Basic First AidBasic First Aid

Tips for EverydayTips for Everyday

Basic Rules To Basic Rules To RememberRemember When you respond to an incident that has When you respond to an incident that has

resulted in injury always provide for your resulted in injury always provide for your safety first and those in the immediate safety first and those in the immediate environment- you cannot help anyone if you environment- you cannot help anyone if you secure an injury at the scenesecure an injury at the scene

Always carry latex disposable gloves for Always carry latex disposable gloves for emergencies on and off the playgroundemergencies on and off the playground

Wash your hands after removing Wash your hands after removing contaminated glovescontaminated gloves

Dispose of any bandages or gauze with blood Dispose of any bandages or gauze with blood or other body fluid contamination, using the or other body fluid contamination, using the double bagging methoddouble bagging method

Inform the ParentInform the Parent

Always inform the parent or Always inform the parent or guardian of any injuries sustained guardian of any injuries sustained at school, no matter how minor at school, no matter how minor you suspect the injury might be.you suspect the injury might be.

Make a note for the nurse and Make a note for the nurse and place in her mailbox, so that she place in her mailbox, so that she can follow up on any serious can follow up on any serious incidents.incidents.

Incident ReportsIncident Reports

Many school employees fail to file Many school employees fail to file an incident report when students an incident report when students sustain falls or injuries. These sustain falls or injuries. These reports are essential to protect reports are essential to protect school personnel in case some school personnel in case some complication develops later. Also, complication develops later. Also, this reminds the school staff to this reminds the school staff to inform the nurse and parents of inform the nurse and parents of more serious incidents.more serious incidents.

Remember ABCRemember ABC

Remember your CPR and Heimlich Remember your CPR and Heimlich Maneuver Training:Maneuver Training:

A- Be sure the airway is open and not A- Be sure the airway is open and not obstructedobstructed

B- Breathing: Begin assessment and B- Breathing: Begin assessment and provide respiratory support if neededprovide respiratory support if needed

C-Circulation: If pulse is absent send C-Circulation: If pulse is absent send for defibrillator (if one available), 9-1-for defibrillator (if one available), 9-1-1, and begin CPR 1, and begin CPR

Injury to head, neck or Injury to head, neck or backback If an individual appears to have injured If an individual appears to have injured

the neck or back it is important to the neck or back it is important to stabilize the head gently between your stabilize the head gently between your hands in the position that the person is hands in the position that the person is found. If movement is allowed and the found. If movement is allowed and the spinal column is involved, it can result in spinal column is involved, it can result in paralysis.paralysis.

Send for emergency assistance and Send for emergency assistance and keep the person immobilized unless keep the person immobilized unless they have to be moved to a safer areathey have to be moved to a safer area

ChokingChoking

It is wise to remind all teachers to review It is wise to remind all teachers to review the “universal choking sign” with all the “universal choking sign” with all students annually. Placing both hands students annually. Placing both hands as if they are grasping the front of their as if they are grasping the front of their neck is that sign.neck is that sign.

If the victim is coughing or speaking, If the victim is coughing or speaking, observe but do not administer first aid observe but do not administer first aid unless they are unable to cough or unless they are unable to cough or speak and it is apparent that something speak and it is apparent that something is lodged in the throat.is lodged in the throat.

Heimlich maneuver is taught in your CPR Heimlich maneuver is taught in your CPR certification class.certification class.

Possible Fractured Possible Fractured BonesBones If a child sustains an injury and If a child sustains an injury and

demonstrates the following, they should demonstrates the following, they should have the area on the body immobilized have the area on the body immobilized and be referred to a physician for and be referred to a physician for assessment:assessment:

Swelling or excessive bruisingSwelling or excessive bruising Deformity of the areaDeformity of the area Unusual complaint of pain in the area, even if swelling is not Unusual complaint of pain in the area, even if swelling is not

evidentevident

Remember: only an x-ray can rule out a Remember: only an x-ray can rule out a fracturefracture

Cuts and AbrasionsCuts and Abrasions

Wear gloves Wear gloves If bleeding, apply direct pressureIf bleeding, apply direct pressure After bleeding is controlled or if a minor After bleeding is controlled or if a minor

scrape, clean with water and mild soap; or at scrape, clean with water and mild soap; or at least flush with clean waterleast flush with clean water

If bleeding is severe, apply more gauze when If bleeding is severe, apply more gauze when bandage becomes soaked with blood-do not bandage becomes soaked with blood-do not take original bandage off since this will tear take original bandage off since this will tear away any clots that have begun to formaway any clots that have begun to form

Control of Bleeding Control of Bleeding

If severe laceration and it is possible, raise the If severe laceration and it is possible, raise the limb (or cut) above the level of the heart and limb (or cut) above the level of the heart and place a cold compress on top of bandageplace a cold compress on top of bandage

Watch any injury for infection for several daysWatch any injury for infection for several days Refer any serious wounds to physician Refer any serious wounds to physician

immediatelyimmediately Send for emergency assistance if bleeding Send for emergency assistance if bleeding

cannot be controlledcannot be controlled Apply clean dry dressing and advise parent of Apply clean dry dressing and advise parent of

injury so that he/she can apply antibiotic injury so that he/she can apply antibiotic crème or seek physician assessment if crème or seek physician assessment if necessarynecessary

Puncture WoundsPuncture Wounds

Any puncture wound is risky for Any puncture wound is risky for infectioninfection

Refer any puncture wound to the Refer any puncture wound to the doctor after rinsing with clean water. doctor after rinsing with clean water. The doctor will determine if a Tetanus The doctor will determine if a Tetanus booster is required.booster is required.

Any dirty item that causes a wound Any dirty item that causes a wound can cause Tetanus- it does not have to can cause Tetanus- it does not have to be a ‘rusty’ object; just ‘dirty’.be a ‘rusty’ object; just ‘dirty’.

NosebleedsNosebleeds

Have student pinch the nostrils together gently Have student pinch the nostrils together gently for 5 to 15 minutes. If bleeding profusely, the for 5 to 15 minutes. If bleeding profusely, the student may need to lean head slightly forward student may need to lean head slightly forward to avoid choking on blood going down back of to avoid choking on blood going down back of throat.throat.

Apply cool compress at nose bridge if bleeding Apply cool compress at nose bridge if bleeding does not stopdoes not stop

After 20 minutes, contact emergency After 20 minutes, contact emergency personnel if bleeding cannot be controlled (or if personnel if bleeding cannot be controlled (or if all efforts fail to slow the bleed.all efforts fail to slow the bleed.

If fracture of the nose or face is suspected the If fracture of the nose or face is suspected the child should be sent to physician immediately child should be sent to physician immediately

Dental InjuriesDental Injuries

If a child loses a primary (baby) tooth, If a child loses a primary (baby) tooth, gentle rinsing with clean water generally gentle rinsing with clean water generally stops the bleeding; larger teeth may stops the bleeding; larger teeth may require that the child bite down on a require that the child bite down on a clean gauze.clean gauze.

If permanent tooth is lost, place the If permanent tooth is lost, place the tooth in milk (preferred) or water, tooth in milk (preferred) or water, handling the tooth by the crown, not the handling the tooth by the crown, not the root; and send to the dentist root; and send to the dentist immediately with the child.immediately with the child.

Sprains and StrainsSprains and Strains

Apply ace bandage that will support Apply ace bandage that will support areaarea

Apply ice or cold compress on bandage Apply ice or cold compress on bandage at site of injury but do not ever place at site of injury but do not ever place ice directly on bare skin!ice directly on bare skin!

Elevate injured areaElevate injured area

If excessive swelling or discomfort If excessive swelling or discomfort continues, refer to physician continues, refer to physician immediatelyimmediately

Impaled ObjectsImpaled Objects

If the individual has an object stuck If the individual has an object stuck into the body and hanging out (like a into the body and hanging out (like a pencil, stick, etc.) DO NO REMOVE THE pencil, stick, etc.) DO NO REMOVE THE OBJECT! It is impossible to determine OBJECT! It is impossible to determine how deep the object might be and how deep the object might be and what type of injury has occurred.what type of injury has occurred.

Obtain assistance from 9-1-1 and refer Obtain assistance from 9-1-1 and refer to physicianto physician

Contact parent immediatelyContact parent immediately

Eye InjuriesEye Injuries

If a child gets some type of foreign object in the eye, If a child gets some type of foreign object in the eye, flush gently with clean waterflush gently with clean water

If discomfort continues, refer to physician since the If discomfort continues, refer to physician since the cornea may be effected with a scratch and may cornea may be effected with a scratch and may require antibiotic treatment to prevent infection.require antibiotic treatment to prevent infection.

If a chemical splash into the eye; flush eye with clean If a chemical splash into the eye; flush eye with clean water thoroughly and refer to physician to check for water thoroughly and refer to physician to check for burns on surface of eyeburns on surface of eye

If person wears contacts and experiences chemical If person wears contacts and experiences chemical splash in eye; flush with water while contact is still in splash in eye; flush with water while contact is still in eye. Contact physician for further follow-up eye. Contact physician for further follow-up immediately.immediately.

Contact parent and school nurse to report injury .Contact parent and school nurse to report injury .

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

Flush with cool water for 15 Flush with cool water for 15 minutes on skin surfaceminutes on skin surface

Contact physician if burn has Contact physician if burn has occurred.occurred.

FaintingFainting

Should always be reported to Should always be reported to family and child should be seen family and child should be seen by family physician that day, by family physician that day, unless there are specific orders unless there are specific orders from the doctor regarding these from the doctor regarding these symptoms.symptoms.

Heat EmergenciesHeat Emergencies

Hot and humid weather takes its Hot and humid weather takes its toll on the elderly and on children toll on the elderly and on children much more quickly than other much more quickly than other age groupsage groups

Keep individuals hydrated when Keep individuals hydrated when outdoors and provide shaded outdoors and provide shaded areas for breaksareas for breaks

Symptoms of Heat Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion (Can lead to Exhaustion (Can lead to Heat Stroke)Heat Stroke) DizzinessDizziness HeadacheHeadache NauseaNausea Excessive thirstExcessive thirst Skin is red and hotSkin is red and hot

Get the person to a cooler area Get the person to a cooler area immediatelyimmediately

If not nauseated:If not nauseated:

Allow the student to drink ½ glass of water Allow the student to drink ½ glass of water every 15 minutes; drinking excessively and every 15 minutes; drinking excessively and quickly can cause vomiting which can worsen quickly can cause vomiting which can worsen the situationthe situation

If symptoms worsen or continue, contact 9-1-If symptoms worsen or continue, contact 9-1-11

Practices for sports should be scheduled Practices for sports should be scheduled during the cooler time of day during extreme during the cooler time of day during extreme temperatures.temperatures.

When In Doubt:When In Doubt:

Contact your school nurseContact your school nurse

Or during an emergencyOr during an emergency

9-1-19-1-1