FIRST AID

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FIRST AID

• Prepared by
• DR. GHAZI K. HAMADEH
• Chief Physician / Director (A), Medical Center
• King Fahad University of Petroleum Minerals

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WHAT IS FIRST AID?

• It is the immediate assistance or care given to a
  person who has been injured or suddenly became
  ill, from the moment of the accident until
  availability of specialized medical care.
• Note
• First Aid is not restricted to physical but also
  involves psychological support as well.
• Who needs First Aid?
• Cardiac and Respiratory Arrest
• Electric Shock
• Wounds
• Bleeding
• Burns
• Fractures and Traumatic Injuries
• Poisoning
• Drowning
• Snake bites

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• 1) Examination of the Pulse
• Radial Pulse
• Brachial Pulse
• Carotid Pulse
• Feeling Heart Beats on the Chest Wall.
• Note
• It is not necessary to feel the pulse, you can
  Start chest compressions.
• If breathing didnt restart after giving 2
  breaths, then starts compressions
• 2) Examination of Breathing
• Normal Breathing
• Dyspnea
• Respiratory Arrest

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First Aid Priorities

• Save the victim and self
• Keep breathing and heart beats
• Control Bleeding
• Treat Poisoning
• Prevent Shock
• Examine the victim carefully
• Ask for specialized Medical Care
• Continue first aid measures until arrival of
  medical care providers

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Respiratory Arrest

• Breathing may Stop meanwhile the heart is still
  beating for few minutes
• Breathing may stop because of electrical shock,
  drowning, suffocation, poisoning, chest, abdomen
  and head trauma.
• Steps
• Open the airway
• Tilt the head back and raise the chin
• Examine breathing for 5 seconds
• a) feel the air
• b) hear the sound of breaths.
• c) See the chest movements
• If no breathing close the nose and give 2 breaths
• Examine the pulse every minute and give a breath
  every 5 seconds.
• If pulse stopped do CPR

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• CHOKING
• Choking is usually caused by a piece of food and
  or a small object in the mouth.
• Choking cause coughing, dyspnea, but the most
  important sign to
• see is the victim holding his neck
• FIRST AID
• If the victim talks or coughs encourage him to
  continue coughing.
• If the victim cant talk or cough do 6-10
  Abdominal thrusts.
• If the victim is unconscious put him on the
  floor give 2 breaths.
• Do 6-10 adominal thrusts, clean the mouth by 2
  fingers and give 2 breaths.
• Repeat the abdominal thrusts, if needed.
• If the victim is less than one year
• Hold the infant face down on your forearm which
  is resting on your thigh.
• Thump the back 5 times by the heel of the hand.
• If not improved put him on your forearm and face
  upward, head is lower than trunk, and apply 5
  chest thrusts by 2 fingers (on the middle of the
  chest bone).
• If no response repeat back and chest thrusts as
  before
• If no response call for medical help.

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C.P.R.

• C.P.R. is a life saving technique
• It is indicated whenever heart and breathing
  stop.
• It is a combination of mouth to mouth breathing
  and chest compressions.
• If breathing stops ? brain damage occurs within
  few minutes but death occurs within 8-10
  minutes.
• STEPS BEFORE STARTING C.P.R.
• - Make sure that victim is
  unconscious (by shaking shoulders
  and asking loudly are you ok.?)
• - Call 999 before starting C.P.R.
  but if the victim is a child between
  1-8 years start C.P.R. for 2 minutes before
  calling 999

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• C.P.R. STEPS ARE CALLED ABC
• 1. AIRWAY STEP
• - Put the victim on his back on a firm surface
• - Kneel close to the victim neck or shoulders
• - Tilt the chin upward to open the airway
• - Check breathing for 10 seconds.
• BREATHING STEP
• - Close the nostrile and give 2 breaths (mouth
  to mouth) and observe the chest rises.

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• CIRCULATORY STEP
• - Place the heel of one hand on the center of
  the chest
• between the nipples.
• - Apply the other hand over it.
• - Push the chest down (1.5 2 inches) in an
  average of 2
• compressions per second (100 times)
• - Give 2 breaths after each 30 compressions.
• If the victim didnt breath after 5 cycles (2
  minutes) we can use Automatic External
  Defibrillator (if available) otherwise, we
  continue C.P.R., however this device is not
  recommended for infants less than one year.
• NOTES ON C.P.R. FOR CHILDREN
• - For children 1-8 years we start C.P.R. before
  calling 999
• for 5 cycles (minutes)
• - We use one hand only for chest compressions.
• Rate of chest compressions to breathing is the
  same as adults 30/2.
• NOTES ON C.P.R. FOR INFANTS LESS THAN 1 YEAR.
• - Start C.P.R. 5 cycles (2 minutes) before
  calling 999.
• - No need for deep breath.

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• WOUNDS
• First Aid
• - Bleeding stops on its own, but pressure with a
  clean
• cloth or bandage can be applied for 20-30
  minutes.
• - Use water if the wound needs cleaning but
  dont
• use antiseptics (iodine or others)
• FIRST AID FOR CUTS
• - Apply direct pressure by a piece of cloth and
  raise the limb above the level of the trunk.
• - Add more pieces of cloth and apply pressure on
  the major artery that supply the limb, if
  needed.
• - Minimize Movement by fixing the wounded limb
  on the body.
• - Transfer the victim to Medical Facility.

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• EPISTAXIS (Nose Bleeding)
• - Tilt head down to prevent bleeding to the
  throat.
• - Close the victims nostrils with the tips of 2
  fingers.
• - Ask victim to breath through mouth
• - We may apply a gauze packing to the bleeding
  nose.
• - If bleeding didnt stop after 20 minutes we
  ask Medical Care Provider.

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• SHOCK
• It is a state characterized by low blood
  pressure, rapid pulse, and decrease blood supply
  to brain and other vital organs.
• CAUSES
• Fluid loss (as in severe vomiting, severe
  diarrhea, major burns, sun strokes.) and severe
  bleeding.
• FIRST AID
• Call 999
• Restore breathing
• Try to stop bleeding
• Assurance
• Transfer the victim to the hospital with lower
  limbs elevated and the victim is lying on his
  back (if there is no neck injury)
• In case of suspected neck injury dont move the
  victims during transfer
• Keep the victim warm.
• Continue observation and give mouth breathing if
  needed and put him on his side if he vomits.
• If you are not sure of correct position keep
  victim on his back.

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SNCOPE (Fainting)

• It is transcient loss of consciousness due to
  lack of blood supply to the brain.
• Most common is vasovagal (blood vessels dilate,
  and less blood supply to brain) as in hot crowded
  places, stress, standing too long, fatigue, low
  blood sugar, dehydration.
• Some cases occur after coughing or micturation or
  changing position but other cases are due to
  cardiac or brain diseases.
• Raise lower limbs above the level of the trunk.
• Call for medical help
• Observe breathing and pulse
• Leave the victim lying for 20 minutes after he
  retains consciousness

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POISONINGFIRST AID MEASURES

• Conscious Victim
• Give water or milk
• Recognize the poisonous substance if possible
• Call Doctor or Poison Center
• Induce Vomiting
• Observe for breathing
• Unconscious Victim
• Observe for cardiac and respiratory arrest.
• Keep him on his side and transfer him.
• Do not induce vomiting.
• NOTE NEVER INDUCE VOMITING IN CASE
  OFkerosene, petroleum and its derivatives,
  strong alkalies and acids.

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BURNS

• DEGREES OF BURNS
• 1st degree Skin only
• 2nd degree Vesicles
• 3rd degree Deep tissues
• FIRST AID MEASURES
• 1st degree Cold water Sterile gauze
• 2nd 3rd degree Dont use water
• - Apply sterile gauze
• - Prevent shock
• - Call for assistance
• - Dont remove clothes
• - Dont apply oil or salt
• EYE BURNS
• Heat Burns Same as above
• Chemical Burns Eye wash for 15 minutes

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FRACTURESTYPES1. Closed No Wounds2.
Open With Wounds

• FIRST AID
• - Never try to put bone in place.
• - Stop bleeding
• - Cover open wound
• - Prevent shock.
• - Immobilize the fractured bone by splinting
• (apply cotton, gauze and bandage)
• IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER WHILE TRANSFERRING
  THE VICTIM
• - In case of a fractured cervical vertebral
  bones keep victim on his back.
• - In case of fractured of thoracic and lumber
  keep victim on
• his abdomen.
• - If unconscious keep him on his back.
• - Avoid excessive or unnecessary movements.
• - In case of fracture pelvis fix pelvis, thighs,
  legs and feet.
• - Fracture of fore arms make two splints and
  hang the forearm to
• the neck.

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ANIMAL BITES

• AnimalsDogs/CatsMouse Rats
• First aid1. Clean wound with water and soap2.
  Cover with guaze3. Try to catch the animal or
  kill it.

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• SNAKE BITE
• GENERAL INFORMATION
• - Most snakes are not poisonous.
• - The first several hours after the bite are
  most critical.
• - Most snakes avoid human unless frightened.
• - Poisonous bites cause local signs (oedema,
  hemorrhage, ecchymosis necrosis and systemic
  signs mainly involving nervous and cardiac
  system).
• - First aid measures should be applied as
  quickly as possible.
• - Identification of poisonous bites could be
  possible if the two fang marks are there or some
  local or systemic signs occur.
• - Introducing antivenum is not deprived from
  serious side
• effects, therefore, it is given only in
  severe cases.

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FIRST AID MEASURES FOR SNAKE BITE

• Reassure and calm the victim.
• Put the victim in lying position and restrain
  from
• unncessary movements.
• Clean wound with water and soap, then dry it with
  sterilized gauze.
• Observe pulse and breathing, if breathing stop,
  give mouth to mouth breathing.
• If pulse stops apply CPR.
• Keep the affected limb below heart level.
• Immobilize the limb and splint.
• You may apply a bandage above level of the bite
  adequately tight to
• permit passage of a finger underneath.
• Make sure, you can feel the peripheral pulse
  below level of bandage.

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SUN STROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Signs of Heat Exhaustion
• - Headache
• - Dizziness
• - Nausea
• - Muscle Cramps
• - Skin is cold, and sweating
• First Aid
• - Transfer the person to cold or shaded area
• - Give him liquid composed of(1 cup of water
  ½ teaspoon of salt) Repeat the salt solution 4
  times once every 15 minutes.
• - If the person didnt improve transfer him to
  Medical Care.
• Signs of Sun Stroke
• - High Fever (May read 41 degree Centrigade)
• - Skin is dry and no sweating
• - Convulsions may occur.
• First Aid
• - Cool the victim by placing him under tap water
• - Continue cooling until temperature reach 39
  then stop for 10 minutes.
• - If temperature relapse continue cooling
• - Dont give any drinks

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DROWNING

• Remove the victim from water
• Clean the mouth from sands and other foreign
  bodies
• Put him on the floor and raise his body
• Start C.P.R.
• Call for Medical Help

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ELECTRIC SHOCK

• Avoid direct contact with the victim
• Before touching the victim
• wear plastic gloves
• stand on dry wooden chair
• push the victim with a wooden ladder or chair or
  wooden stick
• Disconnect power if possible
• Do C.P.R. if needed
• Treat burns
• Call for Medical Help