First Aid Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award

Actions at accident scene Before going on a journey into the outdoors, make sure at least one person in the group has a good knowledge of First Aid and the group is carrying a suitable First Aid Kit for the journey being undertaken. If first at the scene of an accident, REMEMBER STOP, THINK, THEN ACT

Danger Look around the scene. Consider any danger: To you; to others; to the injured. Make sure that no-one else gets hurt, including yourself. Only proceed if it is safe

Response Check the injured person for any response. Is the person conscious? Gently tap on shoulder and ask” Can you hear me? What is your name?

Airways Is the airway clear of objects? Is the airway open? If the patient is unconscious, they need to be placed on their back in case they need CPR

Breathing Is the chest rising and falling? Listen for sounds of breathing from the mouth Fell for breathing on you cheek and with a hand on their stomach Remember to look listen and feel, for at least 10 seconds. It is most import to know if the injured person is breathing or not.

Circulation Take note of the colour of the person. What happens when you press the skin or fingernail? Can you see any obvious signs of life? If a person is breathing, they have circulation If no signs of life, CPR should begin immediately.

Initial Response The person with most first aid experience and confidence should take the role of patient care and monitoring symptoms. The leader manages the accident site and delegates tasks or assigns roles to group members eg sending people for help, making the group safe and comfortable; seeking help through radio transmission

Secondary survey Establish the extent of the injuries by Carry out ABC If conscious, talk to patient to get as many details as possible Examine patient’s all whole body to determine other injuries

Secondary: what to look for Bleeding Unusual colour Tenderness or bruising Loss of sensation Any foreign objects in/around the person Try to treat the person in the position they were found

Bleeding From the first aid kit, use a sterile pad and apply directly on the source of bleeding. Apply pressure on that site. Keep in place with a bandage if possible

Fractures 1.Open fracture – bone protruding through skin – usually bleeding and risk of infection. Cover with sterile pad and support the injured limb. Keep as still as possible until help arrives 2.Closed or complicated fractures Signs and symptoms may be: intense pain at site of injury, observable deformity painful movement of that region loss of strength of that region tenderness when pressure applied A break or crack may be heard

Management of Fractures Assess the severity of injury and availability of help before determining course of action Immobilise the area with support or splints to avoid unnecessary movement at the fracture site If appropriate administer pain relief such as panadol. Where the patient cannot continue, keep warm, and comfortable, and insulated from ground until help arrives. Remember, with severe pain, a patient may go into shock. Provide reassurance and make sure the patient is monitored constantly, recording all vital signs and significant events.

Treatment of Foreign Bodies Foreign bodies in eyes, ears or nose can cause a great deal of discomfort. Where possible try not to inflame the affected area by rubbing or prodding to remove the object. Objects in eye Try lifting upper lid down over lower lid to cause the eye to water and flush out object eg pollen or dirt. Flush with water by leaning sideways with affected eye closest to ground and carefully pouring water into eye. AVOID RUBBING EYE Objects in nose and ear Less easy to remove. Best left until medical help can be sought.

Diarrhoea Having Diarrhoea while in the bush is most unpleasant and, if accompanied by vomiting, can lead to severe dehydration. Steps to take to avoid diarrhoea: Remember personal hygiene when toileting and preparing food Use only treated water (do not drink directly from streams) Avoid eating left over food Wash dishes and utensils well Treatment for diarrhoea If available, take anti-diarrhoea medication Continue to drink sips of boiled water to avoid dehydration If available, electrolyte drinks are useful to maintain strength (May be carried with first aid kit) Bury all faecal wastes (including toilet paper) to avoid possible cross contamination.

Recovery Position If a patient is unconscious or semi conscious and still breathing, they should be placed into recovery position Check mouth for any obstructions Kneel down by patient’s chest Place one arm across the patient’s chest and the other at 90degree to their body Bend up the leg on the same side as the arm across the chest Gently roll the patient to their side Make sure the patient is stable and cannot move from this position Continue to monitor levels of consciousness.