FIRST AID

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

Role and Responsibilities of First Aider

1. Bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician
2. Ensure personal safety and that of patient /bystanders
3. Gain access to the victim
4. Determine any threats to the patient’s life
5. Summon more advanced medical care as needed.
6. Provide needed care for the patient
7. Assist emergency medical technician (EMT) and medical personnel
8. Record all assessments and care given to the patient

Objective of First Aid

1. To alleviate suffering
2. To prevent added injury or danger
3. To prolong life

Need and value of first aid

1. To minimize if not totally prevent, accident
2. To prevent added injury or danger
3. To train people to do the right thing at the right time
4. Accidents happen and sudden illness are common and often serious
5. People very often harm rather than help
6. Proper and immediate care is necessary to save life or limb

Characteristics of a good first aider

1. Gentle – should not cause unnecessary pain
2. Good judgment- should weigh the consequences of each action taken
3. Observant- should notice all signs
4. Resourceful- makes the best use of the materials
5. Empathic- should be comforting to the victim
6. Tactful- those words do not alarm the victim
7. Cheerful- a happy expression that inspires confidence
8. Common sense- should be prudent

Guidelines for giving emergency care

1. Getting started
 Plan your action
 Gather needed materials
 Initial response as follows
A - Ask for help
I - Intervene
D -Do not further harm

Emergency action principles

a. Survey the scene
b. Do a primary survey of the victim
A Airway
B Breathing
 C Circulation
c. Activate medical assistance or transfer facility
d. Do a secondary survey of the victim
a. Interview the victim
b. Check victims vital signs
Pulse Rate
Respiratory Rate
Blood Pressure
Skin Temperature
Capillary Refill
c. Do a neurologic examination on victim
A Alertness
V Response to verbal command
P Response to painful stimulus
U Unresponsiveness
d. Check the history of the victim
S Signs and symptoms
A Allergy
M Medication
P Past illness
L Last meal prior to emergency
E Event
e. Do a head to toe examination on the victim
1. Look or the cuts and other signs of injury on the head
2. Check and compare the pupils of both eyes
a. Dilated pupils – excessive bleeding and shock
b. Constricted pupils – heat stroke or drug overdose
c. Pupils of unequal size – stroke or head injury
3. Check for fluid
4. Gently fell the sides of the neck for sign of injury
5. Check and compare both collar bones and shoulders
6. Check the chest, rib cage and sternum
7. Check the victims abdomen for tenderness
8. Check the hip bone for the possible fracture by pressing it slowly downward and inward
9. Check for capillary perfusion
10. Check the legs one at a time
11. Check the arms one at a time
12. Check the spinal cord column by placing the victim in a side lying position and by pressing gently
from the cervical region down to the lumber region for possible injury
f. Record all assessments, time and action taken
g. Keep the injured person warm
Classification of open wound

Transmission of the diseases

1. How diseases transmitted

a. Direct contact transmission when a person touches an infected persons body fluids
b. Indirect contact transmission when a person touches objects that have been contaminated by the blood or
another body fluid of an infected person
c. Airborne transmission when a person inhales infected droplets that have become airborne as an person
cough or sneezes
d. Vector transmission when an animal such as a dog or an insect as tick, transmit a pathogen into body
through a bite

2. Body substance isolation BSI

Precautions are taken to isolate or prevent risk of exposure from any other type of bodily substance
Precautions and practices are as follows:
 Personal Hygiene
 Protective Equipment
 Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting

First Aid equipment and Supplies

1. Basic Equipment
 Spine board
 Short board’s
 Sets of splints
 Blankets

2. Suggested First Aid Kit Content’s

3. Cloth materials commonly used in First Aid

 Dressing or Compress any sterile cloth materials used to cover the wound
Other uses of a dressing or compress:
 Control bleeding
 Protect the wound from infection
 Absorb liquid from the wound such as blood plasma and water
Kinds of dressing
 Roller gauze
 Square eye pads
 Compress or adhesive
Bandages any clean cloth materials sterile or not used to hold the dressing in place
 Other uses of bandages
Control Bleeding
Tie splints in place
Immobilizes body parts
For arm support use as a sling
Soft tissue injuries
Wound - any acquired break in the continuity of the skin whether internal or external

Two Classification of Wounds

Closed wound- Involves the underlying tissue without break/damage in the skin or mucous membrane

Sign and symptoms

a. Pain and tenderness
b. Swelling
c. Discoloration
d. Symptoms of shock
e. Uncontrolled restlessness

First Aid Management

a. I Ice application
b. C Compression
c. E Elevation
d. S Splinting

Open wound- A break in the skin or mucous membrane; or the protective skin layer is damage.

Classification of open wound

KIND CAUSES CHARACTERISTICS DANGERS
Abrasion Scrapping or rubbing Wide Dirty Infection
Puncture Penetrating pointed Deep and narrow Hemorrhage
instrument such as Infection
nails, ice picks shock
Incision Sharp bladed Clean cuts edges, deep Hemorrhage
instrument such as severe Infection
blades, razors shock
Laceration Blunt instrument Torn w/ irregular Hemorrhage
such broken glasses edges Infection
shock
Avulsion Explosion, animal Tissue forcefully Hemorrhage
bites , mishandling separated from the Infection
tools body shock

Kinds of bleeding

1. Capillary- this type of bleeding ex expected in all minor cuts, scratches and abrasion
2. Venous- characterized by an even flow of blood
3. Arterial- characterized by an irregular spurting of blood

First Aid Management

Wound with severe bleeding

1. Control bleeding
a. Direct pressure- with the use of a compress is applied directly over the wound
b. Elevation- raise the bleeding part above level of victim’s hear if you don’t suspect a broken bone and if
elevating the injury doesn’t cause the victim more pain
c. pressure point bleeding control- compress the major artery that supplies the blood to the injured area

2. Cover the wound

3. Care of shock
4. Consult or refer to physician

Wound with bleeding not severe

-Clean the wound with soap water
-Apply mild antiseptics
-Cover wound with dressing and bandage

Burns - is an injury involving the skin including muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels.
- Results from heat. Chemicals, electricity or solar or other forms of radiation
Common Causes
1. Carelessness with match and cigarette smoking
2. Scald from hot liquid
3. Defective heating cooking and electrical equipment
 4. Immersion I overheated bath water
5. Use of such chemical, as strong acids and strong detergents

Factors Determine the Seriousness of Burns

1. Depth
a. Superficial (First Degree) involve only the top layer of the skin the epidermis
b. Partial (Second –degree) involve the epidermis and some portion of the dermis
c. Full thickness (Third-degree) extend through all skin layer and involve subcutaneous
2. Location of the burn
a. Hands
b. Feet
c. Face
d. Chest
e. Genitals
3. Victim’s age and medical condition

Types of Burn Injuries

1. Thermal Burns- contact with hot objects, flammable vapor that ignites and causes a flash or an explosion,
and steam or hot liquids

Care for thermal burns

1. Relieve pain by immersing the burned area in cold water or by applying a wet clod cloth
2. Cover the burn with a dry, nonsticking sterile dressing or clean cloth

Care for third degree burns

1. Cover the burn with a dry, nonsticking sterile dressing or clean cloth
2. Treat the victim of shock

Care for Scald Burn

1. Cover with a cool, moist, sterile dressing and transport the patient to the nearest hospital
2. Do not apply ointment, grease or butter

2. Chemical Burns-a wide range agents is capable of causing tissue damage and death on contact with the
skin

Care for chemical burns

1. Immediately remove the chemical by flushing with water. Brush dry powder chemicals from the skin,
before flushing, unless large amount of water are immediately available.
2. Remove the victim’s contaminated clothing while flushing with the water
3. Flush for 20 mins or longer. Let water wash with a mild soap before a final rinse.
4. Cover the burned area with a dry dressing or for large areas a clean pillowcase
5. If the chemical is in the eye, flood it for at least 20 mins using low pressure
6. Seek medical attention immediately for all chemical burns

3. Electrical Burns- the injury severity from exposure to electrical current depends on the type of current the
(direct or alternating current)voltage, the area of the body exposed and the duration of contact

Care for electrical burns

1. Make sure the area is safe. Unplug disconnect or turn off the power. If that is impossible, call the Power
Company or ask foe help
2. Check the ABC
3. If the victim fell check for spine injury
4. Treat the victim for shock by elevating the legs 8-12 inches and prevent heat loss by covering the victim
with coat or blanket
5. Seek medical attention immediately. Electrical injuries are treated in burn center
Specific Body Injuries
Care of Eye Injuries
1. Blows to the eye
- Apply an ice pack immediately for about 15 mins to reduce pain and swelling.
-Do not exert pressure on the eye
-Seek medical attention immediately in cases of pain reduced vision or discoloration (a back aye)

2. Chemical Burn
- Use your finger to keep the eye open as wide as possible
- Flush the eye with water immediately. Hold the victim’s head under a faucet or pour water into the eye
from any clan container for at least 20 mins continuously and gently
Tell the victim to roll eyeball as much as possible to help wash out the eye
-Loosely bandage both eyes with cold wet dressings
-Seek medical attention

3. Eye knocked out

- Cover the eye loosely with sterile dressing that has been moistened with clean water. Zdo not try psuh
the eyeball back into the socket
-Protect the injured eye with a paper cup, cardboard folded into a cone or a doughnut-shaped cravat
bandage
-Cover the undamaged eye with a patch to stop movement of the damaged eye
-Seek medical attention

4. Foreign Object
- Try flushing the object out by rinsing the eye gently with warm water
-Examine the lower lid by pulling it down gently. If you can see the object, remove it with a moistened
gauze or clean cloth
-Many foreign bodies lodge under the upper eyelid

Care for impaled objects

Is an object that is embedded in an open wound. Is should never e remove in the flied unless it is through
the patient’s cheek or it interferes with airway management or CPR.
1. Do not remove or moved an impaled object. Movement of any kind could produce additional bleeding
and tissue damage
2. Expose the area. Remove or cut away any clothing surrounding the injury
3. Control any bleeding with direct pressure
4. Stabilize the object. Secure a bulky dressing or clean cloth around the object
5. Shorten the object only if necessary. In most cases do not shorten the object by cutting or breaking it
6. When cutting off or shortening the object allows for easier transportation. Be sure to stabilize the
object shortening it.

Care for amputations

1. Control the bleeding with direct pressure and elevate the extremity. Apply dry dressing or bulky
cloths
2. Treat the victim shock
3. Recover the amputated part and whenever possible take it with the victim
4. To care for amputated body part
- If possible rinse it with clean water remove any debris; do not scrub. The amputated portion does not
need to be cleaned
- Wrap the amputated part with a dry a gauze or clean cloth
-Put the wrapped amputated part in a plastic bag or water proof container
-Place the bag or container with the wrapped part on a bed of ice
 5. Seek medical attention immediately

Care for sucking chest

1. Have the victim take a breath and let it out; then seal the wound with anything available to stop air
from entering the chest cavity. Plastic wrap or plastic bag works well. Tape it in place with one corner
untapped.
2. If the victim has a trouble breathing or seems to be getting worse, remove the plastic cover to let air
escape, then reapply
3. Seek medical attention

Care for Abdominal Injuries

1. Cover protruding organ with dressing or clean cloth
2. Pour drinkable water on the dressing to keep the organ from drying out
3. Seek medical attention

Dressing and Bandages

Guidelines in using dressing bandages
1. Use dressing that is large enough to extend at least 1 beyond the edge of the edged of the wound
2. If the body tissue or organ expose, cover the wound with the dressing that will not stick, such as plastic
wrap or moistened gauze. Then secure the dressing with the bandages or adhesive tape
3. If the bandages is over a joint, splint and makes the bulky dressing so that the joint remains immobilized
4. A bandages should fit snugly but should not cut off circulation or cause the victim discomfort
5. Bandages techniques depends upon:
Size and location of the wound
Your first aid skills
Materials at hand

Bandaging Techniques
1. Triangular bandage
 Open Phase
Head(topside)
Face; back of the head
Chest; back of the chest
Hand; foot
 Cravat Phase
Forehead; eye
Ear; check; jaw
Shoulder; hip
Arm; leg
Elbow; knee (straight; bent)
Palm pressure bandage
Palm bandage of open hand
2. Roller Bandage
 Spiral
Open
Closed
Spiral reverse
 Figure of eight
 Recurrent with spinal turns

Shock- is a depressed condition of many body vital functions due of enough blood to circulate throughout the
body following serious injuries
Basic Cause of Shock
1. Pump failure The heart does not generate enough energy to moved the blood trough the system
2. Hypovolemia Blood or fluid loss from blood vessels decrease blood volume usually result of bleeding and
result in adequate perfusion
3. Blood vessels dilate The blood vessels can dilate enough that the blood within them, even through it is
normal volume is in adequate to fill the system and provide efficient perfusion

Causes
1. Severe bleeding 6. Anaphylaxis
2. Crashing injury 7. Shell bomb and bullet wound
3. Infection 8. Rupture of tubal pregnancies
4. Heart attack
5. Perforations

Factors which contribute shock

1. Pain
2. Rough handling
3. Improper transfer
4. Continuous bleeding
5. Exposure to extreme cold water
6. Fatigue

Danger of Shock
1. Lead to death
2. Predisposes body to infections
3. Leads to loss of the body parts

Kinds of Shock
1. Cardiogenic Shock The victim is in a shock as result of a heart attack
2. Anaphylactic Shock Develop when an individual comes in contact with a foreign proteins substance
know as allergen which has becomes sensitive
3. Hypovolemic Shock Commonly a result of fluid or blood loss, also result fro severe thermal burns
4. Psychogenic Shock or Fainting The result is temporary deduction of blood supply to the brain because
the blood momentarily pools in the dilated vessels in the other parts of the body
5. Neurogenic Shock Accompanies spinal cord injury is best treated by a combination of all know
supported measures
6. Metabolic Shock The result of an illness that has been present for a long time or has been extremely
over the brief period
7. Respiratory Shock The proper emergency management of shock as a result of inadequate respiration
involves the immediate securing and maintaining of an airway
8. Septic Shock some patients who have severe bacterial infection, toxins (poison) can be penetrated by the
bacteria of by infected body tissue

Poison Any substance solid, liquid or gas that tends to impair health or causes death when introduced into the
body or onto he skin surface

Causes
Common in suicide attempts
Occasional accidental poisoning

Ways in which poisoning may occur:

1. Ingestion That is introduced into the digestive tract by way of the mouth
 2. Inhaled Poisons A poison breathed into the lungs
3. Injected Poisons A poisons that enters the body through a bite or syringe
4. Absorb Poisons A poison that enters the body through the skin

General Care for Poisoning

1. Survey the scene to makes it safe to approach and gathered clues about what happens
2. Remove the victim from the source of the poisons
3. Do a primary survey to assist the victim ABCs
4. Care for any life threatening condition
5. If the victim conscious, do secondary survey to gather additional information
6. Contact hospitals with or without poison center and or summon more advanced medical personnel
7. Do not give victim anything by mouth unless advice by medical professional

Emergency Rescue
Is a rapid movement of patient from unsafe place to place of safety

Indication for emergency rescue

1. Danger of fire or explosion
2. Danger of toxic gases or asphyxia due lack of oxygen
3. Serious traffic hazard
4. Risk of drowning
5. Danger of electrocution
6. Danger of collapsing walls

Transfer Moving a patient from one place to another after giving first aid

1. The first aider may need to initiate of the patient to shelter, home or medical aid. Skill in the use of
simple technique of transfer must be practiced and selection and use of correct method is necessary.
1. Nature and severity of the injury
2. Size of the victim
3. Physical capabilities of the first aider
4. Number of personnel and equipment available
5. Nature of evacuation route
6. Distance to be covered
7. Sex of the victim (last consideration)
2. Pointers to be observe during transfer
1. Victim’s survey must be maintained open
2. Hemorrhage is controlled
3.Vicitm is safely maintain in the correct position
4. Regular check of the victim’s condition is made
5. Supporting bandages and dressing remain effectively applied
6. The method of transfer is safe, comfortable and as speedy as circumstances permit
7. The patients body is moved as one unit
8. The taller first aiders stay at the head of the victim
9. First aider/bearers must observed ergonomics in lifting and moving of the patient
3. Methods of transfer
 One man assist/carries/drags
Assist to walk
Carry in arms (cradle)
Packstrap carry
Piggy back
Fireman’s carry
 Fireman’s drag
Blanket drag
Armpit/shoulder drag
Cloth drag
Feet drag
Inclined drag(head first-passing a stairway)
 Two man carries
Assist to walk
Four-hand seat
Hands as a liter
Carry by extremities
Fireman’s carry with assistance
 Three man carries
Bearers along aside (for narrow alleys)
Hammock carry
 Four/Six/Eight-man carry
 Blanket (demonstrate the insertion, testing lifting of blanket)
 Improvised stretcher using two poles with:
Blanket
Empty sacks
Shirts or coats
Triangular bandages

Triage the process use in sorting into categories of priority for care and transport base on the severity of injuries
and medical emergencies
1. The START (Simple triage and Rapid Treatment)is one method of triage that has proven to be effective.
Patients evaluation is based on three primary observation
 Respiration
 Perfusion
 Mental Status
 Under this system patients are tagged for easy recognition
2. Tagging of patient
 Priority one (red tag) immediate care life threatening
Airway and breathing difficulties
Cardiac arrest if sufficient personnel are available
In controlled or suspected severe bleeding
Severe head injury
Severe medical problems; poisoning, diabetic and cardiac emergencies
Open chest or abdominal wounds
shock
 Priority two (yellow tag) urgent care; can delay transport and treatment to one hour
Burns
Major or multiple fractures
Back injuries w/ or w/o spinal cord damage
 Priority three (green tag) delayed care; can delay transport and treatment to one hour
Previously mortal wounds where death appears reasonable certain
Obvious dead
 Priority four (black tag) no care required patients is dead

Spinal Injury Management

1. Situations when spinal injuries occur

2. si