First Aid

First Aid is emergency care provided to a victim before professional health care is available.
What to put in a first aid kit
Include the following in each of your first-aid kits:
Sterile gauze pads of different sizes Pain killers
Adhesive tape Tweezers
Adhesive bandages in several sizes Sharp scissors
Elastic bandage Safety pins
A splint (support) Disposable instant cold packs
Antiseptic wipes Calamine lotion
Soap Alcohol wipes or alcohol
Antibiotic ointment Thermometer
Antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide) Plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
Hydrocortisone cream (1%) Flashlight and extra batteries
Mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
Your list of emergency phone numbers
Blanket (stored nearby)
Bite or scratch
What to Do:
If the bite or scratch wound is bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a clean bandage or towel until
the bleeding stops. If available, use clean latex or rubber gloves to protect yourself and to prevent the
wound from getting infected.
If the wound is not bleeding heavily, clean the wound with soap and water, and hold it under running
water for several minutes. Do not apply an antiseptic or anything else to the wound.
Dry the wound and cover it with sterile gauze or a clean cloth.
Seek immediate medical care if:
The wound won't stop bleeding after 10 minutes of direct pressure
The wound appears to be deep
The attacking animal was stray or wild or behaving strangely
The bite or scratch becomes red, hot, swollen, or increasingly painful
Cuts or Lacerations Treatment
A cut that needs stitches has to be repaired within 6 hours of the injury
Take the following steps for minor cuts.
1. Stop the Bleeding
Apply direct pressure on the area.
2. Clean and Protect
Clean the area with warm water and gentle soap.
Apply an antibiotic ointment to reduce chance of infection.
Put a sterile bandage on the area.
3. Seek medical help if:
The cut is deep or over a joint
You cannot get the cut or laceration clean
The injury is a deep puncture wound
The cut is from a human or animal bite
Nose bleeding
1. Stop the Bleeding
Have the person sit up straight and lean forward slightly. Don't have the person lie down or tilt the head
backward.
With thumb and index finger, firmly pinch the nose just below the bone up against the face.
Apply pressure for 5 minutes. Time yourself with a clock.
If bleeding continues after 5 minutes, repeat the process.
2. Seek medical help if:
Nosebleed doesn't stop after 10 minutes of home treatment.
Nosebleed happens after a severe head injury or a blow to the face
Dizziness Treatment
Call ambulance/ doctor if the person has:
A change in vision or speech
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Convulsions or ongoing vomiting
Dizziness that comes after a head injury
Double vision
Fainting or loss of consciousness
High fever and stiff neck
Inability to move an arm or leg
Slurred speech
1. Treat Symptoms
The person should sit down or lie still.
If the person gets light-headed when standing up, the person should stand up slowly.
Avoid sudden changes in position.
If the person is thirsty, have him or her drink fluids.
Avoid bright lights.
2. Seek medical help if:
This is the first time the person has been dizzy.
The dizziness is different than before or doesn't go away quickly.
Concussion Treatment
Call ambulance/ doctor if the person has:
Is vomiting repeatedly
Have unequal pupils
Is confused
Has weakness on one side of the body
Passes out or is unconscious for more than 1 minute
Is unable to wake up
Has a seizure
1. Prevent Swelling and Further Injury
Have the person stop activity and rest.
Apply ice wrapped in a washcloth.
2. Treat Symptoms
For pain, take over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol). Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) may make
bruising worse.
3. Monitor Symptoms
If possible, stay with the person for 24 hours.
4. Seek medical help if:
A headache that seems to be getting worse
Continued vomiting
Increased drowsiness or dizziness
Increased confusion
Heart palpitations, seizures, or loss of consciousness
Neck pain after a fall
Food Poisoning Treatment
Seek medical help if:
You think the food poisoning may be from seafood
If the person is severely dehydrated
1. Control Nausea and Vomiting
Avoid solid foods until vomiting ends. Then eat light, bland foods, such as saltine crackers, bananas, rice,
or bread.
Sipping soda may help prevent vomiting.
Don’t eat fried, greasy, spicy, or sweet foods.
Don’t take anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medication without asking your doctor. They may make some
kinds of diarrhea worse. Your doctor may give you anti-nausea medication if you are at risk of being
dehydrated.
2. Prevent Dehydration
Drink clear fluids, starting with small sips and gradually drinking more.
If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, drink an oral rehydration solution.
3. Seek medical help:
Immediately if diarrhea:
That lasts more than 3 days
That happens after you eat seafood or mushrooms
Accompanied by a fever
With blood or dark stools
With prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down
With signs of severe dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, fatigue, or
increased heart rate or breathing rate
Thermal Burns Treatment
Seek medical help if:
Burn penetrates all layers of skin
Skin is leathery or charred looking, with white, brown, or black patches
Burn blister is larger than two inches or oozes
Hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned
The person Is an infant or elderly
For All Burns
1. Stop Burning Immediately
Put out fire or stop the person's contact with hot liquid, steam, or other material.
Help the person "stop, drop, and roll" to smother flames.
Remove smoldering material from the person.
Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing sticks to skin, cut or tear around it.
2. Remove Constrictive Clothing Immediately
Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly.
Then take the following steps.
For First-Degree Burns (Affecting Top Layer of Skin)
1. Cool Burn
Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until pain subsides.
Use compresses if running water isn’t available.
2. Protect Burn
Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
Do not apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection
Insect Sting Allergy Treatment
Seek medical help if the person has:
Trouble breathing
Feelings of faintness or dizziness
Hives
A swollen tongue
A history of severe allergy reaction to insect stings
If the person does not have severe allergy symptoms:
1. Remove the Stinger
Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it.
Don't pinch the stinger -- that can inject more venom.
2. Control Swelling
Ice the area.
If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might become
hard to get off.
3. Treat Symptoms
For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to
anyone under age 18.
For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine
lotion.
4. Follow-Up
It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.
If the person does have severe allergy symptoms (anaphylaxis):
1. Call ambulance or doctor or Seek emergency care if the person has these symptoms or a history of
severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), even if there are no symptoms:
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing
Hoarseness or trouble speaking
Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting
Fast heartbeat or pulse
Skin that itches, tingles, swells, or turns red
Anxiety or dizziness
Loss of consciousness