First Aid & CPR

Ch. 28

Steps to take in a medical emergency

1. Survey the scene2. Rescue the person if

necessary3. Send for help4. Treat life-threatening

conditions5. Go for help yourself if

nobody has done so.6. Identify other injuries &

Provide first aid7. Remain with the victim until

medical help arrives. Monitor breathing and heart rate.

Initial Assessment Procedures

Determine whether the victim is conscious

Check ABC’s: Airway, Breathing, & Circulation in this order.

Airway: Tip the head back back with one hand on the forehead and one under the chin.

Breathing Circulation: Check for

blood circulation by feeling for a pulse.

Never move someone if they have a head, neck, or spinal injury.

CPR

Do not attempt CPR from this or any other book unless you’ve had CPR training!

When administered improperly, CPR can cause further injury.

CPR is hard work! Only give CPR if a

person is not breathing. Always call or send for

help before beginning CPR.

Rescue Breathing

1. Open air way by tipping the head back and lifting chin.

2. Check for breathing3. If victim isn’t breathing

pinch the nose & keep chin up.

4. Breath into victims mouth or nose.

5. After 2 breaths check for pulse and signs of breathing.

6. Continue with one breath every 5 seconds.

When Calling for help

Speak slowly and clearly.

Tell exactly where the victim is in detail.

Describe the accident, number of people injured, and nature of injuries.

Ask what you should do. Let the other person

hang up first.

Stopping Bleeding

1. Wash hands and cover them with. something blood will not soak through.

2. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing.

3. Raise the bleeding wound above the heart.

4. Use your palm to apply pressure for at least 10-12 minutes to give blood clots time to form.

5. If bleeding resumes apply pressure again.

6. Wrap a pressured bandage lightly over dressing.

7. Monitor ABC’s.

Stopping Bleeding with Pressure Points

Shock

Rapid pulse, shallow breathing.

Rapid heartbeat. Weak pulse. Pale, clammy skin. Blue color around lips &

fingernails. Nausea. Apathy. Agitation. Weakness.

Wounds

Get a tetanus shot every 10 yrsScalp Wounds: Bleed easyEmbedded foreign bodyAvoid contact with blood

Blisters

Protect unbroken blisters & avoid pressure or friction.

Wash & cover. Do not drain. Watch for signs of

infection.

More Wounds

Laceration: Torn skin. Usually bleed freely.

Incision: Clean cut. Usually bleed freely.

Abrasion: Skin is scraped away. Many don’t bleed freely.

Puncture: Hole through the skin & into deeper tissue. Seldom bleed much.

Avulsion: Skin or another part of the body is torn off or nearly torn off.

Fractures

Treating a Fracture Don’t move a person with a fracture unless

they are in danger. Treat for shock. Build a splint & keep the fractured bone in the

current position. Make sure the broken bone is immobilized. Provide padding between the splint and the

skin. Don’t make the splint too tight.

A fracture is a break in a bone and is commonly referred to as a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average person has two during their lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. Your risk of fracture depends, in part, on your age. Broken bones are very common in childhood, though children's fractures are generally less complicated than fractures in adults. Older people, whose bones are more brittle, are more likely to suffer fractures from falls that would not affect younger people.

There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are complete, incomplete, compound and simple. Complete and incomplete fractures refer to the way the bone breaks: In a complete fracture, the bone snaps into two or more parts; in an incomplete fracture, the bone cracks but does not break all the way through. In a compound fracture, also called an open fracture, the bone breaks through the skin; it may then recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin. In a simple fracture, also called a closed fracture, the bone breaks but there is no open wound in the skin.

Dislocations

The end of a bone comes out of its joint.

Swollen and deformed.

Severe pain. Splint the same way

as fractures. Treat for shock.

Neck & Spine

Never move someone you suspect or complains of a spine or neck injury!

Keep the person from moving.

Head Injury

Check to see if pupils react to light & dark Nausea, Slurred speech, slowed breathing,

convulsions, & loss of memory are signs Treat for shock, but don’t elevate the feet

Sprains & Strains, but no Automobiles

Strain: Stretched or torn muscle or tendon

Ex. Lifting heavy weights Pain & Swelling RICE

Sprain: Torn or stretched ligament

Ex. Sharply twisting a joint Pain & Swelling RICE

Internal Injuries

Pain in chest or abdomen is cause for concern Victim deteriorates without obvious reason

Pale & breathing becomes unusually rapid Treat for shock & get a doctor right away

Choking; Adult

Signs: grabbing neck, shallow or no breathing, trying to cough

Steps to take1. Ask if he/she is

choking2. Encourage the person

to cough as hard as possible

3. Send someone for help4. If person is unable or

barely able to cough help

5. If necessary perform a finger sweep

Choking; Baby

Using the Heimlich on yourself

Stay calm

Heart Attack. Part of the heart is not receiving enough blood.

Steps in treating a heart attack

1. Help administer heart medicine

2. Send for help and contact victims doctor

3. Stand by to help4. Perform CPR if

necessary and trained5. Sit or lay down the

victim, propping up the head

6. Treat for shock

Cardiac Arrest: Heart stops working

Convulsions

In any emergency check for medical alert tags. Prevent the individual from harming him/herself Let the person go through the process with as little assistance as

possible Lay victim on his/her side

Stroke

Rupture or blockage of an artery in the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation and damage to brain cells.

Stroke continued

Treatment

1. Send for help

2. Keep victim calm and laying on his/her side.

3. Treat for shock, but don’t raise the legs.

4. Be ready to give CPR or Rescue breathing if you have been trained.

Heat exhaustion

Skin is clammy Weakness Dizziness

Headache Nausea Dilated pupils Rapid, shallow breathing

Heatstroke

Frostbite

Treatment1. Cover affected area2. Gently thaw by soaking in

warm water, wrapping in warm blankets, or treat with a warm object

3. Stop applying heat as soon as the skin is flushed

4. Avoid damaging tissue5. Keep victim away from hot

fires or stoves6. Don’t allow blisters to break

Signs/symptoms Whitish or yellowish spots Blisters

Electric Shock

Electric current passes through the body1. Don’t touch a victim who is still touching a

live wire2. Turn off current3. Check ABC’s4. Perform CPR or rescue breathing if you have

been trained5. Send for help6. Treat for shock

Poisoning

Signs and symptoms Presence of a

poisonous container or substance

Sudden, unexplained illness or pain, especially in the abdomen

Nausea or vomiting Burns near lips or

mouth Odor of chemicals or

fuel Changes in pupils

Treatment Keep containers Don’t induce vomiting Call poison control

Skin & burns

Burns & Scalds

Treatment1. Remove clothing from

affected area if it is not stuck2. Hold burned area under cool

running water for as long as 10-15 minutes.

3. Don’t apply ointments or creams

4. Cover with sterile dressing or clean cloth loosely

5. Keep elevated above the heart

6. Have victim drink water 7. Treat for shock8. Monitor breathing9. Send for help

Types of burns 1st degree: Only affects the

epidermis. Skin turns red & doesn’t blister. Use cold water and ice to treat.

2nd degree: Blisters and affects epidermis and dermis. Usually not serious. Place under cool water immediately, cover with clean dressing (loosely), & don’t pop blisters.

3rd degree: Both layers are destroyed. Easily infected, usually whitish though they may be charred brown or black. May not hurt. Rinse with cool water only, don’t apply ointments.

Foreign Body in the Eye

Try blinking Pull eyelash of upper lid

Remove with clean moist tissue Gently bandage and see a doctor

Fainting

Shortage of blood flow to the brain Keep person (or goat) lying down

Elevate feet Sit down & kneel or bend over so your head is lower than your

heart

Quiz

1. What information should you remember when making an emergency phone call?

2. What are the ABC’s of emergency treatment? 3. What is the first aid treatment for shock? 4. How should you approach an emergency ( what

attitude should you have)? 5. What are 3 symptoms of a head injury? 6. What are 4 symptoms of a heart attack? 7. Describe the appearance of a first degree burn. 8. Where can you learn first aid and CPR? 9. Do you agree with the good Samaritan law?10. How do you perform rescue breathing?

Quiz Answers

1. What information should you remember when making an emergency phone call? Exactly where victim is, Describe accident and injuries, ask what you should do until help arrives, & let the other person hang up first.

2. What are the ABC’s of emergency treatment? Check airway, breathing, & circulation of blood.

3. What is the first aid treatment for shock? Keep victim calm, lying face up with feet elevated, head turned to side if unconscious, & keep warm.

4. How should you approach an emergency ( what attitude should you have)? Be calm.5. What are 3 symptoms of a head injury? Loss of consciousness, Nausea, Slurred speech,

slowed breathing, convulsions, loss of memory, blood or body fluids leaking from ears and/or nose.

6. What are 4 symptoms of a heart attack? Sudden chest, arm, shoulder, side of neck, or jaw pain; weakness, nausea, irregular pulse, pale skin, perspiration, anxiety, or fear.

7. Describe the appearance of a first degree burn. Skin is red and hurts, but does not blister.

8. Where can you learn first aid and CPR? American Red Cross or American Heart association.

9. Do you agree with the good Samaritan law?10. How do you perform rescue breathing? Open air way by tipping the head back and lifting

chin. Check for breathing, If victim isn’t breathing pinch the nose & keep chin up. Breath into victims mouth or nose. After 2 breaths check for pulse and signs of breathing. Continue with one breath every 5 seconds.