Intro to First Aid Terms

First Aid Immediate care given to a victim of an injury or illness to minimize the effect of the injury or illness until experts can take over

Basic Terms Related to First Aid Triage Wound Dressing Bandage Infection Shock Fracture

Triage Is a method of prioritizing victims when 2 or more victims are in need of first aid Treatment is directed in assessing which victim needs to be treated first From most severe to least

Wound Involves injury to a soft tissue. 2 classifications Open - the skin is broken Closed - the skin is not broken

Open Wounds Abrasion – skin scraped off Incision – cut with sharp object, straight Laceration – tearing of tissues, jagged cut Puncture – caused by sharp pointed object i. e. pin or nail Avulsion – torn or separated tissue Amputation – body part cut off

Closed Wound Bruise – bleeding under the skin Sprain – injury to a joint, stretching of a ligament Strain – injury caused by excessive stretching or overuse of a muscle.

Dressing Cover placed over a wound or injured part Examples Gauze Pad

Bandage Hold a dressing in place Example Roller Gauze

Infection Invasion by organisms Contamination by disease producing organisms or pathogens “germs”

Shock Clinical condition characterized by various symptoms and resulting in an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to body organs, especially the brain and heart

Fracture Break usually a bone and or tooth