Chapter 14: First Aid - First Aid Basics
There are basic guiding principles that need to be followed in all First Aid emergency situations:
2. / It is essential to call for professional help promptly - dial 9-1-1 immediately!
3. / Calmly and swiftly assess the emergency, and recognize the problem.
4. / Give care based on your skills and knowledge.
5. / Stay at the scene to comfort and calm the ill or injured person until help arrives.
6. / Do not immediately move the ill or injured person. If you act inappropriately, the injury may worsen.
Consent
It is vital that you do not provide First Aid to a person that refuses to give you permission. Follow these steps:
2. / If the person agrees, give First Aid.
3. / If the person refuses help, activate EMS (call 9-1-1).
- Always check for medical tags on the ill or injured, especially on the neck, wrist, and ankle; pass the information on to the EMS.
4. / If the person is confused, assume that they want your help.
Chapter 15: First Aid - Safety Precautions
It is important to always check the scene and ensure your safety first. Remember that dialing 9-1-1 is one of the most important steps you can take to save another's life.
2. / While helping the victim, protect yourself from transmission of possible diseases.
- Use preventive breathing barriers / personal protective equipment (PPE) when available. [View Tip]
- Try to cover your own cuts, sores, wounds, and any skin conditions with a bandage before responding.
3. / Use disposable gloves to avoid direct contact with blood / bodily fluids. [View Tip for Glove Removal]
4. / Washing your hands properly is extremely important. Always use soap and water after removing your gloves. [View Tip]
5. / If you suspect that a victim has suffered a spinal or neck injury, do not move or shake the victim.
Other General Safety Measures:
1. / Post important emergency numbers near your phone i.e., local emergency contact, poison control center, your physician, and etc.2. / Adopt all safety measures when driving or riding a motor vehicle.
3. / Install and/or check smoke alarm in your home. Be sure to check and change batteries periodically.
4. / Keep flashlights and fire extinguishers where they are easily accessible, and out of the reach of children.
5. / Keep all chemical, medicines, hazardous, poisonous, and flammable material in a secured place and away from a child’s reach.
6. / Practice safe firearms storage, handling, and education.
Chapter 16: First Aid - Breathing Emergencies
Defined:
A breathing emergency (considered to be a medical emergency) is any respiratory problem that can threaten a person’s life. It can range from not being able to take a breath to not being able to breathe at all.
Allergic reactions
Asthma
Chest injury or infection
Choking
Fear, pain or anxiety
Fumes inhalation
Heart attack
Heart disease or heart failure
Infection (i.e., pneumonia), collapsed or punctured lungs
Injury to the head, neck or chest
Smoking
Signs and Symptoms:
Breathing is very rapid or very slow
Chest pain
Confused and aggressive behavior
Cough
Noisy breathing (wheezing or whistling sounds)
Pale or blue face, lips and fingers
Shortness of breath or troubled breathing
Common Emergency Example(s):
Asthma:
Asthma is the third highest cause of hospitalization amongst those under the age of 15. Many people that have this medical condition are aware of it and carry an inhaler for use in an emergency.
Asthma attacks can be triggered by many things, such as:
/- Plants and mold
- Perfume
- Dust, smoke, and air pollution
- Fear, anxiety and strong emotional display
- Medications
- Pets, animal fur, feathers, carpets, rugs
- Rapid changing temperatures
- Strenuous exercise
First Aid Actions / Treatment:
2 / Ask the person if he/she has prescribed medication. Get the medicine for the person if he/she cannot access it.
- Help the person utilize an inhaler or epi-pen if he/she has one.
3 / Call 9-1-1 if the person does not have medicine or the breathing emergency worsens.
4 / Loosen any tight clothing (especially around the neck).
5 / Try to keep the person calm, and stay with the person until advanced medical help arrives.
6 / If necessary, provide CPR. If you do not know how, give Hands-Only CPR.
Chapter 17: First Aid - Choking Emergencies
Defined:
A choking emergency (considered to be a medical emergency) is when an obstruction (object or food) blocks the airway and prevents air from getting to the lungs. The person is not able to breathe normally or cough. This section covers adult and child choking emergencies.
Consumption of alcohol / drugs
Hard objects (i.e., marbles, coins) are more common hazards amongst children
Not chewing food properly
Poor fitting dental work
Talking or laughing while eating
Signs and Symptoms:
Coughing
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Gasping
Holding the neck with one or both hands; using the universal choking sign
Inability to talk
Panic
Passing out
Turning blue
Shortness of breath or troubled breathing
First Aid Actions / Treatment:
2 / Stand or kneel behind the person.
3 / Make a fist with one hand and place it on the person’s abdomen just above the belly button.
4 / Grab your fist with the other hand and give quick, upward abdominal thrusts.
5 / Continue abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged and the person can breathe or cough forcefully, OR person becomes unconscious.
6 / For pregnant women or someone too large for you, give chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.
7 / If an adult or child becomes unconscious, follow the steps to perform adult / child CPR.
Chapter 18: First Aid - Nervous System Emergencies
Defined:
The relationship between the brain and its central nervous system is very interrelated with the functioning of each and every other part of the body. The nervous system controls: the five senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch), the ability to think and reason, voluntary and involuntary functions, and regulates blood flow and blood pressure.
For this reason, head and spinal injuries may have a very significant affect on another part of the body. Prompt and timely First Aid given to nervous system emergencies is very crucial.
Degenerative diseases, such as: Parkinsons, Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Infections
Mental health problems, such as: depression, anxiety disorders
Organ failure, such as: heart failure
Problems with blood supply
Trauma to the head or spinal cord
Tumors
Signs and Symptoms:
Chest discomfort: squeezing, pain, pressure
Confusion
Discomfort in: arms, back, neck, jaw, abdomen
Fluid or blood drainage from the nose or ears
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Numbness, weakness, tingling
Paralysis (inability to move one part or any part of the body)
Seizures
Shortness of breath: nausea, sweating, dizziness
Slurred speech, loss of speech, trouble speaking
Common Emergency Example(s):
Heart Attack:
A heart attack develops when blood flow is blocked and a segment of your heart muscle / tissue dies or is damaged.
Most commonly you can tell if someone is having a heart attack if they complain of chest pain. They may also experience uncomfortable pressure, nausea, shortness of breath, and/or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw and abdomen.
Seizure:
A seizure is a sudden attack, which involves abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A person may experience mild shakes or more severe convulsions (rapid and uncontrollable shaking). Most seizures will stop within a few minutes of onset.
Seizures can be caused by head injuries, poisons, missed medications, low blood sugar or a medical condition called epilepsy.
Stroke:
A stroke usually occurs very suddenly when there is a problem with the blood supply to the brain. The supply gets blocked or a blood vessel within the brain ruptures.
Some specific signs and symptoms include: sudden and severe headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness or balance, slurred speech, drooling, inability to understand words, weakness, and/or paralysis on one side of the body.
Spinal / Head Injuries:
The spinal cord primarily transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and controls reflexes. Injuries to the spine can cause a person to lose the inability to move parts of the body.
A person may have a spinal or head injury if he/she was struck in the head/spine, fell, was assaulted, experienced a sports injury, or was in a car / motor vehicle accident (without a helmet).
The person may suddenly get sleepy, experience nausea, vomit, get a headache, have trouble walking and talking or not respond all together.
First Aid Actions / Treatment:
2 / Activate EMS (Call 9-1-1) and follow the dispatcher instructions.
3 / Get an AED or First Aid kit if available.
4 / If person is experiencing:
- Heart attack: if the person is not allergic to aspirin, is not bleeding and is not showing signs of a stroke, give him/her an aspirin (1 regular dose or 2 low-dose)
- Seizure: remove any object which may hurt the person; do not restrain the person; place in recovery position if the person is vomiting and you don’t suspect a head, neck or back injury
- Stroke: note the time the stroke first begin and place person in recovery position, if the person is unconscious and you don’t suspect a head, neck or back injury
- Spinal / Head Injury: do not move the person unless the scene becomes unsafe; place in recovery position (minimize movement of head and neck) if the person begins to vomit
5 / If necessary, provide CPR. If you do not know how, give Hands-Only CPR.
Chapter 19: First Aid - Allergy Emergencies
Defined:
When a person has an allergy, he or she experiences an immune response to a substance that is usually not harmful. An allergy emergency may occur if a person is exposed to this allergen. An allergic reaction may become severe if not treated in a timely manner.
Animals (i.e., cats, dogs)
Ant bites
Bee stings
Chocolate
Eggs
Medication (i.e., penicillin)
Peanuts
Pollen, dust, mold
Specific plants / chemicals in plants
Wasp stings
Signs and Symptoms:
Itchy skin
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (stomach pain)
Rash, hives, redness
Signs of shock
Stuffy nose, sneezing
Swelling of the tongue and face
Troubled breathing
Common Emergency Example(s):
Anaphylaxis:
This is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It occurs suddenly, and within seconds or minutes after contact with the allergen.
A reaction of troubled breathing can cause obstructions in the airway and even lead to shock. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment, including the epinephrine injection and a trip to the hospital.
First Aid Actions / Treatment:
2 / Activate EMS (Call 9-1-1).
3 / Get a First Aid kit if available.
4 / Many people that have an allergy carry an epinephrine pen. If the person responds, and has an epinephrine pen, help him get it. The person should know how to use it and can administer himself if necessary. If you are allowed to use an epinephrine pen, ask for consent and administer the injection.
5 / Rub the spot for 10 seconds, dispose of the injection properly and record what time the shot was given.
6 / If necessary, provide CPR. If you do not know how, give Hands-Only CPR.
Chapter 20: First Aid - Bites and Sting Emergencies
Defined:
Accidents from bites and stings can happen at home, work or even while you are traveling. It’s important to understand the various types of bites and stings and what First Aid care should be provided. If one experiences an allergic reaction to the bite / sting, First Aid may involve the use of an epinephrine pen (Chapter 7).
Animal and human bites
Bee, Wasp stings
Insect (ant), spider and snake bites
Jellyfish sting
Scorpion bites and stings
Ticks
Signs and Symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Feeling generally unwell
Joint pain
Lack of appetite
Muscle spasms
Puncture marks on the skin
Rash, headache and fever
Common Emergency Example(s):
Animal and Human Bites:
A bite that punctures the skin can cause bleeding and lead to an infection. Bites that do not break the skin may require minor First Aid. It’s important to understand that the reaction to a punctured bite will vary depending on the germs that were in the biter’s mouth / saliva.
If you notice that an animal is acting strangely, be sure to keep your distance. Some animals may carry rabies and require immediate medical attention, i.e., dog, cat, skunk, bat, raccoon or other wild animals.
Snake Bite:
Poisonous snakes release venom when they bite. You should always assume that a snake is poisonous if you are not able to tell from the bite mark. Symptoms of a poisonous snakebite can include: pain, swelling near the bite area, nausea, vomiting and weakness.
Stings- Bee, Wasp, Spider, Scorpion, Insect:
Unless a person is allergic to the source of the sting, a person may experience a minor reaction. Stings usually lead to itching, swelling and minor pain.
Remember some stings may be more dangerous, if the source is poisonous (i.e., scorpion, poisonous spider). In these instances a person will experience more severe symptoms such as: fever, severe pain, seizures, vomiting, breathing problems and may even stop responding.
First Aid Actions / Treatment:
2 / Activate EMS (Call 9-1-1).
3 / Get a First Aid kit and wear personal protective equipment.
4 / If person is experiencing:
- Animal / Human bite: apply dressings to stop any bleeding; apply ice on the bite for up to 20 minutes
- Snake bite: don’t move the part of the body that was bitten; remove tight clothing
- Stings: get an epi-pen if a person is allergic to the sting; for a bee sting, scrape away the stinger and poison sac with a dull edge (don’t squeeze the sac); apply ice for up to 20 minutes
- Ticks: grab the tick with tweezers by the head or mouth (don’t twist or squeeze it), and wait for the tick to detach from the skin
- Jellyfish sting: wash the infected area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds
5 / In all instances, clean the bite / sting area with soap and running water.
6 / If necessary for severe reactions, provide CPR. If you do not know how, give Hands-Only CPR.
Chapter 21: First Aid - Heat and Cold-Related Emergencies
Defined:
Overexposure to heat or cold can make a person seriously ill. In this section we will cover heat-related emergencies such as: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. We will also cover cold-related emergencies such as: frostbite and hypothermia.
Causes - Heat-Related Emergency:
1. / Dehydration2. / Excessive clothing in hot / humid temperatures
3. / Excessive sweating
4. / Overexposure to a hot environment
5. / Too much exercise
Causes - Cold-Related Emergency:
1. / Exposure of body parts in below freezing point temperatures2. / Lack of warm clothing / heating in cold environment
3. / Low body temperature
4. / Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures
5. / Wet clothes in a cold area
Signs and Symptoms - Heat-Related Emergency:
1. / Cramps: nausea; vomiting; muscle cramps, spasms or pain; dizziness; exhaustion; sweating2. / Exhaustion: pale, moist or flushed skin; weakness; headache; dizziness; cramps; sweating; faint feeling
3. / Stroke: high body temperature; fainting; dizziness; seizure; nausea and vomiting; cramps
Signs and Symptoms - Cold-Related Emergency:
1. / Frostbite: numbness; skin discoloration: waxy or grayish-yellow skin; black blisters; cold; hardened skin2. / Hypothermia: shivering; numbness; glassy stare; indifference or loss of consciousness; slow pulse and slow breathing; slurred speech; hard and painless body parts; person appears to be dead
Common Emergency Example(s):
Heat Cramps: