firstaidfactsheet

******IMPORTANT MESSAGE******

This course is for non-professionals only. This course is not intended for advanced certification. The advanced courses cover more information and in detail. Certificate of has completed does not imply future performance nor issuance of license. In all emergencies calling 911 is essential.

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EMERGENCY FIRST AID FAST

BASIC NON-PROFESSIONAL

(This is an overview, condensed fact-sheet version of the full-length course.)

This course is designed to make the rescuer aware of the different types of emergencies. This course due to physical limitation and the American Disabilities Act restricts certain skills from being performed. Remember as a non-license professional your goal is safety first. Always call EMS/9-1-1 in Emergencies.

BLEEDING

Definition: Bleeding is the loss of blood from the body. Bleeding may be external or internal.

External Bleeding occurs from open wounds outside the body. Types of open wounds include: abrasions, incisions, lacerations, punctures, and avulsion, crushing injuries.

• FIRST AID for this type of bleeding: MOST IMPORTANT-STOP THE BLEEDING,

Prevent shock, prevent infection. Tourniquets should not be used unless death is imminent.

Internal Bleeding occurs from wounds inside the body. Types of wounds include: small bruises, lung punctures, heart failure, broken blood vessels, fractured bones.

• FIRST AID for this type of bleeding: Apply cold packs, DO NOT PUT ICE DIRECTLY ON THE SKIN, to prevent swelling and to slow internal bleeding.

SHOCK

Shock is a condition in which there is loss of effective circulating blood volume. Inadequate organ and tissue perfusion results, ultimately causing cellular metabolic derangements. In all emergency situations, it is wise to anticipate shock before it develops. Any injured person should be assessed immediately to determine the presence of shock.

Common Causes of Shock: bleeding, poisoning, insect bites, snake bites, electrical shock, burns, severe injuries, psychological trauma, heart attack, and other medical conditions.

Signs and Symptoms: Pale or bluish lips, gums, and fingernails. Clammy skin in touch, spotted

in color. Weakness. Hard to breath or irregular gasps. Can include anxiety, thirst, and nausea.

• FIRST AID for shock: Keep victim lying still but comfortable. Cover them with a blanket to

maintain body temperature. Call EMS/9-1-1

FIRST, and foremost, on all burns: Submerge all burns in cool tap water for fifteen (15) minutes, then wrap with a moist bandage. KEEP BANDAGE MOIST. Never pop a blister. Treat for shock. Call EMS/9-1-1. Never use butter, margarine, or a petroleum product to cover burned area.

Severe nosebleeds can be frightening to the victim. It is possible that enough blood can be lost to cause shock.

• FIRST AID for nose bleeds: Tip victim's head forward, chin to chest, pinch nose at lowest point. Keep victim calm. IMPORTANT: If you suspect a head, neck, or back injury, DO NOT MOVE THE VICTIM. Keep victim still. It might be necessary to treat for shock.

Human and animal bites are the most common and the most dangerous. Dangerous infection can develop even from a minor bite. Prevent infection by either wearing latex gloves or wash your hands first. If bleeding is not severe, wash wound with soap and water, cover with a clean dressing. Watch for allergic reaction. Treat all bites serious. They can cause reactions from allergic reactions to shock.

• FIRST AID: Wash off all bites with soap and water to prevent allergic reaction. Place ice over area to prevent swelling.

Bites on Children: Wash bitten area thoroughly with soap and water. DO NOT use antiseptics, ointments or other medications. These may cause an allergic reaction. Put single ice cube on area to prevent swelling. Document all bite cases.

Insect Bites and Stings: (Ants, bees, wasps, spiders, etc.) Use a dull flat surface to gently move upward and downward on stinger area to remove stinger. Do not use tweezers as this may cause further infection.

Spiders: Seek immediate medical help for bites from Black Widow or Brown Recluse or Scorpions.

As a non-professional, treat all fractures, sprains and strains as broken limbs. Splint if in doubt. With all suspected fractures it is important to get medical help as fast as possible.

• FIRST AID: Fracture: IMPORTANT: Do not move the fractured area. Simply splint the break exactly as you find it. Use magazines, rolled up newspapers, or soft bound books to roll around the suspected area. Tie articles above and below the area for immobilization. Treat for shock. Call EMS/9-1-1. Sprain/Strain: Place ice on the area. IMPORTANT: Never place ice directly on the body. Place ice in wet towel or cloth. In case of injury to the feet: leave shoes on; they act as a splint to help keep pressure on the area and to keep injury from swelling. Not all fractures and breaks are noticed with the eyes, please splint even if you suspect a fracture.

A poison is any substance-solid, liquid, or gas-that causes injury or death when introduced into the body. There are four (4) main ways a person can be poisoned: by inhaling, absorbing, injecting, swallowing. IN ALL CASES, Call EMS/9-1-1. You must have permission before administering Syrup of Ipecac; NEVER give this to infants (anyone under 18 months of age); NEVER give this without permission from the doctor. Never dilute without permission from a doctor. Keep a sample of any vomit. Keep all containers from poison. Never induce vomiting if you see blisters. The most common mistake is people calling the information number in an emergency. The emergency number for poisoning is EMS/9-1-1.

• Signs and Symptoms: Moist, pale, clammy skin. Profuse cold sweat. May include: Hunger, Shortness of Shallow breathing, confusion, trembling hands, shaking, weakness, dizziness and personality change.

• First Aid: Give the victim something containing sugar, orange juice, candy, or sugar in any form if they are conscience. This should bring improvements within a few minutes. If this doesn't bring a change within a few minutes call EMS/9-1-1.

Seizures may be caused by a temporary problem, insulin shock, high fever, viral infections of the brain, head-neck injury, or drug reactions. Epilepsy is usually well controlled with medication, but some people who have it continue to have seizures from time to time.

• Some individuals have an aura (sensation) before the onset of a seizure. Auras can be sound and vision hallucinations, a strange taste in the mouth, abdominal pain, numbness, or a sense of urgency to move to safety.

• Call EMS/9-1-1 if the victim: has multiple seizures, has never had a seizure before, is pregnant, is diabetic, has swallowed a large amount of water, or has a head injury.

• In most cases EMS/9-1-1 does not need to be called if the victim has been diagnosed with seizure, but do the following: 1) clear the area to prevent further injury, 2) protect the head, use hands under victim's head, let the victim go completely through seizures, NEVER PUT ANYTHING IN THE MOUTH OF THE VICTIM, and 3) open airway after the seizures stop to check A, B, C's. Keep the victim calm.

On hot, humid days with no breeze, the heat may affect anyone. They may suffer heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or heat cramps. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Quickly cool the victim's body. Heat stroke requires medical attention.

• Signs & Symptoms: Hot, red skin; very small pupils, and very high body temperature-sometimes as high as 105 degrees. Rapid pulse. Confusion or disorientation. Unconsciousness.

• FIRST AID: Call EMS/9-1-1. Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Immerse him or her in a cool bath, wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Reduce temperature to 101º. Give nothing by mouth. Do not give medication.

Is less dangerous than heat stroke. Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock. With heat exhaustion, sweat does not evaporate, as it should, possibly because of high humidity or too many layers of clothing. As a result, the body is not cooled effectively.

• Signs & Symptoms: Cool, pale, and moist skin; heavy sweating; dilated pupils; headache; nausea; dizziness; and vomiting. Body temperature will be nearly normal.

• FIRST AID: Get the person out of the heat. Place him or her in the shock position, remove or loosen the victim's clothing. Cool him or her by fanning and applying cold packs. Use wet towels or sheets. Give the victim ½ glassful of water to drink every 15 minutes. If he or she is fully conscious. These steps should bring improvement within a half hour.

Warm the frostbitten area by soaking the area in normal tap water. Do not allow the frostbitten area to touch the container. After warming the area place bandages between the limbs to allow even drying and warming. Do Not use hot water, heat lamps, hot water bottles or strong heat.

Venomous snakes cause some 8,000 of the 45,000 snakebites that occur each year in the USA. 9 to 15 deaths per year are attributed to these snakebites. Children between the ages of 1 and 9 years are the most likely victims. The greatest number of bites occurs during daylight hours in summer months. Venomous snakebites are medical emergencies. Call EMS/9-1-1

• Signs and Symptoms: Pain mild to moderate. Swelling, discolored skin, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, sweating, headaches, drooling, thirst, weakness, severe slurred speech, blurred vision, vomiting, convulsions, difficulty breathing.

• FIRST AID: Keep the victim calm. Remove all constrictive items such as rings. Keep victim warm.

Keep the bitten area below the level of the heart. Apply a clean bandage on the area to minimize

the contamination any further. Do not place ice or a tourniquet on the area. These may speed up

the poison by causing shock. Monitor the victims A, B, C's. Get help immediately. If you can identify

the snake poisonous/non-poisonous advise EMS/9-1-1 or the hospital of its type for antivenin purposes.

As with any prescription drug. Only license medical professionals may induce medications. It is considered by law a felony offense to induce medication if you are not license, re: Nurse, R. N., LVN, Paramedic or Doctor, health care provider. In most day cares, group homes, mother day out programs persons normally give this with out any thought to legal formalities. It is important to check with your doctor for proper issuance. In all states you can be held liable for any damages to any person, (medications do not fall under the good Samaritan law) if you give these. Medications can be given for epilepsy, earaches, asthma, and diabetes because these are not considered infectious diseases. The standard time for "return to population" is 72 hours after the medication has been introduce into the body. The "24 hour" rule is to reassure that the person does not have any reaction to the medication. Most doctors and day care directors etc.., are very relaxed to enforcement because this puts parents into a position of inconvience when they can't get off work or away to take care of there children. This puts all day cares, etc.., in the position of losing business because parents want some one who will raise their child for them. This will always be a HOT topic. The bottom line is day cares, etc.., give medication as a matter of courtesy for the parents and parents do not take into consideration the inconvenience this causes on a daily operation. By signing a form, medication release, or may give medication to, does not legally protect you from a law suit or damages that may occur if a child or person in your care has a reaction, is hospitalized or dies from you giving medication. Some state agencies as a convenience will supply you with example basic forms if you choose to give medication. The State of Texas does not mandate or force day cares etc.., to give medication.(_8200 "If") It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure proper care of its children.

When there is no present danger, follow local routines as prescribed at your location. IMPORTANT: If EMS/9-1-1 has been called clear the area immediately to allow easy access. In case of fire drill-make sure everyone knows how and where to go during the drill. IMPORTANT: Never separate the school, have everyone meet at one local point so that a single head count can be presented. This will also tell you if anyone is missing. It is your responsibility to inform all participants of each planned drill and how to proceed.