1. Basic First Aid Introduction Course
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Basic First Aid Introduction Course
Provided by Young Hearts Education

2. Most important to remember
Personal Safety
Everything you do starts here
Activate EMS
EMS = Emergency Medical Services

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First Aid

4. Primary Assessment – Responsive
Diminished level of responsiveness
Difficulty in breathing
Check for bleeding
Check tissue color
Check skin temperature
Ongoing Assessment
Emergencies can change at any time
Remember, activate EMS
Once you are involved, continue to monitor until EMS arrives

5. Secondary Assessment Deformities Open injuries Tenderness Swelling
Look at the Person
Briefly assess the body from head to toe. Look and feel for signs of illness and injury (DOTS).
Deformities
Open injuries
Tenderness
Swelling

6. Control of Bleeding Activate EMS Apply Direct Pressure
Use bandage or gloved hand
If blood soaks through bandage, apply a new one while leaving the initial one in place
Apply a pressure bandage
Do not wrap too tight
Keep patient calm and comfortable
Demonstrate and Practice

7. Impaled Object Activate EMS Do not remove
Keep the person still to prevent movement
Stabilize the object and control bleeding
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

8. Open Chest Injury
A puncture injury through the chest wall can disrupt the chest’s ability to draw air into the lungs
Activate EMS
Remove clothing to expose the injury site
Check for exit wound and treat the most serious

9. Open Chest Injury Check for Air Movement & Treat
A provider may hear a sucking sound or see foamy, bloody bubbles
Quickly cover the wound with an air tight dressing leaving one side open for trapped air to escape
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

10. Managing Shock
Shock develops when poor blood flow creates a shortage of oxygen to body tissues
Any serious illness or injury has the potential to cause shock
If not treated early, it can get worse and become life threatening
Most mistreated emergency in the world.

11. Shock Early Signs Progressive in nature
May simply appear uneasy, restless, or worried
Other more serious signs can emerge gradually over time
Responsiveness may diminish
The skin may become pale, cool, and sweaty

12. Managing Shock Activate EMS Ensure an open and clear airway
Control any external bleeding
Maintain a normal body temperature
Insulate on top and underneath to prevent heat loss
Give nothing to eat or drink, even if the person asks for it
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive
Lose ability to regulate body temperature; you will need to regulate temperature for the victim.

13. Head Neck and Back Injuries Muscle and Bone & Joint Injuries
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Head Neck and Back Injuries Muscle and Bone & Joint Injuries

14. Suspect Spinal Injury? Activate EMS
If at any time you suspect spinal injury, immediately provide spinal motion restriction by manually stabilizing the head
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

15. Spinal Motion Restriction
Activate EMS
Stabilize Head
Get into a comfortable position behind the person
Cup your hands on both sides of the head, without covering the ears
Keep the head, neck, and spine in line. Minimize any movement
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive
Have students do both roles – patient and provider.
Demonstrate and Practice

16. Spinal Motion Restriction
If fluids are collecting in mouth and airway, OR If you are alone and need to leave to get help Roll person into a recovery position and protect the airway

17. Head, Neck or Back Injury Assessment
Ask about how injury occurred
Look for any obvious injury to the head, neck, or back
Ask about numbness, tingling, burning, or loss of sensation in the arms or legs
The lack of obvious injury does not mean that the spine is not injured
Do not move the person unless an airway needs to be established
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

18. Muscle, Bone or Joint Injury
Swelling, pain, and discoloration
If injury seems serious, or you are not sure, activate EMS as early as possible
Encourage person to not use injured limb
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

19. Muscle, Bone or Joint Injury Local Cooling
Local cooling can help decrease bleeding, swelling, and pain
A plastic bag filled with a mixture of ice and water
Place a thin cloth between the bag and skin to prevent cold related problems
Limit application to 20 minutes or less
Activate EMS if the severity of a person’s condition is unclear
Can use cool water from stream.

20. Swollen, Painful, Deformed Limb
Cover Open Wounds
Cover open wounds with a clean absorbent pad
Gently control bleeding
Never push a bone back under the skin
Stabilize Limb
Leave limb in position it was found
Use padding in gaps underneath to provide a stable and comfortable spot for limb to rest
Place your hands above and below the injured area to help immobilize the limb

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Burns

22. Minor Burns 
Quickly cool the burn with cool water to reduce pain, swelling, and depth of injury
Continue cooling until pain is relieved
Do not apply ice
Leave blisters intact
Cover with a loose sterile pad

23. Treatment of Critical Burns
Make sure it is safe for you to help
Activate EMS
Expose affected area by cutting away clothing. If stuck to the burn, do not remove
If present, remove any jewelry near burned area
Separate fingers or toes with dry, sterile, non-adhesive dressings

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Bites and Stings

25. Bites and Stings 
Most are not serious and cause only minor swelling, redness, pain, and itching
Wash the site with soap and water
Remove jewelry from the affected area
Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover
Apply local cooling to reduce swelling and pain (except snake bites)

26. Venomous Bites
Treatment is focused on slowing the absorption of venom into the body and quickly getting further medical help.
Venomous pit vipers, such as Cottonmouths, Copperheads, and Rattlesnakes strike once and leave a characteristic bite with single or double fang marks.
Pit viper bites can cause an intense, burning pain and local swelling.
Swelling may involve the entire limb within a few hours.

27. Venomous Bites Treatment
Have the person sit still
Activate EMS
Control any bleeding with a clean pad and direct pressure
Immobilize the injured part and keep it below heart level
Move the person only if you have to
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

28. These treatments are not effective and may be harmful
Warning
Do not apply local cooling
Do not cut through a snakebite wound
Do not apply suctioning
Do not use a tourniquet
These treatments are not effective and may be harmful

29. Environmental Emergencies Heat and Cold
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Environmental Emergencies Heat and Cold

30. Heat-Related Emergencies
An active body creates heat. When exposed to hot, humid temperatures, sweating occurs to evaporate and cool the body.
Heat-related problems occur when the body’s normal temperature reducing mechanisms get overwhelmed, especially during vigorous physical activity, and become inefficient or stop working.

31. Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
Signs of heat exhaustion include:
Heavy sweating
Pale, cool skin
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Dizziness; weakness
Without treatment it could progress to heat stroke
Heat exhaustion can develop from the combination of an increased internal temperature and the excessive loss of fluids to the environment, typically from sweating

32. Treatment for Heat Exhaustion
Move to a cooler place
Loosen or remove excess clothing
Lie down and raise his legs six to twelve inches
Spray water or apply cool, wet cloths to head and torso
Use a fan to speed evaporation
Encourage to drink fluids preferably a sports drink with carbohydrates and electrolytes
If condition worsens, activate EMS

33. Recognizing Heat Stroke
Altered mental status
Skin may be red, very warm, or hot, and be completely dry
Heavy sweating may be present, especially when exertion is the cause
May collapse and have a seizure
Heat stroke can occur due to overexertion in a hot humid environment or as the result of a breakdown in the body’s ability to shed heat. Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency.

34. Treatment for Heat Stroke
Activate EMS
Immediately begin aggressive cooling:
Spray or pour and fan
Apply ice packs to the neck, groin, and armpits
Cover with a wet sheet and continue to fan
The best method is immersion up to the neck in cool water
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive
If body temperature rises significantly, it can quickly cause permanent damage to sensitive organs, including the brain and spinal cord

35. Treatment for Heat Stroke Con’t
If unresponsive, place on side in recovery position
Do not force to drink
Never give an unresponsive person anything by mouth
Continue cooling until EMS providers arrive
With early recognition and immediate cooling, survival approaches 90%

36. Cold-Related Emergencies
Cold, wet temperatures can result in a lowering of the internal body temperature.
Hypothermia and frostbite are the most dangerous cold-related conditions.

37. Recognizing Hypothermia
Pale, cold skin
Uncontrollable shivering
Loss of coordination
Difficulty speaking
An altered mental status
Generalized cooling of the body to a internal core temperature of 95° F or less

38. Treatment for Hypothermia
Move to a warmer place
Remove wet clothing and cover
Cover the head and neck to retain body heat
Activate EMS and be prepared to perform CPR
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive
It is best to recognize and treat hypothermia early The chance for survival decreases as the condition progresses

39. Treatment for Hypothermia Con’t
If far from professional medical care, begin actively re-warming
Place near a heat source
Put containers of warm, but not hot, water in contact with skin

40. Recognizing Frost Bite
Develops when skin freezes
Body parts that are exposed to extreme cold, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, cheeks, and nose, are the most likely to be affected
Pins-and-needles sensation and throbbing
Loss of feeling in the affected part
Firm, pale, cold, numb skin

41. Treating Frostbite
Minor frostbite can be treated with simple re-warming using skin-to-skin contact, such as a warm hand.
Do not try to re-warm the frostbitten area when EMS is available, or if there is any chance that the part may refreeze.

42. Treating Frostbite Con’t
Remove jewelry from the affected areas
Place clean pads between frostbitten fingers and toes
Wrap the affected part with a clean towel or pad
Activate EMS
Do not rub or massage the affected area or disturb blisters on frostbitten skin

43. Treating Frostbite Con’t
If far from professional medical care, and there is no chance refreezing will occur, re-warm the affected part
Immerse the frostbitten area in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes
The water should be warm, not hot – just above normal body temperature
Check and maintain the water temperature often
Severe burning pain, swelling, blistering, and color changes may occur
Do not use the affected part after it is thawed
Get to professional medical care as soon as you are able

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Poisoning

45. Common Inhaled Poisons and Symptoms
Common Types
Carbon monoxide from smoke or engine exhaust
Natural gas
Solvent fumes
Chemical vapors
Symptoms
Headache, nausea, dizziness, difficulty breathing, altered mental status
Suspect inhaled poisoning if sudden illness occurs in an enclosed space

46. Response Ensure PERSONAL SAFETY
If you can do so without risk to yourself, immediately move the person to fresh air
Activate EMS
Allow the person to find a comfortable position
Keep person calm and comfortable and assess regularly until EMS personnel arrive

47. National Poison Help Hotline
Call the U.S. National Poison Help Hotline at for additional directions on care

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Drowning

49. The Instinctive Drowning Response
A drowning victim cannot call for help
mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water
cannot wave for help
cannot voluntarily control their arm movements
can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs

50. Care for Suspected Drowning
With personal safety as a priority, get the victim out of the water as soon as possible
DO NOT attempt to remove water from the airway or lungs using abdominal thrusts
If breathing is gasping or absent, provide two rescue breaths and begin CPR
Attach AED if one is available. Dry the chest before applying pads
Be prepared for vomiting

51. Basic First Aid Introduction Course
Young Hearts Education
“Confidence in Knowledge”
Thank you
Basic First Aid Introduction Course
Provided by Young Hearts Education