Basic first aid guide
- 2. WHAT IS FIRST AID? FIRST AID IS THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY CARE OF THE SICK OR INJURED PERSON UNTIL MEDICAL ARRIVES. A person does not need a certificate to perform first aid Remember that each situation is different and if resuscitation is needed, then any attempt is better than none at all.
- 3. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF A FIRST AIDER: Agreement with the employer and fellow employees to assist them when necessary GOOD SAMARITAN
- 4. WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU AS A FIRST AIDER: Act within the limits of your ability at all times Privacy of the casualty is important. You should not talk about the incident giving information that can identify the casualty. In control of the First Aid Kit Completed Incident / Accident Report
- 5. INCIDENT REPORTING An incident report should contain: NAME OF CASUALTY TIME OF THE INCIDENT HISTORY OF INCIDENT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ACTION TAKEN NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THE FIRST AIDER NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF ANY WITNESS TO INCIDENT
- 6. PRIORITIES IN AN EMERGENCY First priority is your SAFETY. Assess the situation quickly Ensure the safety of the first aider, casualty & bystanders Call for help Commence appropriate treatment- ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
- 7. 5B’s for Prioritizing Incident: •BREATHING •BLEEDING •BURNS •BONES •BITES
- 8. SIGN- is something that the first aider can see. Ex: pale, shaking, uncoordinated SYMPTOM- is something that the casualty feels. Ex: headache, nausea, dizziness
- 9. VITAL SIGNS: PULSE RATE – 60 to 100 beats per minute RESPIRATIONS – 10 to 20 breaths per minute TEMPERATURE – 37 degree Celsius BLOOD PRESSURE – 110/70 – 120/80 mmHg
- 10. What to look for? Skin Colour Hydration Level of Consciousness
- 11. Level of Consciousness 1.) FULLY CONSCIOUS – the casualty responds normally to questions 2.) SEMI- CONSCIOUS – confused, disoriented, slurred speech 3.) UNCONSCIOUS – the casualty is unrousable and unresponsive
- 13. Treatment for ABDOMINAL PAIN Call 117 if: You have pain & tenderness to the touch in the lower right abdomen with fever and/or vomiting. These may be signs of appendicitis. For heartburn from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), take an over the counter antacid or acid reducer For constipation, take a mild stool softener or laxative For pain, take acetaminophen.
- 16. BLEEDING CUTS OR WOUNDS Call 177 if: Bleeding is severe You suspect internal bleeding There is an abdominal or chest wound Bleeding can’t be stopped after 10minutes of firm & steady pressure Blood spurts out of wound
- 17. to STOP BLEEDING Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops If blood soaks through the material, don’t remove it. Put more cloth or gauze on top of it and continue to apply pressure. If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart to help slow bleeding Wash your hands again after giving first aid and before cleaning and dressing the wound
- 19. BROKEN ARM Treatment Call 117 if: The person is seriously injured You suspect an injury to the person’s head, neck, or back Bone is sticking out of the skin Bleeding doesn’t stop after several minutes of firm pressure Blood spurts from the wound
- 20. BROKEN ARM Treatment 1.) Stop the Bleeding if Necessary • Apply firm pressure to the wound area with a clean cloth until bleeding stops • If bone is pushing through skin, do not touch it or try to put it back in place
- 21. BROKEN ARM Treatment 2.) Reduce Swelling • Apply ice • Elevate the arm above the heart, if possible 3.) Immobilize Arm
- 24. THERMAL BURNS Call 117 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 a senior
- 25. For All Burns 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. REMOVE CONSTRICTIVE CLOTHING IMMEDIATELY Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly.
- 26. for FIRST DEGREE BURNS (affecting TOP LAYER of the skin) Cool Burn Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool until pain subsides Use compresses if running water isn’t available Protect Burn Cover with sterile, non adhesive bandage or clean cloth Do not apply butter or ointments, w/c can cause infection Treat Pain Give the over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen
- 27. For SECOND DEGREE BURNS (affecting top 2 layers of skin) COOL BURN Immerse in cool water for 10 or 15 minutes Use compress if running water isn’t available Don’t apply ice. It can lower body temperature and cause further damage Don’t break blisters or apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection
- 28. For SECOND DEGREE BURNS (affecting top 2 layers of skin) PROTECT BURN Cover loosely with sterile, nonstick bandage and secure in place with gauze or tape PREVENT SHOCK Lay the person flat Elevate feet about 12 inches Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible Cover the person with coat or blanket
- 29. for THIRD DEGREE BURNS Call 117 PROTECT BURN AREA Cover loosely with sterile, nonstick bandage or, for large areas, a sheet or other material that won’t leave lint in wound Separate burned toes & fingers with dry, sterile dressing Do not soak burn in water or apply ointments or butter, which can cause infection
- 30. for THIRD DEGREE BURNS PREVENT SHOCK (unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury or it would cause discomfort) Lay the person flat Elevate feet about 12 inches Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible Cover the person with coat or blanket For an airway burn, do not place pillow under the person’s head when the person is lying down. Have a person with facial burn sit up
- 32. CHOKING Treatment Call 117 if: The person is choking The person is unconscious While waiting for 117 ..
- 33. CHOKING Treatment If the person is CONSCIOUS but NOT ABLE TO BREATHE OR TALK: 1.) Give BACK BLOWS Give up to 5 blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand If the person is still choking, do THRUSTS
- 34. CHOKING Treatment Do THRUSTS: Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around the waist Place your clenched fist just above the person’s navel. Grab your fist with your other hand Quickly pull inward and upward Continue cycles of 5 back blows & 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is coughed up or the person starts to breathe or cough Take the object out of his mouth only if you can see it. Never do a finger sweep unless you can see the object in the person’s mouth
- 36. CHOKING Treatment Give CPR, if necessary (if the obstruction comes out, but the person is not breathing or if the person becomes unconscious)
- 37. CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) Check Responsiveness Tap the person’s shoulder and shout, “Are you OK?” Look for normal breathing. Call 117 if there is no response.
- 38. CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) Do Chest Compression Place the heel of your hand on the center of the person’s chest Place the heel of your hand on top of your first hand, lacing fingers together Keep arms straight and your shoulders directly over your hands Push hard & fast, compressing chest at least 2 inches Let chest rise completely before pushing down again Compress at least 100 times per minute
- 39. CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) STOP only if… The person starts breathing normally A trained responder or emergency help takes over You are too exhausted to continue There is an automated defibrillator (AED) to use
- 43. CUTS or LACERATIONS Treatment Call 117 if: A cut is bleeding severely Blood is spurting out Bleeding can’t be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure
- 44. CUTS or LACERATIONS Treatment 1.) STOP THE BLEEDING apply direct pressure on the area 2.) CLEAN AND PROTECT clean the area with warm water & gentle soap apply an antibiotic ointment put a sterile bandage on the area. 3.) CALL A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER if: the cut is deep the cut is from human or animal bite
- 46. DIZZINESS Treatment Call 117 if: a change in vision or speech chest pain shortness of breath rapid, irregular, or very slow heart beat convulsions or ongoing vomiting dizziness that comes after a head injury double vision fainting or loss of consciousness inability to move an arm or leg slurred speech numbness or tingling
- 47. DIZZINESS Treatment 1.) TREAT SYMPTOMS The person should sit down or lie still If the person gets light-headed when standing, 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
- 48. DIZZINESS Treatment 2.) Call a Health Care Professional if: This is the first time the person has been dizzy The dizziness is different than before or doesn’t go away quickly
- 50. EYE BURNS Call 117 if: Eyeball looks cloudy The person notices a sudden change in vision
- 51. EYE BURNS 1.) FLUSH EYES Fill a sink or dishpan with cool water Have the person put his/her face in water The person should open and close eyes to get water to all parts of eye
- 53. EYE INJURY Call 117 if: An object such as piece of glass or metal is sticking out of the eye 1.) Chemical Exposure 2.) Blow to the eye 3.) Foreign particle in eye
- 54. EYE INJURY FOR CHEMICAL EXPOSURE Don’t rub eyes Immediately wash out the eye with lots of water. Get medical help while you are doing this, of after 15 to 20 minutes of continuous flushing Don’t bandage the eye
- 55. EYE INJURY FOR A BLOW TO THE EYE Apply a cold compress, but don’t put pressure on the eye Take over-the-counter medicine for pain If there is bruising, bleeding, change in vision, or it hurts when your eye moves, see a doctor right away
- 56. EYE INJURY FOR A FOREIGN PARTICLE IN EYE Don’t rub the eye Pull the upper lid down & blink repeatedly If particle is still there, rinse with eyewash If rinsing doesn’t help, close eye, bandage it lightly and see a doctor
- 58. FAINTING Treatment Call 117 if: Has blue lips or face An irregular or slow heartbeat Chest pain Difficulty breathing Is difficult to awaken Acts confused
- 59. FAINTING Treatment 1.) Make the person safe Lay the person flat on his or her back Elevate the person’s leg to restore blood flow to the brain Loosen tight clothing
- 60. FAINTING Treatment 2.) Try to Revive the Person Shake the person vigorously, tap briskly, or yell If the person doesn’t stop, call 117 immediately Stay with the person until he or she is fully recovered.
- 62. ELECTRIC SHOCK Treatment Call 117 if: The person has been injured by an electrical shock Electrical Shock always need emergency medical attention – even if the person seems to be fine afterward.
- 63. ELECTRIC SHOCK Treatment 1.) SEPARATE THE PERSON FROM CURRENT’S SOURCE -Turn Off Power Unplug an appliance if plug is undamaged or shut off power via circuit breaker, fuse box, or outside switch
- 64. ELECTRIC SHOCK Treatment -If you Can’t turn off power Stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as dry newspaper, telephone book, or wooden board Try to separate the person from current using non-conductive object such as wooden or plastic broom handle, chair, or rubber doormat
- 65. ELECTRIC SHOCK Treatment -if HIGH VOLTAGE LINES are involved: The local power company must shut them off Do not try to separate the person from current if you feel a tingling sensation in your legs and lower body. Hop on one foot to a safe place where you can wait for lines to be disconnected
- 66. ELECTRIC SHOCK Treatment 2.) Do CPR, if Necessary When you can safely touch the person, do CPR if the person is NOT BREATHING or does not have a PULSE 3.) Check for other Injuries If the person is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate the wound if it’s in an arm or leg There may be a fracture if the shock caused the person to fall
- 68. HEART ATTACK Treatment 1.) Know Heart Attack Symptoms Chest discomfort that may last more than a few minutes or go away come back. Pain or discomfort in the upper body, including arm, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or below the breastbone Difficulty of breathing or shortness of breath Sweating or “cold sweat” Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting Light-headedness, dizziness, or extreme weakness Anxiety or rapid or irregular heartbeats
- 70. HEAT STROKE Treatment Call 117 if: Body temperature above 103 degree F Rapid pulse Reduced Sweating Disorientation Unconsciousness Seizure Warm, red, dry skin
- 71. HEAT STROKE Treatment 2.) Lower Body Temperature quickly while waiting for Emergency Services to Arrive Get the person into air conditioning if possible or out of the sun Spray the person with cool water, or apply cold wet cloths or ice packs to the armpits, neck, and groin Fan air across the person to increase cooling Do not give the person anything to drink if the person is not alert
- 72. HEAT STROKE Treatment 3.) Treat Symptoms If the person experiences seizures, keep him or her safe from injury If the person vomits, turn the person on his or her side to keep the airway open
- 74. NOSEBLEEDS Treatment 1.) Stop the Bleeding Have the person sit up straight and lean forward slightly. Don’t have 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. If bleeding continues after 5 minutes, repeat the process
- 77. Apply ________ pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops If blood soaks through material, ___________. If the wound is on arm or leg, _________ limb ______ heart to help slow bleeding Wash your hands again _______ giving first aid and ______ before cleaning and dressing the wound