First Aid

• American Red Cross - Preparedness for Earthquakes and Fires

**Whenever you come across a person who is injured or unconscious, check these things ASAP; their life could depend on it**

• Hurry Cases (What to check)

• • Is the person’s spine injured?

    • When approaching an unconscious injured person, it is best to assume that the person injured their head, neck, or spine (and you should take precautions to protect those areas

• • Is the person’s heart beating, is the person breathing?

    • This is the most obvious sign of life, so make sure that their heart is beating (check their pulse by putting two fingers to their neck)

• • Is the person bleeding, is it severe?

    • Ask the person to take out extra layers of clothing and search for severe bleeding. Also make sure to check their back since they can't see there.

• • Are there signs of poisoning?

    • Check to see if the person has accidentally injected a poisonous substance

• Major Injuries

  • Heart Attack

    • Commons signs

      • Persistent and uncomfortable pressure or burning sensation in the center of the chest behind breastbone

      • Unusual sweating

      • Nausea

      • Shortness of breath

      • Feeling of weakness

    • Treating

      • Call 911 ASAP

      • Prepare to begin CPR

      • Wait for ERT to take the patient

• • Severe Bleeding

    • Using a dressing or cloth…

      • Put a dressing on the wound (towel and other cloths work too) and applying pressure

        • If bleeding continues…

          • Add more dressings on top of the current one

          • Apply further pressure

        • If you added cloth to the wound before the first aid kit arrives, replace the cloth with a dressing from the first aid kit

      • After bleeding stops…

        • Apply a roller bandage

          • If it is cold below the wound, don’t apply it

            1. Only apply it if it is warm with color

          • The bandage should be a couple of inches (1-2”) above and below the wound

            1. The knot should be tied right above the wound so that it gets the most pressure

    • Using a tourniquet...

      • Used to control life-threatening bleeding ONLY when standard procedures fail

      • How to use it

        • Put tourniquet 2 inches above the wound

          • Should NOT be on a joint, neck, or torso

          • Can ONLY be applied to arms and legs

        • To secure, pull the strap through the buckle

          • Tighten it by twisting the rod until the bleeding stops

• • • • • Don’t remove the tourniquet after it is applied

        • If applied correctly, it should hurt

        • Read instructions for further information

      • Can use for a few hours safely

      • Note the time you applied the tourniquet

      • The EMS can take off the tourniquet when needed

    • Using hemostatic dressing

      • This is a substance that speeds blood clot formation

      • This could be used for the neck, torso, joints, or places where a tourniquet cannot be applied

      • Apply direct pressure

• • Choking

    • 5 and 5 method

      • 5 back blows

        • Stand to the side of the person with feet shoulder-width apart

        • Place arm across their chest and have them bend at the waist

        • Use the heel of the hand to thump the center of their upper back

          • Between two shoulder blades

      • 5 Abdominal Thrusts

        • Stand behind the victim

        • Make a fist with the thumb facing in and place against their torso and above the navel (belly button)

        • Grasp the fist with other hands around the abdomen and bring it up and sift (in and up scooping motion)

    • Chest thrusts method

      • Use when a person is pregnant or too big to wrap hands around

      • Give them thrusts in the same place you perform CPR

• • Stroke

    • Warning Signs

      • Sudden weakness of face, arm, or leg (especially on one side only)

      • Confusion understanding and speaking

      • Dizziness, trouble to see, trouble walking and balancing

      • Sudden and severe headache without a cause

    • Think FAST

      • Face

        • Ask the person to smile and watch for weakness on one side of the face

      • Arm

        • Ask the person to raise both hands and watch for weakness in one arm

      • Speech

        • Ask the person to speak and listen for slurred speech

      • Time

        • If you noticed any of the above, call 911

  • Poisoning

    • Check the label of medication or substance which poisoned the person and follow directions

    • Call 911, and allow them to give you instructions

    • Treat for shock, perform CPR if needed, and save any vomit for the doctor to identify the treatment

• • Treating Shock **Always treat EVERY major injury for shock**

    • Why it happens

      • A person suffering a major injury or high stress may cause the body to not distribute enough blood to all parts of the body-- can cause organ failure or death

    • Signals/ Warning Signs

      • Restlessness/ irritability

      • Weakness

      • Confusion, dizziness, fear

      • Moist, pale, clammy, cool skin

      • Nausea and vomiting

      • Extreme thirst

      • Quick and weak pulse

      • Rapid, shallow, and irregular breathing

    • Treatment

      • Keep letting the victim know that you are there and support them as much as possible

      • If they are unconscious, place them in a recovery position

        • Move their hands down and roll the victim to one side carefully

        • Check to breathe and slightly raise legs (if possible)

      • If conscious, have them lay down and elevate their legs about 12 inches if they don’t have any back or neck injuries

      • Check for hurry cases

      • Let EMT take over of the victim

• • Seizures

    • Definition: a sudden illness that causes sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It causes changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness.

    • Caring

      • Check the scene for objects that could harm the victim (since they will move around)

        • Especially sharp objects

      • Call 911 for the first seizure, you’re unsure, or if it’s really bad

      • Bring victim to the floor

      • Place soft items below the victim (especially head) to prevent injury

      • Never put anything in the person’s mouth or hold them down

      • Wait for the seizure to subside and check for breathing

        • Give CPR if needed

      • Look out for shock

      • Place the victim in the recovery position

        • On the side, one hand under head, other arm to the side, legs apart and parallel

      • Comfort the victim to make them feel better

      • Monitor until EMS arrives

• Minor Injuries (failure to treat these can result in severe injuries)

  • Cuts and Scratches

    • Can happen if you fall down while exercising, moving around, or by touching sharp objects; treat with applying pressure on the cut until bleeding stops (putting the cut inside of ice water also stops bleeding), rinsing with water and soap if possible, applying ointment and bandage.

• • Blisters

    • Can happen if you have too much moisture on your body or if you have really tight gloves for shoes which hit against your skin often; treat by washing with warm water and resting- if it is really painful, drain and apply ointment.

• • Sunburn

    • Can happen if you exercise outdoors in the sun for a long time (when there are high temperatures and no shade); treat by staying in the shade and by applying cool towels in a sunburned area.

• • Heat exhaustion

    • Can happen if you are in the sun too long; treat by cooling the person down and have the rest.

• • Heatstroke

    • Get the person in shade, give them cool water, a cool towel, and let them rest. If severe, call 911.

• • Hypothermia

    • If someone has hypothermia, get them in a warm area, let them warm up, and if severe, call 911

• • Dehydration

    • Can happen if you don't drink enough water; prevent by drinking water; treat by resting and slowly sipping water, apply a cold compress if possible

• • Insect stings

    • Can happen if there are many insects around you; treat by trying to remove the stinger using tweezers

• • Tick bites

    • Can happen if there are many ticks around you; to treat, try to use small tweezers to remove the tick, if you are uncomfortable with this seek medical attention right away to remove it.

• • Snakebite

    • Treat by category: If you know the snake is not venomous, treat it as a puncture wound, if the snake is poisonous, call 911 and remember the snake.