First Aid

General Procedures for injury or Sudden Illness on land

• Size up Scene– Check to be sure it is safe to approach the victim.

• Preform an initial assessment– Check for life threatening conditions

• Summon EMS if Necessary

• Perform a secondary assessment & Call EMS if necessary and not already on their way.

•Airway

•Breathing

•Circulation

•Bleeding

Define Child/Infant/Adult

Guard as a Professional Rescuer&

Preventing Disease Transmission

DiseasesDirect Contact

DiseasesIndirect Contact

DiseasesAirborne Transmission

DiseasesVector Transmission

Preventing Disease Transmission

Wear Gloves

Removing Disposable Gloves• Partially remove the first glove by pinching the glove

at the wrist, being careful to touch only the glove’s outside surface.

• Pull the glove toward the fingertips without completely removing it.

• The glove is now partially inside out.• With the partially gloved hand, pinch the exterior of

the second glove.• Pull the second glove toward the fingertips until it is

inside out and then remove it completely.• Grasp both gloves with your free hand, touching only

the clean interior surface of the glove.• Discard the gloves in an appropriate container.• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Preventing Disease Transmission

Use a Mask or BVM

Preventing Disease Transmission

Properly Dispose of used First Aid Supplies

Preventing Disease Transmission

Wash your hands after providing care

Preventing Disease Transmission

Wash your equipment after each use

Initial Assessment

Recovery Position

• NEED PIC

HAINES Position

• Need Slide

Secondary Assessment

What’s wrong with the victim in the Video?

Secondary Assessment

Purpose of a Secondary Assessment

•To determine if you need:●EMS●The victim needs further care

Secondary Assessment

Perform a secondary assessment after you have determined there are no life-threatening conditions.

Perform a head-to-toe examination for an adult and a toe-to-head examination for a child or infant.

Use SAMPLE to take a brief history.

SAMPLE

S = Signs and SymptomsA = AllergiesM = MedicationsP = Pertinent Past Medical HistoryL = Last Oral IntakeE = Events Leading Up to the Incident

S = A = M = P = L = E =

Sudden Illness

GeneralSymptoms

• Lightheaded or dizzy• Nausea• Sweating• Changes in skin color• Headache• Difficulty breathing

• Key is that victim gets worse over time

General Care

• Call EMS• Keep victim calm• Care for life threatening conditions first• Watch for consciousness

Diabetic Emergency

Diabetic Emergency

Diabetic Emergency

• Give sugar no matter what!

Seizures

• Dangerous in water because of chemicals in the water

• First Aid– Call EMS– Support victim in water until seizure ends– Monitor until EMS arrives

• What’s the most common sudden Illness a Lifeguard needs to deal with?

Bee Stings

Poisoning

• Most common sudden illness around pools– Insect bites– Chemicals

• General care – Call poison control center (800)-222-1222

• Don’t induce vomiting unless PCC tells you to do so

PoisoningInhale

PoisoningInject

PoisoningIngest

Poisoningabsorb

Bites and StingsInsects

• Can be life threatening• Danger is from swelling due to allergic

reaction• Never give medication unless you are

cleared to do so

Bites and StingsInsects

Remove the stinger with a credit card

Spider Bites

• Most bites occur in dark areas• Only two poisonous spiders in U.S.

Brown RecluseBlack Widow

Spider Bites

Care• Wash wound• Apply ice• Call EMS

Snake Bites

• 8,000 people bitten – 12 die• Do not try to suck venom out• Use snake bite kit only if victim has given

consent & you are trained• Only 4 types of poisonous snakes in U.S.

RATTLESNAKE

COPPERHEAD

WATER MOCCASIN

CORAL SNAKE

Special Care for Coral Snake

• Call 9-1-1 of the local emergency number • Wash the wound • Apply an elastic roller bandage

Lyme Disease• Caused by a the deer tick

Lyme Disease• Signals – Rash, flu like symptoms

Lyme Disease

• Remove tick gently with tweezers• Advise victim to seek further care

Lyme Disease

• Can be completely curable if caught in time– Series of vaccinations will cure– Similar to rabies can’t be cured after a certain

point.

Lyme Disease

• Causes– Neurological impairments– Hearing loss– Vision loss– Paralysis– Can be fatal

Insect Repellent

• Can be poisonous because of DEET• Do not apply to children’s hands since they

may put their fingers in their mouths

Drugs

• Most misuse is the result of not reading directions

• Drug misuse should be treated as a poison.

Stroke

• Face- Weakness on one side of the face • Arm- Weakness or numbness in one arm • Speech- Slurred speech or trouble getting

words out • Time- Note the time that signals began and

call 9-1-1

Respiratory Distress

Commonly caused by an allergic reaction to foods, insect stings or other allergens.

Respiratory Distress - Symptoms

• Slow, rapid, deep or shallow breathing• Wheezing, gurgling, or high pitched breathing

noises.• Skin may be moist, cool, flushed pale, ashen or

bluish• Victim may feel short of breath, dizzy or

lightheaded• Tingling in hands feet or lips• Apprehensive or fearful• Might claw at neck

• Agitation• Drowsiness• Noisy breathing• Altered levels of consciousness

Respiratory Distress – Symptoms in children

Anaphylaxis

• Is a severe allergic reaction. Air passages may swell and restrict the victims breathing.– Caused by insect stings, food, other allergens or certain

medicationsSigns and Symptoms

●Tightness in chest and throat●Swelling of the face, lips, neck, and tongue●Dizziness or confusion●Weak, rapid pulse and difficulty breathing●Hives

●Itching and burning in skin and eyes●Weakness●Nausea & vomiting●Dilated pupils●Slurred speech.

Care for Respiratory Distress & Anaphylaxis

• If victim is breathing– Have victim rest in a sitting position– Provide fresh air by opening doors or windows– Call EMS– Prevent chilling– Administer epinephrine if available and

prescribed by doctor.

Epinephrine

• Can relax the muscles of the respiratory system

• Can be administered by injection using an auto-injector device

• Is relatively painless• Is available in different doses for adults and

children

Administering Epinephrine

• Use an auto-injector (Epi-Pen)– Administer on the fleshy

part of outer thigh– Check expiration date– Don’t use if solution is

discolored or contains particles

– Dispose of unit after use by placing injector into the tube provided, exposed end first.

Using an Epi-Pen• Remember Epi-Pen is a prescription Drug.• Hold Epi-pen with black tip at 90-Degree angle firmly

against middle portion of the thigh, midway between the waist and knee until injector activates

• Hold firmly until all medication is used (usually about 10 seconds).

• Wait for EMS to arrive and give epi-pen to them when they do.

Injuries

• What are the three most common injuries a Lifeguard has to deal with?

Bloody Nose

Scrape

Splinters

Bleeding

• Direct Pressure• Pressure bandage

Need Picture

Nose bleeds

• Pinch Nostrils• Have Victim Sit

forward

Severed body part

• Wrap in plastic• Put on ice

Tourniquet

• When do you use a tourniquet– Never !!!

Internal bleedingSigns

• Coughing blood

• Tenderness • Rapid weak

pulse• Cool, Moist,

Ashen, Blue or Pale Skill

•Bruising•Nausea•Abdominal pain•Thirst•Loss of Consciousness

Internal BleedingFirst Aid

MinorApply ice

Internal BleedingFirst Aid

Major

Call EMS

Do no harm

Monitor breathing

Keep victim from chilling or overheating

Infections

SignsSwellingRednessRed streakspain

Infections Care

• Clean• Apply warm wet compress• Antiseptic• EMS if necessary

Shock

• Restlessness & irritability (usually occurs first)

Other Signs•Rapid & weak pulse•Pale, bluish skin•thirsty

ShockMake victim comfortable Cover the Victim

Elevate The Victims Legs

Critical Stress

• Incidents that cause– Patrons death– Event that endangers lifeguard– Death of a co-worker– Powerful event, especially one involving the

media

• Someone trained should assist

Critical Stress

• Reactions to– Muscles tense– Heart rate and breathing rate increase– Adrenaline and other hormones– Stress (sleeplessness, anxiety, depression,

exhaustion, restlessness, nausea, etc)

Burnstypes

Heat

Chemical

Radiation

Electrical

Burns

• Stop the Burn• Cool the burn• Cover the Burn

Remember: care for all types & degrees of burns the same.

Electrical Burns

• Do not use water to cool.

• Remember– Look for both an entry

and an exit wound– May be complications

with heart – Internal injuries may

not appear immediately

Sun BurnAlways wear

Sun glasses that filter out UV Radiation & If possible reduce glare from water

Sun BurnAlways wear

protection of at least SPF 15

Sun BurnAlways Wear

a hat or visor to keep sun out of eyes, even with sun glasses

Heat & Cold Emergencies

Heat Emergencies

• Heat Exhaustion– Profuse Sweating– Cool moist, pale or ashen skin

• Heat Cramps• Heat Stroke

– Medical Emergency– No sweating– Call EMS

Heat Emergencies Care

• Get victim out of heat• Cool them down gently using room

temperature water.• If heat stroke call EMS• For Elderly or children

– Be careful to cool the victim slowly

Cold ExposureSigns

• Constrict Blood Vessels near the skin• Shivering• Slow irregular pulse• Numbness• Glassy stare• apathy

Cold ExposureTypes

HypothermiaWarm up gently if you do it to quickly you may cause a burn

Frost BiteRubbing effected areas can cause sharp ice crystals in the skin to create further damage

Muscle, Bone, or Joint Injury

• Don’t move the victim unless absolutely necessary

• If you must immobilize use a natural splint.

What is a Joint?

Formed by the end of two or more bones coming together.

Muscle, bone or Joint InjuryFirst Aid (RTE)

R -I -I -E -

R - Rest

I - ICE

I - Immobilize

E - Elevate

Always splint above and below the injured area

Shoulder InjuriesControl bleedingSplint using a

pillow

or allow victim to hold his arm in the most comfortable position

Splints

Splint a foot or ankle using a pillow

Pelvic/Chest/Abdominal Injuries

SignalsPain, Bruising,

External Bleeding

Nausea, vomiting, thirst, weakness

Physical signs

Pelvic/Chest/Abdominal InjuriesFirst Aid

Call EMS immediately (first thing you should do)

Don’t use direct pressureApply warm moist sterile dressings loosely

over the woundIf wound is closed bend knees slightly to relax

abdominal musclesIf pelvic – Don’t move

Head, Neck or Back(Spinal Injuries)

• Care is similar to what would be done in water

• Use In-line stabilization (keeping head in line with spine)– Always provide support in the position you

found the injury.– If you must do rescue breathing – avoid moving

the victim

Head, Neck or Back(Spinal Injuries)

• Water Rescues• Best method for non-lifeguards is

– Hip and shoulder support

• Lifeguards should use supports taught (either head splint or head and chin)