Section 5: Basic Medical Skills

Medical Skill 1: Stopping Intense Bleeding

If someone is bleeding heavily, they will not be able to form a clot and they could bleed out. You can stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wound. Raising the wounded limb over the heart will also help to slow down heavy bleeding. Also, it is important to recognize the signs of arterial bleeding, as this can cause someone to bleed out in a couple of minutes. Arterial wounds pulsate as they bleed, and the blood is usually bright red. It is essential to put pressure on the wound right away, add cloth if the cloth you use soaks through, and do not remove the pressure for any reason until medical professionals arrive.

For severe bleeding, take these first-aid steps and reassure the injured person.

1. Remove any clothing or debris on the wound. Don't remove large or deeply embedded objects. Don't probe the wound or attempt to clean it yet. Your first job is to stop the bleeding. Wear disposable protective gloves if available.

2. Stop the bleeding. Place a sterile bandage or clean cloth on the wound. Press the bandage firmly with your palm to control bleeding. Apply constant pressure until the bleeding stops. Maintain pressure by binding the wound with a thick bandage or a piece of clean cloth. Don't put direct pressure on an eye injury or embedded object.Secure the bandage with adhesive tape or continue to maintain pressure with your hands. If possible, raise an injured limb above the level of the heart.

3. Help the injured person lie down. If possible, place the person on a rug or blanket to prevent loss of body heat. Calmly reassure the injured person.

4. Don't remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding seeps through the gauze or other cloth on the wound, add another bandage on top of it. And keep pressing firmly on the area.

5. Tourniquets: A tourniquet is effective in controlling life-threatening bleeding from a limb. Apply a tourniquet if you're trained in how to do so. When emergency help arrives, explain how long the tourniquet has been in place. Below is a guide to creating a touriquet.

• Wrap some sort material that isn't thin like a wire and wrap it around the limb with an even circumference of pressure. The material should sit as flatly as possible against the skin to prevent neurovascular damage. If you have enough material, wrap it a few times to create padding.

• When using fabric, knot a stick or other rigid object, like a pen, on the outside layer of the tourniquet to create a torsion device. Twist the stick to tighten the hold. Continue to twist until tight enough, and knot it again to keep it in place.

If possible, it’s important to keep direct pressure on the wound even after applying a tourniquet

6. Immobilize the injured body part as much as possible. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Medical Skill 2: Choking (Heimlich Maneuver)

Heimlich Maneuver is a first-aid procedure for dislodging an obstruction from a person's windpipe in which a sudden strong pressure is applied on the abdomen, between the navel and the rib cage.

Choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, give first aid as quickly as possible. The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the signal, look for these indications: Inability to talk, Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing, Squeaky sounds when trying to breathe, Cough, which may either be weak or forceful, Skin, lips, nails turning blue or dusky, Skin that is flushed, then turns pale or bluish in color, and Loss of consciousness

In order to perform the Heimlich maneuver, stand behind the victim, wrap your arms around them, place a fist between the person’s ribcage and belly button, and place your other hand over the fist. Deliver a quick thrust upward, and keep doing this until the foreign object is dislodged. This technique is only for adults. Below you will find a visual of how to properly perform this life-saving medical skill.

Medical Skill 3: Treating Burns

Damage to the skin or deeper tissues caused by the sun, hot liquids, fire, electricity, or chemicals.

Treating major burns:

• Protect the burned person from further harm. If you can do so safely, make sure the person you're helping is not in contact with the source of the burn. For electrical burns, make sure the power source is off before you approach the burned person.

• Make certain that the person burned is breathing. If needed, begin rescue breathing if you know how.

• Remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive items, especially from around burned areas and the neck. Burned areas swell rapidly.

• Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist bandage or a clean cloth.

• Don't immerse large severe burns in water. Doing so could cause a serious loss of body heat (hypothermia).

• Elevate the burned area. Raise the wound above heart level, if possible.

• Watch for signs of shock. Signs and symptoms include fainting, pale complexion or breathing in a notably shallow fashion.

Treating minor burns:

• Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water or apply a cool, wet compress until the pain eases.

• Remove rings or other tight items from the burned area. Try to do this quickly and gently, before the area swells.

• Don't break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If a blister breaks, clean the area with water (mild soap is optional). Apply an antibiotic ointment. But if a rash appears, stop using the ointment.

• Apply lotion. Once a burn is completely cooled, apply a lotion, such as one that contains aloe vera or a moisturizer. This helps prevent drying and provides relief.

• Bandage the burn. Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage (not fluffy cotton). Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.

• If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

Medical Skill 4: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.

Before Giving CPR:

1. Check the scene and the person. Make sure the scene is safe, then tap the person on the shoulder and shout "Are you OK?" to ensure that the person needs help.

2. Call 911 for assistance. If it's evident that the person needs help, call (or ask a bystander to call) 911, then send someone to get an AED(Automated external defibrillator).

3. Open the airway. With the person lying on his or her back, tilt the head back slightly to lift the chin.

4. Check for breathing. Listen carefully, for no more than 10 seconds, for sounds of breathing. (Occasional gasping sounds do not equate to breathing.) If there is no breathing begin CPR.

CPR Steps:

1. Push hard, push fast. Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest. Use your body weight to help you administer compressions that are at least 2 inches deep and delivered at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.

2. Deliver rescue breaths. With the person's head tilted back slightly and the chin lifted, pinch the nose shut and place your mouth over the person's mouth to make a complete seal. Blow into the person's mouth to make the chest rise. Deliver two rescue breaths, then continue compressions.

3. Note: If the chest does not rise with the initial rescue breath, re-tilt the head before delivering the second breath. If the chest doesn't rise with the second breath, the person may be choking. After each subsequent set of 30 chest compressions, and before attempting breaths, look for an object and, if seen, remove it.

4. Continue CPR steps. Keep performing cycles of chest compressions and breathing until the person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing, an AED(Automated external defibrillator) becomes available, or EMS or a trained medical responder arrives on the scene.

Medical Skill 5: Fractures (Broken Bones)

A fracture is a broken bone. It requires medical attention and it is the result of major trauma, injury, overuse, and diseases that weaken bones. The main symptom is pain. There may also be a loss of functionality depending on the area affected. Treatment often involves resetting the bone in place and immobilizing it in a cast or splint to allow it time to heal

Signs that the fracture is extremely dangerous:

• The person is unresponsive, isn't breathing or isn't moving. Begin CPR if there's no breathing or heartbeat.

• There is heavy bleeding.

• Even gentle pressure or movement causes pain.

• The limb or joint appears deformed.

• The bone has pierced the skin.

• The extremity of the injured arm or leg, such as a toe or finger, is numb or bluish at the tip.

• You suspect a bone is broken in the neck, head or back.

How to treat:

• Stop any bleeding. Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean piece of clothing.

• Immobilize the injured area. Don't try to realign the bone or push a bone that's sticking out back in. If you've been trained in how to splint and professional help isn't readily available, apply a splint to the area above and below the fracture sites. Padding the splints can help reduce discomfort. How to splint video Below .

• Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain. Don't apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the ice in a towel, piece of cloth or some other material.

• Treat for shock. If the person feels faint or is breathing in short, rapid breaths, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk and, if possible, elevate the legs.