First Aid

Wounds and Bleeding 1. A wound is a break in the soft tissue of the body.

2.Open wounds result in External Bleeding 3.A closed wound does not break the skin and can result in internal bleeding

4. How should I care for a minor wound? a. Wash your hands and put on gloves, if you have them. b. Wash the wound with soap and water. c. Place a sterile or clean cloth on the wound and apply pressure.

d. After the bleeding has stopped, apply antibiotic ointment to the wound. e. Cover the wound with a clean or sterile dressing.

5. A pressure point is a place where an artery near the skin’s surface lies over a bone. 6. Can you tell if a person is bleeding internally? What might some of the signs be? Only if it is near the surface of the skin. It might be coming from the ear, nose or mouth or vomiting blood.

Heat and Cold Related Emergencies 7. Hyperthermia is a condition in which the body’s internal temperature is higher than normal. a. Heat Exhaustion- the body becomes heated to a higher temp. than normal. *symptoms: cold, moist skin, headache *treatment: cool body down

b. Heat Stroke - the body loses its ability to cool itself by sweating because the victim has become dehydrated. *symptoms: hot dry skin, headache, nausea, extreme fatigue *treatment: get help immediately – life threatening

c. Frostbite -the body tissue becomes frozen. *symptom: change in skin color to white or gray, feels numb *treatment: warm affected body part, do not rub.

d. Hypothermia - the internal body temp. becomes dangerously low b/c the body loses heat faster than it can generate heat. *symptoms: stiff muscles, shivering, weakness, dizziness, cold skin *treatment: get shelter, remove wet clothes, wrap person in blankets or towels

Bone, Joint & Muscle Injuries 8. A fracture is a crack or a break in a bone. 9.In a closed fracture, the skin is unbroken 10.In an open fracture, the skin in broken and the bone may stick our from the skin.

11.A splint is a device used to stabilize a body part. 12.An injury in which a bone has been forced out of its normal position in a joint is a dislocation. 13.An injury in which ligaments are stretched or torn is a sprain.

14. An injury in which muscle or tendons are stretched or torn is a strain. 15. Describe the RICE technique for treating a joint, muscle or bone injury. R – rest I – ice C – compression E - elevate

Burns 16. Burns that affect the outer layer of the skin and look pink are 1 st degree. Treatment:apply cold water 17. Burns that extend into the inner layer and are red, swollen and blistered are 2 nd degree. Treatment: apply sterile dressing, apply water or ointment

18. Full thickness burns are 3 rd degree. Treatment: seek medical attention, cover with a clean dry cloth, treat for shock. 19. Do you treat chemical burns the same way you would treat a thermal burn? No, for chemical burns contact the Poison Control Center, water may activate the chemical so check before treating.

Poisons 20.A poison is a substance that can cause illness or death when taken into the body. 21.Poisons can be swallowed, inhaled, absorbed through the skin by contact, or can occur as a result of being bitten or stung.

22.Who should you call if you suspect someone has been poisoned? Poison Control Center Motor Vehicle Safety 23. The factor that contributes most often to automobile accidents is driver behavior.

24.Other factors that should be avoided are speeding, aggressiveness and impaired driving. 25.Someone who practices behaviors that help avoid car crashes is said to be a defensive driver.

26. Some general rules for driving that apply to all motor vehicles are: a. don’t drive under the influence b. avoid fatigue c. leave room between you and car in front d. drive the speed limit e. monitor the road and surroundings. f. be courteous.