First AidNotes…

Lectures...

Content Page• Introduction (First Aid)

• Wounds

• Bleedings

• Fractures

• Burns

• Cardio- Pulmonary Resuscitation

• Shock

• Asthma Attack

Introduction (First Aid)

• What is First Aid?

• Aims of First Aid

• The ABC of Life

• First Aid Priority

• 4 stages of consciousness

• Examination Techniques

What is First Aid?• Initial help given to a casualty

before the arrival of professionals

Aims of First Aid• To preserve life

• To promote recovery

• To prevent others injuries

The ABC of Life

• Airway- Check the airways are open and clear, no obstructions

• Breathing- Look and see that the chest is rising and falling. Sound of breathing

• Circulation- Check for pulse

First Aid Priority• Safety• Consciousness• Pulse & Respiration• Bleeding• Fractures• Poisoning• Shock• Disposal of casualty

4 stages of consciousness

• Fully Conscious

• Drowsiness

• Stupor

• Coma

Examination Techniques• Hands- Check nails and palms for

anaemia

• Pulse- Check the rate, rhythm & volume

• Blood pressure- Hypotension is low, hypotension is high

• Head- Eyes, ears,lips and mouth

• Neck- check not broken or bruised

• Chest- Lungs and heart

• Head- Eyes, ears,lips and mouth

• Neck- check not broken or bruised

• Chest- Lungs and heart

• Abdomen- Liver, spleen, kidneys

• Limps- Look, feel, move

Wounds• Incised wound

• Laceration

• Abrasion(Graze)

• Contusion(Bruise)

• Puncture wound

• Gunshot wound

• Treatments

Incised wound

• Straight Cut

• Profuse bleeding

• Caused by blade/ broken glass

Laceration

• Rough tear by crushing on ripping forces

• Bleed less profusely than incised wound

• Often contaminated by germs

Abrasion(Graze)

• Caused by sliding fall of friction burn

• Superficial wound

Contusion(Bruise)

• Blunt blow

• Caused by hammer etc.

Puncture wound

• Caused by nail and needle

• Small site of entry deep track of internal damage

• Risk of infection is high

Gunshot wound

• Caused by bullet

Treatments

• Remove any clothing from around the wound

• Clean the skin round the wound and irrigate the wound to remove any dirt

• Cover it with a clean dressing

Dressing

When applying sterile dressing…

• Remove the wrapping

• Unfold the dressing pad, holding the bandage on each side of the pad. Put the pad directly on the wound.

• Wind the short end of the bandage once around the limb and the dressing to secure the pad, leaving the tail hanging free

• To secure the bandage, tie the ends in a reef knot, tied over the pad to exert firm pressure on the wound

• Check the circulation to the extremity of the injured limb

Bleedings

• Arterial bleeding

• Venous bleeding

• Capillary bleeding

• Treatment for bleeding

• Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding

Arterial bleeding

• Bright red

• Spurts out

• Under high pressure

• Richly oxgenated

Venous bleeding

• Dark red

• Gushing out

• Under lesser pressure than arterial bleeding

• Given up its oxygen

Capillary bleeding

• Red in colour

• Oozing out

Treatment for bleeding– Severe wounds

• Apply direct pressure to the wound in order to stop the flow of the blood

• Apply sterile dressing with firm pressure to control the bleeding

• If there is no fracture, try to raise the limb that has been wounded & support it

Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding

• Pale, clammy skin

• Rapid and weak pulse

• Rapid, shallow breathing

• Tenderness in abdomen

• Any pain of discomfort

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Shock

Fractures

• What is a fracture?

• Types of fractures

• Signs

• Treatment

What is a fracture?

• A closed, or simple, fracture is where the broken bone ends remain beneath the skin, whereas an open, or compound, fracture is where both ends of the bone protrude through the skin

Types of fractures• Simple fracture

• Compound fracture

• Complicated fracture ( includes organs)

• Neck fracture

• Skull fracture

• Fractured ribs

• Greenstick Fracture(happen to small children )

Signs

• Swelling

• Deformity or projecting bone ends

• Severe pain, made worse by movement

• Bruised

• Tenderness

Treatment• Do not try to force the bones back

together again but seek medical assistance

• Treat all open wounds with a clean dressing

• Splint the fractured area in exactly the position that you find it in, pending removal to hospital or the arrival of expert medical aid

• If the arm is fracture, splint it, and then set up a sling if the arm can be moved across the chest.

• Do not move the victim at all if you suspect a spinal injury

Burns

• - - Type of burn

• First degree

• Second degree

• Third degree

First degree

• Top layer of skin

• Skin turns red and then peels off

• Treatment: Rehydrating creams, Cool water at regular intervals

Second degree

• Deeper damage to the skin, causing blisters. Shock.

• Treatment: Use antibacterial dressing, or leave wound undressed but kept scrupulously clean.

Third degree

• Damage to all layers of skin

• Treatment: Requires specialist treatment

Cardio- PulmonaryResuscitation

• What is CPR?

• Steps of CPR

What is CPR?

• Used when the patient has stopped breathing and when there is no pulse

• Only be performed by someone who has had training in this method

Steps of CPR• Tilt victim’s head backwards in

order to open the airway

• Pinch the victim’s nose with thumb and forefinger

• Take a deep breath, place your mouth tightly over the victim’s mouth and blow air from yours into their mouth

• Stop blowing when the victim’s chest is expanded

• Lift your hand from the victim and watch for the chest to fall. Give the victim further quick breaths, taking a deep breath yourself between each one.

• Carry on blowing into the victim’s lungs at a rate of 12 breaths per minute until the victim begins to breathe on his or her own.

• You can stop blowing at this stage.

Shock

• What is shock?

• Signs

• Treatment

What is shock?

• Rapid lowering of blood pressure owing to lack of circulating volume to vital body organs, such as the brain, heart, liver and kidneys.

Signs

• Weak and giddy

• Nausea/ may vomit

• Thirst

• Rapid shallow breathing

• Weak Pulse

Treatment• Lay casualty down

• Reassure the casualty

• Raise and support the leg

• Loosen tight clothing

• Keep casualty warm

• Check and record the casualty’s breathing, pulse, level of response

Asthma attack–Treatment

• Reassure and calm casualty

• Find a position that the person finds comfortable

• Tell him/her to try taking slow, deep breaths

• Help to find the reliever(Blue)

• Allow casualty to use it and it will take effect within minutes

• If attack eases within 5-10 minutes, encourage him/her to take another dose and breathe slowly and deeply

• Tell casualty to inform doctor if attack is very severe or first attack

End of presentation!!

Hope you have learnt more

about First Aid !!!