Red Cross First Aid

Emblems of Humanity

* Red Cross
* Red Crescent
* Red Crystal

Legal Concerns

* Consent
* Duty to act
* Standard of care
* Negligence
* Abandonment
* Confidentiality

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Common Transmittable Diseases

* herpes
* meningitis
* tuberculosis
* hepatitis
* HIV

Universal protection

handwashing

First Aid

an immediate help provided to a sick or injured person until professional medical help arrives or becomes available

Basic Life Support

an emergency procedure that consists of recognizing respiratory or cardiac arrest or both and the proper application of CPR to maintain life until a victim recovers or advanced life support is available

objectives of first aid

* preserve life
* prevent further harm and complications
* seek immediate medical help
* provide reassurance
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Universal precautions

are set of strategies developed to prevent transmission of blood borne pathogens

Body Substance Isolation

are precautions taken to isolate or prevent risk of exposure from body secretions and any other type of body substance such as urine, vomit, feces, sweat, or sputum

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

is specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies that keep you from directly contacting infected materials

Emergency Action Principles

* Scene size-up
* Primary assessment
* Secondary Assessment

Scene size-up

i. scene safety

ii. knowing what happened

* cause of injury
* nature of illness

iii. role of bystanders

iv. number casualties

v. asking permission or consent

Primary Assessment

i. Assessing Responsiveness

ii. Activate Medical Help

iii. Airway

iv. Breathing

v. Circulation

Assessing Responsiveness mnemonic

* A - Alert
* V - Responsive to Voice
* P - Responsive to Pain
* U- Unresponsive/Unconscious

Activate Medical Help

* ask someone to call for local emergency number and get an automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Airway

an open airway allows air to enter the lungs for the person to breathe

Breathing

while maintaining an open airway, quickly check an unconscious person for breathing by doing the LLF technique for no more than 10 seconds

* Look
* Listen
* Feel

LLF Technique

Circulation enumeration

* Pulse
* Bleeding
* Shock
* Skin color, temperature, moisture

Pulse

check for definitive pulse at carotid area for adult or child, while brachial for infant

Bleeding

quickly look for severe bleeding by looking over the person’s body from head to toe for signals such as blood-soaked clothing or blood spurting out of a wound

Shock

if left untreated, shock can lead to death. always look for the signals of shock whenever you are giving care

Skin color, temperature, moisture

assessment of skin temperature, color, and condition can tell you more about the patient’s circulatory system.

Secondary Assessment

if you determine that an injured or ill person is not in an immediately life-threatening condition, you can begin to check for other conditions that may need care

* S - SAMPLE
* A - Allergies
* M - Medications
* P - Pertinent past medical history
* L - Last intake and output
* E - Events leading up to the injury or illness

To gain essential information about the patient’s medical history, ask the patient questions. SAMPLE Mnemonic

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* Interviewing the person and bystanders
* Checking the person from head to toe
* Checking for vital signs

Secondary Assessment steps

Heart Attack

also called myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood and oxygen supply to the heart is reduced causing damage to the heart muscle and preventing blood from circulating effectively. It is usually caused by coronary heart disease.

Angina pectoris

literally means “a constriction of the chest”. occurs when coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with blood, become narrowed and cannot carry sufficient blood to meet increased demands during exertion or excitement

* chest pain, discomfort, or pressure
* pain or discomfort becomes constant
* discomfort in other areas of the upper body
* trouble breathing

Heart Attack signs and symptoms

Cardiac Arrest

occurs when the heart stops contracting and no blood circulates through the blood vessels and vital organs are deprived of oxygen

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. When the heart is not beating, chest compressions are needed to circulate blood containing oxygen.

Recognition of cardiac arrest

* unresponsive
* no breathing or no normal breathing
* no definite pulse felt within 10 seconds

* correct depth of compression
* maintain compression rate of 100-120 per minute
* allow full chest recoil after each compression
* minimize interruptions
* avoid over ventilation

5 components of quality CPR

* head
* tilt
* chin
* lift

check for airway CPR

* spontaneous signs of breathing and circulation are restored
* turned over to professional provider
* operator is exhausted and cannot continue CPR
* physician assumes responsibility
* scene becomes unsafe

When to STOP CPR

* patient has valid “Do Not Attempt Resuscitation” (DNAR) order
* Patient has signs of irreversible death; rigor mortis, decapitation, or dependent lividity
* No physiological benefit can be expected because the vital functions have deteriorated despite maximal therapy for such conditions as progressive septic or cardiogenic shock

When NOT to start CPR

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

computerized devices attached to a pulseless victim with adhesive pads. They will recommend shock delivery only if the victim’s heart rhythm is one that a shock can treat.

* no response
* no breathing
* no pulse

Use AED immediately when you find the 3 clinical findings:

Defibrillation

the treatment of irregular, sporadic, or absent heat rhythms by an electrical current to the heart

* victims is less than 1 year old
* victim has hairy chest
* victims is immersed in water or water is covering the victim’s chest
* victim has an implanted defibrillator or pacemaker
* victim has transdermal patch or other on the surface of the skin where the AED electrode pads are place

When NOT to use AED

Foreign-body airway obstructions

also known as choking, a common breathing emergency that occurs when the person’s airway is partially or completely blocked by a foreign object, such as piece of food or a small toy; by swelling in the mouth or throat, or by fluids, such as vomit or blood

* mild airway obstruction
* severe airway obstruction

Classification of airway obstruction

Mild airway obstruction

a type of obstruction in which patient can still talk, cough, make wheezing sounds, and answer the question, “are you choking?”

Severe Airway Obstruction

characterized by poor air exchange and increased breathing difficulty, inability to speak, cough, and breathe

* anatomical
* mechanical

Types of Obstruction

Anatomical obstruction

when tongue drops back and obstructs the throat. other causes are acute asthma, croup, diphtheria, swelling, and whooping cough

Mechanical obstruction

when foreign objects lodged in the pharynx or airways; solid or liquid accumulate in the back of the throat

Bleeding

loss of blood escaping from the circulatory system

* arterial bleeding
* venous bleeding
* capillary bleeding

Types of Bleeding

* Direct Pressure
* Pressure Bandage

Techniques to control bleeding

Shcok

a condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues and vital organs

* restlessness or irritability
* altered level of consciousness
* pale, ashen, or greyish color, moist skin
* rapid breathing
* rapid and weak pulse
* excessive thirst

SHOCK signs and symptoms

* loss of blood volume
* pump failure
* dilation of peripheral blood vessels

SHOCK Causes

Loss of blood volume

blood or fluid loss from blood vessels decreases blood volume, usually as a result of bleeding and results in adequate perfusion

Pump Failure

poor pump function occurs when disease or injury damages the heart

Dilation of peripheral blood vessels

even though blood vessels dilate normally, it is inadequate to fill the system and provide efficient perfusion

Wound

any physical injury involving a break in the layers of the skin. Wounds are generally classified as either closed or open

closed wound

a wound where the outer layer of the skin is intact and the damage lies below the surface

* bleeding
* infection
* tetanus
* rabies

wound complications

* tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas of the body
* rapid, weak pulse
* skin that feels cool or moist or looks pale or bluish
* vomiting of blood or coughing up blood
* excessive thirst
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CLOSED WOUND signs and symptoms

Open Wound

the outer layer of the skin is broken. the break in the skin can be as minor as a scrape of the surface or as severe as deep penetration.

* abrasions
* lacerations
* avulsion
* amputation
* puncture

types of open wounds

Burns

injuries to the skin and other body tissues that is caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation

* superficial burns (first-degree)
* partial-thickness burns (second-degree)
* full-thickness burns (third-degree)

BURNS classification

* head injury
* concussion
* spinal injury

Head and Spine Injury TYPES

Head injury

potentially dangerous. if not properly treated, injuries that seem minor could become life threatening. Head injuries include scalp wounds, skull fractures, and brain injuries.

Concussion

involves temporary loss of brain function from a blow received by a victim to the head. loss of consciousness may not always occur, but its after-effects can be easily recognized.

Spinal Injury

often fracture the vertebrae and sprain the ligaments

* strain
* sprain
* dislocation
* fracture

Bones, Joints, and Muscle injuries TYPES

strain

or pulled muscle, caused by the overstretching and tearing of muscles or tendons. usually involves muscles in the back, thigh, neck, or the back of the lower leg

sprain

tearing of the ligaments at a joint. the joints most easily injured are the ankle, knee, wrist, and fingers

dislocation

movement of a bone at a joint away from it normal position. movement is usually caused by a violent force tearing the ligaments that hold the bones in place.

fracture

a complete break, a chip, or a crack in a bone. in general, fractures are not life threatening. however, a breakage in the large bones, a severed artery, and difficulties in breathing are dangerous signals to look out for. it is either closed or open

* R - Rest
* I - Immobilize
* C - Cold
* E - Elevate

Bones, Joints, and Muscle injuries FIRST AID MANAGEMENT

Fainting

a partial or complete loss of consciousness resulting from a temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain

* emotionally stressful event
* pain
* specific medical conditions such as heart disease
* standing for long periods of time or overexertion
* pregnant women and the elderly are more likely than others to faint when suddenly changing positions

FAINTING Causes

Heat exhaustion

a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after exposure to high temps. may also result of inadequate fluid intake or insufficient replacement of fluids

Heat stroke

a form of hyperthermia. prolonged exposure to high temps can contribute to failure of the body’s temp control system.

Emergency Evacuation Drill

a physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility or skill especially by regular practice.

* scheduled drill
* unannounced drill
* in-service drills

Three Types of Drill

Lifting and Moving

dynamic processes. a patient can be moved to safety in many different ways, but one way is best for every situation. objective is to move a patient to safety without causing injury to either the patient or the first aider

emergency move

movement of a patient to a safe place before inotial assessment and care is provided, typically because there is some potential danger

non-emergency move

movement of a patient when both the scene and the patient are stable

7 Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement

* Humanity


* Impartiality
* Neutrality
* Independence
* Voluntary service
* Unity
* Universality

Humanity

We serve people, but not systems

Impartiality

We serve for the victims and for the aggressor alike

Neutrality

We take initiative, but never sides

Independence

We bow to needs, but not to kinds.

Voluntary Service

We work around the clock, but never for personal gain.

Unity

We have many talents, but a single idea

Universality

We respect nations, but our work knows no bounds.

Mass Casualty Incident

MCI

* Airway
* Breathing
* Circulation

Check for ABC

* Foreign
* Body
* Airway
* Obstruction

FBAO check

* Deformities
* Open wounds
* Tenderness
* Swelling

DOTS Check