Part 1 Dr.S.Nishan Silva (MBBS)

What is FIRST AID ?

FIRST AID IS…. A matter of Common Sense Application of mind Swift Response

DEFINITION First AID is the help given to a person in case of SUDDEN INJURY or SICKNESS so that the INJURY/SICKNESS does not AGGRAVATE FURTHER and due to swift action further DETERIORATION is checked, same condition is maintained & recovery promoted till the arrival of Medical Help.

SCOPE OF FIRST AID From the definition four things are apparent : PREVENT further deterioration PRESERVE in the same condition PROMOTE recovery To arrange for regular Medical AID

The Decisions to take… Hospitalize or Not??? If NOT then your intervention??? Allow to do normal work or not???

Settings.. Home and related environment. Road Sports field Other field settings Other Environments??? Water related. Forests

METHOD OF FIRST AID Diagnosis Treatment Disposal

DIAGNOSIS BASED ON Circumstantial Evidence Signs Symptoms (Patient tells) (you observe)

First Aid Box - Contents

First aid Kit For Injuries –Bandages, Adhesive plaster –Sterile dressing, Gauze –Cotton –Antiseptic –Surgical spirit – (Isopropyl Alcohol 90%) –Gloves –Hydrogen peroxide Instruments –Scissors –Tweezers –Artery forceps –Torch Drugs –Paracetamol, Aspirin, Clophenamine (Piriton) –NSAID cream/gel –Betadine

Home Environment Adults Children Limited facilities Remember…. –? Whether to hospitalize or not? –? Whether to rest or not?

Burns…. Immediate… Remove the patient from further harm Remove yourself from harm Call for help if needed Assess –Degree of burn Decide Act

First degree

Second Degree

Third degree

What to do??? Cool down with running water Decide.. –3 rd degree – Hospitalize (even small) –Average 2 nd degree – Hospitalize –Extensive 1 st degree - Hospitalize Cover loosely before hospitalizing (With gauze) Paracetamol for the time being

Home management Clean thoroughly with water, cotton and surgical spirit if necessary Apply betadine (or any other special antiseptic – SSD – silver sulphur diazine) Dress with gauze and bandage More pain killers Repeatedly dress every other day till recovery

How to clean a wound? Equipment Method Sterility Dressing

Do NOTs in burns.. No butter, oil or cream Don’t remove clothes No indigenous medicines No Ice

Choking Choking can result in unconsciousness and cardiopulmonary arrest. It is often caused by food or other foreign body lodged in the throat (airway).

Step 1 Lean the person forward and give 5 back blows with the heel of your hand. Step 2 Give 5 quick, upward abdominal thrusts. (Heimlich Maneuver) Step 3 Continue back blows and abdominal thrusts until- object is forced out person can breathe or cough forcefully person becomes unconscious - Hospitalize

Heimlich Maneuver 1.Stand behind victim. 2.Wrap arms around victim’s waist and not around the ribs. 3.Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist just slightly above the navel. 4.Grab your fist with your other hand.

Heimlich Maneuver 5.Press into the victim’s stomach with five quick upward thrusts. Each thrust should have a pause in between. 6.After every five thrusts, recheck the victim. Repeat until the object has been dislodged of until the victim loses consciousness.

Choking – Adult - video

Choking – Child - video

Dog Bites

What to do??? Ensure safety Wear gloves – protect yourself Assess wound - ? Heavy bleeding etc –Heavy bleeding – Local pressure (ex- with gauze) –Cannot control bleeding – don’t use tourniquet ; take to hospital –Worth washing before pressure If no bleeding or bleeding controlled – wash with soap – wash thoroughly; even inside the wound.

Next.. Go to the doctor in all Dog bites – Rabies can kill!! Take any vaccination records of the Dog if available As the patient may need –Suturing –Rabies immunoglobulin injection –Tetanus toxoid –Antibiotics for wound

Same for… Even your own Dog Cats Animal scratches Other animal bites or scratches –Pets –Rabits, Squirrels etc –Wild animals

Human Bites No need or special injections But can get infected So do the basic first aid Dress the wound with betadine No need of medical care initially –Unless bleeding –Or at risk of infection

Assignment…. Make First Aid kits for IIHS -To be used in the premises -To be used in the field