First AID First Step Saving Lives

First AID Introduction to first aid At any moment, you or someone around you could experience an injury or illness. Using basic first aid, you may be able to stop a minor mishap from getting worse. In the case of a serious medical emergency, you may even save a life. Thats why it’s so important to learn basic first aid skills. To build on the information you learn here, considering taking a first aid course. Many organizations offer first aid training, including the Gov/Private Ambulance and St. John Ambulance. Definition of first aid When you provide basic medical care to someone experiencing a sudden injury or illness, it’s known as first aid. In some cases, first aid consists of the initial support provided to someone in the middle of a medical emergency. This support might help them survive until professional help arrives. In other cases, first aid consists of the care provided to someone with a minor injury. For example, first aid is often all that’s needed to treat minor burns, cuts, and insect stings.

Emergency System Dispatchers 1. Basic Care 2. CPR 3. AED How to Determine Responsiveness (Shake their Shoulder and Shout “ARE YOU OKAY”) 3 steps for emergency situations If you encounter an emergency situation, follow these three basic steps: 1. Check the scene for danger Look for anything that might be dangerous, like signs of fire, falling debris, or violent people. If your safety is at risk, remove yourself from the area and call for help. If the scene is safe, assess the condition of the sick or injured person. Don’t move them unless you must do so to protect them from danger. 2. Call for medical help, if needed If you suspect the sick or injured person needs emergency medical care, tell a nearby person to call 911 or the local number for emergency medical services. If you’re alone, make the call yourself. 3. Provide care If you can do so safely, remain with the sick or injured person until professional help arrives. Cover them with a warm blanket, comfort them, and try to keep them calm. If you have basic first aid skills, try to treat any potentially life-threatening injuries they have. Remove yourself from danger if at any point in the situation you think your safety might be at risk. First aid bandage In many cases, you can use an adhesive bandage to cover minor cuts, scrapes, or burns. To cover and protect larger wounds, you might need to apply a clean gauze pad or roller bandage.

To apply a roller bandage to a wound, follow these steps: Hold the injured area steady. Gently but firmly wrap the bandage around the injured limb or body part, covering the wound. Fasten the bandage with sticky tape or safety pins. The bandage should be wrapped firmly enough to stay put, but not so tightly that it cuts off blood flow. To check the circulation in a bandaged limb, pinch one of the person’s fingernails or toenails until the color drains from the nail. If color doesn’t return within two seconds of letting go, the bandage is too tight and needs to be adjusted. First aid for burns If you suspect that someone has a third-degree burn, call 911. Seek professional medical care for any burns that: cover a large area of skincare located on the person’s face, groin, buttocks, hands, or feet have been caused by contact with chemicals or electricity to treat a minor burn, run cool water over the affected area for up to 15 minutes. If that’s not possible, apply a cool compress to the area instead. Avoid applying ice to burned tissue. It can cause more damage. over-the-counter pain relievers can help relieve pain. Applying lidocaine or an aloe vera gel or cream can also reduce discomfort from minor burns. To help prevent infection, apply an antibiotic ointment and loosely cover the burn with clean gauze. Find out when you should contact a doctor for follow-up care.

First aid kit list You never know when you might need to provide basic first aid. To prepare for the unpredictable, considering storing a well-stocked first aid kit in your home and car. It’s also a good idea to have a first aid kit available at work. You can buy preassembled first aid kits from many first aid organizations, pharmacies, or outdoor recreation stores. Alternatively, you can create your own first aid kit using products purchased from a pharmacy. A standard first aid kit should include: • adhesive bandages of assorted sizes • roller bandages of assorted sizes • absorbent compress dressings • sterile gauze pads • adhesive cloth tape • triangular bandages • antiseptic wipes • aspirin • acetaminophen or ibuprofen • antibiotic ointment • hydrocortisone cream • calamine lotion • nitrile or vinyl gloves • safety pins • scissors • tweezers • thermometer • breathing barrier • instant cold pack • blanket • first aid manual It’s also smart to include a list of your healthcare providers, emergency contact numbers, and prescribed medications in your first aid kits. Hand washing • Completely wash your hand and generously apply soap. • Rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds and then rinse your hands with water. • Dry your hands with towel or air dryer.

It’s important to protect yourself from contagious illnesses and other hazards when providing first aid. To help protect yourself: Personal Protective Gear 1. Gloves 2. Eye protection 3. Pocket mask • Always check for hazards that could put your safety at risk before approaching a sick or injured person. • Avoid direct contact with blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids. • Wear protective equipment, such as nitrile or vinyl gloves when treating someone with an open wound or a breathing barrier when performing rescue breathing. • Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after providing first aid care. Glove Removal • Avoid touching the outer contaminated surface. • Slowly pull one glove off while turning it inside out. • Remove the second glove while turning in inside. There are few things more frightening than having or witnessing an anaphylactic reaction. The symptoms can go from bad to worse very quickly, and may include: 1. Breathing problems 2. Epinephrine 3. Heart diseases 4. Fainting 5. Diabetes 6. Vomiting While you wait for emergency responders While you wait for medical help to arrive, take these steps to keep yourself or the person who’s having the reaction safe: Remove the source of the allergy. For example, if a bee sting caused the reaction, remove the stinger using a credit card or tweezers. If the person feels like they’re about to faint or they’re fainting, lay the person flat on their back and raise their legs so that blood can get to their brain. You can cover them with a blanket to keep them warm. If they’re throwing up or having trouble breathing, especially if they are pregnant, sit them up and even a little forward if possible, or lay them on their side. If the person becomes unconscious, lay them down with their head tilted back so that their airway isn’t closed off and check for pulse. If there is no pulse and the person is not breathing, give two quick breaths and start CPR chest compressions. Give other medications, such as an antihistamine or an inhaler, if they’re wheezing. If symptoms don’t improve, give the person another injection of epinephrine. Doses should occur 5 to 15 minutes apart.

Breathing problems Inhaler use: • Place inhaler into mouth. • Have them inhale slowly and deeply while pressing down on the top of the inhaler canister. • Instruct to hold their breath foe 10 seconds. Breathing Problems 1. Asthma 2. Heart attack 3. Emphysema 4. Pneumonia 5. Heart attack 6. Stroke 7. Seizure 8. Anxiety Sign of Breathing Problems • Fast and shallow • Noisy Breathing • Inability to talk due to breath lessness. • Unusual sounds

Inhaler use • Shake the inhaler canister • Place the opening of the inhaler into the space if available • Instruct to fully exhale Allergic Reactions • Insect stings • Adverse reaction to food and medication • Environment triggers: Pollens, dusts, or chemical fumes • Common food triggers: nuts, eggs, fruit • Rapid reactions: bee, wasp, hornet strings Symptoms 1. Mild- Itching or hives 2. Severe- life-threatening 3. Antihistamines: important in treatment of server allergic reactions 4. Epinephrine: life -saving medication and should be given at the first sign of server allergic reaction. Epinephrine pene Step1: From a first around the pen and remove the safety release cap Step2: Place the orange end of the pen against the outer mid-thigh Step3: Push down hard until a click is heard of felt and hold the pen in place for 10 seconds Step4: Remove the pen and message the injection site 10 seconds Step5: Properly dispose the use device in a sharp container. NOTE The time of the injection and seek medical care

Heart Diseases Chest Discomfort 1. Ache 2. Pressure 3. Squeezing 4. Crushing Shortness of Breath Aspirin: most important medication for an individual having a heart attack. Caring for Heart attack • Keep clam • Have them site or lie-down • Active the EMS by calling • Aspirin • Give 2 to 4 baby aspirin or half to a full adult aspirin table • Make sure aspirin is not enteric coated • Be prepared to Administer CPR Fainting Cause of Fainting • Intense emotional stress • Abnormal or erratic heart rhythm • Severe dehydration Fainting • Ensure the safety of the same • Help the individual lie-down • Elevate legs if possible • If there is no rapid improvement, or if the individual becomes unresponsive, call the Ambulance Low blood sugar in individuals with diabetes Diabetes Symptoms 1. Agitation 2. Confusion 3. Loss of consciousness 4. Excessive tiredness 5. Weakness 6. Seizure-like activity Causes of low blood sugar • Illness • Stress • Skipping meals • Talking too much insulin. How to care for low blood sugar individual • Give sugar – containing beverage • Encourage to sit or lie-down • If their symptoms improve, encourage them to eat • Call the Ambulance Glucose Ge and Tablets • Alternatives 1. Packets of sugar 2. Honey 3. Jelly • Consider keeping any these in the first aid kit