HERO First Aid PDF

OUTLINE Assess the Casualty and Give First Aid Treatment The Basics If there’s more than one casualty make sure you help those with Bleeding life-...

OUTLINE Assess the Casualty and Give First Aid Treatment The Basics If there’s more than one casualty make sure you help those with Bleeding life-threatening conditions first. Puncture Wounds Use the primary survey to deal with any life-threatening Bleeding Emergencies Fracture conditions. Burns When these have been dealt with successfully move on to the Choking secondary survey. Sprains Syncope PRIMARY SURVEY Heat Related Illnesses The primary survey is a quick way to find out how to treat any OBJECTIVES life threatening conditions someone may have in order of priority To identify the basic principles of first aid To know and identify different emergency situations where basic first aid can be applied Airway To understand different anatomical and physiological causes to you need to check that the airway is open and clear emergencies and response to first aid Open the airway by placing one hand on the forehead to tilt the head back and use two fingers from the other hand to lift the ROLE OF THE FIRST AIDER chin. Remove any visible obstructions (vomit, mucus, saliva, false First aid is the help given to someone who is injured or ill to teeth, loose/broken teeth, food, tongue) from the mouth and keep them safe and to cause no further harm nose to unblock the airways The role of a first aider is to give someone this help without If obstructions are present the casualty will not be able to breath being harmed themselves and the obstruction will also impede the provision of rescue breathing or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation WHAT TO DO? Breathing Assess the Situation Quickly and Calmly Check breathing by looking (watch the rise and fall of chest), Safety listening (to the sounds of inhaling and exhaling) and feeling for → check whether you or the casualty are in any danger. Is it breathing (by placing your cheek next to their mouth and feeling safe to approach them? for exhaled breath on your check) for up to 10 seconds. → Protect yourself and them from any danger. → Attention should be paid to identifying if the casualty’s ▪ Always protect yourself first – never put yourself at risk. breathing is regular or irregular → Only move them if leaving them would cause them more If casualty is not breathing, rescue breathing/mouth-to-mouth harm. resuscitation/EAR should be commenced → If you can’t make an area safe, call for emergency help If casualty is breathing: Scene → Continue to monitor to ensure they continue to breathe → find out what caused the accident or situation and how many → Apply rescue breathing if their breathing stops casualties there are. → Note their respiration rate so it can be communicated to Situation professionals when they arrive. → find out what’s happened, how many people are involved and how old they are. Are there any children or elderly? Circulation Once you have established they are breathing, look and check Prevent Infection Between You and Them for any signs of severe bleeding. Wash your hands with soap and water or rub your hands with → If they are bleeding severely you will need to control and alcohol gel. treat the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound. Wear disposable, latex free gloves. ▪ Call for emergency help. → Do not touch an open wound without gloves on. → If they are unresponsive and breathing but with no bleeding → If you do not have any gloves, you could use clean plastic ▪ Call for emergency help. bags or ask the casualty to dress the wound if they are able. This will indicate whether or not their heart is beating Do not breathe, cough or sneeze over a wound or casualty Without a pulse, there is no heart beating and there is no circulation Comfort and Reassure If you cannot detect a pulse, commence chest compressions Stay calm and take charge of the situation. If casualty is not breathing and there is no pulse, administer Introduce yourself to them to help gain their trust. CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) – a first aid technique Explain the situation and anything you’re going to do before you combining rescue breathing and external chest compressions. do it. Treat the casualty with dignity and respect at all times. BLEEDING Is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels Hijas Emergency Response Organization 1 of 6  Bleeding can occur internally or externally Animal bites can also be in the form of a puncture wound and Sources of Bleeding bring with them the additional complication of potential infection → Capillaries For all puncture wounds, bleeding control and infection are the ▪ Bleeding from the smallest blood vessels looks like a priorities. trickle. ▪ This kind of bleeding usually stops on its own. FIRST AID FOR PUNCTURE WOUNDS → Veins ▪ A consistent blood flow and blood that’s a dark red color is Protect Yourself most likely coming from the veins. If you encounter a person with a puncture wound the first step is ▪ This type of bleeding can range from mild to severe to protect yourself. → Arteries Stay safe. If you are not the victim, practice universal ▪ Arteries are the largest blood vessels and carry a lot of precautions and wear personal protective equipment if oxygen. available. ▪ If they are injured, bright red blood will spurt out. ▪ Blood can be lost very fast with this kind of bleeding Control Bleeding FIRST AID FOR BLEEDING Control bleeding before anything else. Putting pressure directly on the puncture wound while holding it at a level above the heart (if possible) for 15 minutes should be Wash Your Hands enough to stop bleeding. Wash your hands or put on disposable gloves if you have them. → If not, try using pressure points. This will protect you from infectious diseases like viral hepatitis → Pressure points are areas where blood vessels lie close to and HIV/AIDS that can be spread in a person’s blood the surface of the skin and include the brachial artery (between the shoulder and elbow), the femoral artery (in the Rinse the Wound groin along the bikini line), and the popliteal artery (behind Rinse the wound with running water or betadine the knee). Tourniquets should be avoided unless medical care will be Cover the Wound delayed for several hours Cover the wound with a gauze or cloth Know When to Call for Help Apply Pressure Call for help right away for puncture wounds of any depth in the Apply direct pressure to stop the flow of blood and encourage neck or if a deep puncture wound (or one of unknown depth) clotting occurs to the abdomen, back, pelvis, thigh, or chest. Puncture wounds in other regions, even if shallow, should Elevate the Bleeding Part prompt you to call for help if the bleeding will not stop. Elevate the bleeding body part above the person’s head if you Holes in the chest can lead to collapsed lungs. can. → Deep puncture wounds to the chest should be immediately sealed by hand or with a dressing that does not allow air to Do Not Remove the Bandage flow. Victims may complain of shortness of breath. Do not remove the cloth if it becomes soaked. → If the victim gets worse after sealing the chest puncture Removing the first layer will interfere with the clotting process wound, unseal it. and result in more blood loss. Instead, add more layers if needed Wash the Wound Once bleeding has been controlled, wash the puncture wound Put a Clean Bandage with warm water and mild soap Once bleeding has stopped, put a clean bandage on the wound Determine if Wound Needs Stiches PUNCTURE WOUNDS Wide puncture wounds may need stitches. If the victim needs stitches, proceed to the emergency Puncture wounds and lacerations can look the same at the department surface of the skin → It's really the depth below the surface and what internal organs or tissues are damaged that matters most Dress the Wound Puncture wounds can be deep or shallow and large or small For smaller puncture wounds that do not require stitches, use Treatment depends on the severity of the puncture wound, and antiseptic ointment and cover with adhesive bandages the size and speed of the object creating it. → Also, treatment is different based on whether the object that Watch for Signs of Infections created the puncture is still in the body or was removed. When you change the bandages, or if the victim develops a → An object that is sticking out of the skin is called an impaled fever, chills, or is feeling poorly, check for signs of infection. object. Increased redness, swelling, or drainage, especially pus-like → A bullet wound is a type of puncture wound created at high drainage is a sign that you should contact a healthcare provider. speed and often leaves the object still under the surface Hijas Emergency Response Organization 2 of 6  If redness begins to radiate or streak away from the puncture While broken bones or fractures do need medical treatment, wound, contact your healthcare provider right away. they do not all require an emergency trip to the hospital First aid steps can help stabilize the bone until you can see a Clean and Change Bandage Daily healthcare provider. Clean and change the dressings (bandages) over a puncture wound daily. FIRST AID FOR FRACTURES Each time you change the dressing you should clean the wound Do not try to straighten the bone. and look for signs of infection For a limb, use a splint and padding to keep it still, then elevate it. Give Pain Relief Put a cold pack on the injury but not directly on the skin. Give pain relief if needed. → Use a barrier between the ice and the skin to keep the tissue Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief as needed as from being damaged. long as there are no reasons why these should not be used → If all you have is ice, put it in a plastic bag and wrap it in a shirt or towel before applying it. BLEEDING EMERGENCIES Give the person anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) for pain As a general rule, you need to call for help or rush the injured → Some research has shown that non-steroidal anti- party to the nearest emergency room if: inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Aleve can slow → The wound is deep enough to reveal the underlying dermis bone healing. or fatty subcutaneous layer → Short-term NSAID use appears to have little or no effect on → The bleeding can't be stopped with 10 minutes of firm, healing steady pressure → The injured party is showing signs of shock EMERGENCY CASES OF FRACTURES Even if you are able to stop the bleeding, don't assume that medical care is no longer needed. The person is bleeding a lot, is unresponsive, is not breathing, → The wound may still require stitches to heal properly. or has more than one injury → Certain wounds require vaccination to reduce the risk You think a person has a fracture or other serious injury in their of tetanus or rabies. spinal column, head, hip, pelvis, or thigh → Lacerations or puncture wounds on the joints and other A broken bone is poking through the skin vulnerable parts of the body can cause permanent nerve, The area below an injured joint feels cold and clammy or looks ligament, or tendon damage if not treated appropriately bluish You cannot keep the injury from moving well enough to SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR transport the person Even if the bleeding is stopped, it should almost invariably be BURNS seen by a healthcare provider if the wound is deep or there was profuse, spurting blood. Any injury to the skin or tissue primarily caused by heat or due → The same applies if there was a significant loss of blood, to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction or contact with which could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition chemicals known as hypovolemic shock.4 Can range from minor injury to life-threatening injury Call for help if the injured party experiences signs of shock, → which is why knowing first aid treatment for burns is including: essential. Prompt attention can limit damage and promote → Pale, cold, clammy skin healing → Shallow, rapid breathing Serious burns require emergency treatment → Difficulty breathing → Rapid heartbeat BURN DEPTH → Irregular heartbeats or palpitations → Disorientation or confusion FIRST DEGREE BURNS → Dry mouth or unusual thirst This kind of burn only affects only the outer layer of skin → Dark urine or no urine output (epidermis and upper dermis) and causes redness and swelling. You should also seek care if the wound becomes infected. It is considered a minor burn → See a healthcare provider immediately if the injured party experiences a high fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, and a SECOND DEGREE BURNS rapidly expanding area of hot, swollen, and tender skin. This kind of burn affects two layers of skin (epidermis and part → These could be signs of a potentially deadly infection known of the dermis) and causes blistering, redness, and swelling. as cellulitis It is considered a major burn if it’s more than three inches wide or is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, buttocks, or over a major FRACTURE joint. Any injury to your limbs, hands, and feet needs to be treated as a broken bone until an X-ray can be done Hijas Emergency Response Organization 3 of 6 THIRD DEGREE BURNS ▪ It may take as long as half an hour for the pain to go This kind of burn affects deeper layers of skin (epidermis, down. dermis and involves the subcutaneous tissues) and causes → Remove jewelry or clothing that could become too tight if the white or blackened skin that can be numb. area swells. It is always considered a major burn → Do not put grease, butter, ointment, or powder on the burn. → If you are treating the burn at home, wash your hands and FIRST AID FOR BURNS gently rinse the burn, then dry it with a clean, soft cloth. → Never break a blister, as it increases the risk of infection. The first step to treating a burn is to stop the burning process They will break themselves in about a week. → Cleaning up chemicals ▪ If blisters are intact, you do not have to bandage the burn. → Turning off electricity ▪ If they have broken open, wrap the burn loosely in a → Cooling heat with running water nonstick bandage, preferably one made for burns. → Covering up or taking a person inside out of the sun Change the dressing anytime it gets soiled. Non-Emergency Burns If the burn is larger than 2–3 inches, or on the face, hands, → Flush the burned area with cool running water for several genitals, or a major joint, see a medical provider promptly. minutes ▪ Do not use ice First Aid for Third Degree Burns → Apply a light gauze bandage Third-degree burns, which reach the layers of fat and other ▪ If the burn is minor, you can put on an ointment, like aloe structures under the skin, can be life-threatening. vera, before you cover it If someone has a severe burn with skin that looks charred or → Take medication for pain relief if needed white, call for help or seek medical care immediately. → Do not break any blisters that form Be sure to take these steps Seek Medical Attention if the burn area is → Do not soak the burn with water. → Larger than 2 inches or is on the face, hands or genitals → Do not apply any ointment, butter, grease, or spray. → Pain lasting for more than a few hours → Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the area. → Looks white or charred → Cover the area with a sterile bandage or a clean loose cloth. Do not break any blisters that form Third-Degree Burns Without Pain If you see charred or white flesh after a burn—or in the case of → Remember, third-degree burns may not be painful if the any large and severe burns—call for help immediately. nerve endings have been damaged. → This can be a life-threatening emergency. → Even if there is no pain, prompt medical care for a severe → Do not attempt to treat the burn but do cover it with a sterile burn is essential or clean cloth. → If the person is unconscious or not breathing, and it is safe to CHOKING do so, perform CPR. Choking happens when a person’s windpipe (trachea) gets First Aid for First Degree Burns blocked by food or an object. It is a serious event that can lead to unconsciousness or even First-degree burns affect only the surface of the skin, causing death redness, pain, and perhaps some swelling. → They don't usually require medical care. If you have a first-degree burn, take the following steps SIGNS OF CHOKING → Place a cool wet compress on the area or run it under cool Gagging, gasping, or wheezing water as quickly as possible to lower the heat. Inability to talk or make noise ▪ Continue cooling the burn for about 10 minutes or until the Turning blue in the face pain lessens. Grabbing at the throat → Do not put any butter, powder, ointment, sprays, or grease Waving arms on a burn. Looking panicked → Use a mild liquid soap to wash the area each day. → You can apply petroleum jelly a couple of times a day. → Cover the area with a fresh, clean bandage, if necessary, HEIMLICH MANEUVER and protect it from the sun to avoid further damage. The Heimlich maneuver is a series of abdominal thrusts that → If the burn causes any pain, you can take over-the-counter can help dislodge the thing a person is choking on. (OTC) pain medication, like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil This first aid technique should only be done if someone is truly or Motrin (ibuprofen), to reduce pain and inflammation. choking. Before doing anything, ask the person if they are choking. First Aid for Second Degree Burns → Remember: If someone is coughing or talking, they are not A second-degree burn causes redness, blistering, pain, and choking. swelling. To treat a second-degree burn, do the following:4 How to do Heimlich Maneuver → Immerse the area in cool water for at least 10 minutes. Stand behind the person and lean them slightly forward. ▪ Do not use cold water or ice. Put your arms around their waist. Clench your fist and place it between their navel and rib cage. Hijas Emergency Response Organization 4 of 6  Grab your fist with your other hand. → This progressive loading of your injury can help promote Pull your clenched fist sharply backward and upward under the optimal healing, and it can prevent delays in returning to person’s rib cage in 5 quick thrusts. normal due to joint and muscle tightness or muscle atrophy. Repeat until the object is coughed up Ice → Applying ice may help to manage the swelling around your SPRAINS injured muscle or joint, and ice can help decrease some of the acute pain that you may be experiencing A sprain is an injury to the connective tissues that hold Compression bones, cartilage, and joints together (ligaments). → While applying ice, you can add compression with an ACE Sprains are most often caused when the twisting of a joint bandage. overstretches or tears these tissues. → You can also use a product like Ice Tape to cool and → They tend to happen in the ankles and wrists. compress the injury at the same time. The symptoms of a sprain are similar to those of a broken bone. Elevation: A person will need to have an X-ray to figure out which injury → Elevation is simple for some body parts. they have → An injured ankle or knee can be placed on a stack of pillows while you are lying down. FIRST AID FOR SPRAINS → An injury to your elbow or wrist requires that you elevate your entire arm on something. The first thing to do is make sure that the injured person stops any unnecessary activity, as moving can make the injury worse. SYNCOPE Sprains often don’t require emergency treatment. However, you should get immediate medical care if the injured Occurs when there is insufficient blood flow to the brain causing person: someone to lose consciousness → Has severe pain when they move or are touched This loss of consciousness is usually brief. → Cannot put any weight on the injured joint Fainting might have no medical significance Or the cause can → Has increased bruising be a serious disorder, often involving the heart. → Has numbness or pins-and-needles near the sprain → Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical → Shows signs of infection emergency until the signs and symptoms are relieved, and → Has little or no improvement during the first week after the the cause is known. injury happens Syncope can be caused by many things. If emergency care is not needed, follow these first aid steps: → Many patients have a medical condition they may or may not → Keep the limb as still as possible. know about that affects the nervous system or heart. → Apply a cold pack. → condition that affects blood flow through the body and causes → Elevate the injured part if you can do so safely. blood pressure to drop when the body change positions (for → Use NSAIDs for pain. example, going from lying down to standing). → Ask your provider about any other treatment for a sprain you might need. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS First Aid for Non-Emergent Sprains Many times, patients feel an episode of syncope coming on. If emergency care is not needed, follow these first aid steps: → They have what are called “premonitory symptoms,” such as feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and heart palpitations → Keep the limb as still as possible. (irregular heartbeats that feel like “fluttering” in the chest). → Apply a cold pack. → If you have syncope, you will likely be able to keep from → Elevate the injured part if you can do so safely. fainting if you sit or lie down and put your legs up if you feel → Use NSAIDs for pain. these symptoms. Syncope can be a sign of a more serious condition. P.O.L.I.C.E → It is important to get treatment right away after you have an Protection episode of syncope. → During the first few days after an injury, you should certainly → Most patients can prevent problems with syncope once they rest the injured joint, ligament, or muscle. get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. → After that, you can start gentle motion while still maintaining Signs and Symptoms to watch out for some protection of the injured area. → Blacking out → During this time, you may require some sort of assistive → Feeling lightheaded device, like crutches, to walk. → Falling for no reason Optimum Loading → Feeling dizzy → This describes the gentle motion you can start while in the → Feeling drowsy or groggy Protection phase. → Fainting, especially after eating or exercising → For example, after a shoulder injury or shoulder surgery, you → Feeling unsteady or weak when standing should be able to progress from a few days of rest to passive range-of-motion (ROM) movement, active ROM, and finally, → Changes in vision, such as seeing spots or having tunnel rotator cuff strengthening exercises. vision → Headaches Hijas Emergency Response Organization 5 of 6  FIRST AID FOR SYNCOPE If their temperature returns to normal and they no longer feel hot to touch, you can stop cooling them. Position the person on his or her back. Replace the wet sheet with a dry one and help them to rest. → If there are no injuries and the person is breathing, raise the person's legs above heart level — about 12 inches → if possible: Loosen belts, collars or other constrictive clothing. → To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get the person up too quickly. → If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call for help Check for breathing → If the person isn't breathing, begin CPR. → Call for help and continue CPR until help arrives or the person begins to breathe. If the person was injured in a fall associated with a faint, treat bumps, bruises or cuts appropriately. → Control bleeding with direct pressure HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES Heatstroke occurs when your body temperature rises rapidly, and the body is unable to cool down. → the body temp rises rapidly, sweating mechanism fails and the body is unable to cool down Heat Exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt through excessive sweating It may be caused by strenuous activity in the heat or by being in a hot place for too long. It can be life-threatening by causing damage to your brain and other vital organs. It may be caused by strenuous activity in the heat or by being in a hot place for too long. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Fever of 40 degrees Celsius or greater Changes in mental status or behavior → such as confusion, agitation and slurred speech Seizure or Coma Hot, dry skin or heavy sweating and Flushed skin Nausea and vomiting Rapid pulse and Rapid breathing Headache Fainting FIRST AID FOR HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES Help Them to a Cool Place and Get them to Rest Heat exhaustion happens when someone loses too much fluid and salt usually from sweating in hot conditions. Quickly move them into a cool environment and remove outer clothing Loosely wrap the person in cold damp clothes or a sheet. Continuously pour cold water over the sheet or clothes → You can also fan them or sponge them with cold water. Keep cooling them while waiting for help to arrive Give Them Plenty to Drink Drinking water will replace lost fluids. → If you have them, isotonic sports drinks will help replace salts lost through sweating. Hijas Emergency Response Organization 6 of 6