First - Aid Notes

A. Secure the Scene 1. Check for danger. avalanche, falling rocks, breaking ice 2. Decide evacuation is needed/possible

B. Check breathing/heart beat 1. CPR – if trained 2. emergency breathing

C. Bleeding (Always wear gloves) 1. Apply Pressure – a. use pad of cloth, moss, dry grasses b. leave bottom layer on c. add more on top if bleeding through 2. Elevate wound above heart 3. Tie strips of material tightly to maintain pressure (Nails turn blue = too tight) 4. If Bleeding won’t stop press on pressure points a. Inside of upper arm b. Bend between hip and leg c. Best for arterial bleeding (Bright red and pulsing)

5. When Pressure points fail to stop bleeding a. Apply tourniquet and b. Get help fast c. Some experts say not to use a tourniquet d. I suggest the same unless no help is coming and the person could bleed to death e. periodically loosen tourniquet to allow blood flow to keep limb alive

D. Shock 1. Depressed body functions 2. can be life threatening 3. low oxygen to the brain. 4. Can be caused by any severe injury 5. Signs a. pale skin, clammy b. weakness c. rapid pulse d. breathing shallow, irregular e. thirsty

E. Treatment of Shock Keep victim lying down If unconscious, lay on side Raise feet slightly unless head injury Prevent chilling but do not add heat Give liquid only if help will not arrive soon

F. Techniques for providing first aid different injuries 1. Chest Puncture a. Disinfect if possible b. Cover with plastic tape all around except on one corner (lets air out)

2. Impaled by large object a. Do not remove object b. Cut object off to close wound c. Secure object to prevent movement d. Pad wound and apply pressure

3. Wound Cleaning:Irrigation a. Use boiled water or water with iodine tab b. Hold syringe 2-4 inches above wound c. Shoot ½ liter into wound d. Pick bits with disinfected tweezers e. Shoot another ½ liter into wound f. If no syringe poke hole in bag or bottle with hot needle g. Scrapes are best scrubbed with soap

4. Wound Closure a. Use wound closure strips/tape to pull edges of wound together (not too tight) b. Pad with gauze and roller bandage c. Nails blue = too tight d. Don’t close joint wounds e. Don’t close dirty wounds f. Superglue edges closed

5. Splints Pad Solid stick to hold limb straight Ties a. Extend past joints on each side of fracture b. Can tie legs together or arm to chest c. Check fingers and toes for circulation d. Layers Pad Solid stick to hold limb straight Ties e. Straighten broken limb by steady gentle pulling until splint is secured f. Elevate if possible to decrease swelling

6. Dislocation a. In 1st 5 min pull straight out to put back * easiest to do before swelling sets in b. hang limb over some kind of edge c. tie weight to limb below dislocation d.Relax e.20 minutes gravity pulls limb back into place

7. Meds a. Advil (Ibuprofen) Swelling/inflammation Burns Pain fever b. Benadryl – allergy c. Imodium – diarrhea

8. Snake/spider/scorpion Bites a.Lie down b. Keep wound below heart c. Calm & rest so lower heart rate d. Remove constricting clothes/jewelery/shoes e. NO – cut & suck out venom f. NO- tourniquet/ice g. NO – alcohol/caffeine h. Be ABLE to describe animal to rescuers

G. Venomous Snakes- N.A. 1.Pit Vipers – a. heat sensing pit below eye b. Have slit pupil and triangle head c. rattle snakes d. water moccasins = cotton mouth

Massasauga rattle snake black belly, dark on light short 2-3 feet max, fat body

Water moccasin/cotton mouth

Copper Head hourglass shaped bands

2. Coral snake –not a pit viper

H. Scorpions-small is bad bark scorpion Southern Devil desert (deadly) humid south

I. Spiders – only 2

Black widow Brown recluse

Solid color legs light thorax w/ violin shape