First-Aid Emergencies Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential first-aid terms, injuries, signs, and treatments from the lecture notes.

Suspected Head Injury

Any head trauma presenting with decreased consciousness, unequal pupils, head pain, bleeding/bruising, nausea, agitation, seizures, shock, or fluid from ears/nose/mouth.

Concussion

Temporary disturbance of brain function; victim may “see stars,” be confused, and have memory loss around the event.

Compression (Brain)

Pressure on the brain from fluid build-up or depressed skull fracture; symptoms of head injury that progressively worsen.

Skull Fracture Precaution

Control bleeding with a thick dressing only—never apply direct pressure to a suspected skull fracture.

Head Bandage (Durag Method)

Technique used to secure dressings on a scalp wound without applying harmful pressure.

Suspected Spinal Injury

Trauma with pain at site, loss of movement or sensation, weakness, abnormal positioning, impaired breathing, or incontinence; treat with immobilization and EMS activation.

ABCs for Spinal Victims

Open airway (head-tilt/chin-lift), assess breathing and circulation while keeping spine aligned.

Strain

Stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon causing pain, swelling, and limited motion.

Sprain

Stretching or tearing of ligaments at a joint, producing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving.

RICE Protocol

Rest, Immobilize, Cold (10–15 min/hour), and medical Evaluation for strains and sprains.

Dislocation

Bone forced out of its normal joint position; painful, swollen, deformed—support, RIC, never re-insert.

Closed Fracture

Broken bone without skin penetration; pain, swelling, deformity, possible crack sound.

Femur Fracture

Severe thigh break with outward foot rotation, limb shortening, major pain, and shock risk.

Open Fracture

Bone protrudes through skin with bleeding; immobilize as found, cover with sterile dressing, call EMS.

Pelvic (Hip) Injury

High-force trauma causing groin/back pain, deformity, urge to urinate; immobilize hips and treat for internal bleeding.

Severe Allergy (Anaphylaxis)

Rapid, life-threatening systemic reaction with airway swelling, wheeze, hives, dizziness; requires EMS and auto-injector use.

Auto-Injector

Pre-filled epinephrine device; deliver through clothing to outer thigh, hold per instructions, repeat after 5 min if needed.

Diabetic Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar causing confusion, sweating, rapid pulse; treat with fast-acting sugar, never give insulin.

Seizure – Tonic Phase

Initial stiffening and arching of body with loss of consciousness.

Seizure – Clonic Phase

Rhythmic jerking of limbs, noisy breathing, excess saliva, possible incontinence.

Post-Seizure Care

Do not restrain; clear hazards, time the event, monitor airway, and call EMS if needed.

AVPU Scale

Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive—quick assessment of consciousness level.

Chest Injury (General)

Any chest trauma causing painful, difficult breathing, swelling/bleeding, and shock—support position and monitor breathing.

Open Chest Wound

Penetrating chest injury with “sucking” sound; seal three sides of dressing to let air escape but not enter.

Broken Ribs

Sharp, localized rib pain worsened by movement or breathing; do NOT strap or tape ribs.

Flail Chest

Segment of multiple broken ribs moves independently; support area and assist breathing.

Poisoning – Ingested

Swallowed substance causing nausea, cramps, vomiting; do not induce vomiting—call Poison Centre/EMS.

Poisoning – Injected

Venom or drug through bite/needle; keep limb below heart and victim at rest to slow spread.

Poisoning – Inhaled

Toxic gas or fumes causing breathing difficulty and behaviour changes; remove to fresh air, use barrier for rescue breaths.

Poisoning – Contact

Chemical on skin leading to rash or blisters; brush off powder or rinse, remove contaminated clothing, wash thoroughly.

Poison Information Centre

24-hour phone resource providing treatment advice for poisoning emergencies.

Animal or Human Bite Care

Clean and dress bite, allow moderate bleeding to cleanse, and seek medical attention to prevent infection.

Anaphylactic Sting

Bee/wasp sting triggering systemic allergy—immediate EMS call and auto-injector administration.

Tick Removal

Use tweezers close to skin, pull steadily; clean area and keep tick for disease identification.

Leech Removal

Slide fingernail under smaller head end to detach; clean wound—do not use chemicals or pull forcibly.

Shock (General)

Circulatory failure marked by pale skin, weak pulse, anxiety; treat underlying cause, keep warm, and call EMS.

Head Injury Monitoring Questions

Repeatedly ask name, location, and event details to assess changing consciousness.

Spinal Immobilization

Keeping head, neck, and spine aligned and motionless to prevent further injury.

Durag Bandage

Head dressing technique that wraps around forehead and ties to secure scalp pad without pressure.

Semi-Sitting Position

Victim seated with upper body elevated; eases breathing for chest or femur injury while leaning toward injured side.

Distal Circulation Check

Assess pulse, colour, and sensation below an injury (e.g., foot pulse for leg fracture) to detect vascular compromise.

ABC Priority

Airway, Breathing, Circulation—the order of life-saving checks in first aid.

Recovery Position

Side-lying posture maintaining airway and allowing fluid drainage for unconscious but breathing victims.

Sucking Chest Wound Seal

Occlusive dressing taped on three sides to create one-way valve effect.

Immobilize in Position Found

Principle of leaving injured limb or spine as discovered to avoid worsening damage.

Hives

Raised, itchy welts on skin often appearing during allergic reactions.

Epinephrine

Drug in auto-injectors that constricts blood vessels and opens airways during anaphylaxis.

Glucose Tablets

Fast-acting oral sugar source for conscious hypoglycemic diabetics.

Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Full-body seizure combining stiffening (tonic) and jerking (clonic) phases.

Flail Segment Support

Hand or bulky dressing used to stabilize loose rib section during breathing.

Pupillary Unequality

Unequal pupil size indicating possible brain injury or compression.

Elevating a Fracture

Contraindicated for broken limbs; keep at found level to avoid bleeding or further harm.

Icing Guidelines

Apply wrapped ice 10–15 minutes each hour until swelling drops; never place ice directly on skin.