FIRST AID
First aid is the initial assistance or care of a suddenly sick or injured person. It is the care administered by a person as soon as possible
... [Show More] after an accident or illness. It is this prompt care and attention prior to the arrival of the ambulance that sometimes means the difference between life and death, or between a full or partial recovery.
The main aims of first aid are:
a) To preserve life
b) To protect the casualty from further harm
c) To promote recovery
These aims are known as the three P’s of first aid.
PRINCIPLES
The principles of first aid are:
a)To prevent further injury to the casualty and to avoid injury to yourself: (e.g., from enemyfire, flames, collapsing building or any other hazards.
b)To assess and treat the casualty in the correct order of priority.
c)To place casualties in a comfortable position.
d)To immobilize injured limbs.
e)To relieve pain and anxiety if possible.
f) To arrange evacuation if necessary in the correct priority.
PRIORITY OF TREATMENT
Some injuries are more serious than others and in general they should always be treated in the following order:
1. AIRWAY - Casualties with airway problems.
2. BREATHING - Casualties with difficulty in breathing or whose breathing has stopped
3 CIRCULATION - Casualties with bleeding wounds or are in shock.
4. DISABLITY - Casualties with other injuries, e.g. breaks and burns.
Follow the ABCs of resuscitation if the casualty is unconscious, check his response and ensure that he’s breathing.
Get help if necessary. Call the emergency services. ideally gets someone else to call while you stay the casualty and initiates care.
Treat the most serious conditions first before they become life threatening.
Support any broken bones or injured limbs.
MANAGEMENT OF COMMON ACCIDENTS AT HOME OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
1.Understand the common hazards that can occur at home and within the community.
2.Describe the different first aid procedures for common injuries at home and within the community.
3.Describe the steps that can be taken to prevent their occurrence
Introduction:
Accidents happen every day and result in thousands of people suffering personal injury every year. An accident injury can occur on the roads and footpaths, at work, in public places, at home, at school, during medical treatment and in many other situations but whatever the location, if the accident was caused wholly or partly by someone else, a right to compensation is likely to exist.
In many cases the accident and consequent injury is through no fault of the injured person but is caused by someone else.
EXAMPLES OF EMERGENCIES
BREATHING AND CIRCULATION
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• choking
• asthma
DISORDERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• head injuries
• diabetes mellitus
• epilepsy
• convulsions in children
• fainting
• stroke
• heart attack
WOUNDS &BLEEDING
• bleeding &its management
• internal bleeding and shock
• cuts, grazes and bruising
BURNS &SCALDS
• Types of burns
• Treatment of burns
• Face and head burns
• Electrification
• Sunburns
BONE, JOINT &MUSCLE INJURIES
• Treating broken bones
• Sprains &strains
• Dislocated joints
• Cramps POISONING
• Ingested ,inhaled, injected
• Skin contact
• Insect and snake bites
• Anaphylactic shock
CAUSES OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS
May be gradual or sudden.
Can be the result of an injury or an illness. Common causes include:
- Head injury
- Conditions that prevent blood containing oxygen getting in to the brain such a s heart failures, severe bleeding, blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain(stroke) or fainting
- Conditions that prevent oxygen entering the lungs e.g. chest injuries, electrical injury, blocked airway, or lack of oxygen in the air
- Poisoning
- Some illness or conditions such as epilepsy, ,hypothermia or heat exhaustion
HOW TO TREAT AN UNCONSCIOUS CASUALTY
• Check the response by talking to the casualty, gently shaking his shoulder s or pinching the skin on the back of his hand
• Tilt his head and lift the chin to open airways
• Check the casualty breathing. look, listen and feel for up to 10seconds
• If the casualty is breathing treat life threatening conditions such as serious bleeding
• Put the casualty in the recovery position
• Check the pulse and look for other signs of circulation
• If you suspect a spinal injury, take extra care to keep the head and neck aligned while turning the casualty.
• Call for medical help.
• Regularly check the breathing pulse and response until help arrives.
HEAD INJURIES
Any blow to the head heavy enough to cause a bruise or a scalp wound can fracture the skull and or result in concussion
Concussion is a short period of impaired consciousness caused by shake up of the brain in the skull
Concussion can also result from an indirect force.
Concussion is usually followed by complete recovery
If the recovery is not rapid and complete the casualty should see a doctor as soon as possible
There may be delayed effects such as swelling of the brain leading to deepening of unconsciousness
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- A period of unconsciousness
- Casualty may be dazed and confused as he regains full consciousness
- Casualty may vomit
- Casualty may not remember the incident or anything that happened immediately before it.
IF THERES A SKULL FRACTURES, THERE MAY BE:
- Blood or blood stained fluid coming from inside the ear or nose
- Discoloration, bruising or redness around the eyelids or the white part of the eyes
- Bleeding from the scalp
- Possibly open fracture. This is particularly dangerous.
HYPERGLACEMIA
- High blood sugar levels can lead to unconsciousness and eventually coma
- Look for deep, heavy ,breathing, dry skin and rapid pulse
- Breath may smell of acetone
- If you suspect hyperglycemia call an ambulance and transfer the casualty to a medical facility immediately.
EPILEPSY
This is a condition in which a person suffers from fits
It’s caused by disturbance of electrical activity in the brain
There are two main types of fits: Major or Tonic/chronic fits and minor fits.
Minor fits can sometimes pass unnoticed and the person may just appear to be daydreaming
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Sudden loss of consciousness. Casualty may let out a strange cry
- Casualty may become rigid
- Violent convulsive jerky movements
- At the end of an attack the muscles relax and the casualty returns to normal
- May be incontinent of urine and or/stool
- May have a period of confusion
- May sleep deeply after a fit
MANAGEMENT
-Never try to hold someone down or stop the convulsion
-Never put anything in their mouth
-Never try to give a person anything to eat or drink during a fit
-If possible try to ease the casualty’s fall. Keep calm and try to stop on lookers rushing to the casualty. There is little you can do to help.
-Let the fit run its course without interference
-Clear a space around the casualty so that he/she does not hurt himself. Protect the casualty from any danger.
-If possible loosen any tight clothing on the casualty and protect the head.
-When the fits stops open airway, check for breathing and turn the casualty into a recovery position until recovery is complete.
The fits last more than 5mins, unconsciousness more than 10minutes if consciousness is not retained between fits or if this is the person first fit call an ambulance and transfer the casualty to a health facility as soon as possible.
First aid Kit
1 - First Aid Book
1 - Box Plastic Adhesive Bandages - 1" x 3" 16/Box
1 - Tweezers
1 - Scissors
1 - Spool Tape - 1/2" x 5 yards
2 - Compress Bandage - 3" x 3"
1 - Triangular Bandage - 40"
1 - Small Ice Pack
1 - Box Fingertip Bandage - 10/Box
1 - Box Cloth Knuckle Bandage
1 - Eye Dressing
1 - Box Telfa Pads - 1 1/2" x 2" 12/Box
1 - Roller Gauze
3 - Packages Clean Wipes
1 - Compact CPR Shield
1 - Latex Gloves, Pair
2 - Emergency Blankets [Show Less]