Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

COMMON EMERGENCIES
Course Objective:

By the end of this course, the delegates will be able to:

Define the meaning of First aid and First Aider
Enumerate the Principles of a First Aider
Identify common emergencies in adults
Such as:
Choking
Bleeding
Shock
Burns and scalds
Fracture
Heat emergencies.

First Aid
Is the management of a sudden illness or injury provided before the emergency
service arrive to provide professional medical care.

Principles of First Aid

Bridge that fills the gap between the patient and allied medical personnel
Ensure the safety of everyone
Determine any threats to the patients life
Provide needed care to the patient
Assist medical personnel as needed
Summon more advance care as needed.

COMMON EMERGENCIES

A.) BLEEDING - leaking of blood outside the blood

vessel. Could be internal or external.

Page 1
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

First Aid:

a) Scene Safety and wear BSI

b) Proper positioning
c) Elevate the affected area above heart
level.
d) Inspect the injury
e) Apply direct pressure with a sterile
dressing
f) Apply a snugly fitting bandage
g) Summon help
h) Apply and indirect pressure

B.) SHOCK- A condition wherein the body

has insufficient or failure of blood to circulate throughout the
body following an injury.
TYPES OF SHOCK

1. Cardiogenic Shock - Poor Pump Mechanism

Injury : Heart Attack
2. Hypovolemic Shock - Decreased Blood Volume
Injury : Open wound
3. Neurogenic Shock - Blood Vessels Dilate
Injury : Drug overdose
4. Anaphylactic Shock - Severe allergic Reaction
Injury : Bee sting

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

EARLY STAGE:

Pale or bluish skin (Figure. 1.1)

Cold and clammy skin
Fast and shallow breathing
Body weakness
Thirst Figure 1.1 Figure
1.2
Dizziness
Nausea and vomiting (Figure 1.2)

LATE STAGE:
Unconsciousness (Fig 2.1)

Page 2
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

Eyes are sunken with vacant expression (Fig 2.2)

Pupils are dilated (Fig 2.3)
Body temperature drops
Figure 2.1
Figure 2.3

Figure 2.2

Shock First Aid:

1.) PRIMARY SURVEY

Asses ABC (Airway, Breathing, CPR) and maintain open airway.
2.) PROPER POSITION
Help in a lying position (Except for victim with heart/ breathing
problem and spinal cord injury)
Raise the leg up.
Loosen restrictive clothing.
3.) PROPER BODY HEAT
Asses body temperature and provide insulation.

C.) BURNS AND SCALDS

Any injury to the skin caused by heat, friction, radiation and electricity.
Burns characterized by dry heat.
Scalds caused by hot liquid or steam.

Page 3
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

Degrees of burn:

FIRST DEGREE-Includes only the outer layer of skin, the epidermis.

SECOND DEGREE- Involve the entire epidermis and upper layers of the dermis.
THIRD DEGREE- All layers of the skin is destroyed

Page 4
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

Burn/ Scald First Aid:

Stop the burning process as soon as possible

Remove any clothing or jewelry near the burnt area of skin
Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm water for 10-30 minutes
Cover the burn with cling film in a layer over the burn, rather than
by wrapping it around a limb.
Electrical Burn First Aid:

Seek immediate medical attention

Remove the casualty from the source of electrocution.
Do not approach a person who is connected to a high-voltage source
(1,000 volts or more).

Note: If the person has been injured by a low-voltage source, up to 220-240 volts (such as a
domestic electricity supply), safely switch off the power supply or remove the person from
the electrical source using a non-conductive material ( e.g wood stick or chair)

Chemical Burn First Aid:

Wear your BSI

remove any affected clothing from the person who has been burnt
if the chemical is in a dry form, brush it off the skin
use running water to remove any traces of the chemical from the burnt area

WARNING
do not attempt to remove anything that is stuck to the burnt
Never use ice, iced water
Never use any creams or greasy substances, such as butter, lotion or
toothpaste

Page 5
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP IF:

3rd degree burn

Burn in the neck and face
Burn in the genitals
Burn in hands and feet
Burn across the joint.

D.) HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE

Heat exhaustion is a mild heat related illness with core body
temperature of more than 38.8C
Heat Stroke is a real medical emergency that may be fatal if not
attended to or treated

Page 6
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

FIRST AID FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE:

Remove from hot area.

Give liquids (if conscious).
Have victim lie down and elevate feet at least 12 inches.
Remove excess clothing
Provide proper ventilation
Provide cold compress (neck, armpit and groin)
Continue to monitor ABC until help arrives.

F. NOSE BLEED (EPISTAXIS)

Most common causes:
Dry air when your nasal membranes dry out, they're more susceptible to
bleeding and infections
Nose picking
Other causes:
Trauma to the nose
Common colds

Page 7
 Basic First Aid (COMMON EMERGENCIES)

Nosebleed First Aid

Sit upright and lean

forward.
Pinch your nose for 5 10
minutes
Repeat.

Page 8