FIRST AID: Is the immediate care or treatment that is given

to an injured or ill person before professional medical

aid can be obtained.

Priorities in an Emergency

1. Check the immediate surroundings for possible dangers.

2. Check to see if the victim is conscious.3. Check Breathing4. Control severe bleeding5. Check the victim for poisoning.6. Send for medical help.

Skin Wound Classification Abrasion: skin is scraped against a rough

surface Bruise: compression causes bleeding under the

skin Laceration: an irregular tear of the skin Avulsion: skin is ripped off Puncture: penetration of the skin by a sharp

object

First Aid for Open Wounds

1. Stop the Bleeding- apply direct pressure2. Protect the Wound- Gauze or clean cloth3. Treat for Shock (the failure of the

cardiovascular system to keep adequate blood circulating to vital organs of the body)- Keep victim on back with feet elevated, cover body with blankets

4. Get Help- Call 911

First Aid for Open Wounds

1. Wash wound 2. Stop bleeding

3. Use antibacterial creme 4. Apply bandage

• Three types of burns:– 1st degree- superficial burns, like sunburn, and

involve the top layer of skin. Healing takes 5-7 days.

– 2nd degree- involve the top several layers of skin. The skin will have blisters and appear blotchy. Healing takes 3-4 weeks.

– 3rd degree- destroy all layers of skin as well as nerves, muscles, fat. It looks black or brown.

First aid for burns

• Rinse with cool water• Place a clean dressing over area to

prevent infection• Elevate burned area above the heart• Treat for shock• NEVER try to remove clothing stuck to a

burned area

Poisons

• Swallowing poison– Symptoms

• Sharp abdominal cramps• Extreme drowsiness followed by loss of

consciousness• Vomiting• Chemical odor

• Treatment– Call the nearest poison control center– Be prepared to give information about the

victim and the poison– Depending on the poison, you may be told to

give the person a substance that dilutes the poison, or an emetic, and agent that causes vomiting.

– Treat victim for shock

Snakebite

• Poisonous snakes in the US– 4 types- rattlesnake, copperhead, water

moccasin (cottonmouth), and coral snake.• First aid for snakebite

– Get victim to hospital– Keep bitten area below the level of heart– Call EMS– Keep victim still as possible

Contact Poisoning

• Poisonous plants– Symptoms

• Severe skin rash, blistering, swilling, burning, itching

• Possible fever– Treatment

• Remove any contaminated clothing• Rinse with water• Wash with soap

Chemical Poisoning

• Symptoms- burning of skin resembling sunburn

• Treatment– Remove any clothing that has come into

contact with the chemical.– Remove as much of the chemical from the

surface of the skin as possible by flooding the skin with water

– Contact the nearest poison control center

Fractures

Fracture Treatment

1. Keep the bone end from moving2. Immobilize the body part3. Seek medical attention

Sprain/ Strain• What Is the Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain? • A sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament. One or more

ligaments can be injured at the same time. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of injury (whether a tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved.

• A strain is an injury to either a muscle or a tendon. Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be a simple overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can result from a partial or complete tear.

Fainting-temporary loss of consciousness brought on by reduced supply of blood to the brain.

• Treatment1. Don’t prop the person up2. Loosen any tight clothes3. Maintain an open airway4. Sponge the person’s face with water5. If the person fails to revive promptly,

seek medical attention

Animal bites

1. Wash with soap and water

2. Cover with clean dressing

3. Go to doctor to check for rabies- a vital disease of the nervous system that eventually causes madness and death.

Bee stings

• Take a flat sharp edge to scrape stinger away from the skin

• Wash area with soap and water

• Watch for allergic reaction– An allergic person

normally carries medicine

Objects in the eye

• Flush eye with water, DO NOT rub eye

• If object doesn’t dislodge then seek medical attention

Nosebleeds1. Keep person quiet, don’t blow your

nose2. Place the person in a sitting position

and have them lean forward.3. Apply direct pressure to bleeding

nostril4. Apply a cold towel to the person’s nose

and face5. Place a piece of gauze between the

upper lip and teeth to stop the bleeding

Frostbite- ice crystals form in the body cells and destroy them.

1. Don’t rub the skin, soak it in lukewarm water

2. Bandage the injured part3. Seek professional help

• If frostbite goes untreated, gangrene may set in- which is death of a body part. Gangrene often requires amputation.

Heat cramps

• Symptoms- muscle cramps, heavy sweating, headache, and dizziness.

• Treatment– Move victim out of heat– Massage the muscle– Drink water or gatorade to

replace the lost water and salt

Heat stroke

• Symptoms– Lack of perspiration, vomiting, confusion,

irregular pulse• Treatment

– Remove from heat– Immerse in cold water or place ice packs

around neck– Contact emergency services