First Aid UnitFi

First Aid Provider

Trained in initial emergency procedures, does not need a lot of equipment nor in-depth medical knowledge

Good Samaritan Law

Protects people who are just trying to help out medically before EMS ~ can’t be sued for trying your best to help

• your actions NEED to be voluntary (no compensation)

• Stay within your training

• Cannot be grossly negligent

• If it is a minor, must get parental/guardian consent

Negligence

Occurs when someone caused further harm due to the care that did not meet the expected standard of someone with a duty to act

• g.s. Laws vary state to state

• If you decide to help and begin helping, you must stay until EMS arrives

• Must identify yourself and say that you are CPR certified

Age Classifications : infant, child, adult

1) birth to 1 yr

2) between 1 and the onset of puberty

3) anyone at or beyond puberty

Five responsibilities of First Aid Providers

1) Recognize a medical emergency

2) making the decision to help

3) Identifying hazards and ensuring personal safety

4) activating the EMS - 911

5) providing supportive, basic first aid care

Reasons why someone might hesitate

• unsure of your ability to help

• Feel like you’re alone with helping

• Fear you might make it worse

• Feel like you don’t have a lot of medical knowledge

• Others are already helping

Universal Precautions

Something anyone can use in any situation to protect themselves

Protective barriers

Help protect hands from blood born diseased and infectious bodily fluids. Examples: disposable gloves, face shields

Disease examples: Hep. B, Hep. C and HIV

Bleeding

• stay calm

• Apply pressure to the wound (can use gauze, towel, t-shirt) ~ if it bleeds through, grab something else and put it on top

Bloody nose

• do not lean back

• Lean forward and pinch bridge of the nose

• Apply ice if available, it helps with the clotting process

Impalement or Broken/Deformed Limb

• call 911 asap

• Do not move them or remove the impalement

• Lightly cover the object/limb

• Monitor for shock and breathing

• Keep them calm

Shock

Caused from poor blood flow creating a shortness of oxygen to body tissues. Bleeding externally or internally is a common cause.

Causes: serious illness or injury

Early recognition, treatment, and activation of EMS are critical. Can become life threatening

Signs of Shock

Early Signs: uneasy, restless, worried

More Serious Signs: less responsive, skin becomes pale, cool, and sweaty

7 ways to treat shock

• open the airway

• Ensure normal breathing

• Control any external bleeding

• If person does not have difficulty breathing, lay them flat on the ground and elevate feet

• Maintain normal body temperature. Insulate on top and underneath to prevent heat loss. Be careful not to overheat

• do not give the person anything to eat or drink

• Keep person calm and as comfy as possible. reassess regularly until EMS arrives

Minor injuries

Abrasions, lacerations, bruise, blistering, puncture wounds, splinters

Abrasions

A scrape; wash area with or without soap, with clean water, and put a bandaid on it (no ointment or Neosporin)

Lacerations

A cut; depth and length may vary; longer and deeper may require staples or stitches

Puncture wounds

Penetrate through the skin and into the underlying tissue. Infection is high with this wound because it is difficult to clean (not impalement)

Blistering

Caused by friction; fluid filled sacs; do NOT pop it or remove the skin, it promotes healing and helps prevent infection

Bruise

Caused by broken vessels leaking blood under the skin. Use ice to reduce pain and swelling

Splinters

Small foreign bodies embedded under the surface of the skin. Use nail clippers. If it is too deep, see a doctor

treatment of most infections

• wash all open wounds with clean, running water, with or without soap until all foreign matter has been removed

• Apply firm, continuous, direct pressure. No peeking!

• Do not apply prescription or non-prescription lotions or creams without written orders or permission

• Cover wound with clean adhesive bandage or gauze pad

• If wound will not stop bleeding, if it’s deep and long, on face, or place where skin stretches on movement or if it involves underlying structure, seek medical attention

• Seek medical attention if wound is caused by a dirty or rusty object, have dirt, stones, gravel, or if from an animal/human bite, maybe get a Tetanus booster (every 10 years)

Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

Mainly caused when body suffers a significant force. Injury to spinal cord ~ temporary or permanent paralysis. After initial injury, movement of the damaged area can result in additional or permanent injury. Always assume there is an injury elsewhere, especially if they are unconscious

NEVER move a person with with this injury unless…

1) the person does not have an open airway

2) they’re in danger

3) they need to be put in the Recovery Position

Mechanism of Injury

• older than 65 years

• Driver, pedestrian, passenger in motor vehicle, motorcycle, or bike crash

• Fall form a greater height than standing height

• Pain/tenderness in neck or back

• Sensory loss or muscle weakness torso or upper extremities

• Not fully alert or is intoxicated

Burns

Caused by chemicals, high temperature, or electric current. The larger surface area burned causes difficulty maintaining body temperature. A deep one goes into the skin and tissue ~ high risk of infection. If it is on the face, hands, and feet, it can result in limitation of basic functions

three types: minor, chemical, or critical

Minor burn

Common in kids, outer skin will result in redness/pain, can cause blistering

Critical burn

Deep, over large area of the body are most severe; result in extensive blistering and destruction of tissue; a kid’s thin skin increases risk of hypothermia and complications

Chemical burn

Some chemicals can react and hurt tissue on contact; immediate care = dilute and remove it quickly; remove contaminated clothes; flood area with a lot of water unless it reacts with the chemical/area; flush until burning stops and cover with dry clean pad and get medical attention

treatment of burns

• make sure it is safe to help

• Call 911 asap

• Protect yourself and victim by wearing gloves

• Expose area by cutting or tearing away clothing, if it is stuck, do not remove it

• If jewelry is near burn and is safe to remove, remove it

• Do NOT apply butter, ointment, lotion, or antiseptic (GSL)

• Loosely cover with a dry, clean pad or sheet

• Do not give victim food or drinks

• While waiting for EMS, monitor their airway for swelling

Injured tooth

A blow to the mouth can break, dislocate, or knock out teeth. If it is still in place get to a dentist ASAP. If an adult tooth was taken out, early care increases the chance that it can be reimplanted

What to do with an injured tooth

• control bleeding

• Have victim bite on an absorbent pad

• Handle tooth only by the chewing surface/crown (do NOT touch root)

• If it is dirty, gently rinse with clean water (no scrubbing)

• Keep tooth moist in victim’s spit or in milk (no water)

• Get victim to dentist within 30 minutes if possible

Warning signs of sudden illness

Sometimes medical conditions and illnesses can trigger unexpected emergencies. Suspect a serious illness, without warning, a person suddenly appears weak, ill, or in severe pain

Warning signs:

• altered mental state

• Breathing difficulty / shortness of breath

• Pain, severe pressure or discomfort in chest

• Severe abdominal pain

  call 911 when recognizing these signs and warnings early on

Stroke

Brain attack ~ occurs when blood supply to a portion of brain is interrupted. Mostly occurs when a blood clot gets caught in a blood vessel. Also occurs when an aneurysm bursts open and bleeds in brain tissue. Brain cells die. A true medical emergency, call 911 if a this is expected. Rapid hospital treatment is critical in limiting damage

Signs of a stroke

FAST - Face, Arms, Speech, Time

• numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

• The person may appear confused

• A change in speech ability or understanding can occur

• Sight and balance can be affected

• A sudden, severe headache may be described

What to do when someone has a stroke

• call 911

• Sit them down

• Keep them calm (they will realize something is wrong ie. speech, movement)

• Nothing to eat or drink

• Monitor for cardiac arrest

Diabetic emergency

Disease where body cannot effectively use sugar for energy. Happens when the amount of sugar in the blood is very low/high. Suspect possibility of it with anyone who has a gradual decrease in mental states.

Signs:

• pale cool, sweaty

• Might have a sweet/fruity smell in breath (ketoacidosis)

• Usually wear a medical alert bracelet/necklace, look for that first

If they can speak, ask if they are diabetic or ask someone if they know their medical history. Given them natural sugar (ex. Orange juice, candy, glucose tablets) and give them stuff with protein to sustain the sugar if mental status improved. If they are getting worse / not improving keep them calm and call EMS ~ do not administer insulin (GN)

• insulin is not an emergency medication

Seizures

excessive electrical activity in the brain. Result is uncontrolled muscle convulsions throughout the body. happens without warning most of the time. Jerking movements of the body and breathing may seem absent. Someone may lose control of their bowels/bladder or they may vomit

Cares for seizures

• call 911 / Nurse

• Protect victim ~move objects away form that person and remove people form the room

• Allow the seizure to take its course

• Do NOT put anything in their mouth

• NO danger of person swallowing their tongue

• If they vomit, roll them on their side or turn their face downwards.

• Most last a short amount of time and will stop on its own

• If they stop breathing, CPR/AED would need to be initiated

• Once it stops, responsiveness will slowly improve. Reassure them, provide privacy so not embarrassed, monitor the person until everything returns back to normal.

• Expect them to extremely tired after the seizure

• Do not tell them that they had a seizure

Anaphylaxis

An extreme response of the body’s immune system to something it is very sensitive to.

Signs and symptoms:Airway constricted from swelling of the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, hives on the face and chest

Reactions can develop rapidly. The faster the reaction, the more severe it tends to be. Usually occurs within five minutes of reaction. Call 911 immediately if an allergic reaction is suspected.

Examples of allergies

Dogs, bee stings, peanuts, latex, penicillin, foods, spices, animals

epineprhine

Gives them an extra 20 minutes. Straight adrenaline

2 Strenghts: Green - child. Yellow - adult

Administering an Epi-Pen

• call 911

• Pull cap off

• Make sure the tip of the cap is facing the right direction

• Place the tip 6 inches away from your upper thigh

• Hold firmly, and push the pen firmly into upper thigh

• Hold pen down for 10 seconds to ensure the medication is delivered

• Remove pen from leg and rub injection site for several seconds

• Put the cap back on and place pen back in its container and give to EMS for proper disposal.

Asthma

Also known as the reactive airway disease. Irritants to affected person or exercise can trigger a reaction resulting in narrowed lung passageways. Passages = bronchi. During an attack, bronchi swell and fill up with mucus and constrict or close off. People can get air in, but can’t get it back out during a reaction. Inhalers with specific medications for each individual person are available and can be effective during attacks/reactions. Inhalers are NOT to be shared, only for the person it is prescribed to (grossly negligent)

Asthma Symptoms and Emergency Care

Symptoms: wheezing, coughing, changing body position to improve breathing. The symptoms intensity varies and can be life-threatening.

If they take their meds and it isn’t working or if they don’t have their inhaler, call 911 immediately. Keep them calm and stay with them until EMS arrives.