First Aid

BY:Shazia Ibrahimi, Fifth year Medical student

MAIL:[email protected]
What is first aid?
 Immediate assistance to any person with either a minor or serious
illness of injury, with care to preserve life, prevent the condition from
worsening or to promote recovery until medical services arrive.
Basics of first aid
1. Remain calm
2. Assess the situation
3. Stabilize
First aid kits:
 Common kits may contain: Thermometer, Adhesive dressings,
Antiseptic solution (most commonly povidone iodine or hydrogen
peroxide), Bandages, Cotton balls or swabs. Emergency blanket,
Gauze sponge, Gloves, Hand sanitizer, Ice pack, Saline solution,
Tweezers.
Defibrillator:
A first aid kit
 A each brunch location is equipped with an automated external
defibrillator(AED),
 Designed to analyze hearth rhythms and deliver the electrical shock to
victims experiencing cardiac arrest
Universal precautions:
 The first step to administer fist aid is proper hygiene, best achieved by
washing your hands, anti bacterial soap if available, wipe with
disinfectant
 Step1: hand washing
 Step2: PPE(PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT)
 Step3: disposing of contaminated clothes, bandages, or PPE
Common injuries and illnesses
 Cuts, abrasions, burns, back pain, hypothermia, difficulty breathing,
eye injuries, allergic reactions, heatstroke, chest pain, head injuries,
event poison ingestion.
 Remain calm
 Cal 102
 Assess situation
 Stabilize
CPR- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
 Lifesaving technique, Useful emergencies, including heart attack, shock
or even drowning in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has
stopped.
 According to AHA, its better to do something with little knowledge than
doing nothing
 Three categories
1. Untrained: provide hands-only CPR. That means uninterrupted chest
compressions of 100 to 120 per min until paramedics arrive. Rescue
breathing NOT recommended.
2. Trained: IF no pulse and breathing within 10secs, begin chest
compressions, each 30 chest compressions before TWO rescue breaths
3. Trained but rusty: Do chest compressions only, 120 each min
 ABCs:
A. Airways: before CPR, make sure the person has open airways and is
not chocking. If not tilt the head back slightly and lift their chin. This
shifts the tonged away from the back of the throat and allows the air to
reach the lungs.
B. Breathing: with your face turned towards the persons mouth, listen for
breathing, and look to see if the chest is rising and falling. If u see an
infrequent gasp of air, the person is not breathing normally.
C. Circulation: check for pulse by feeling for 5-10sec at the time of the
victims wrist and the neck. If no pulse, begin chest compression, place
the heel of one hand on the lower part of victims sternum. With your
other hand directly on the top of first hand, depress the sternum 1-2
inches, 15 compression for every two breaths
Check for the return of pulse every min, until ALS is arriving.
SHOCK
 Sudden drop in blood flow throughout the body.
 Organs not getting enough blood or oxygen
 Signs: clammy skin, bluish lips, rapid breathing, change in mental
status, extreme dizziness or fatigue.
 Manage: lie down with their feet elevated, if nauseous, have trouble
breathing, or you suspect spinal injury, encourage to lie flat and stay
very still.
 common causes trauma, heatstroke, blood loss or an allergic reaction
 Treat underlying cause
Cuts, abrasions, and bleeding wounds,
 Minor cuts and abrasions are often the most common injuries in the
workplace. Initial treatment for minor cuts or abrasions typically
requires cleansing the wound with an antiseptic or soap and water.
 major external bleeding and simple bandaging isn’t working, while
waiting for emergency medical attention, it’s recommended that you
apply pressure to the wound to help control the bleeding. It can also be
helpful to elevate the injured part of the body unless a break or
fracture is suspected.
Nose bleeds:
• Have the person sit down and lean their head forward. This will reduce
pressure in the nasal veins and slow the bleeding. It will also keep blood from
flowing down into the stomach, which can cause nausea.
• If you’d like, use a nasal spray in the bleeding nostril while the person holds
their head still. Have them push the bleeding nostril firmly against the septum
(the dividing wall in the nose). If the person is unable to do this, put on latex
gloves and hold the nose for them for five to 10 minutes.
• Once the nose stops bleeding, instruct the person not to blow their nose for
several days. This could dislodge the clot and cause bleeding to begin again.
BEE STINGS AND BUG BITES

 Never attempt to pinch the area where a stinger is present, as this can
further irritate the bite. Once the stinger is out, cleanse the area with
soap and water and apply a cool compress using ice, water, and a clean
towel. This will help reduce pain and potential swelling.
 If the sting is on an arm or leg, try to elevate it to help with the pain.
Once home, apply hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or even
baking soda paste to the bite. Continue to do this for several days until
your pain and irritation go away. Taking an antihistamine may also help
reduce the itching.
 contact emergency services if you experience: difficulty breathing,
swelling of the lips, eyelids or throat, dizziness, faintness or confusion,
rapid heartbeat, hives, nausea, cramps, or vomiting
SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION
 common allergic reactions can be caused by skin contact, ingestion, or
inhalation. Allergic reactions can take up to an hour before the patient
begins to see symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness,
anxiety, nausea, rash or hives, abdominal cramps, loss of
consciousness, and/ or shock.
 EpiPen to treat the reaction
 If the person is experiencing severe swelling, you may want to
encourage them to loosen any tight clothing and offer them a blanket
to cover themselves.
 It’s also recommended that you never give them anything to drink.
BURNS
 Thermal (or heat) burns, chemical burns, electrical burns, and
sunburns, are the common types of burns most people experience.
Each of these different types of burns can cause different levels of
severity and should be treated accordingly.
TYPES OF BURNS
 First-degree burns only damage the top layer of skin. These types of
burns are often painful and can cause minor swelling. Treatment for
first degree burns typically requires immediate cooling of the affected
area by use of cold water and ice. After a few minutes of cooling, dry
the affected area, and apply burn cream to relieve some pain and
prevent infections. Finally, apply a dry sterile dressing around the
affected area. After a few minutes of cooling, dry the affected area,
and apply burn cream to relieve some pain and prevent infections.
Finally, apply a dry sterile dressing around the affected area.
 Second degree burns damage both the inner and outer layers of skin
and are significantly more painful than first degree burns. This type of
burn will cause the skin to become dark red and will sometimes cause
blisters. If any blisters break open, treat them with antiseptic and a dry
sterile dressing as quickly as possible to avoid infection. If the blisters
stay closed, apply a cool wet dressing to soothe the pain. Do not open
the blisters!
 Third degree burns damage both the inner and outer lays of skin as
well as nerves, blood vessels, muscle, and sometimes even the bones
below. These areas quite often will become charred black or white.
Third degree burns are always considered a medical emergency and
can only be wrapped in a dry sterile dressing until emergency
treatment occurs. In extreme cases, heat shields and/or fire blankets
can also be wrapped around the victim to prevent any further burn
progression. They can also ease pain and protect against
contamination.
Eye Injuries
 When washing, remember to avoid rinsing water into the direction of
the other eye and never attempt to remove any embedded objects, as
this can cause more damage to the eye.
 If the pain persists, cover the eye with a paper cup, sterile dressing, or
even a wrap and quickly seek medical attention.
 Avoid laying anything flat on the eye that could cause additional
pressure. For severe eye injuries, consider covering both eyes as this
will prevent you from trying to look around with the undamaged eye.
SPRAINS
 So, what is a sprain? A sprain is the tearing of fibers from a ligament
that holds two bones together. This can often occur in the legs, arms,
or neck. For minor sprains, always follow the R.I.C.E. method of
recovery. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate.
 immediately ice the sprain for fifteen to twenty minutes
 compress the injury by wrapping it with an elastic bandage. Remember
to wrap it tightly, but not too tight as this can cause more swelling to
the affected area or cut off circulation.
BROKEN BONES AND FRACTURES
 control any bleeding that may have occurred using a sterile bandage,
cloth, or in emergency situations a piece of clothing.
 Immobilize the injured area by using a splint or sling and ice it for 10
minutes at a time.
Recovery position

 If the casualty is unresponsive and breathing normally, put

them in the recovery position. The recovery position
is when someone is rolled onto their side allowing gravity
to help their tongue flop forward and the contents of the
stomach to drain out.
Recovery position
HEAD INJURY
 most serious type
 First, evaluate the initial level of consciousness. If any loss of
consciousness occurs or was present at any time, contact 102
immediately.
 keep the person as still as possible
 never apply pressure
 For minor injuries, lie them down while icing the injury to prevent
swelling. Continue to monitor the individual for at least 30 minutes.
Spinal injuries
 Keep the person still.
• Avoid moving the head or neck. Provide as much first aid as
possible without moving the person's head or neck. If the
person shows no signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or
movement), begin CPR, but do not tilt the head back to open the
airway. Use your fingers to gently grasp the jaw and lift it
forward. If the person has no pulse, begin chest compressions.
 Keep helmet on
• Don't roll alone. If you must roll the person because he or she is
vomiting, choking on blood or because you have to make sure
the person is still breathing, you need at least one other person.
With one of you at the head and another along the side of the
injured person, work together to keep the person's head, neck
and back aligned while rolling the person onto one side.
POISONING
 INGESTION: If you suspect poison occurred by ingestion, immediately
encourage the person to drink a small amount of water or milk if the person is
complaining about burning, irritation, or caustic and is conscious, not having
convulsions, and able to swallow.
 EYE CONTACT: If you suspect poisoning occurred by entering a person’s eye,
quickly remove contact lenses and flush the eye for at least fifteen to twenty
minutes.
 SKIN CONTACT: the affected area should be rinsed thoroughly for at least 15
minutes
 INHALATION: remove the person from the exposed area if it can be done safely
SEIZURES
 Since a seizure cannot be stopped, first aid is often aimed at keeping
the person safe until the seizure stops on its own
 If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, the person does not wake
up, or the person has never had a seizure before, contact 102
immediately and stay with the person until the proper authorities
arrive.
 Focal onset seizures start in one area and can spread across the brain
and cause mild or severe symptoms, depending on how the electrical
discharges spread.
 Generalized seizures can start as focal seizures that spread to both
sides of the brain. They also can occur as “generalized onset” seizures
in which seizure activity starts simultaneously over both sides of the
brain. Generalized onset seizures usually start during childhood and are
similar to a thermostat surge or a light flash — abnormal regulation
between parts of the brain causes the seizures.
Types of seizure
 Myoclonic seizures, sudden body or limb jerks that can involve the
arms, head and neck. The spasms occur on both sides of the body in
clusters, especially in the morning.
 Tonic, Clonic and Tonic-Clonic, can evolve from any of the focal or
generalized seizure types. For example, a focal seizure can spread to
both sides of the brain and cause tonic-clonic seizures. myoclonic
seizures can become continuous and evolve into a tonic-clonic seizure.
 Make sure: area is not having harms and place soft pillows
around causality's neck, to avoid brain injury
CHOKING (HEIMLICH MANEUVER)
 perform a Heimlich maneuver
1. Stand behind the person. Place one foot slightly in front of the other for
balance. Footing and balance are extremely important because if you
cannot dislodge the object they will lose consciousness, you need to
prepare to guide the person to the ground without harming them or
yourself. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward
slightly.
2. Make a fist with one hand. Position it slightly above the person's navel,
but below the rib cage.
3. Grasp the fist with the other hand. Pull hard into the abdomen with a
quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person up.
4. perform 6 to 10 abdominal thrust until the content is dislodged,
If the person becomes unconscious, perform standard cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) if properly trained.
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself
unconscious
 To perform the Heimlich maneuver on an unconscious person
1. Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor, arms to the side.
2. Clear the airway. If a blockage is visible at the back of the throat or
high in the throat, reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the
cause of the blockage. Do not try a finger sweep if you can't see the
object. Be careful not to push the food or object deeper into the
airway, which can happen easily in young children.
3. if the object remains lodged and the person does not respond after you
take the above measures, begin chest compressions only. The chest
compressions used in CPR may dislodge the object. Remember to
recheck the mouth periodically.
Infants
 To perform the Heimlich maneuver on an infant younger than
1 year
1. Assume a seated position and hold the infant face down on your
forearm, which is resting on your thigh. Support the infant's head and
neck with your hand and place the head lower than the trunk.
2. Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back
using the heel of your hand. The combination of gravity and the back
blows should release the blocking object. Keep your fingers pointed up
to avoid hitting the infant in the back of the head.
3. Turn the infant face up on your forearm, resting on your thigh with the
head lower than the trunk if the infant still is not breathing. Using two
fingers placed at the center of the infant's breastbone, give five quick
chest compressions. Press down about 1 1/2 inches, and let the chest
rise again in between each compression.
Pregnant women aid
1. Chocking women
As the same as normal person but place your hand higher.
2. Resuscitation in pregnancy
 Place the casualty on a firm surface on their back. If possible, wedge padding such as a cushion,
towel or similar object under their right hip to tilt the hips about 15°-30°while leaving their
shoulders flat to the ground. Kneel beside them.
 Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the sternum. Place your other hand on top.
 Straighten your arms and position yourself over the casualty’s chest.
 Use the weight of your body to press straight down onto their chest by ⅓ the depth of the chest,
which is generally more than 5 cm.
Diabetic emergency
 What happens in a diabetic emergency?
 In most cases, the person’s blood sugar levels become too low. This is
called hypoglycemia. It can happen when the person has missed a
meal or exercised too much. If left untreated, a diabetic emergency can
become very serious.
 1. Give them something sweet to eat or a non-diet drink.
 If someone has a diabetic emergency, their blood sugar levels can
become too low. This can make them collapse. Giving them something
sugary will help raise their blood sugar levels and improve their bodily
function. Avoid giving them a diet drink, as it won’t have any sugar in it
and will not help them.
Take home message;

most important things you can do

to help remains calm, assess the
situation, and stabilize yourself, or
the individual until trained
professionals arrive.
QEUSTIONS?
References:
 www.hopkinsmedicine.org
 www.healthline.com
 https://learn.servicesanitation.com/basic-first-aid
 www.mayoclinic.org