A Basic Guide To First Aid

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A Basic Guide To First Aid
Basic Guide To First Aid Please note this is only
a guide and does not qualify as training.
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What is First Aid First is the first help a
casualty receives at the scene of an accident
before a doctor or ambulance arrives. First Aid
is the initial care of a suddenly sick or injured
person It is the prompt care and attention prior
to the arrival of the ambulance services or a
doctor. This can sometimes mean the difference
between life and death.   Aims of First Aid (3
P's) P - Preserve Life. P - Prevent the
condition worsening. P - Promote
Recovery. Priorities When Treating Casualties
(The A, B, C of First Aid) Airway, Breathing,
Circulation.Ensure that the airway is open and
the casualty has a pulse and respiration's. Then
treat major bleeding, burns come next, and then
fractures. However an open fracture with severe
bleeding comes under bleeding. If there is more
than one causality, treat the most serious one
first. Never ignore the quiet causalities, as
they could be the most serious.
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• Getting Help
• Make sure you phone for an ambulance as soon as
  possible. You dial 999 or 112 and ask for an
  ambulance. You should tell your exact location,
  your telephone number, the number of causalities,
  whether you need any other services e.g. Garda
  for a road accident or Fire Brigade if someone is
  trapped. Also tell them if you need special
  equipment like a cardiac ambulance or if someone
  is about to give birth.
•  
• Body Substance Isolation
• Gloves should always be worn for your own safety
  and the safety of the casualty. They protect you
  from HIV and they also protect the causality from
  germs that could be on your hands. Other personal
  protective equipment should be used if applicable
  like face shields, eyewear and aprons.
• FUNCTIONS OF A FIRST AIDER
• Assess - Check for dangers. Make the area safe
  and find out the History of the
  situation.Diagnose - Find out what's wrong with
  the causality by finding out their signs and
  symptoms and other external clues.Treat - Treat
  the causalities in order of priority. Dispose -
  Send the causality to the doctors, to the
  hospital or home with somebody responsible. Give
  them all the relevant information they may need.

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• History
• This is the full story of how the accident
  occurred. It also should include the patients
  past medical history, and medication they are on
  or any illness they are suffering from. Details
  about the causality should also be found early on
  in case they go unconscious.
• External Clues
• These can be medication they have on them or
  warning bracelets that give detail about their
  medical History. The Medic Alert bracelets tell
  you how to treat them and who to contact.
  Medicine for conditions like diabetes or angina
  could also help you.
•  
• The most important person at the scene of an
  accident is the First Aider. You should never put
  yourself in danger to help someone else. An
  injured First Aider is no good. Never go into
  burning buildings, near high voltage electricity
  wires or into water. If you come across a car
  accident make sure the ignition is turned off and
  the hand brake is on. If the car or causality is
  in the middle of the road, use bystanders to stop
  traffic.

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Bleeding A Wound is a crack or break in the skin
that allows germs to enter and blood to escape.

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Three categories of bleeding Arterial most
serious from arteries. Bright Red and
spurting.Venous comes from the veins. Dark red
and flowing.Capillary least serious from
capillaries. Mixture of reds and oozing. 
Treatment Apply direct pressure, Raise and
support the injured limb, cover wound with a
sterile dressing, treat for shock and send to
hospital. Pressure Points A place which
pressure can be placed to stop blood flowing to
the entire limb e.g. arm. This can be used if
direct pressure does not work. This is where an
artery can be pressed against a bone to stop the
blood flow beyond this point. They can be found
in your arm and at the top of your
leg. Circulation You can check circulation of
a casualty by pressing their nail so it turns
white. It should return back to red by the time
you say capillary refill.
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Pulse This is a throb of blood that passes along
your arteries with each beat of your heart. It
can be felt where an artery passes over a bone
close to the skin E.g. radial pulse. The pulse
rate of an adult is between 60 - 80.The average
amount of blood an adult has is 8-9
litre's Crush Injuries If a casualty is
trapped for more than 15 minutes you should leave
them trapped as poisons have built up. If it is
release it could cause kidney failure. Signs
Symptoms of Blood Loss Face Skin pale cold
and clammy.Pulse fast and weak (less blood so
pulse is weak as harder to find. It is faster to
make up for the blood loss)Breathing fast and
shallow may gasp for air (Air Hunger)Behaviour
May be restless, thirsty, faint, and
dizzy. Shock A serious condition that occurs
when the cardiovascular system is unable to
supply enough blood flow to the body. It can be
caused by a loss of fluids or heart problems.
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Fractures A Fracture is a crack or break in the
bone. CAUSES OF FRACTURES Direct Force This
is a blow to the body that causes the bone to
break at the spot the blow was received.
Indirect Force This, for example, happens when
you fall and land on your hands but a force
travels up and breaks your collar bone
(Clavicle).
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TYPES OF FRACTURES
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• SIGNS SYMPTOMSS Swelling.Pain.Loss Of
  Movement.Irregularity.Noise.Tenderness.Shock.
   
• TREATMENT
• Steady and Support- Try to reduce pain by
  stopping movement.
• Immobilise- Tie the legs together or put the arm
  in a sling.
• Open Fracture- Place a dressing on an open
  fracture.
• Closed Fracture- Place a cold compress on to
  reduce swelling.
• Padding- to prevent limbs grating off each other.
• Treat for Shock and send to the Hospital.
• TYPE OF JOINTS
• Ball and Socket- shoulder and hip.
• Hinge - knee and elbow.
• Slightly Moveable- spine and jaw.

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• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Sprain This is a torn ligament at a joint.
• Strain This is a torn or over stretched muscle.
• TREATMENT

Voluntary Muscles Controlled by will e.g. your
arm. Involuntary Muscles Controlled by central
nervous system, e.g. temperature control.
  Cramp It is a sudden involuntary contraction
of a muscle or a group of muscles. To treat it,
you should stretch the muscle by straightening it
and then massage it.   Dislocation It is the
displacement of a bone at a joint. Treat like a
fracture.  
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Burns Six Main Types of Burns Cold
caused by ice.Wet caused by hot fluids.Dry
caused by dry heat like fires.Chemical e.g.
bleach.Radiation e.g. Sunburn.Electrical
caused by electricity.
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• Treatment
• The main treatment for burns is covering the
  affected area in WATER
• for ten fifteen minutes. All burns on people,
  which are bigger than
• their own hand, or are intermediate or deep
  degree burns should be
• sent to the hospital. For people with burns to
  the mouth and throat
• you should give them short sips of water.

• DO NOTS OF BURNS
• Do not burst Blisters or touch the injured part.
• Do not remove stuck on clothing.
• Do not apply ointments lotions or fats.
• Do not apply stick plasters or cotton wool on the
  burn.
• Do not overcool the casualty as this can lead to
  hypothermia.
• Do not touch a person who has been a victim of an
  electric shock as you could injure yourself.
• Note if a person is in contact with high voltage
  electricity, you must remain 18 meters (20 yards)
  from them and contact the emergency services and
  inform them of the incident.

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POISONS are substances that if taken in
sufficient quantities can cause temporary or
permanent damage to the body.
If someone has swallowed a poison you should
bring them to hospital with the details of the
exact amount and the product they have taken. You
should never make somebody to get sick. Poisons
can act either locally or generally on the body.
Locally is where it reacts at the site of the
burn e.g. food passage or hand. Generally is
where it affects the central nervous system and
can interfere with breathing and your heart
action.
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK This is a severe allergic
reaction within the body to a poison, e.g. with
bee and wasp stings.  
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Nervous System It is made up of the brain, the
spinal cord and nerves. It carries signal to and
from the brain to all parts of the body. It
controls the activity of the involuntary muscles
e.g. the blood vessels.     Motor Neurons carry
messages from the brain to different parts of the
body. Sensory Neurons carry messages from the
parts of the body to the brain. Unconsciousness
It is an interruption to the brains normal
activity. Levels of Responsiveness A - AlertV
- VoiceP - PainU - Unresponsive
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• Recovery Position
• A casualty is placed in the recovery position
  when they are unconsciousness and it is to ensure
  an open airway and to prevent them from choking
  on their tongue or vomit.
• Causes of Unconsciousness
• F - FaintingI - Infantile ConvulsionsS -
  ShockH - Heat Imbalance
• S - StrokeH - Heart AttackA - AsphyxiaP -
  PoisoningE - EpilepsyD - Diabetes

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• Head Injuries
• Concussion
• This is the shaking of the brain caused by a
  violent blow to the
• head. It can be recognised by a loss of memory of
  events leading
• up to the incident, headache and dizziness. You
  treat this by
• placing the person in the recovery position,
  monitoring vitals and
• calling an ambulance. This can develop into
  compression.
• Compression
• This is where pressure is being placed on the
  brain. It can develop
• immediately after the incident or days later. It
  will result in a
• worsening in the level of response, unequal
  pupils, hot flushed
• face and slow breathing and pulse. Urgent
  transportation is
• required.
• Skull Fracture
• It can lead to compression and concussion. There
  may be a soft
• depression in the skull or swelling, and there
  may be fluid coming
• from the nose or ears which is a straw colour or
  can also be a thin
• watery blood fluid.

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• Epilepsy
• It is a disturbance in the electrical activity in
  the brain. There are
• two types minor epilepsy (Petite Mal) and major
  epilepsy (Grand
• Mal). The minor epilepsy can involve slight
  twitching and
• switching off. Major epilepsy is when a casualty
  goes into violent
• and reoccurring seizures. Your main treatment is
  to protect the
• casualty from injuring themselves and also to
  call an ambulance.
• Infantile Convulsions
• These are fits in young children aged 1 - 5,
  which can be cause by
• infections and fevers. You try to keep them cool
  by sponging
• them with tepid water and remove their clothes.
  You reassure the
• parents and call an ambulance.
• Stroke
• This is where the blood flow to a part of the
  brain is impaired by a
• blood clot. There may be a sudden headache,
  drooping lip, loss of
• movement on one side of the body, a slow pulse
  and they may
• seem drunk as they are confused.
• Diabetes
• This is where the body is unable to regulate the
  sugar level in the

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• Heart Disease
• Heart Disease is one of the biggest killers in
  the Western World, which can lead to heart
  attacks, angina and possibly death. There are
  many factors which cause Heart Disease and they
  can be broken into Changeable factors and
  Unchangeable. Changeable factors are ones we have
  control over. Unfortunately we cannot change the
  unchangeable factors, so if your a Irish male
  over 50 with a family history of heart problems,
  you have high risk of having Heart Disease.

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• Heart Attack
• It most commonly occurs when the blood supply to
  part of the heart
• is suddenly obstructed due to a blockage. It is
  very serious and can
• cause cardiac arrest.
• Signs Symptoms
• A dull chest pain that can radiate to the jaw and
  the left arm.
• Shortness of breath.
• Can feel like severe indigestion.
• "Ashen" skin and blueness of lips.
• Treatment
• Reassure the casualty and place them in a half
  sitting position to ease
• the pressure on the heart. Call for an ambulance
  and constantly
• monitor and record the casualties vital signs
  (Pulse and breathing
• rate). If they have any medication help them to
  take it. If the pain
• persists and they are fully conscious give them
  one tablet of ordinary
• Aspirin to chew.

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• Angina
• This is the narrowing of an artery
• that can be brought on by exertion
• but is usually relieved by
• rest. People with a history of angina
• usually carry a spray (Glyceryl
• Trinitrate) that they spray under
• their tongue to relieve the attack.
• Treatment
• Get the casualty to rest in a
• comfortable position and reassure
• them. If they have any medication
• help them to take it. If the pain
• persists call an ambulance, and
• suspect a heart attack.

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• Chain of Survival

• The chain of survival show the essential links in
  trying to save a
• persons life. It shows that survival of a cardiac
  arrest patient depends on a series of critical
  interventions. If any of these critical actions
  is delayed or neglected survival is unlikely.
• Early Accesses- The first intervention is to
  get to the patient as soon as possible and to
  call an ambulance.
• Early CPR- You must then commence CPR to
  artificially keep the person breathing and some
  blood circulating.
• Early Defibrillation- As you have already
  called an ambulance advanced medical help should
  come and use a defibrillator.
• Early Advanced Care- This is specialised
  treatment to stabilise the casualties condition
  quickly and efficiently.
• Each link is as important as the others and the
  casualties chance of survival is greatest if you
  follow those steps.

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• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
• This is the skill necessary to artificially
  provide circulation of
• blood to the brain and air to the lungs in order
  to prevent damage
• to the brain. It is done till medical help
  arrives.
• It is only ever preformed on someone who is
  Unconscious, Not
• Breathing, No Pulse or signs of circulation.
• Over the next few slides you will be shown the
  theory of CPR. It
• is very easy to learn and it is recommened that
  you attend a
• training course which will give you practice at
  preforming CRP.

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• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
• CPR is a resuscitation technique that is used to
  maintain circulation until help arrives by
  providing artificial respiration's and chest
  compressions to a casualty.
• "Shake Shout". You do this by shaking there
  shoulders and saying "Hello, can you hear me?".
  If they do not answer, it means that they are
  unconscious.
• You must then Send for Help. If there is a
  bystander get them to call an ambulance, if there
  aren't any you must call an Ambulance as any
  unconscious casualty will need to go to hospital.
• You then check if they have an airway, are
  breathing. You do this by checking the A. B. of
  the casualty. They Stand for Airway, Breathing
  Circulation.

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• Airway
• You must now open the casualties airway by first
  tilting the head back by placing two fingers
  under the casualties chin and your other hand on
  their forehead. You then check to see if there is
  any obvious blockages to the airway by looking
  around the casualties mouth. If you see anything
  you can remove it by sweeping it out with your
  finger.

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• Breathing
• Next, you check the if the casualty is breathing
  by Look, Look, Listening and Feeling for a breath
  for 10 seconds. You do this by placing your cheek
  above the casualties mouth and you look to see if
  the chest is rising and falling, you listen to
  see if you can hear the casualties breath and you
  try to feel their breath on your cheek.

If the casualty is not breathing, you then must
Give Two Rescue Breaths to the casualty . You do
this by forming a tight seal with your mouth
around their mouth. You pinch the nose and breath
into the casualty. When you do this make sure the
chest rises, and that you don't breath to hard as
this can force air into their stomach which can
cause them to vomit. Make sure you remove your
lips between rescue breaths so the casualty can
allow the air to escape.
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• If there is signs of breathing you must start to
  give 30 Chest Compressions.
• You kneel right beside the casualties chest and
  remove the casualties top.
• You then find the position to give the
  compressions by running your index finger along
  the bottom of the ribs till you come to the
  centre part. 
• You then place two fingers above that point and
  place the heal of your other hand down directly
  above your fingers. This is the point at which
  you should apply pressure.
• You then place your other hand on top and lock
  your fingers and elbows.
• You then lean over the casualty and press
  vertically down to compress the chest 1½ to 2
  inches.

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• After the 30 compressions you have completed your
  first cycle of 2
• breaths and 30 compressions. After Five Cycles
  You Recheck for
• Signs of Circulation. If it is still absent you
  continue with another
• five cycles. However if it is present you check
  if the casualty is
• breathing. If they are not breathing you commence
  Artificial
• Respiration by giving a rescue breath every 5
  seconds and
• checking the pulse after every 10th breath. If
  they are breathing you
• place them in the recovery position and treat any
  life threatening
• injuries.