Basic First Aid

First Aid
Is an immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill.
It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or delayed.

Roles of a First Aider

-Bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician.
-Ensure safety of him/herself and that of bystanders.
-Gain access to the victim.
-Determine any threats to the patient’s life.
-Summon advanced medical care as needed.
-Provide needed care for the patient.
-Assist advanced personnel.
-Record all finding and care given to the patient.

Objectives of First Aid

-To alleviate suffering
– One of the main objectives is to be able to help to reduce or totally alleviate suffering
-To prevent added/further injury or danger
– Also, sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening, or danger of further injury
-To prolong life
– First aid measures aim to preserve and sustain life. Also, to save the victim from imminent
danger.

Good First Aider

-Gentle – should not cause pain
-Resourceful – should make the best use of things at hand
-Observant – should notice all signs.
-Tactful – should not alarm the victim
-Empathetic – should be comforting
-Respectable – should maintain a professional and caring attitude.
Hindrances in Giving First Aid
-Unfavorable surroundings
-The presence of crowds
-Pressure from victim or relatives
GENERAL GUIDELINES IN ADMINISTERING FIRST AID
Planning of Action – Established based on anticipated needs and available resources.
• Example: Getting to know where the First Aid Kits are located as well as other emergency
equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire alarm switches and fire exits. Also, by being aware of the
emergency numbers such as Ambulance providers, Hospital emergency room, Fire department and
police stations. Getting Started
Gathering of needed materials – Preparation of equipment and personnel. Getting Started

70% Isopropyl Alcohol Povidone Iodine Cotton Balls Sterile Gauze Pads Tongue Depressors
Penlight Band Aid Gloves Set of Scissors and Forceps Triangular Bandage Elastic Bandage Adhesive
Plasters

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

CPR involves chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute in an effort to create
artificial circulation by manually pumping blood through the heart
CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart; its main purpose is to restore partial flow of
oxygenated blood to the brain and heart

CPR Procedure
-Call an Emergency Health Hotline
-Tilt the person’s head back and lift their Chin until their teeth almost touch. Look and Listen for
breathing
-If the person is not Breathing, pinch their nose closed and cover their mouth with yours. Give two full
breath
-Put your hands in the center of the person’s chest. Place one hand on the top of the other. Push down
with the heel of your hand 30 times. Continue with 2 Breaths followed by 30 push until medical help
arrives or the person start moving.
One Person Emergency Moves
-Cradle carry
-Firefighter Carry
-Pack-strap carry
-Piggy back carry
SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
Wounds
– Is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body either internal or external. This can be classified
by two types it’s either Closed Wounds or Open Wounds.

Closed Wound
– Break in the continuity of a body tissue without the skin being broken down.

• Causes:

– Blunt object results in contusion or bruises

– Application of external forces.

• Signs and Symptoms

– Pain and tenderness

– Swelling

– Discoloration

– Hematoma

FIRST AID MANAGEMENT

R – Rest the affected area. Movement may aggravate the closed wound condition.
I – Ice Compress. Apply ice compress to the affected areas. It promotes vasoconstriction and it has an
anesthetic effect.
C – Compression. Application of firm pressure. To avoid further hematoma.
E – Elevate the affected area. (For extremities) To promote venous return of blood and avoid pooling in
the area.
S – Splinting. For immobilizing the affected area. This helps in avoiding unnecessary movements.

Perform further assessment and put the injured person under observation. SEEK FOR MEDICAL ADVICE
IF:
– The pain is unbearable.
– Hematoma is spreading.
– The affected area is the head (including face and neck).
– Involves the spine area.
– Bleeding is noted in mouth, ears and nose.
– Coughing and vomiting of blood.
Open Wound
– is an injury involving an external or internal break in body tissue, usually involving the skin.

Classification of Open Wound

Puncture – wound caused by sharp & pointed object Penetrating the skin.

Abrasion – caused by rubbing/scrapping of the skin against rough surfaces.

Laceration – the skin is torn by sharp objects with irregular edges.

Avulsion – tissues are forcefully separated from the body.

Incision – skin and tissues are cut by a sharp bladed instrument.

Dangers of an Open Wound

• Hemorrhage – severe bleeding.

• Infection – introduction of bacteria/parasites.

• Shock – decreased in circulatory (blood) volume. (a fatal condition)

First Aid Management for Open Wounds

For wounds with severe bleeding
• INSPECT – Inspect for foreign object lodged in the wound area. It can be removed manually by
hand or using pick-up forceps. Flushing with normal saline solution or just clean water is also
applicable.

• CONTROL BLEEDING – Done by applying a sterile absorbent gauze pad over the bleeding site
while applying a firm pressure. Dressing can be secured with a bandage and splints.

• REFER TO A PHYSICIAN – It is essential in severe bleeding wounds. Further medical/surgical

management may be needed like suturing or administration of medications that control
bleeding.

• CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT AND OBSERVATION FOR SHOCK Signs and Symptoms:

Pale/Cyanotic. Cold and Clammy Skin. Irregular Breathing. Weak/Rapid Pulse. Weakness. Thirsty
sensation.

• CLEAN – Clean with mild soap and water.

• DISINFECT – Apply topical antiseptics. Povidone Iodine or Topical Antibacterial (Mupirocin,

Fusidic Acid)

• DRESS – Apply sterile gauze pad with dressing. Secure with adhesive tapes.
Burns
• Is an injury involving the skin, including muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels. This results
from exposure to direct heat (fire), chemicals, electricity, solar or other forms of radiation.

• Classifications:

– Thermal Burns
– Chemical Burns
– Electrical Burns
Thermal Burns
– caused by direct or indirect contact to flames and other hot objects, steams or liquids.

Classified in to 3 according to depth & severity

First Degree Burn

-Affects only the first (epidermis) layer of the skin. Very painful and skin is red.

Second Degree Burn

- Affects the first and second layer (epidermis + dermis) of the skin. Blisters are expected
to form.

Third Degree Burn

- Affects the first and second layer of the skin and may extend up to the proximal
subcutaneous tissues. Usually less painful.

FIRST AID FOR THERMAL BURNS

For First- and Second-Degree Burn.

RELIEVE PAIN – Relieve pain by immersing burned area into clean tap water/iced water for
maximum of 5mins for iced water and 10mins for tap water. Prolonged exposure to extremely
cold temperature may cause total numbness due to extreme vasoconstriction.

COVER – Cover the burned area with clean cloth or dressing (if available) and make sure that it is
non-sticking. If blisters are forming, do not attempt to pop it out to prevent infection. Always
maintain cleanliness on the burned area. Apply Burn Ointment if available.

For Third Degree Burns.

COVER – Cover the burned area with a dry and non-sticking dressing. Do not apply anything unto
the skin. Immersing into water is not advisable.

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY TRANSFER – Continuously monitor for signs of dehydration and
shock. Keep the victim warm by covering with blankets during the transfer. Extend the flexed
burned extremities to avoid contractures.
Chemical Burns
– Burns caused by direct contact of chemical into skin.

– Car battery Solutions

– Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic)

– Bleach

– Ammonia

FIRST AID FOR CHEMICAL BURNS

• Immediately remove the chemical by flushing with water. Remove the victim’s contaminated
clothing. Use mild soap for the final rinse.

• Pat dry the area using clean cloth and apply dressing into affected area.

• If the chemical is in the eye, flush for at least 20minutes using low pressure.

• Seek medical attention immediately for chemical burns.

Electrical Burn
– Electrical burns may be caused by a number of sources of electricity, such as lightning, stun guns and
contact with household current. You may treat minor electrical burns as you would other minor burns.

FIRST AID FOR ELECTRICAL BURN

When to contact your doctor

A person who has been injured by contact with electricity should be seen by a doctor. Sometimes an
electrical injury can cause damage to internal tissues, usually in an arm or a leg. The damage may be
worse than one would expect from the burn on the skin.

Caution

 Don't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current.
 Call 911 or your local emergency number if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or
lightning. Don't get near high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Overhead power lines
usually aren't insulated. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away — farther if wires are
jumping and sparking.
 Don't move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger.

When to seek emergency care

Call 911 or your local emergency number if the injured person experiences:

 Severe burns
 Confusion
 Difficulty breathing
 Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
 Cardiac arrest
 Muscle pain and contractions
 Seizures
 Loss of consciousness

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

 Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from both you and the
injured person using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.
 Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement.
 Try to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.
 Apply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean
cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns.