firstaidfactsheet

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This course is for non-professionals only and is not intended for advanced certification. The advanced courses cover more information and in detail. Certificate of “has completed” does not imply future performance or issuance of license. In all emergencies calling EMS/9-1-1 is essential.

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 an emergency.

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, 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, fractures bones.

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

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 nose bleeds 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 first wash your hands. If bleeding is not severe, wash wound with soap and water, cover with a clean dressing. Watch for allergic reaction. Treat all bites serious. The bite could cause any of the following reactions, from allergic reactions to shock.

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

Bites on children: Wash bitten area thoroughly with soap and water. DO NOT use antiseptic, ointments or other medications. These may cause an allergic reaction. Put a single ice cube on the 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. Treat for shock immediately.

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 for Fractures: 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.

FIRST AID for 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, and/or 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 the 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.

This is when a person has taken medication but has not eaten. HYPOGLYCEMIA Signs and Symptoms: Moist, pale, clammy skin. Profuse cold sweat. May include: hunger, shortness or shallow breathing, confusion, trembling hands, shaking, weakness, dizziness and personality change.

FIRST AID for Hypoglycemia: Give the victim something containing sugar, orange juice, candy, or sugar in any form if they are conscious. This should bring improvements within a few minutes. If this does not 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 infection 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 seizures, but do the following:

1) Clear the area to prevent further injury; protect the head, use hands under victim’s head, let the victim go completely through the seizure(s), NEVER PUT ANYTHING IN THE MOUTH OF THE VICTIM.

2) Open airway after the seizure(s) stop to check A, B, C’s, if not breathing begin CPR. Keep the victim calm.

On hot, humid days with no breeze, anyone may be affected by the heat. 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 quickly cooled down. Quickly cool the victim’s body. Heat stroke requires medical attention.

Signs and Symptoms of Heatstroke: Hot, red skin, very small pupils, and very high body temperature sometimes as high as 105º degrees. Rapid pulse. Confusion or disorientation. Unconsciousness. (Hot, red raise the head)

FIRST AID for heatstroke: 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 degrees. Give nothing by mouth. Do not give medications.

Heat Exhaustion 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. (Cool, pale raise the tail)

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion: Cool, pale, and moist skin – heavy sweating, dilated pupils, headache, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Body temperature will be nearly normal.

FIRST AID for Heat Exhaustion: 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.

Venomous snakes cause some 8,000 of the 45,000 snakebites that occur each year in the USA and 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 of Snake bites: 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 for Snake bites: 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. This may speed up the poison by causing shock. Monitor the victim’s C, A, B’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.