FIRST AID INSTRUCTIONS
APRIL 6, 2020
LMK Medical Laboratory & consultancies ltd
Doc. No.:LMK-QMS-J005
LMK MEDICAL LABORATORY AND Version : 1.0
CONSULTANCIES
JOB AID: FIRST AID INSTRUCTIONS
Caution: Contain the first aider for help whenever there is an injury or if you cannot
handle the injury.
1. First aid for wounds
a. Cuts and scrapes
A cut is a wound where the skin has been split open. The edges of the cut can be jagged
or smooth. Scrapes are wounds where the skin has been rubbed or scraped away. Signs
and symptoms of a cut or scrape may include pain and bleeding.
First aid procedure:
There is usually minimal bleeding with cuts and scrapes, but if the wound is
bleeding significantly, apply direct pressure until it stops.
Rinse the wound for 5 minutes with clean, running tap water.
If an antibiotic ointment or cream is available, ask the person if he or she has a
sensitivity to any antibiotics, such as penicillin. If not, suggest the person apply it
to the wound.
Cover the wound with a plaster. Ensure that the person knows to watch for signs
of infection over the next few days.
b. Puncture wounds
A puncture wound occurs when a hole in the skin is created by a pointed object,
such as nails, pieces of glass, and animal teeth.
First aid procedure:
If the wound is bleeding, apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops.
Once the bleeding is controlled, wash the wound thoroughly with water. If
possible, rinse the wound for 5 minutes with clean, running tap water.
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CONSULTANCIES
Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and/or bandage. Ensure that the person
knows to watch for signs of infection over the next few days.
c. Scalp injury
Because the scalp contains many blood vessels, even small scalp wounds can
have significant bleeding.
First aid procedure:
Put dressings on the wound and have the person hold them in place to
control the bleeding.
Secure the dressings with a bandage
If you feel a dip, a soft area, or pieces of bone:
•Treat the injury as a head injury.
• Put direct pressure on the wound only if the bleeding is life-threatening.
Otherwise, try to control the bleeding with pressure on the area around the
wound.
Any of the following signs around an injury may indicate a wound infection:
o Redness
o Red streaks moving away from the wound
o Pus
o Heat or warmth
o Swelling
o Tenderness
o Excessive itchiness
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LMK MEDICAL LABORATORY AND Version : 1.0
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d. Burns
Burns are soft-tissue injuries caused by chemicals, electricity, heat, or radiation.
First aid procedure:
For superficial burns, cool the affected area with clean running or standing
water for at least 10 minutes. A clean cool or cold (but not freezing) compress can
be used as a substitute.
For full thickness burns,
Stop the burn from worsening by cooling the affected area with clean
running or standing water for at least 10 minutes.
Remove jewellery and clothing from the burn site, but do not attempt to
move anything that is stuck to the skin.
Once it is cool, cover the burn loosely with a dry, sterile dressing,
preferably non-stick gauze.
For chemical burns,
Wear protective equipment to avoid being burned yourself.
If there are dry chemicals present, brush them off the person’s skin before
flushing with water.
Flush the affected areas with large amounts of cool running water for at
least 15 minutes.
Flush the chemicals away from areas of the body that have not been
contaminated.
Remove any clothing that is wet or that has been contaminated by the
chemical.
Refer to the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for additional
first aid measures.
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Special Considerations When Caring for Burns
Remember the following special considerations when providing care for burns:
• Don’t use iodine, oil, grease or ointments on partial or full thickness burns.
• Blisters are a natural cooling system. Leave them in place.
• Touch a burn only with sterile or clean dressings.
• Do not use absorbent cotton or pull clothes over any burned area.
2. First aid for a Splinter
A splinter (or "sliver") is a sharp, thin piece of material that is stuck in the surface of the
skin. If the splinter is completely below the skin, encourage the person to seek medical
attention rather than attempting to remove it yourself.
First aid procedure:
Gently grab the exposed end of the splinter with tweezers and carefully pull it out.
Wash the area with water and apply a bandage.
3. First aid for Nose bleeds
Nosebleeds may be caused by the following: Forceful nose blowing, High blood pressure,
Dry weather conditions, Trauma to the nose or head and Bleeding disorders.
First aid procedure:
Have the person sit with the head slightly forward, pinching the nostrils, for 10 to
15 minutes. If the nosebleed was caused by a severe head injury, do not pinch the
nose.
Once you have controlled the bleeding, tell the person to avoid rubbing, blowing,
or picking his or her nose because this could start the bleeding again.
If the person loses responsiveness, place him or her in the recovery position to
allow blood to drain from the nose
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4. First aid for Eye injuries
The eye is an extremely sensitive organ: Avoid touching the eye or putting pressure on or
around it, as this can cause further damage. Wounds involving the eyelids or eye sockets
should also be treated as eye injuries.
First aid procedure:
If there is a foreign object in the eye but it is not impaled:
Try to remove the foreign object by having the person blink several times. The
eye will produce tears that may wash out the object.
An object that is not touching the eye itself (e.g., in the corner of the eye) may be
removed with a moist cotton-tipped applicator.
Clean away any dirt around the eye and then gently flush the eye with running
water (letting the water run away from the unaffected eye).
If these steps do not remove the object, the person should seek medical attention.
If there is a chemical or other caustic substance in the eye:
Gently flush the eye with running water (away from the unaffected eye) for at least 15
minutes.
5. Bone, muscle and bone injuries
There are four basic types of bone, muscle, and joint injuries:
Sprain: Occurs when a ligament is stretched, torn, or damaged. Ligaments connect bones
together at the joints. Sprains most commonly affect the ankle, knee, wrist, and finger
joints.
Strain: Occurs when a tendon or muscle is stretched, torn, or damaged. Tendons connect
muscles to bones. Strains are often caused by overworking a muscle (e.g., by lifting an
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LMK MEDICAL LABORATORY AND Version : 1.0
CONSULTANCIES
overly heavy object or by repetitively performing the same action). They usually involve
the muscles in the neck, back, thigh, or the back of the lower leg.
Dislocation: Occurs when the bones that meet at a joint move out of their normal
position. This type of injury is usually caused by a violent force that tears the ligaments,
allowing the bones to move out of place.
Fracture: A complete break, chip, or crack in a bone. Fractures can be open (if the end
of the broken bone breaks through the skin) or closed (the broken bone does not break
through the skin). Open fractures are also called "compound fractures."
First aid procedure:
Treat the injury using the RICE method as follows;
REST — Have the person stop any current activities and rest without moving or
straightening the injured body part.
IMMOBILIZE — If you need to move the person, immobilize the injured area in
the position in which it was found by creating a splint. Otherwise keep the person
still and do not splint the injury.
COOL — If it does not cause the person any discomfort, cool the injured area for
20 minutes of every hour to reduce swelling and pain. The part should be cooled
for 20 minutes of every hour for up to 48 hours. Do not rub the ice or cold pack
on the injured area. If you use ice, put some sort of thin, dry cloth or pad between
it and the person’s bare skin to avoid freezing the skin.
ELEVATE — Keep the injured area above the level of the heart, if possible.
However, do not raise the injured area if moving it will cause pain.
NOTE: SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION INCASE THE FIRST AID DOES
NOT IMPROVE THE INJURY.
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