First Aid

Why should everyone know first

aid?

To quickly help someone who is

injured and to prevent further injury

until more qualified help arrives

Good Samaritan Laws

In the US: laws or acts protecting from liability those who choose to aid others who are injured or ill. They are intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

Must act rationally

If you are a medical professional the law does not protect you

If you are not certified in First Aid and CPR you may be prosecuted if you perform CPR incorrectly

Standard Precautions

Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids

Use personal protective equipment: disposable gloves, eyewear, breathing barriers

Clean and disinfect equipment

Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes while providing care

Wash your hands with warm water and disinfectant soap immediately after providing care even if you are using gloves

Dispose of contaminated materials in the appropriate receptacles

Blood-borne Pathogens

Bacteria and viruses present in blood and

body fluids that can cause disease in

humans Ex: HIV, Hepatitis

In order for a pathogen to be

transmitted

1. A pathogen must be present

2. There must be a sufficient quantity of the pathogen to cause disease

3. A person must be vulnerable to the pathogen

4. The pathogen must pass through the correct entry site

Ways a disease is

transmitted1. Direct Contact- infected blood or body fluids from one person enter

another person’s body. Ex. Blood to cut

2. Indirect contact- A person touches an object that contains the blood or body fluid of an infected person, and that infected fluid enters the body

Ex. A person with a cut touches infected blood on a glove

3. Droplet transmission- A person inhales droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze

Ex. An infected person coughs blood into the mouth of a doctor

4. Vector-borne transmission- the body’s skin is penetrated by an infectious source.

Ex. A needle with infected blood punctures the skin of an uninfected person.

Wounds

1. Abrasion- Scraping of the skin

Ex. Falling off a bike and skinning knee

2. Laceration- A jagged cut- not smooth

Ex. Getting cut with glass from a car accident, Getting elbowed in the eye in basketball

3. Incision- A smooth cut

Ex. A surgery cut, paper cut

4. Avulsion- A chunk of

skin missingEx. Getting your toe caught in a

bike spoke while riding bare foot,

getting bit by a big dog

5. Amputation- Missing

a part or all of a limb

Ex. Cutting off a part of your finger

on a saw

6. Puncture- A hole in the skin

Ex. Sitting on a tack

7. Closed wound- An internal wound that you can’t seeEx. Bruise, internal bleeding

8. Open Wound- A wound that you can see on the surface of the skin.

Ex. #s 1-7

9. Contusion- Another name for a bruise

Ways to stop bleeding

Clean wound

Apply a clean dressing (cloth/gauze)

Apply direct pressure

Apply something cold-ice

Elevate

Pressure points- groin, brachial

Always leave the 1st layer of dressing on a wound that is bleeding, because that will help it to clot. If you pull it off, you may start the bleeding all over again. Just keep applying new and clean dressings to the first layer.

If there is something in the wound (gravel, glass) and it’s serious, LEAVE IT. Bandage over it and go see a doctor

Objects stuck in the skin

If there is a large object stuck in the skin LEAVE IT

Bandage around it

DO NOT remove it on your own

See a doctor immediately

Nose Bleeds

1. Put tissue in nose

2. Pinch the bridge of the nose

3. Apply a cold compress-ice

4. Lean slightly forward

***If you lean backward you can choke

on blood

****If you don’t have a cloth or gauze you

can always improvise and tear a sleeve

off of your shirt, just don’t use a dirty

sock!!!!!