FIRSTAID



	CHOKING If a person is choking, the first question to as is "Can you speak?" If the victim can speak or cry out, the airway is probably open enough to force out the obstructing object. If the victim can speak, or cough: Reassure and encourage coughing. Do not hit on back. If the victim cannot speak or cough, but is conscious: From behind, wrap you arms around victim's waist. Make a fist with one hand, grasp with other hand. Place hands above navel to avoid lower tip of the breastbone. Give one quick inward and upward thrust. Repeat upward thrusts until airway is clear, or victim becomes unconscious. If unconscious, refer to the methods used for resuscitation. If the victim choking is an infant or a small child: Support the head and place head and lower than trunk; give four back blows. Supporting the head, turn the infant face up. Place two or three fingers on the breastbone between the nipples. Give for chest thrusts. Check mouth for obstruction and remove any visible objects. Give two quick puffs of breath. Repeat above steps until successful. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POISONING Be sure there is no further danger to you or the victim. Call for an ambulance immediately, if needed. Try to identify the poison container(s). Keep the container(s) to show the doctor, or read the information when you call the Poison Control number. Be sure you do not become a victim. Move away from the source of poison fumes. Get to fresh air and move the victim to fresh air. If the poison comes into contact with the skin or eyes: Flood the area with cold running water for 15 minutes. Be sure to flush the eyes gently. Remove any contaminated clothing Do not use any chemical antidotes. For swallowed household chemical or poisons: If the persons is conscious, ask questions to find out what type of poison was swallowed. Give milk or water. For an adult, give one to two cups; for a child give one-half to one cup. Induce vomiting only when advised by the Poison Control Centre or doctor. Follow instructions of the Poison Control Center of doctor. To avoid inhaling of vomit, place victim their side. If the poison is a hydrocarbon or corrosive, do not induce vomiting, but give milk or water. If the person is unconscious: Place the person on side. Watch and listen for breathing. Look for movement in the chest. Do not induce vomiting Shout at, tap and shake the victim. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLEEDING Serious bleeding occurs with deep cuts and severed blood vessels. Ensure there is no further danger to you or your victim. Remove clothing to expose extent of wound. Help the victim to lie down or get comfortable. Cover the wound with sterile cloth. If no dressing is available, use bare hand. Apply firm pressure with your hand directly over the wound. Elevate bleeding part unless bone is broken. When bleeding stops, apply further dressing on top of original dressing and bandage firmly. First Aid Safety Tips for Nose Bleed Seat victim with head tilted forward. Pinch nostrils firmly for ten minutes. Avoid nose blowing If bleeding persists, call for ambulance or take victim to a doctor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BONE OR JOINT INJURIES There are times that bone or joint injuries will not be visible. Always be careful about moving a victim. If you are unsure, do not move the victim except to prevent further injury. If you suspect that a bone is broken, you can look for signs of swelling or signs that show deformity. Ensure that breathing is normal. Control bleeding by applying direct pressure to wound Do not put pressure directly on broken bones. If you are in doubt, treat injury as though it is a broken bone. Follow the guidelines below: Immobilize the injured part as much as you can. You can hold the injured limb with your hands or place a pillow, sandbags, clothing, etc. on both sides to keep it in position. For neck or back injuries, stabilize head and neck, and do not move victim until help arrives. To relieve pain, apply cold, not heat to bones and joints. If broken bone or object is protruding through the skin, follow these guidelines. Do not remove the embedded objects. Apply pressure close to the wound, if serious bleeding is present, but do not pressing on broken bone or protruding object. Place a sterile or clean dressing around the wounded area and cover wound. Maintain pressure and prevent movement of object by applying bulky pads and bandaging in place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EYE INJURIES Eye injuries can be very serious. Always use caution and seek professional help as soon as possible. Chemicals in Eye Wash eyes immediately with large amounts of cold water for at least 15 minutes. Foreign Body in Eye Never rub eye and do not try to remove foreign imbedded objects. PUNCTURE WOUNDS Puncture wounds to the eye are very serious. Cover both eyes lightly with bandages and seek help as soon as possible. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURNS AND SCALDS Always use caution and make sure there is no further danger to you or the victim. For burns or scalds caused by fire, hot solids, hot liquids or the sun, follow the guidelines below: Cool affected part with cold water and ice to relieve pain. Remove rings and bracelets before swelling begins. Cover with clean cloth and secure lightly with bandage. If burn or scald is larger than a dollar coin, seek medical attention immediately. Never breath on, cough on, or touch a burn. Never open blisters. Never apply medications, ointment, or greasy substances to a burned area. Dry or liquid chemical burns: Brush off dry chemicals. Flood with running water. Cover with clean dressing and bandage lightly. Electrical burns: Before touching victim be sure electricity is turned off. Cover burns with clean dressing and bandage lightly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLD AND HEAT EXPOSURE Cold exposure will cause loss of body heat. Follow the guidelines below: Remove any wet or damp clothing. Wrap in sleeping bag, blankets, or warm and dry clothing. Warm the victim by using your own body heat. Light a fire for warmth, if possible. If the victim is conscious, give warm drinks, but no alcohol. Heat Exhaustion: The cause of heat exhaustion is excessive exposure to heat with loss of body fluids and subsequent straining of the heart and circulatory system. Treatment: Move victim to a cool or shady area. If the victims are conscious, give fluids to drink, but no alcohol. If unconscious, keep victim's airway open and remain with them. Heat Stroke: The cause of heat stroke is a high body temperature with the inability to sweat and poor blood circulation to the brain. This condition is very serious and can cause death. Treatment: Move victim to cool area. Decrease body temperature by sponging the body with cold water and ice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESUSITATION OF VICTIM This area of first aid deals with making sure the victim is breathing and provides information to assist a victim in breathing until help arrives. If you suspect there is neck injury, do not move the victim. Check the airway to ensure that it is clear. Airway Check (Victim with a Suspected Neck Injury): Steady your hands on the victim's cheek bones. Grasp the angle of the jaw and, without tilting the head, lift the jaw upward. Airway Check (No Suspected Neck Injury): Place one hand on victim's forehead to tilt the head back. Place fingers of other hand under the chin to lift the jaw. Look for movement in the chest. Listen for breathing. Feel for breath on your cheek. If the person is not breathing, start artificial respiration immediately. ADULT Resuscitation: Keep head well back (use chin-lift only for suspected neck injuries). Pinch nostrils. Place your mouth over victim's mouth. Give two full breaths. Continue with one breath every five seconds until victim breathes normally or help arrives. If air does not enter victim's chest when attempting artificial respiration, do the following: Reposition the head and attempt again. To clear airway, place heel of one hand on top of back of other hand just above the navel, but well below the tip of the breastbone. Press upper abdomen with six to ten quick thrusts. Grasp lower jaw between thumb and finger and lift chin. Insert index finger of other hand deep into mouth and use finger to sweep, dislodge and remove any foreign object. Attempt to give breath. If unsuccessful, repeat sequence of abdominal thrusts, finger sweeps, and attempts to ventilate until the obstruction is cleared. Feel the pulse in the neck for 10 seconds. If no pulse is felt, start CPR. Use head tilt/chin-lift to open airway. Place heel of one hand on breastbone above its low tip between nipples. Place heel of other hand on first hand. Press straight down to compress chest one and one-half to two inches (3.8 cm to 5 cm), 100 times per minute. After every fifteen compressions, give two breaths. Continue this action until help arrives. For Small CHILDREN (1 to 8 Years of Age) Follow the same procedure as outlined for adults making the following changes: Use small breaths. Keep airway open. If the airway is obstructed, only remove a foreign object if visualized. Seal mouth and nose properly. Use heal of one hand to perform chest compressions. Compress one to one and one-half inches (2.5 cm to 3.8 cm) about 100 times per minute. After every ten compressions, give one breath. Allow for deflation between breaths. Continue until help arrives. For infants (Under 1 Year of Age): Follow the same procedures outlined for adults making the following changes: Maintain open airway. Make tight seal over mouth and nose. Use small breaths. If the airway is obstructed, only remove a foreign object if visualized. Place two to three fingers on sternum, one finger's width below the nipple line. Compress down one-half to one inch (1.3 cm to 2.5 cm) about 100 times per minute. Keep fingers on sternum during upstroke. Complete chest relaxation on upstroke. Allow for deflation between breaths.