First Aid & CPR Ch. 28

Steps to take in a medical emergency 1. Survey the scene 2. Rescue the person if necessary 3. Send for help 4. Treat life-threatening conditions 5. Go for help yourself if nobody has done so. 6. Identify other injuries & Provide first aid 7. Remain with the victim until medical help arrives. Monitor breathing and heart rate.

Initial Assessment Procedures Determine whether the victim is conscious Check ABC’s: Airway, Breathing, & Circulation in this order. Airway: Tip the head back back with one hand on the forehead and one under the chin. Breathing Circulation: Check for blood circulation by feeling for a pulse. Never move someone if they have a head, neck, or spinal injury.

CPR Do not attempt CPR from this or any other book unless you’ve had CPR training! When administered improperly, CPR can cause further injury. CPR is hard work! Only give CPR if a person is not breathing. Always call or send for help before beginning CPR.

Rescue Breathing 1. Open air way by tipping the head back and lifting chin. 2. Check for breathing 3. If victim isn’t breathing pinch the nose & keep chin up. 4. Breath into victims mouth or nose. 5. After 2 breaths check for pulse and signs of breathing. 6. Continue with one breath every 5 seconds.

When Calling for help Speak slowly and clearly. Tell exactly where the victim is in detail. Describe the accident, number of people injured, and nature of injuries. Ask what you should do. Let the other person hang up first.

Stopping Bleeding 1. Wash hands and cover them with. something blood will not soak through. 2. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing. 3. Raise the bleeding wound above the heart. 4. Use your palm to apply pressure for at least minutes to give blood clots time to form. 5. If bleeding resumes apply pressure again. 6. Wrap a pressured bandage lightly over dressing. 7. Monitor ABC’s.

Stopping Bleeding with Pressure Points

Shock Rapid pulse, shallow breathing. Rapid heartbeat. Weak pulse. Pale, clammy skin. Blue color around lips & fingernails. Nausea. Apathy. Agitation. Weakness.

Wounds Get a tetanus shot every 10 yrs Scalp Wounds: Bleed easy Embedded foreign body Avoid contact with blood

Blisters Protect unbroken blisters & avoid pressure or friction. Wash & cover. Do not drain. Watch for signs of infection.

More Wounds Laceration: Torn skin. Usually bleed freely. Incision: Clean cut. Usually bleed freely. Abrasion: Skin is scraped away. Many don’t bleed freely. Puncture: Hole through the skin & into deeper tissue. Seldom bleed much. Avulsion: Skin or another part of the body is torn off or nearly torn off.

Fractures Treating a Fracture Don’t move a person with a fracture unless they are in danger. Treat for shock. Build a splint & keep the fractured bone in the current position. Make sure the broken bone is immobilized. Provide padding between the splint and the skin. Don’t make the splint too tight. A fracture is a break in a bone and is commonly referred to as a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average person has two during their lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. Your risk of fracture depends, in part, on your age. Broken bones are very common in childhood, though children's fractures are generally less complicated than fractures in adults. Older people, whose bones are more brittle, are more likely to suffer fractures from falls that would not affect younger people. There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are complete, incomplete, compound and simple. Complete and incomplete fractures refer to the way the bone breaks: In a complete fracture, the bone snaps into two or more parts; in an incomplete fracture, the bone cracks but does not break all the way through. In a compound fracture, also called an open fracture, the bone breaks through the skin; it may then recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin. In a simple fracture, also called a closed fracture, the bone breaks but there is no open wound in the skin.

Dislocations The end of a bone comes out of its joint. Swollen and deformed. Severe pain. Splint the same way as fractures. Treat for shock.

Neck & Spine Never move someone you suspect or complains of a spine or neck injury! Keep the person from moving.

Head Injury Check to see if pupils react to light & dark Nausea, Slurred speech, slowed breathing, convulsions, & loss of memory are signs Treat for shock, but don’t elevate the feet

Sprains & Strains, but no Automobiles Strain: Stretched or torn muscle or tendon Ex. Lifting heavy weights Pain & Swelling RICE Sprain: Torn or stretched ligament Ex. Sharply twisting a joint Pain & Swelling RICE

Internal Injuries Pain in chest or abdomen is cause for concern Victim deteriorates without obvious reason Pale & breathing becomes unusually rapid Treat for shock & get a doctor right away

Choking; Adult Signs: grabbing neck, shallow or no breathing, trying to cough Steps to take 1. Ask if he/she is choking 2. Encourage the person to cough as hard as possible 3. Send someone for help 4. If person is unable or barely able to cough help 5. If necessary perform a finger sweep

Choking; Baby

Using the Heimlich on yourself Stay calm

Heart Attack. Part of the heart is not receiving enough blood. Steps in treating a heart attack 1. Help administer heart medicine 2. Send for help and contact victims doctor 3. Stand by to help 4. Perform CPR if necessary and trained 5. Sit or lay down the victim, propping up the head 6. Treat for shock Cardiac Arrest: Heart stops working

Convulsions In any emergency check for medical alert tags. Prevent the individual from harming him/herself Let the person go through the process with as little assistance as possible Lay victim on his/her side

Stroke Rupture or blockage of an artery in the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation and damage to brain cells.

Stroke continued Treatment 1. Send for help 2. Keep victim calm and laying on his/her side. 3. Treat for shock, but don’t raise the legs. 4. Be ready to give CPR or Rescue breathing if you have been trained.

Heat exhaustion Skin is clammy Weakness Dizziness Headache Nausea Dilated pupils Rapid, shallow breathing

Heatstroke

Frostbite Treatment 1. Cover affected area 2. Gently thaw by soaking in warm water, wrapping in warm blankets, or treat with a warm object 3. Stop applying heat as soon as the skin is flushed 4. Avoid damaging tissue 5. Keep victim away from hot fires or stoves 6. Don’t allow blisters to break Signs/symptoms Whitish or yellowish spots Blisters

Electric Shock Electric current passes through the body 1. Don’t touch a victim who is still touching a live wire 2. Turn off current 3. Check ABC’s 4. Perform CPR or rescue breathing if you have been trained 5. Send for help 6. Treat for shock

Poisoning Signs and symptoms Presence of a poisonous container or substance Sudden, unexplained illness or pain, especially in the abdomen Nausea or vomiting Burns near lips or mouth Odor of chemicals or fuel Changes in pupils Treatment Keep containers Don’t induce vomiting Call poison control

Skin & burns

Burns & Scalds Treatment 1. Remove clothing from affected area if it is not stuck 2. Hold burned area under cool running water for as long as minutes. 3. Don’t apply ointments or creams 4. Cover with sterile dressing or clean cloth loosely 5. Keep elevated above the heart 6. Have victim drink water 7. Treat for shock 8. Monitor breathing 9. Send for help Types of burns 1 st degree: Only affects the epidermis. Skin turns red & doesn’t blister. Use cold water and ice to treat. 2 nd degree: Blisters and affects epidermis and dermis. Usually not serious. Place under cool water immediately, cover with clean dressing (loosely), & don’t pop blisters. 3 rd degree: Both layers are destroyed. Easily infected, usually whitish though they may be charred brown or black. May not hurt. Rinse with cool water only, don’t apply ointments.

Foreign Body in the Eye Try blinking Pull eyelash of upper lid Remove with clean moist tissue Gently bandage and see a doctor

Fainting Shortage of blood flow to the brain Keep person (or goat) lying down Elevate feet Sit down & kneel or bend over so your head is lower than your heart

Quiz 1. What information should you remember when making an emergency phone call? 2. What are the ABC’s of emergency treatment? 3. What is the first aid treatment for shock? 4. How should you approach an emergency ( what attitude should you have)? 5. What are 3 symptoms of a head injury? 6. What are 4 symptoms of a heart attack? 7. Describe the appearance of a first degree burn. 8. Where can you learn first aid and CPR? 9. Do you agree with the good Samaritan law? 10. How do you perform rescue breathing?

Quiz Answers 1. What information should you remember when making an emergency phone call? Exactly where victim is, Describe accident and injuries, ask what you should do until help arrives, & let the other person hang up first. 2. What are the ABC’s of emergency treatment? Check airway, breathing, & circulation of blood. 3. What is the first aid treatment for shock? Keep victim calm, lying face up with feet elevated, head turned to side if unconscious, & keep warm. 4. How should you approach an emergency ( what attitude should you have)? Be calm. 5. What are 3 symptoms of a head injury? Loss of consciousness, Nausea, Slurred speech, slowed breathing, convulsions, loss of memory, blood or body fluids leaking from ears and/or nose. 6. What are 4 symptoms of a heart attack? Sudden chest, arm, shoulder, side of neck, or jaw pain; weakness, nausea, irregular pulse, pale skin, perspiration, anxiety, or fear. 7. Describe the appearance of a first degree burn. Skin is red and hurts, but does not blister. 8. Where can you learn first aid and CPR? American Red Cross or American Heart association. 9. Do you agree with the good Samaritan law? 10. How do you perform rescue breathing? Open air way by tipping the head back and lifting chin. Check for breathing, If victim isn’t breathing pinch the nose & keep chin up. Breath into victims mouth or nose. After 2 breaths check for pulse and signs of breathing. Continue with one breath every 5 seconds.