Priorities in an Emergency

1. FIRST AID: Is the immediate care or treatment that is given to an injured or ill person before professional medical aid can be obtained.

2. Priorities in an Emergency • Check the immediate surroundings for possible dangers. • Check to see if the victim is conscious. • Check Breathing • Control severe bleeding • Check the victim for poisoning. • Send for medical help.

3. Skin Wound Classification • Abrasion: skin is scraped against a rough surface • Bruise: compression causes bleeding under the skin • Laceration: an irregular tear of the skin • Avulsion: skin is ripped off • Puncture: penetration of the skin by a sharp object

4. First Aid for Open Wounds • Stop the Bleeding- apply direct pressure • Protect the Wound- Gauze or clean cloth • Treat for Shock (the failure of the cardiovascular system to keep adequate blood circulating to vital organs of the body)- Keep victim on back with feet elevated, cover body with blankets • Get Help- Call 911

5. First Aid for Open Wounds 1. Wash wound 2. Stop bleeding 3. Use antibacterial creme 4. Apply bandage

6. Burns • Three types of burns: • 1st degree- superficial burns, like sunburn, and involve the top layer of skin. Healing takes 5-7 days. • 2nd degree- involve the top several layers of skin. The skin will have blisters and appear blotchy. Healing takes 3-4 weeks. • 3rd degree- destroy all layers of skin as well as nerves, muscles, fat. It looks black or brown.

7. First aid for burns • Rinse with cool water • Place a clean dressing over area to prevent infection • Elevate burned area above the heart • Treat for shock • NEVER try to remove clothing stuck to a burned area

8. Poisons • Swallowing poison • Symptoms • Sharp abdominal cramps • Extreme drowsiness followed by loss of consciousness • Vomiting • Chemical odor

9. Treatment • Call the nearest poison control center • Be prepared to give information about the victim and the poison • Depending on the poison, you may be told to give the person a substance that dilutes the poison, or an emetic, and agent that causes vomiting. • Treat victim for shock

10. Snakebite • Poisonous snakes in the US • 4 types- rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin (cottonmouth), and coral snake. • First aid for snakebite • Get victim to hospital • Keep bitten area below the level of heart • Call EMS • Keep victim still as possible

11. Contact Poisoning • Poisonous plants • Symptoms • Severe skin rash, blistering, swilling, burning, itching • Possible fever • Treatment • Remove any contaminated clothing • Rinse with water • Wash with soap

12. Chemical Poisoning • Symptoms- burning of skin resembling sunburn • Treatment • Remove any clothing that has come into contact with the chemical. • Remove as much of the chemical from the surface of the skin as possible by flooding the skin with water • Contact the nearest poison control center

13. Fractures

14. Fracture Treatment • Keep the bone end from moving • Immobilize the body part • Seek medical attention

15. Sprain/ Strain • What Is the Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain? • A sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament. One or more ligaments can be injured at the same time. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of injury (whether a tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved. • A strain is an injury to either a muscle or a tendon. Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be a simple overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can result from a partial or complete tear.

16. Fainting-temporary loss of consciousness brought on by reduced supply of blood to the brain. • Treatment • Don’t prop the person up • Loosen any tight clothes • Maintain an open airway • Sponge the person’s face with water • If the person fails to revive promptly, seek medical attention

17. Animal bites • Wash with soap and water • Cover with clean dressing • Go to doctor to check for rabies- a vital disease of the nervous system that eventually causes madness and death.

18. Bee stings • Take a flat sharp edge to scrape stinger away from the skin • Wash area with soap and water • Watch for allergic reaction • An allergic person normally carries medicine

19. Objects in the eye • Flush eye with water, DO NOT rub eye • If object doesn’t dislodge then seek medical attention

20. Nosebleeds • Keep person quiet, don’t blow your nose • Place the person in a sitting position and have them lean forward. • Apply direct pressure to bleeding nostril • Apply a cold towel to the person’s nose and face • Place a piece of gauze between the upper lip and teeth to stop the bleeding

21. Frostbite- ice crystals form in the body cells and destroy them. • Don’t rub the skin, soak it in lukewarm water • Bandage the injured part • Seek professional help • If frostbite goes untreated, gangrene may set in- which is death of a body part. Gangrene often requires amputation.

22. Heat cramps • Symptoms- muscle cramps, heavy sweating, headache, and dizziness. • Treatment • Move victim out of heat • Massage the muscle • Drink water or gatorade to replace the lost water and salt

23. Heat stroke • Symptoms • Lack of perspiration, vomiting, confusion, irregular pulse • Treatment • Remove from heat • Immerse in cold water or place ice packs around neck • Contact emergency services