Ready for Anything: First Aid

First Aid

Is the help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available

FIRST RESPONSE CARE

Cuts and Scrapes – Minor cuts

Stop the bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean cloth or bandage

Rinse the wound with clean, plain water

Put an antibiotic cream (Neosporin, etc.)

Put a bandage and change daily/ whenever it gets wet or dirty

Burns What is a burn? - the effect of too much sunlight or heat 1st Degree Burns - inflamed skin -swelling -redness -pealing of skin -pain 2nd Degree Burns -blisters -swelling -inflamed skin -pealing of skin -pain 3rd  Degree Burns - full thickness of skin is destroyed or damaged - Burned area appears gray-white, cherry red, or

black

Minor Burn Care (1st and 2nd)

Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. DO NOT PUT ICE ON THE BURN!

Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Don’t use fluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Be sure to look for signs of infection during healing time such as redness, increased pain, continued swelling , oozing etc. If there are signs call your doctor.

DO NOT BREAK BLISTERS, PUT ICE ON THE BURN, OR APPLY BUTTER, OINTMENTS, OR EGG WHITES.

Major Burn Care call 911 immediately!!! What to do while waiting for the ambulance:

› Don’t remove burned clothing. However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials (like loose jewelry, etc.) or exposed to smoke or heat.

› Don’t immerse large severe burns in cold water. Doing so could cause a drop in body temperature (hypothermia) and deterioration of blood pressure and circulation (shock).

› Elevate the burned body part or parts. Raise above heart level, when possible.

› Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist cloth towels.

› Stay with them until the ambulance arrives.

Sprains

Protect – use splint, crutches, etc. Rest – the injury Ice – the area using a cold pack, ice it

for 10 to 15 minutes for about 4 times a day for the first two days

Compress – use a elastic bandage to wrap it

Elevate –the injury to prevent and limit swelling

Choking Signs: Inability to talk, Difficulty

breathing or noisy breathing, Inability to cough forcefully, Skin - lips and nails turning blue or dusky, Loss of consciousness

What to do: Give 5 back blows.  deliver blows

between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

Give 5 abdominal thrusts. ( the Heimlich maneuver).

Alternate between 5 blows and 5 thrusts until the blockage is gone.

If you feel faint

Lie or sit down (Don’t get up too quickly)

Place your head between your knees if you sit down

Insect Bites and Stings

Move to a safe place (so you don’t get more bites)

Carefully remove the stinger

Apply a cold pack/ice Apply a topical cream

(calamine, etc) for itch relief and pain relief

Take an antihistamine (Bendadryl, etc.)

Severe Allergic Reaction Anaphylaxis is a SEVERE whole body

reaction to an allergen. The reaction occurs quickly and  needs immediate recognition for a person’s survival.

Common Triggers of Anaphylaxis (common severe allergies):

food medication insect bites

Signs of Anaphylaxis

Signs: Abnormal heart rhythm Hives Fluid in the lungs Low blood pressure Mental confusion Rapid pulse Skin that is blue from lack of oxygen or pale from shock Swelling  in the throat that may be  enough to block the

airway Swelling of the eyes or face Weakness Wheezing

What to do

CALL 911 immediately! Keep calm and focus on what

needs to be done ask/find the person’s

epinephrine auto injector (EPI Pen) , inject it for them if they are unable to as they are laying still on their back.   

Cover them with a blanket, keep the warm, DO NOT FEED OR GIVE THEM ANYTHING TO DRINK!

Hypothermia

What is it? When your body temp. is lower than 95 F

Signs and Symptoms (happens slowly) Shivering Slurred speech Abnormally slow breathing Cold, pale skin Loss of coordination Fatigue, lethargy or apathy Confusion or memory loss

What to do… Call 911 Move them out of cold Remove wet clothing-

replace with dry/warm clothing

DO NOT APPLY DIRECT HEAT, put warm compresses on head, neck, chest

DO NOT GIVE THE PERSON ALCOHOL

Do NOT rub or massage them because they could have frostbite

Stroke CALL 911 Warning Signs (FAST): Face. Does the face droop on one side

trying to smile? Arms. Is one arm lower when trying to raise

both arms? Speech. Can a simple sentence be

repeated? Is speech slurred or strange? Time. During a stroke every minute counts.

If you observe any of these signs, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately

Heart Attack heart-related warning signs: Sudden pressure, tightening, squeezing or crushing

pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes

Mild chest or upper body pain or discomfort — most heart attack symptoms start slowly

Pain or discomfort spreading to the back, neck, jaw, stomach, shoulders or arms — especially the left arm

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort Chest discomfort accompanied by sweating,

lightheadedness, dizziness or nausea Pressure or tightness in the chest during physical

activity or when you're under emotional stress CALL 911, give an aspirin

…

The End.