Basic Principles of First Aid

Chain of Survival

Early Access”911”

Early CPR or First Aid

You

Early Defibrillation

EMS on scene

Early Advanced Care

Hospital

In order for a person to survive:

Pay attention to:Pay attention to:

HISTORY; HISTORY; what happened; from the casualty or bystanderswhat happened; from the casualty or bystanders

SYMPTOMS; SYMPTOMS; what only the casualty can tell youwhat only the casualty can tell you

SIGNS; SIGNS; what you can see for yourselfwhat you can see for yourself

Securing the Securing the scenescene

• 1. Electrical hazards

• 2. Chemical hazards

• 3. Noxious & Toxic gases• 4. Ground hazards

• 5. Fire

• 6. Unstable equipment

Before performing any Before performing any First Aid, First Aid,

Check for:Check for:

Fundamentals of First Fundamentals of First AidAid

Activate EMS SystemActivate EMS System“911”

• 1. ABC (airway-breathing-circulation)

• 2. Control bleeding• 3. Treat for Shock(medical emergencies)

• 4. Open wounds & Burns• 5. Fractures & Dislocations• 6. Transportation

Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Major

Medical Emergencies

Heart Attack

• Signals may include;

• persistent chest pain

• pain often radiates to left shoulder and arm

• shortness of breath

• bluish color of lips and fingernails

Stroke• Signals may include;• unconsciousness• limp facial muscles• weakness of one side of body• breathing difficulty• unequal pupils• speech impairment

Treatment for Heart Attack/Stroke

• Call for help or 911

• Pulse, but is not breathing start R.B.

• No pulse or breathing start CPR

• If on medication, get for them

• Keep warm and in sitting position

Diabetic emergenciesDiabetic emergencies

Insulin Shock (Hypoglycemia)Insulin Shock (Hypoglycemia)

Result of insufficient sugar- Fast onsetResult of insufficient sugar- Fast onset

•Cold clammy skin, pale, rapid respiration's and pulse, incoherent

•Treat by giving sugar bases products

Diabetic coma (Ketoacidosis)Diabetic coma (Ketoacidosis)

Too much sugar or insufficient insulin- Slow onsetToo much sugar or insufficient insulin- Slow onset

•Warm, dry skin, slow respiration's, smell of rotten fruit on breath

•True medical emergency, activate EMS system immediately

Find out if victim has past diabetic historyFind out if victim has past diabetic history

Seizure Disorder

• Not a disease• Sign of an underlying

defect, injury or disease

• Epilepsy is one condition which results in seizures

• Signs/Symptoms• Possible loss of

consciousness• Convulsions• Severe spasms• Vomiting• Pale before and bluish during

seizure

• Loud labored breathing

• Short lived, but followed up by another

Treatment of Seizure Disorder

• keep person calm• do not restrain• protect, but do not

hold• nothing in mouth• after ensure airway is

open

• place on side if no spinal injuries

• protect from embarrassment

• transport to medical facility

Anaphylactic Shock

• Eating or drinking• Inhalation• Injection• Absorption

• The more common allergic reactions are the result of;

• bee stings• shell fish• medications

Anaphylactic Shock

• Full fledge emergency• Get help now• Look for medical tags• Time is not on your

side

• Signs/Symptoms• state of awareness• skin irritation, burning, itching,

etc.• headache• weakness• difficulty breathing• abnormal pulse rate• chills and fever• profuse sweating• vomiting• muscle cramps, chest tightening

Control of Bleeding

Types of BleedingTypes of Bleeding

•Veins

•Capillary

SpurtinSpurtingg

Steady Steady flowflow

OozingOozing

Artery

Internal Injuries

Control of BleedingControl of Bleeding

Direct PressureElevation

Cold ApplicationsPressure bandage

Pressure PointsPressure Points Where the artery passes

over a bone close to the skin

Temporal

Facial

Carotid

Sub-clavian

Brachial

Radial

Ulnar

Femoral

Popliteal

Pedal

Treatment of Various Wounds, Burns, and

Musculoskeletal Skeletal Injuries

Types of WoundsTypes of Wounds

BurnsBurnsThermal burnsThermal burns

Cool applicationCool application

Don’t break blistersDry sterile dressing, treat for shock

Severe Burns and ScaldsSevere Burns and Scalds Treatment:

Lay the casualty down and make him as comfortable as possible, Lay the casualty down and make him as comfortable as possible, protecting burn area from ground contact. protecting burn area from ground contact.

Gently remove any rings, watches, belts or constricting clothing Gently remove any rings, watches, belts or constricting clothing from the injured area before it begins to swell. from the injured area before it begins to swell.

Cover the injured area loosely with sterile unmediated dressing or Cover the injured area loosely with sterile unmediated dressing or similar non fluffy material and bandage. similar non fluffy material and bandage.

Don't remove anything that is sticking to the burn. Don't remove anything that is sticking to the burn.

Don't apply lotions, ointments, butter or fat to the injury. Don't apply lotions, ointments, butter or fat to the injury.

Don't break blisters or otherwise interfere with the injured area. Don't break blisters or otherwise interfere with the injured area.

Don't over-cool the patient and cause shivering. Don't over-cool the patient and cause shivering.

If breathing and heartbeat stop, begin If breathing and heartbeat stop, begin resuscitation immediately, immediately,

If casualty is unconscious but breathing normally, place in the If casualty is unconscious but breathing normally, place in the recovery position.

Treat for Treat for shock. .

Send for medical attention. Send for medical attention.

Minor Burns and ScaldsMinor Burns and Scalds Treatment: Treatment:

Place the injured part under slowly running water, Place the injured part under slowly running water, or soak in cold water for 10 minutes or as long as or soak in cold water for 10 minutes or as long as pain persists. pain persists.

Gently remove any rings, watches, belts, and Gently remove any rings, watches, belts, and shoes from the injured area before it starts to shoes from the injured area before it starts to swell. swell.

Dress with clean, sterile, non fluffy material. Dress with clean, sterile, non fluffy material.

Don't Don't use adhesive dressings. use adhesive dressings.

Don'tDon't apply lotions, ointments or fat to burn/ apply lotions, ointments or fat to burn/ scald. scald.

Don'tDon't break blisters or otherwise interfere. break blisters or otherwise interfere.

If in doubt, seek medical aid. If in doubt, seek medical aid.

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

Treatment:

Flood the area with slowly running Flood the area with slowly running water for at least ten minutes. water for at least ten minutes.

Gently remove contaminated clothing Gently remove contaminated clothing while flooding injured area, taking care while flooding injured area, taking care not to contaminate yourself. not to contaminate yourself.

Continue treatment for SEVERE Continue treatment for SEVERE BURNS BURNS

Remove to hospital. Remove to hospital.

Fractures & Fractures & DislocationsDislocations

Must treat for bleeding first

Do not push bones back into place

Don’t straighten break Treat the way you found it

IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED...IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED...1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from moving.1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from moving.2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow bloodflow to the area2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow bloodflow to the area3. A doctor should be contacted to have the bone set back 3. A doctor should be contacted to have the bone set back into its socket.into its socket.

The most common dislocations occur in the shoulder, elbow, The most common dislocations occur in the shoulder, elbow, finger, or thumb.finger, or thumb.

DislocationsDislocations

LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:1. swelling1. swelling2. deformed look2. deformed look3. pain and tenderness3. pain and tenderness4. possible discoloration of the affected area4. possible discoloration of the affected area

SplintsSplintsMust be a straight line break Can be formed to shape of

deformity

Be careful of temperature change

PROPER CARE:PROPER CARE:1. While waiting on help to arrive, keep the victim lying down in the recovery 1. While waiting on help to arrive, keep the victim lying down in the recovery position2. Control any bleeding, and be sure that he is breathing properly.2. Control any bleeding, and be sure that he is breathing properly.3. Do not give the victim any liquids to drink.3. Do not give the victim any liquids to drink.4. If the victim becomes unconscious for any amount of time, keep track of 4. If the victim becomes unconscious for any amount of time, keep track of this information so that you can report it when medical help arrives.this information so that you can report it when medical help arrives.

HeadHead InjuriesInjuriesA sharp blow to the head could result in a concussion, a jostling of the A sharp blow to the head could result in a concussion, a jostling of the brain inside its protective, bony covering. A more serious head injury brain inside its protective, bony covering. A more serious head injury

may result in contusions, or bruises to the brain.may result in contusions, or bruises to the brain.

OTHER SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR IF YOU SUSPECT A VICTIM MAY HAVE OTHER SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR IF YOU SUSPECT A VICTIM MAY HAVE A BRAIN INJURY:A BRAIN INJURY:1. clear or reddish fluid draining from the ears, nose, or mouth1. clear or reddish fluid draining from the ears, nose, or mouth2. difficulty in speaking2. difficulty in speaking3. headache3. headache4. unequal size of pupils4. unequal size of pupils5. pale skin5. pale skin6. paralysis of an arm or leg (opposite side of the injury) or face (same 6. paralysis of an arm or leg (opposite side of the injury) or face (same side of the injury)side of the injury)

Neck & Spinal InjuriesNeck & Spinal InjuriesCARE AND TREATMENTCARE AND TREATMENT

ABC ABC

extreme care in initial extreme care in initial examination — minimal examination — minimal movement movement

urgent ambulance transport urgent ambulance transport

apply cervical collar apply cervical collar

treat for shock treat for shock

treat any other injuries treat any other injuries

maintain body heat maintain body heat

if movement required, 'log if movement required, 'log roll' and use assistants roll' and use assistants

always maintain casualty's always maintain casualty's

head in line with the shouldershead in line with the shoulders