First Aid PDF

FIRST AID IN BRIEF first aid Your ability to manage an emergency and to care for a wounded or sick person safely and effectively (beyond just treating the injury or condition) can be enhanced by seeking the assistance of others present at the scene and by using resources available on the spot. S...

FIRST AID IN BRIEF first aid Your ability to manage an emergency and to care for a wounded or sick person safely and effectively (beyond just treating the injury or condition) can be enhanced by seeking the assistance of others present at the scene and by using resources available on the spot. Sometimes, further care may be required. In those cases, the casualty will need to be transported in a safe and timely manner to an appropriate care provider. You can save lives (or help to do so) by acting immediately, safely and humanely We urge you to take a first-aid course. Contact the ICRC delegation or the National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in your country to find out if they offer such courses or other support that will help boost your confidence and refresh/enhance your skills. In this way you will be better able to act safely, humanely and effectively in an emergency. 3 In all casualty situations Think safety, Reassure – Explain – Seek help. Act safely. Comfort the casualty. Ensure the Monitor the casualty. Offer clean liquids cooperation of the Ensure he/she is to drink (but only if casualty. Examine comfortable and the casualty is fully him/her thoroughly. his/her dignity is responsive). respected. Evacuate the casualty in need of further care. 4 Think safety, Act safely Avoid becoming a Avoid direct contact casualty yourself (stay with body fluids clear of the minefield, (blood, saliva, vomit). fire, toxic substance, etc.). Think safety Act safely Think safety Think safety Act safely Remove the casualty Act safely Care for the casualty safely and quickly in a safe place. from the danger zone. Keep your hands Relax/manage your clean. stress – Reassure your family and friends. 5 When the person is UNRESPONSIVE Briefly explain to bystanders, friends and/or Think safety Act safely relatives what you are going to do and why, and the Think safety limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Act safely Think safety Act safely Check if the casualty is breathing, by gently tilting the head backwards and looking, listening and feeling for breaths. Place the casualty in a stable position on his/her side with the head tilted gently backwards to allow him/her to breathe easily and to enable fluids, such as blood, saliva or vomit, to drain out of the mouth. Cover the casualty. 6 When the person is UNRESPONSIVE If the person has a seizure/epileptic episode Think safety Act safely Briefly explain to bystanders, friends and/or Think safety Act safely relatives what you are going to do and why, and the Think safety limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Act safely Manage the scene so that neither you nor the casualty are injured during the episode. Let the seizure run its course. If possible, use a blanket, item of clothing or soft material to protect the casualty’s head from injury. Do not restrain him/her; this may cause injury to you or to the casualty. Once the seizure is over, place the casualty in a stable position on his/her side with the head tilted gently backwards to allow him/her to breathe easily and to enable fluids, such as blood, saliva or vomit, to drain out of the mouth. Cover the casualty. 7 When the person is bleeding Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends Think safety and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Act safely the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Think Think safety safety Act Act safely safely Get the casualty Replace manual pressure to apply pressure with a compressive bandage to the wound or apply (in the shape of an 8) pressure yourself using using a clean cloth or any a clean cloth. absorbent material. Check for signs of swelling or a bluish colouring of the limb (tourniquet effect) and ensure that the bandage is not causing any pain. If you spot any of these signs, loosen the bandage. If blood soaks through the compressive bandage Add more compressive bandage/clean material on top of the first one. 8 When the person is bleeding If the limb is amputated Think safety Think safety Act safely Act safely Think safety Think safety Act safely Act safely Think safety Act safely Think safety Do not apply a tourniquet. Apply a compressive Act safely bandage. If a foreign body is embedded in the limb Do not apply Do not remove a tourniquet. the foreign object. Immobilize the object Apply a compressive (put compresses or a bandage (without clean cloth around it). removing the object). If bleeding is from the neck Apply a compressive bandage (passing it under the opposite shoulder). 9 When the person has a fracture Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends Think safety and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Act safely the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Think safety Think safety For upper and lower Act Act safely safely limbs, gently position the fractured limb in a straight line enabling easy and effective immobilization. Immobilize the limb to reduce pain and limit further adverse effects. If it is a neck fracture Gently immobilize the head and place the body in a horizontal, straight position to reduce pain and limit further adverse effects. 10 When the person has a fracture If it is an open fracture Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Think safety the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Act safely Think safety Think safety Think safety Act safely Think safety Act safely Act safely Act safely Gently position the fractured limb in a straight line enabling easy and effective immobilization. Apply a bandage to the wound. Immobilize the limb to reduce the pain and limit further adverse effects. 11 When the person has a wound Think safety Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends Act safely and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Think safety Act safely Clean the wound (using Cover the wound clean liquids with or with a clean cloth. without soap). Monitor the wound. If the wound is large, dirty and infected Clean the wound (using clean liquids with or without soap). Cover the wound with a clean cloth. Evacuate the casualty. 12 When the person has a wound If it is an abdominal wound Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Think safety Think safety Act safely the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Think safety Think safety Act safely Act safely Act safely Cover the wound with a clean, wet cloth. Do not push the organs back inside the abdomen. Help the casualty to lie in a comfortable position (e.g. legs bent). Evacuate the casualty. 13 When the person has a wound If it is a sucking chest wound Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Think safety the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Act safely Think safety Act safely Think safety Act safely Cover the wound with a piece of plastic (or any equivalent material) and attach it to the body along three sides only, to avoid completely sealing the dressing (otherwise leave the wound exposed). Help the casualty to lie in a comfortable position (e.g. half-seated). Evacuate the casualty. 14 When the person is suffering froM diarrhoea Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. ThinkThink safety safety Act safely ThinkActsafety safely Act safely Think safety Act safely Wash your hands. SUGAR SUGAR SALT SALT SUGAR SALT SUGAR SALT WATER WATER 1L WATER 1L 1L WATER Filter and boil water 1L When the water (to make it drinkable). has cooled, mix it with sugar and salt, or use sachets of oral rehydration salts (ORS) if available. Make the casualty drink the mixture. Evacuate the casualty if in need of further care. 15 When the person has suffered a burn Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends Think safety Act safely and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Think safety Act safely the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Cool the burn (e.g. under Cover the burn with clean running water) for a clean, loose material as long as possible. such as cling film (plastic Stop when the casualty wrap) or a plastic bag. is no longer in pain or he/she starts to feel cold. Advise the casualty to monitor how well the burn is healing and if the pain persists or infection develops to seek further care. If the burn is bigger than the palm of the casualty’s hand or affects a particular area of the body (e.g. face, genitals, joints), seek further care. If the casualty is a child, always seek further care. 16 WHEN the person has sunstroke Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, Think safety Act safely friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and the limits Think safety Act safely you may face. Seek any Think safety Act safely help you may need. Think safety Act safely Move the casualty to a shaded place. Help cool the casualty down (e.g. by fanning him/her and/or applying a cold, wet cloth on the face, around the neck, under the armpits and on the inner thighs). Get the casualty to drink clean liquids. Evacuate the casualty if he/she needs further care. 17 WHEN THE PERSON IS VERY COLD OR HAS A FEVER If the person is suffering from extreme cold (hypothermia) Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and Think safety Act safely the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Think safety Act safely Think safety Think safety Act safely Act safely Think safety Act safely Help the casualty to Offer clean, warm liquids. warm up by covering and Do not warm the casualty protecting him/her from by rubbing his/her body. the elements. Monitor the casualty. Evacuate the casualty if in need of further care. If the person has a fever Briefly explain to the casualty, bystanders, friends and/or relatives what you are going to do and why, and the limits you may face. Seek any help you may need. Place the casualty in a ventilated place. Help cool the casualty down (e.g. by fanning him/her or by wiping the face with a wet cloth). Monitor the casualty. Get the casualty to drink clean liquids. Evacuate the casualty if in need of further care. 18 When the person needs to be evacuated Protect your back when lifting: bend your knees and keep your back straight. Make sure the casualty is reassured and monitored during transport. Hand the casualty over to the further care provider. 19 When the person needs to be evacuated Protect your back when lifting: bend your knees and keep your back straight. Make sure the casualty is reassured and monitored during transport. Hand the casualty over to the further care provider. 20