First Aid

First Aid Provider: trained in basic emergency procedures to provide help until EMS arrives

Good Samaritan Law: protects a First Aid Provider/person from liability as long as they are providing care within the scope of their training.

Grossly negligent: the care provided causes further damage

Infant: someone younger than 1

Child: someone between 1 and onset of puberty

Adult: anyone at or beyond puberty

The 5 First Aid Provider Responsibilities:

  1. Recognize a medical emergency.
  2. Make the decision to help.
  3. Identify hazards and ensure personal safety.
  4. Activate EMS (911).
  5. Provide supportive, basic first aid care.

Universal Precaution: something that can be used by anyone, in any situation, to protect themselves

Protective barrier: an example of universal precaution, such as gloves

Bleeding Care: Apply pressure to wound to start the clotting process, no peeking.

Bloody Nose Care:

  1. Do NOT lean back
  2. Lean forward and pinch the bridge of the nose
  3. Apply ice if available, this will help constrict blood vessels to stop the bleeding.

Injury from/by an object (impalement; broken limb) Steps:

  1. Call 911
  2. Don’t take impalements out
  3. Don’t move
  4. Cover it
  5. Keep calm
  6. Monitor breathing
  7. Monitor for shock

Tetanus shot: needed every 10 years

Shock: caused from poor blood flow creating a shortage of oxygen to the tissues

Early signs of shock: uneasy, restless, worried

Serious signs of shock: less responsive, skin becomes pale, cool, sweaty

7 Ways to Limit Effects of Shock:

  1. Ensure an open airway
  2. Ensure normal breathing
  3. Control any external bleeding
  4. If there’s no difficulty breathing, lay the person on the ground, raise legs
  5. Maintain normal body temperature
  6. NO food or drink
  7. Keep calm and comfortable

Splinter: remove with tweezers or clipper if possible

Abrasion: bare skin scraped across a rough surface and the outer layers of the skin are damaged

Laceration: a cut (long narrow wound)

Blistering: occurs from friction, fluid sac appear, never pop

Bruises: caused by broken vessels leaking blood under skin

Burn care:

  1. Expose the affected area by cutting or tearing away clothing, but if its stuck, don’t remove it
  2. Remove nearby jewelry
  3. NO butter, lotion, ointment
  4. Loosely cover the burn area with a dry, clean pad
  5. NO food or drink
  6. Monitor breathing

Critical burns: severe burns, destruction of skin tissue

Chemical burns: flood area with water UNLESS water reacts with the chemical

Injured tooth Care:

  1. Control bleeding
  2. NO touching the root of the tooth
  3. Gently rinse with water if dirty
  4. Place tooth in the person’s saliva or in milk
  5. Get person to dentist within 30 minutes

4 warning signs of sudden illness:

  1. Altered mental status
  2. Breathing difficulties
  3. Pain/severe pressure in the chest
  4. Severe abdominal pain

Diabetic Emergency: when blood sugar is very high/low

Diabetic Emergency Care:

  1. Ask person if they’re a diabetic (if not, call 911)
  2. Give them something with natural sugar
  3. Call 911 unless symptoms cease
  4. Calm and comfort the person, provide protein after sugar

Seizure: caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain

Seizure Care:

  1. Call 911
  2. Move objects away, clear the area as well
  3. Let the seizure run its course
  4. Don’t put anything in the person’s mouth
  5. Turn them on their side if they vomit
  6. Monitor breathing
  7. When it’s over, do not tell the person what happened and keep them calm

Administering an EPIPen:

  1. Call 911
  2. Pull cap off the end of the pen
  3. Ensure the tip is facing the right way
  4. Place the pen tip 6 inches away from upper thigh
  5. Push firmly into thigh
  6. Hold the pen for 10 seconds
  7. Remove the pen from the leg and rub the injection site
  8. Place pen back in container and give to EMS for disposal

Asthma: During an attack, bronchi can fill and become swollen with mucus and constrict air flow out

Aneurysm: weak spot in a blood vessel, bursts and bleeds out into surrounding brain tissue

Stroke: caused by a blood clot stuck in a vessel or an aneurysm

Signs of a stroke:

  1. Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially 1 side of the body.
  2. Person may appear confused.
  3. A change in the ability to speak or understand.
  4. Sight and balance affected.
  5. Sudden, severe headache.

Stroke Steps:

  1. Call 911
  2. Sit person down
  3. Keep calm
  4. Monitor breathing because there’s a higher risk of cardiac arrest