230 likes | 235 Views
Learn how to provide immediate care for injuries and illnesses before professional medical help can be obtained. This guide covers first aid for open wounds, burns, poisons, snakebites, fractures, sprains, fainting, animal bites, bee stings, objects in the eye, nosebleeds, frostbite, and heat cramps.
E N D
FIRST AID: Is the immediate care or treatment that is given to an injured or ill person before professional medical aid can be obtained.
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.
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
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
First Aid for Open Wounds 1. Wash wound 2. Stop bleeding 3. Use antibacterial creme 4. Apply bandage
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.
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
Poisons • Swallowing poison • Symptoms • Sharp abdominal cramps • Extreme drowsiness followed by loss of consciousness • Vomiting • Chemical odor
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
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
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
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
Fracture Treatment • Keep the bone end from moving • Immobilize the body part • Seek medical attention
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.
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
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.
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
Objects in the eye • Flush eye with water, DO NOT rub eye • If object doesn’t dislodge then seek medical attention
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
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.
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
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