PED003- FIRST AID AND WATER

SURVIVAL

Hyperventilation

This is a commonly a manifestation of acute anxiety

and may accompany a panic attack. It may occur in
individuals who have recently experienced an
emotional upset or those with history of panic
attack. What to do?

What to do? 1. Call EMS to help. Tella ambulance to control that

you suspect anaphylaxis.
1. When speaking to the casualty be kind and
reassuring. If possible, lead the casualty away to a 2. If the casualty has an auto-injector of adrenaline,
quiet place where she may be able to regain help her to use it. If she is unable to administer it,
control of her breathing more easily and quickly. If and you have been trained, give it to her. Pull off
this is Not possible, ask any bystanders to leave. the safety cal and, holding the auto-injector with
your fist, push the tip firmly against the casualty's
2. Do not advise the casualty to rebreathe her own thigh until it clocks, releasing the medication (it can
air from a paper bag as it may aggravate a more be delivered through clothing). Hold for ten
serious illness. seconds, remove the auto-injector, and then
3. Hyperventilation due to acute anxiety is rare in massage the injection site for ten seconds.
children. Look for other causes. 3. Help the casualty to sit up in the position that
4. Be aware that serious illness may also cause best relieves any breathing difficulty. If she
rapid breathing and anxiety. becomes pale with a weak pulse, help her to lie
down with legs raised and treat for shock.
5. Encourage casualty to seek medical advice on
preventing and controlling panic attacks in the 4. Monitor and record vital signs - breathing, pulse,
future. level of response- while waiting for help to arrive.
Repeated doses of adrenaline can be given at five
minute intervals if there is no improvement of the
symptoms return.
Anaphylactic shock

This is a severe allergic reaction affecting the whole

body. It may develop within seconds or minutes of
contact with a trigger and is potentially fatal.
Allergic Reaction

An allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body's

defense system (immune response) to a normally
harmless "trigger" substance (or allergen).
Common allergy triggers include pollen, dust, nuts,
shellfish, eggs, wasp and bee stings, latex, and
certain medications. Skin changes can be subtle,
absent or variable in some cases.
What to do?

1. Before beginning any treatment, look first, do

not touch. If the casualty is still in contact with the
electrical source, she will be "live" and you risk
electrocution.

2. Turn off the source of electricity, if possible, to

break the contact between the casualty and the
electrical supply. Switch off the current at the
What to do?
mains or meter point if possible. Otherwise remove
1. Assess the casualty's signs and symptoms. Ask if the plug or wrench the cable free.
she has any known allergy.
3. Alternatively, move the source away from both
2. Remove the trigger if possible, or move the you and the casualty. Stand on some dry insulating
casualty from the trigger. material, such as wooden box, plastic mat of
telephone directory. Using a wooden pool or
3. Treat any symptoms. Allow the casualty to take broom, push the casualty's limb away from the
her own medication for a known allergy. electrical source or push the source away from her.
4. If you are at all concerned about the casualty's 4. If it is not possible to break the contact using a
condition, seek medical advice. wooden object, loop a length of rope around the
casualty's ankle or under the arms, taking great
care not to touch her, and pull her away from the
Electric shock source of the electrical current.

When a person is electrocuted, the passage of 5. Once you are sure that the contact between the
electrical current through the body may stun him casualty and the electricity has been broken,
causing his breathing and heartbeat to stop. An perform primary survey and treat injuries in order
electrical burn may appear very small or may not of priority. Call EMS for help.
be visible on the skin, however, the damage the
burn causes can extend deep into the tissues.
Heat Injury Heat Stroke

This condition is caused by a failure of the

"thermostat" in the brain, which regulates body
Heat Exhaustion temperature. The body become dangerously
This disorder is caused by loss of salt and water overheated, usually due to a high fever or
from the body through excessive seating. It usually prolonged exposure to heat. Heatstroke can also
develops gradually and often affects people who result from the use of drugs such as ecstasy. In
are not acclimatized to hot, humid conditions. some cases, heatstroke follows heat exhaustion
People who are unwell, especially those with when sweatung ceases, and the body then cannot
illnesses that cause vomiting and diarrhea, are be cooled by the evaporation of sweat.
more susceptible than others to developing heat What to do?
exhaustion.
For heatstroke, cool the person through whatever
A dangerous and common cause of heat means available. For example:
exhaustion occurs when the body produces more
heat that cope with it. Some non-prescription 1.Put the person in a cool tub of water or a cool
drugs, such as ecstasy, can affect the body's shower.
temperature regulation system. This, combined
2.Spray the person with a garden hose.
with the exertion of dancing in a warm
environment, can result in a person becoming 3.Sponge the person with cool water.
overheated and dehydrated. These effects can lead
to heatstroke and even death. To attend in this 4.Fan the person while misting with cool water.
situation, the following should be observed: 5.Place ice packs or cool, wet towels on the neck,
1. Help the casualty to a cool, shady place. armpits and groin.
Encourage him to lie down and raise and support 6.Cover the person with cool, damp sheets.
his legs.
7.If the person is conscious, offer chilled water, a
2. Give him plenty of water to drink. Oral sports drink containing electrolytes or another
rehydration salts or isotonic drinks will help with nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine.
salt replacement.
8.Begin CPR if the person loses consciousness and
3. Monitor and record vital signs- level of response, shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing,
breathing and pulse. Even if the casualty recovers coughing or movement.
quickly, advise him to seek medical help.
 2. Contusion (bruise)- a blunt blow can rupture
capillaries beneath the skin, causing blood to leak
into the tissues. This process results in bruising.
Extensive contusion and swelling may indicate
deeper damage, such as a fracture or an internal
injury.

3. Gunshot wound- this type of wound is caused by

a bullet being driven into or through the body,
resulting in serious intern injury and sucking in
clothing, and contaminants from the air. The entry
wound may be small and neat; any exit wound may
large and ragged.
Wound

A wound is a disruption to the integrity of the skin

that leaves the body vulnerable to pain and
infection. The skin is the body's largest organ and is
responsible for protection, sensation,
thermoregulation, metabolism, excretion and
cosmetic.

1. Abrasion-An abrasion is an injury where your

skin rubs off. It’s also known as a scrape. You might
get an abrasion after tripping on an uneven
sidewalk or falling off of your bicycle. Abrasions
4. Incised wound- this is caused by a clean surface
cause pain, skin discoloration and light bleeding.
cut from a sharp-edged object such as a razor.
Blood vessels are cut straight across, so bleeding
may be profuse. Structures such as tendons or
nerves may be damaged.
5. Laceration- is a blunt or ripping forces result in
tears or lacerations. These wounds may bleed less
profusely than incised wounds, but there is likely to
be more tissue damage. Lacerations are often
contaminated with germs, so the risk of infection is
high.

How to attend bleeding?

Severe bleeding

1. Apply direct pressure over the wound with your

fingers using a sterile dressing or clean, non-fluffy
pad. If you do not have a dressing, ask the casualty
6. Puncture wound- an injury such as standing on a to apply direct pressure himself. If there is an
nail or being pricked by a needle will result in a object in the wound, apply pressure on either side
puncture wound. It has a small entry site but a of the object.
deep track of internal damage. Since germs and
2. Ask a helper to call EMS for help. Tell him or her
dirt can be carried far into the body, the infection
to give an ambulance control detail of the site of
risk with this kind of wound is high.
bleeding and the extent of the bleeding.

3. Secure the dressing with a bandage that is firm

enough to maintain pressure, but not so tight that
it impairs circulation. Call EMS for help if this has
not been done already.

4. If bleeding shows through the dressing, apply a

second one on top of the first. If blood seeps
through the second dressing, remove both and
apply a fresh one, ensuring that pressure is applied
accurately at the point of bleeding.
7. Stab wound- this is a deep incision caused by a 5. Support the injured part in with a sling and/or
sharp or bladed instrument, usually a knife, bandage. Check the circulation beyond the
penetrating the body. Stab wounds to the trunk bandage every ten minutes. If the circulation is
must always be treated seriously because of the impaired, loosen the bandage and reapply.
danger of injury to vital organs and life-threatening
internal bleeding.

If there is a foreign object in the wound

1. Control bleeding by pressing firmly on either side

of the embedded object to push the edges of the
wound together. Do not press directly on the
object, or try to remove it.

2. To protect the wound, drape a piece of gauze

over the object. Build up padding on either side, Ear Fresh, bright Injury to the
then carefully bandage over the object and pads red blood thin, inner or outer
without pressing on the object. Check the watery blood ear or
circulation beyond the bandage every ten minutes. perforated
If the circulation is impaired, loosen the bandage eardrum
and reapply. Leakage of fluid
3. Call EMS for help. Monitor and record vital signs from around
- breathing, pulse, and level of response- while the brain due
waiting for help to arrive. Treat for shock if to head injury
necessary.

Nose Fresh, bright Ruptured blood

Internal Bleeding red blood vessels in
nostril.
Bleeding inside body cavities may follow an injury, Thin, watery
such as fracture or a blow from blunt object, but it blood Leakage of fluid
can also occur spontaneously - for example from around
bleeding from stomach ulcer. The main risk from the brain due
internal bleeding is shock. In addition, blood can to head injury
build up around organs such as the lungs or brain
and exert damaging pressure on them.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF INTERNAL BLEEDING

Anus Fresh, bright Piles or injury
Site Appearance of Causes of red blood to the anus or
blood blood loss lower intestine
Black, tarry,
offensive
smelling stool
Mouth Bright red, Bleeding in the
(melena)
frothy, lungs
coughed-up
Bleeding within
blood
the digestive Urethra Red or smoky Bleeding from
Vomited blood, system appearance to the bladder,
red, dark urine kidneys or
reddish-brown occasionally urethra
resembling containing
coffee grounds clots
 container with the time of injury and the casualty's
name. Give it to the emergency service personnel.

Cuts and Grazes

Amputation
Bleeding from small cuts and grazes is normally
A limb that has been partially or completely easily controlled by pressure and elevation. A
severed can, in many cases, be reattached by plaster is generally all that is required, and the
microsurgery. The operation will require general wound will heal by itself in a few days. Medical
anesthetic, so do not allow the casualty to eat or help need only be sought if: bleeding does not
drink. It is vital to get the casualty and the stop; there is a particular risk of infection, from a
amputated part to hospital as soon as possible. human or animal bite, or a puncture by a dirty
object; an old wound shows signs of becoming
infected.

What to do?

1. Control blood loss by applying direct pressure What to do?

and raising the injured part above the casualty's
1. If the wound is dirty, clean it by rinsing under
heart.
running water, or use alcohol-free wipes. Pat ghe
2. Place a sterile dressing or a non-fluffy, clean pad wound dry using a gauze swab and cover it with
on the wound, and secure it with a bandage. Treat sterile gauze.
the casualty for shock.
2. Raise and support the injured part above the
3. Call EMS for help. Tell ambulance control that level of the heart, if possible. Avoid touching the
amputation is involved. Monitor and record vital wound.
signs-breathing, pulse and level of response- while
3. Clean the area around the wound with soap and
waiting for help to arrive.
water. Wipe away from the wound and use a clean
4. Wrap the severed part in kitchen film or a plastic swab for each stroke. Pat dry. Remove the wound
bag. Wrap the package in gauze or soft fabric and covering and apply a sterile dressing. If there is a
place it in a container full of crushed ice. Mark the particular risk of infection, advice the casualty to
seek medical advice.