FIRST AID
WHAT IS FIRST AID
FIRST - preceding all others in time or order.
AID- to provide with what is useful or necessary.
FIRST AID is an immediate care given to a person who has been injured or
suddenly taken ill. It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is
not available or delayed.
GOALS OF FIRST AID
ALLEVIATE SUFFERING- One of the main objectives is to be able to help to
reduce or totally alleviate suffering.
PREVENT FURTHER INJURY or DANGER- also sometimes called prevent
the condition from worsening! or danger of further injury.
PROLONG LIFE- first aid measures aim to preserve and sustain life. Also to
save the victim from imminent danger.
Characteristics of a Good First Aider
GENTLE - First aider should not cause, inflict pain as much as possible
RESOURCEFUL- Makes the best use of things at hand
OBSERVANT - Should notice all signs. Aware of what is happening and what
may happen.
TACTFUL - Handling the victim with utmost care and in a calm manner.
EMPHATIC- Should be comforting.
RESPECTIVE - Maintaining a professional and caring attitude.
First Aid Essentials:
1. First Aid Manual
2. Tweezers
3. Alcohol Swabs
4. Antibiotic Ointment
5. Bandages
6. Gauze Pads
7. Medical Tape
8. Elastic Bandages
9.Pain Relievers
10. Instant Cold Pack
Getting Started
• Initial Response (Sequence of actions)
A - Ask for HELP
I - Intervene. Give appropriate interventions
D - Do no further harm
SAFETY FIRST!
•SURVEY THE SCENE
- Is the scene safe? Safe for you and the injured person?
- What happened?
- How many people are injured?
- Are there someone who can help?
- Get consent before giving first aid care.
•Triage refers to the evaluation and categorization of the sick or wounded
when there are insufficient resources for medical care of everyone at once.
-Red tags-immediate) are used to label those who cannot survive without
immediate treatment but who have a chance of survival.
-Yellow tags (observation) for those who require observation (and possible
later re-triage). Their "condition is stable for the moment and, they are not in
immediate danger of death. These victims will still need hospital care and
would be treated immediately under normal circumstances.
-Green tags (wait) are reserved for the "walking wounded" who will need
medical care at some point, after more critical injuries have been treated.
-White tags (dismiss) are given to those with minor injuries for whom a
doctor's care is not required.
-Black tags (expectant) are used for the deceased and for those whose
injuries are so extensive that they will not be able to survive given the care
that is available.
CONDITIONS REQUIRING FIRST AID
-FAINTING
FAINTING - caused by a sudden fall in the supply of blood to their brain that
results in the temporary loss of consciousness.
Signs & Symptoms
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Paleness
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Lay the person flat on the ground. Elevate the legs to coax more blood into
your brain.
• If person is on chair, push his head down between his knees.
• Loosen tight clothing.
• Avoid crowding the patient.
• Call a doctor if necessary..
CONDITIONS REQUIRING FIRST AID
•NOSE BLEEDING/EPISTAXIS
NOSE BLEED - occurs when a small blood vessel in the lining of the nose
bursts. It very common in children and often result from harmless activities
such as your child picking their nose, blowing it too hard or too often or from
getting knocked on the nose during play.
• Sit down and lean forward slightly.
• Pinch the lower part of the nostrils just below the bony part of the nose for
10minutes while breathing through the mouth.
• Release nostrils slowly, repeat procedure if bleeding continue.
Sand lean forward slightly
• Do not touch or blow the nose for about 24hrs. Do not pact the affected
nostrils with cotton.
• Bring patient to hospital if necessary.
CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE ON ADMINISTERING CPR
PRIMARY SURVEY
C - Consciousness
A - Airways
B - Breathing
C - Circulation
• Normal Respiratory Rate: 18-24 Respiratory per Minute
• Normal pulse rate: 60-80 beats per minute
Conditions When CPR is Needed
• The victim is UNCONSCIOUS.
• PULSE is WEAK or NO PULSE.
• NO BREATHING / DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING
Cardiac Arrest caused by Coronary Heart Disease, Dysrhythmias, Respiratory
arrest, Electrocution, Drowning, Choking, and Trauma.
Chest Compressions
• A cycle of chest compression is composed of 30 compressions at a rate of
80-100 per minute.
• After a cycle, 2 Rescue breaths are administered.
CPR Cycles
• 5 cycles composed of:
Cycle 1
-30 compressions
-2 rescue breaths
Cycle 2
- 30 compressions
- 2 rescue breaths
And so on and so forth until the 5th cycle.
When to STOP the CPR
S - Spontaneous signs of circulation restored
T - Turned over to medical services or authorized personnel
O - Operator is already exhausted and cannot continue CPR
P - Physician assumes the responsibility
Care of the Victim After Successful CPR
• Transfer in a secured place.
• Place in a side lying position Recovery position.
• Wait for the emergency response unit and continuously monitor the victim.
SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
Wounds
•Is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body either internal or external
Classifications:
• Closed Wound
• Open Wound
The types of closed wounds are:-
• Contusions more commonly known as bruises, caused by a blunt force
trauma that damages tissue under the skin.
• Strained Muscles-Over-stretching of muscles that have not been sufficiently
warmed-up (could be called "cold" muscles).
• Sprained Ligament- Sudden force causing joint to move beyond its natural
range of movement eg to break one's fall at speed during an activity such as
ice skating.
Closed Wound
• First Aid Management
R- Rest the affected area. Movement may aggravate the closed wound
condition.
I- Ice Compress. Apply ice compress to the affected areas. It promotes
vasoconstriction and it has an anesthetic effect
C- Compression. Application of firm pressure. To avoid further hematoma.
E- Elevate the affected area. (For extremities) To promote venous return of
blood and avoid pooling in the area
S- Splinting. For immobilizing the affected area. This he in avoiding
unnecessary movements.
• Abrasions (grazes), superficial wounds in which the topmost layer of the
skin (the epidermis) is scraped off.
• Lacerations are jagged, irregular, or blunt breaks or tears in the soft tissues.
• Avulsion is forcible separation or tearing of tissue from the victim's body.
• Incised wounds, or cuts in-body tissues are commonly caused by knives,
metal edges, broken glass, or other sharp objects commonly cause incised
wounds, or cuts, in-body tissues.
• Puncture wounds are caused by a sharp object that penetrates the skin.
First Aid Management for Open Wounds
• For wounds with severe bleeding.
INSPECT - Inspect for foreign object lodged the wound area. It can be
removed manually by hand or using a pickupforceps Flushing with normal
saline solution or just clear whateves also applicable.
• For wounds with severe bleeding.
CONTROL BLEEDING - Done by applying a sterile absorbent gauze pad over
the bleeding site while applying a firm pressure. Dressing can be secured with
a bandage and splints.
• For wounds with severe bleeding.
REFER TO A PHYSICIAN- It is essential in severe bleeding wounds. Further
medical/surgical management may be needed like suturing or administration
of medications that control bleeding.
•For wounds with severe bleeding.
CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT AND OBSERVATION FOR SHOCK- Signs and
Symptoms. Pale/Cyanotic Cold and clammy Skin: regular Breathing. Weak
Rapid Pulse Weekness Thirsty sensation.
• For wounds with mild to moderate bleeding.
CLEAN- Clean with mild soap and water.
•For wounds with mild to moderate bleeding.
DISINFECT- Apply topical antiseptics Povidone lodine or Topical
Antibacterials (Mupirocin, Fusidic Acid)
• For wounds with mild to moderate bleeding.
DRESS- Apply sterile gauze pad with dressing Secure with adhesive tapes.
Burns
• Is an injury involving the skin, including.muscles, bones, nerves and blood
vessels. This results from exposure to direct heat (fire), chemicals, electricity,
solar or other forms of radiation.
• Classifications:
- Thermal Burns
-Chemical Burns
-Electrical Burns
There are three types of burns:
• First-degree burns damage only the outer layer of skin
• Second-degree burns damage the
outer layer and the layer underneath.
•Third-degree burns damage or destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues
underneath.
First Aid Care for Thermal Burns
• For First and Second Degree Burn.
RELIEVE PAIN- Relieve pain by Immersing burned area into clean tap
water/iced water for maximum of Smins for Iced water and 10mins for tap
water. Prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperature may cause total
numbness due to Extreme vasoconstriction.
COVER- Cover the burned area with
clean cloth or dressing (available) and make sure that it is non sticking if
blisters are forming, do not attempt to pop it out to prevent Infection. Always
maintain cleardiness on the burned area. Apply Bum Ointment if available.
• For Third Degree Burns.
COVER- Cover the burned area with a dry and non sticking dressing. Do not
apply anything unto the skin. Immersing into water is not advisable.
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY TRANSFER- Continuously monitor for signs
of dehydration and shock. Keep the victim warm by covering with blankets
during the transfer. Extend the flexed burned extremities to avoid contractures.
CHOKING
✓ ASK! Are you choking? If the victim able to talk, groan, wheeze or cough,
he is partially choked.
✓Remain calm and encourage the victim to keep coughing to try and clear
the blockage.
✓ Stand slightly behind the person to one side.
✓ Support their chest with one hand. Lean the person forward so that the
object blocking the airway will come out of their mouth, rather than going
further down.
✓ Give at least 5 sharp blows between the person's shoulder blades with the
heel on your hand. Stop after each blows to check if the blockage has cleared.
If not, give up to five abdominal thrusts.
CHOKING
• Complete Blockage
✓If the victim unable to make any sound at all.
STEPS IN ABDOMINAL THRUSTS
1. Stand behind the person who is choking.
2. Place your arms around the waist and bend them well forward.
3. Clench your fist and place it right and place it right above the person's navel
(belly button)
4. Place your other hand on top, thrust both hands backwards into their
stomach with a hard, upward movement. Do it five times (1 cycle), stop each
cycle to check if the blockage has been cleared,
• Alert!
• Do not thrusts on pregnant and on a very large sized adult.
The Heimlich Maneuver
• Position thumb side of fist 1 above naval and well below tip of sternum
• Thrust fist inward and upward
• Stop occasionally to check victim and your technique
The motion of the Heimlich
maneuver raises the diaphram, causing the lungs to compress.-
This compression forces air out of the lungs at a high enough pressure to
expel the object.
