressure to stop any bleeding. Apply antibiotic ointment and a sterile dressing. For any bite that has broken the skin, contact your doctor. Bruises and Sprains A bruise forms when an impact breaks blood vessels below the surface of the skin. This allows blood to leak from the vessels into the tissues under the skin, leaving a black or bluish mark. A sprain is a condition in which the ligaments that hold the joints in position are stretched or torn. The most commonly sprained joints are ankles and knees. Symptoms of sprains include swelling and bruising. While a doctor should evaluate serious sprains, minor sprains can be treated using the P.R.I.C.E. method: Pr​ otect​ the injured part by keeping it still. Moving it could cause further injury. Re ​ st​ the affected joint for 24 to 48 hours. I​ce​ the injured part to reduce swelling and pain. A cloth between the skin and ice bag will reduce discomfort. Be sure to remove the ice every 15–20 minutes so that it does not become too cold. Co ​ mpress​ the injured area by wrapping it in an elastic bandage. El​ evate​ the injured part above the level of the heart to reduce swelling. Broken or Dislocated Bones A fracture usually happens along the length of a bone. An open fracture is a complete break with one or both sides of the bone piercing the skin. A closed fracture does not break the skin and may be difficult to identify. Pain, swelling and a misshapen appearance are typical symptoms of a closed fracture. However, not all broken bones cause immediate pain. An X ray is the only way to be sure if a bone is broken. Problems can also develop where bones meet at a joint. For example, a dislocation happens if your upper arm bone is pulled out of your shoulder socket. Moving a broken bone or dislocated joint could cause further injury. For both fractures and dislocations, call for help at once. While you wait for help, keep the victim still. Once a trained medical professional arrives, he or she can then immobilize the fracture or dislocation. Poisoning A poison is a substance that causes harm when swallowed, inhaled, absorbed by the skin, or injected into the body. Medicines and household products play a role in about half of all poisonings. All poisonings require immediate treatment. In the event of a poisoning, call 911, EMS or the nearest poison control center. Be ready to provide information about the victim and the suspected poison. The poison control center will advise you about how to proceed. The victim might need to drink water or milk to dilute the poison, or a dose of syrup of ipecac, a medication that causes vomiting. While waiting for help to arrive, keep the person warm and breathing. Look for extra traces of poison around the victim’s mouth. Remove these with a damp, clean cloth wrapped around your finger. Make sure to save the container of poison. Show it to the ambulance team. Tell them all you know about what happened. If a poisonous chemical such as a pesticide or household cleaning agent has made contact with someone’s skin, first remove all clothing that has touched the chemical and rinse the skin with water for 15 minutes. Then wash gently with soap and water. Call the poison control center while the skin is being washed. Some cases of poisoning are caused by contact with a poisonous plant. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are three such plants. Contact with these plants can cause redness, itching, and swelling. Most of these injuries can be easily treated at home using soap and water, rubbing alcohol, and over-the counter creams. For severe cases, see a doctor for treatment. READING CHECK List​ Give two ways poisons can enter the body. Citizenship A good neighbor and citizen is prepared to report accidents, fires, serious illnesses, injuries, and crimes. Familiarize yourself with emergency phone numbers to call in your community. Make a list to keep handy by the telephone.