First Aid Fact Sheet 2005 Standards

Transcription

1 First Aid Fact Sheet 2005 Standards Five Leading Causes of Unintentional death: 1. Motor vehicle accidents 2. Falls 3. Poisonings 4. Drownings 5. Choking Good Samaritan Laws laws that give legal protection to people who willing provide emergency care to ill or injured persons. These laws require that Good Samaritans 1.) Acts in good faith - using common sense and a reasonable level of skill; 2.) Are not negligent does his best to save a life or prevent further injury; and 3). Acts within the scope of your training - does not exceed the scope of his training in emergency Reducing your risk of injury: Take measures that decrease your risk and others Think Safety be alert and avoid potentially harmful conditions or activities that increase your risk Take precautions such as wearing protective devices (helmets, eyewear, gloves, seatbelt) Support environmental safety Life Threatening Emergencies are: Unconsciousness Persistent chest pain or discomfort Not breathing or having trouble breathing No signs of life Severe Bleeding Severe Burns Seizures that last more than 5 minutes, recur, or result of injury One of the most important and easiest things you can do when you recognize an emergency exists is CALL 911 EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS: 1. CHECK the scene and then the patient. (Look at the big picture to determine your safety, what happened, how many patients, and any bystanders that can help) 2. CALL FIRST call 911 before providing care for: An unconscious adult or child 8 yrs of age or older An unconscious infant or child known to be at high risk for heart problems FAST provide one minute of care, and then call for: An unconscious patient less than 8 yrs of age Any victim of submersion or near drowning Any victim of arrest associated with trauma Any victim of drug overdose 3. CARE for the patient (treat life threatening emergencies first) Prioritizing Care: When there is more than one patient take care of the life threats first. Consent to administer care: obtaining consent means that the patient accepts your offer to help him or her. Expressed when a conscious person agrees to care Tell the patient who you are, level of training, and how you plan to help him/her. Implied the consent to give care for an unconscious, confused, or not mentally competent patient. : If the patient is an infant or child, permission should be obtained from the supervising adult. Steps to Prevent Disease Transmission: 1. Avoid contact with body fluids. 2. Use BSI (Body Substance Isolation) 3. Wash hands after care. When performing a Head to Toe exam: Look/feel for the following: D = deformities C = contusions A = abrasions P = punctures B = burns L = lacerations T = tenderness S = swelling Conscious Victim after obtaining consent: Ask the patient: S signs and symptoms A - allergies M - medications P past pertinent history L-- last oral intake E events leading up to illness/injury Give this information to the EMS personnel when you transfer care!

2 Open wounds: Abrasion - scrape Laceration - cut that has either straight or jagged edges Avulsion partial separation Amputation complete separation Puncture piercing of the skin Evisceration abdominal injury resulting in exposure of internal organs Wounds: Closed wounds: Bruise internal bleeding Signs of internal bleeding Tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas in the abdomen Weak, rapid pulse Skin that feels cool or moist or looks pale or bluish Vomiting or coughing up blood Excessive thirst Becoming confused, faint, drowsy or unconscious Care for External Bleeding: Controlling bleeding: 1. Use a barrier between your hand and the wound. If readily available, put on disposable gloves and place a sterile dressing on the wound. 2. Apply direct pressure for a few minutes to control any bleeding. 3. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. If possible, irrigate the wound for 5 minutes with clean running tap water. 4. Apply triple antibiotic ointment or cream to the minor wound, if the person has no know allergies or sensitivities to the medication. 5. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and a bandage (or with an adhesive bandage), if it is still bleeding slightly or if the area of the wound is likely to come into contact with dirt or germs. Note: if a person has a closed or an open wound and complains of severe pain or cannot move a body part without pain or if you think the force that caused the injury was great enough to cause damage, seek advanced medical care immediately. Care for Amputation: Take steps to control bleeding Find separated part Wrap in moist dressing and put in plastic bag Put plastic bag on ice Transport with patient Care for Evisceration: Remove clothing from around the wound Cover with moist, sterile dressing Cover again with plastic wrap Cover with towel or blanket for warmth Care for shock Care for an impaled/embedded object: Do NOT remove object Add dressings around to help control bleeding and stabilize Apply bandage Note: if impaled/embedded object affects one eye, cover other eye to prevent sympathy movement BURNS: Classifications: Superficial involves the top layer of skin, usually red and dry, area usually painful and may swell usually will heal with 5-6 days without permanent scarring Partial Thickness involves the top layers of skin, skin usually red and often has blisters that may weep clear fluid, skin may appear mottled, often painful and will swell usually will heal within 3-4 weeks and some scarring may occur. Full thickness destroys all layers of skin and any or all underlying structures fat, muscles, bones and nerves; burn may look black or brown with underlying tissues appearing white can be extremely painful or relatively painless. Sources of burns: Radiation Heat Chemical Electrical Critical Burns: Trouble breathing Burns covering more than one body part or a large surface area Suspected burns to the airway (burns around the mouth or nose) Burns to the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals Full thickness burn to < 5 yrs old or > 60 yrs old Care for Burns: 1. Stop the burn- remove person from the source of the burn 2. Cool the burn use large amount of cool water to cool the burned area do NOT use ice or ice water 3. Cover the burn dry sterile dressing, loosely bandaged in place to help reduce chance of infection. Note: Chemical burns brush the dry chemicals off skin then flush with water; if in eye flush eye making sure not to infect the other one; wet chemical flush with water. Electrical burns be sure power source is off; monitor ABC s

3 Injuries to Muscles, Bones and Joints: The four types of muscle, bone and joint injury are: Fractures may be open or closed Dislocations a displacement of separation of a bone from its normal position at a joint Sprains a partial or complete tearing or stretching of ligaments and other tissues at a joint. Strains a stretching and tearing of muscle or tendon fibers. It is not necessary to know the specific type of injury because treatment is the same. Assume that the injury is a bone fracture and follow RICE. R Rest - do not move or straighten the injured area. I Immobilize stabilize the injured area in the position found. Splint the injured part ONLY if the person must be moved and it does not cause more pain. C Cold fill a plastic bag or wrap ice with a damp cloth and apply ice to the injured area for periods of about 20 minutes. Place a thin barrier between the ice and bare skin. If continued icing is needed, remove the pack for 20 minutes, and replace the ice pack. E Elevate -- do not elevate the injured part if it causes more pain. : an open fracture is when the bone ends stick through the skin. Place sterile dressing around the site; bandage dressings and avoid moving. A person with an injured lower extremity should not bear weight until advised by a medical professional If an injured extremity is blue or extremely pale, call 911 or the local emergency number immediately as this may indicate a life threatening condition. Signs of serious injury: Significant deformity Bruising and swelling Inability to move the affected part normally Victim feels grating, or heard a snap/pop at the time the injury occurred Injured area is cold and numb Cause of injury suggests that the injury may be severe. (Significant Mechanism of Injury (MOI)) Splinting: Splinting is a method of immobilizing an injured extremity and should only be used if you have to move or transport a person to seek medical attention and if splinting does not cause more harm. If you have to splint- Splint an injury in the position in which you find it. Splint the injured area and the joints or bones above and below the injured site. Check for circulation (feeling, warmth and color) before and after splinting. Types of Splints: Soft Rigid Anatomical Sling Signs of heat related illness: Heat Cramps: Painful muscle spasms usually in legs and abdomen Heat Exhaustion: Cool, moist, pale, flushed or ashen skin Headache, nausea, dizziness Weakness, exhaustion Heat Stroke: A change in the level of consciousness High body temperature Red, hot skin that can be either dry or moist Rapid or weak pulse Rapid or shallow breathing Heat Related Emergencies: Care for heat related illness: Heat Cramps: Check Call - Care Have the victim move to a cool place Give cool water to drink Have the victim lightly stretch the muscle and gently massage the area Heat Exhaustion: Check Call - Care Move the victim to a cooler place Loosen or remove clothing Fan the victim Get the victim into circulating air while applying water If conscious, give small amounts of cool water If condition does not improve, CALL 911 Heat Stroke: CALL 911 Care as heat exhaustion until EMS arrives Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are early-stage conditions that should be cared for quickly. Heat exhaustion, if not recognized and cared for early, can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke develops when the body s systems are overwhelmed by heat and stop functioning. Heat stroke is a lifethreatening condition. Young children and the elderly are more susceptible to extremes in temperatures.

4 Signs of cold related illness: Hypothermia: Shivering Slow, irregular pulse Numbness Glassy stare Apathy or impaired judgment Loss of muscle control, no shivering or loss of consciousness Frostbite: Loss of feeling and sensation in the extremity Discolored, waxy skin appearance Severe frostbite may include blisters and blue skin Cold Related Emergencies: Care for cold related illness: Hypothermia: Check Call - Care Gently move to warm place Check ABC s and care for shock Remove wet clothing and cover with blankets Warm slowly and handle with care Frostbite: Check Call - Care Remove wet clothing and jewelry Soak area in warm water Cover with dry, sterile dressings- do NOT rub Check ABC s and care for shock Do NOT re-warm if danger of refreezing The environment does not have to be extremely cold for a person to suffer a cold-related emergency, especially if the person is wet or if it is windy. Young children are susceptible to cold-related emergencies because their body temperature regulating systems are not fully developed. The elderly can experience a cold-related emergency inside when exposed to lower temperatures over a period of time, as their temperature regulating mechanisms are sometimes impaired. Head, neck and back injuries: When to suspect a head, neck and back injury: A fall from a height greater than the victim s height Any diving mishap A person found unconscious for unknown reasons Any injury involving severe blunt force to the head or trunk Motor vehicle crash involving a driver or passengers not wearing safety belts Any person thrown from a motor vehicle Any injury in which a victim s helmet is broken, including a motorcycle, football or industrial Signals of head, neck and back injuries: Changes in consciousness Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck or back Tingling or loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet and toes Partial or complete loss of movement of any body part Unusual bumps or depressions on the head or over the spine Signals Blood or of other head, fluids neck in the and ears back or injuries: nose Heavy Changes external in bleeding consciousness of the head, neck or back Seizures Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck or back Impaired Tingling breathing or loss or of vision sensation as a in result the of hands, injury fingers, feet and Nausea toes or vomiting Persistent Partial headache or complete loss of movement of any body part Loss Unusual of balance bumps or depressions on the head or over the spine Bruising Blood of or the other head: fluids around in the the ears eyes or or nose behind the ears Heavy external bleeding of the head, neck or back Seizures Although head, neck and back injuries are only a small fraction Impaired of all injuries, breathing these or vision injuries as a may result cause of injury an unintentional death or life-long neurological damage. Nausea or vomiting If you suspect that a person has a head, neck or back injury, Persistent tell him or headache her to respond verbally to any questions you ask and to avoid nodding or shaking his or her head. Loss of balance The goal in caring for a person with a head, neck or back injury is to minimize movement. Bruising of the head: around the eyes or behind the ears If a person with a suspected head, neck or back injury is wearing a helmet, do not remove it or any attached face masks or shields unless necessary to access the person s airway and you are specifically trained to do so. Minimize movement, using the same technique as if there were no headgear. Care for Head, neck or back injury: Call or have someone else call or the local emergency number Minimize movement of the head, neck and back by placing your hands on both sides of the person s head. Maintain an open airway. Have the person remain in the position in which you found him or her until advanced medical personnel arrive and take over. If the head is turned sharply to one side, do not try to align it. Support the head in the position you find it. Monitor the ABC s (Airway, Breathing and Circulation and severe bleeding)

5 Although you may not be able to determine the cause of shock, you should recognize the signs: Restlessness or irritability Altered consciousness Pale, cool, moist skin Rapid breathing Rapid pulse SHOCK: the shutting down of the circulatory system. Care for Shock: Have the patient lie down, if possible and rest comfortably Control external bleeding, if any Maintain normal body temperature Reassure the patient If a head, neck or back injury is NOT suspected elevate legs 12 inches Do NOT give anything to eat or drink CALL 911 Sudden Illness: Some illnesses develop over time, while others can strike without a moment s notice. By knowing the signals of sudden illness and paying careful attention to details at the emergency scene, you can determine how best to help a person with sudden illness. General guidelines of care for sudden illnesses include --- Fainting: o Do no further harm Fainting is characterized by a temporary loss of consciousness o Monitor breathing and consciousness that could be a signal of a more serious underlying condition. o Help the person rest in the most comfortable position Fainting is caused by a temporary reduction of blood flow to the o Keep the person from getting chilled of overheated. brain such as when blood pools in the legs and lower body. o Reassure the person Fainting is usually a self-correcting condition. When the person o Give any specific care needed. collapses, normal circulation to the brain resumes. As long as the person recovers quickly and has no lasting Diabetic Emergency: signals, you may not need to call or the local emergency The condition is which the body does not produce enough number. insulin or does not use insulin effectively is called diabetes However, it may be appropriate to have a bystander or family mellitus. member take the person to a physician or emergency department If the person is conscious and able to swallow, give him or to determine if the fainting episode is linked to a more serious her sugar in the form of fruit juice, candy, a non-diet soft condition. drink or table sugar, either dry or dissolved in a glass of water. If the person is not able to swallow or a form of sugar is not readily available, call or the local emergency number. Seizures: When injury, disease, fever, poisoning or infection disrupts normal functions of the brain, the electrical activity of the brain becomes irregular. This irregularity can cause a sudden loss of body control known as a seizure. If a person is having a seizure, protect him or her from injury. Remove nearby objects that could cause injury. Protect the person s head. Call or the local emergency number for any of the following situations: o The seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes o The person has repeated seizures, without regaining consciousness o The person is injured o The person has diabetes or is pregnant Poisonings: A poison is any substance that can cause injury, illness or death when introduced into the body. Poisons enter the body by: inhalation, swallowed, absorption or injection. If there is a life threatening condition found (e.g. a person who has an altered level of consciousness, unconscious, not breathing) Call If you think someone has been poisoned, call the Poison Control Center and follow their directions. Stroke: A stroke, also called a brain attack, is a blockage of blood flow to a part of the brain. It can cause permanent damage to the brain if the blood flow is not restored. Signs: Weakness or numbness on one side including face or arm or leg Difficulty speaking or slurred speech Sudden dizziness Blurred vision or sudden severe headache Care: Think F.A.S.T Face weakness on one side of the face Arm weakness or numbness in one arm Speech slurred speech or trouble getting words out. Time time to call if you see any of these signals and note the time that the signals began Allergic Reactions: Insect bites or stings or contact with certain drugs, medications, foods and chemicals can cause allergic reactions. If the person is suffering a severe allergic reaction from an insect bite or sting, or from eating a certain type of food, use the emergency action steps, Check-Call-Care. The person may have a medical kit to treat severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis. Assist the person as needed with using the kit until help arrives. You may need special training in order to assist with this medication.