Welcome to the First Aid Center!!

The Heartland Parenting Center is happy to be providing this information to all parents, grandparents, relatives of children, and child care providers. We all need to know what basics to do when we are faced with a first aid emergency dealing with children or adults alike. The following information was in the Women's Day dated June 28th, 1998. This information is found on the pull out poster for Family First Aid.

First Aid from an EMT point of view Here you will learn what you need in a first aid box and other things that you can do.

Topic areas: Burns,Choking, Electric Shock,Emergency 911, Fever, Frostbite, Head Injuries, Heart Attack,Heatstroke, Hypothermia,Learn CPR, Major Injuries, Neck and Back Injuries, Nosebleeds, Poisonings,Stroke, and When to Call An Ambulance. If you want to go to a certain topic mentioned above, just click on the word.

Severe Burns:
1. Remove the person from danger.

Heat Burns: have him/her drop and roll if he/she is on fire. Smother flames. Don't try to remove clothing embedded in the burn.

Chemical Burns: Remove the person's clothing and rinse chemicals off the skin by placing the victim in a shower for 15 to 20 minutes. (Rescuers should wear rubber gloves to protect themselves from chemicals as much as possible.) Seek immediate medical treatment.

2. Check breathing. If victim is not breathing, start rescue breathing (call 911 or emergency number.)

3. Raise burned arms or legs higher than the person's heart.

4. Cover the person with cool, wet cloths. Do not use butter, ointments, or any other home remedy. Do not break blisters or remove burned skin.

5. Call 911 or emergency number.

1. Check to see if the person is still in contact with the electric current. If so, don't touch him/her. Shut off the power at the circuit or breaker box.

2. Check breathing and feel for pulse on side of neck.

3. Call 911 or emergency number.

If fever is 101°F or above, orally:
1. Take off unnecessary clothing.

2. Give acetaminophen as instructed on the label. If you are unsure if the dosage is correct, call your doctor. Note: Never give aspirin to children, because aspirin used in conjunction with viral illnesses such as colds, flu, and chicken pox may increase the risk of Reye's Syndrome, a life-threatening disease of the brain and liver.

3. If fever is 104°F or higher, begin the following steps to cool the person, and call a doctor or take the person to the emergency department.
~Sponge the person with lukewarm water, put her/him in a tub of cool water, or let him/her rest under a single layer of thin towels that have been dipped into cool water and wrung out.
~Don't let the person get chilled.
~Don't use ice water or alcohol for sponging.
~Continue these steps on the way to the emergency department.

4. Give plenty of cool things to drink. Gelatin, sherbet or ice pops are also good.

5. Call your doctor or the emergency department if you are worried or don't know what to do.

Seek immediate medical attention if the person's fever is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious or life-threatening illness:
~Pain or tenderness in the abdomen
~Nausea or vomiting
~Severe headache
~Stiffened neck, which resists movement
~Sensitivity to light
~Convulsions or seizures
~Difficulty breathing
~Strange behavior, altered speech
~Rash
~Mental status changes, confusion, difficulty waking up, extreme sleepiness.

Frostbite is damage to the skin resulting from low temperatures and/or sometimes forceful winds. It often affects those areas with the poorest blood circulation and greatest exposure to cold, such as face, hands, and feet.

First-degree frostbite: Skin is white or slightly yellow; there is burning or itching feeling.

Second-degree frostbite: Skin is reddened and swollen, and there is no pain or feeling.

Third-degree frostbite: If skin is waxy and hard, the skin tissue has died. There may be blistering. Severe cases may damage muscles, tendons, and nerves. Blood Clots may form and inhibit circulation, causing gangrene.

What to do:
~Go indoors to thaw the affected area.
~Immerse the affected area in water that is slightly warmer than bath water (not too hot).
~Gently pat the skin dry. (don't rub, as rubbing may cause further damage.)
~Elevate the affected area to promote circulation.
~Do not put snow on affected area, walk on frostbitten feet, or exercise frostbitten area. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke (smoking constricts blood vessels.)

Head Injuries: Loss of consciousness, vomiting, sleepiness, blurred vision, difficulty waking the person, a change in mental status (unusual behavior, confusion, etc.) or headache unrelieved by over-the-counter pain medication requires immediate medical evaluation. (Don't take aspirin or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for a head injury.) The best way to avoid a head injury is to make sure your child has the proper head gear for the sport or activity they are taking part in.

If you become overheated or uncomfortable, sit in the shade. Be alert for symptoms of

heatstroke:
fainting or dizziness, headache, nausea, or loss of consciousness, rapid pulse, flushed skin, and a body tempature of 104°F or more. Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening illness that requires immediate medical attention.

heat exhaustion:
results from a loss of water and salt. Symptoms include weakness, heavy sweating, nausea, and giddiness. Treat by resting in a cool area and sipping cool, nonalcoholic drinks. Try to keep the skin cool and moist.

Hypothermia, an abnormally low body tempature, occurs when the body can't generate enough heat to replace the heat that is lost. The very old, the very young, and the infirm are most at risk for hypothermia.

Symptoms:
~Constant shivering, confusion, sleepiness, and eventually coma.

What to do:
To treat a hypothermia victim, get the person to a warm, dry place. Cover her with blankets and huddle together for warmth. Call 911 or emergency number.

Neck and Back Injuiries

1. Call 911 or emergency number.

2. Immobilize the head, neck and shoulder area to prevent movement. Do not move the person unless he/she is in futher danger.

3. If he/she is not breathing or has no pluse, begin CPR.

Nosebleeds

1. Sit down and pinch the nostrils together between two fingers for 10 minutes.

2. If bleeding does not stop, see a physician.

Swallowed Poisons:
1. Make sure the victim is breathing. If not, start rescue breathing.

2. Call 911, the local poison control center or your hospital emergency department. Describe the product, how much was swallowed and how long ago.

3. Follow the instructions given by the poison control center or emergency department. Keep syrup of ipecacin the home, but use it only with the advice of a medical professional.

Smoke or chemical inhalation:
1. Immediately get the person to fresh air. Avoid breathing the fumes.

2. If the victim isn't breathing, start rescue breathing.

3. If the victim has difficulty breathing, call 911. All cases need immediate medical evaluation.

Chemical contamination (skin)
1. Remove contaminated clothing and flood the skin with water for at least 15 minutes. (Use rubber gloves if you're removing clothes from someone else.)

2. Wash the skin gently with soap and water. Rinse.

3. If irritation continues, seek medical evaluation.

Chemicals in the eye:
1. While holding the eyelid open, flood the eye with water poured from a large glass 2 or 3 inches above the eye.

2. IF you cannot hold the eyelid open, have the victim blink as much as possible while flooding the eye.

3. Repeat for 15 minutes.

4. Seek medical evaluation for any continued irritation.

First aid continue on next page... click here.
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