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POCKET DICTIONARY ON
FIRST AID
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INDEX
TOPIC PAGE NO
Introduction 3
Scene Assessment, Safety 4
and Personal Protective
Equipment
Providing first aid 6
ABC’S 9
Bleeding 10
Wound 13
Burn 14
Shock 18
Fracture 20
Splints and dislocations 22
Snake and spider bites 25
Heat strokes 26
Hypothermia 26
Fainting 27
Lifting techniques 29
Bibliography 30
Teacher’s remarks 31
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Points to be clear on
1. The administrator of first aid is NOT A DOCTOR. The role of
the first aider is to help keep the patient alive, as comfortable as
possible in order to facilitate the doctor’s job when he or she
arrives.
2. The first aider should NEVER give up on a patient and
terminate life-saving endeavors. Only a doctor should declare a
patient dead and stop life-saving procedures.
3. Though first aid training is recommended and advisable, you
should not allow lack of training and/or experience keep you
from trying to administer first aid. Your efforts may save a life.
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• 1. Electrical hazards
• 2. Chemical hazards
• 3. Noxious & Toxic gases
• 4. Ground hazards
• 5. Fire
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BEFORE TREATMENT
DURING TREATMENT
· avoid coughing, breathing, or speaking over the wound
· avoid contact with body fluids
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AFTER TREATMENT
· clean up both casualty and yourself
· clean up the immediate vicinity
· dispose of dressings, bandages, gloves and soiled clothing
correctly
· wash hands with soap and water
Normal Vital Signs:
· Breathing: 12-20 breaths per minute for adults or 20-25 times
per minute for children
· Pulse: 60-80 beats per minute (adults) or 80-100 beats per
minute for children
· Body Temperature: 98.6o F
· Blood Pressure: 120 over 80
ABC’s
• Causes of Respiratory/Cardiac Arrest
Electrical
Drowning
Toxic -
Noxious gases
Suffocation
Heart Attack
Trauma
Drugs
Allergic reactions
Airway obstruction
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Obstructed
Internal Bleeding
If a person is pale, has a rapid pulse, a weak pulse, labored
breathing, cold and clammy skin and/or is sweating
excessively, they may have internal bleeding.
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Types of bleeding
Artery Spurting
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Capillary Oozing
Control of bleeding
Direct pressure
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Elevation
Pressure bandage
Wounds
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Types of wounds
Burns
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Electrical Burns:
If someone receives an electrical burn, they should seek
professional attention immediately. These burns often
result in serious muscle breakdowns, electrolyte
abnormalities, and occasionally kidney failure. An
important thing to note about these burns is that the
damage is often internal and cannot be seen from the
outside.
Chemical Burns:
These burns should be treated like thermal burns and
doused with large amounts of water to flush out the
affected area. Contaminated clothing should be removed .
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Sun Burns
A sunburn is the result of your skin being exposed to too
much of the suns ultraviolet radiation. This threat varies
greatly with the seasons and with changing atmosphere
conditions. The amount of sunlight you are exposed to also
depends on the geographic features of altitude and
latitude, as well as clothing, lifestyle and occupation.
Indoors, sunburn-producing rays are filtered out
by ordinary window glass. Outdoors however the suns
rays are able to pass through light clouds, 25 cm of clear
water, and fog.
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SHOCK
Shock is what happens when the heart and blood vessels
are unable to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the vital
organs of the body. Although every illness and involves
shock to some degree, it can be a life threatening problem.
The best way to protect people from the serious damages
that shock can have on the system is to recognize the signs
before the person get into serious trouble. In most cases,
only a few of the symptoms will be present, and many do
not appear for some time. The most common symptoms
are:
Pale, cold, clammy and moist skin
Vacant or dull eyes, dilated pupils
Anxiety, restlessness, and fainting
Weak, rapid, or absent pulse
Shallow, rapid, and irregular breathing
Nausea and vomiting
Excessive thirst
Person may seem confused or tired
Loss of blood pressure
Classification of shock:
Hypovolemic Shock: This form of shock is brought on by a
decrease in the amount of blood vessels or other fluids in
the body. Excessive bleeding from internal and external
injuries, fluid loss due to diarrhea, burns, dehydration, and
severe vomiting usually cause this kind of shock.
Neurogenic Shock: In the case of neurogenic shock, the
blood vessels become abnormally enlarged and the
pooling of the blood disallows an adequate blood flow to
be maintained. Fainting is an example of this sort of shock,
as the blood temporarily pools as the person stands. When
the person falls the
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Fractures
A fracture is a break or splinter in a bone. It can be caused
by violent impact or by any number of diseases that cause
bone decay.
There are several different classifications of fractures:
1. Greenstick fracture – which is a simple crack in the
bone. They can be determined by a doctor using an x-ray
machine.
2. Closed or “simple” fracture – in which the broken
bone has not pierced through the skin.
3. Open or “compound” fracture – in which the broken
bone has pierced or torn the skin resulting in an open
wound.
4. Comminuted or “multiple” fracture – in which the
bone is broken in more than one place.
Closed fractures may not be immediately visible and may
be difficult to diagnose. If in doubt, treat it as a fracture.
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To treat a fracture:
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is potentially fatal. In this condition, the
body's temperature regulation center in the brain has
been rendered inoperable, rises, causing eventual brain
damage. Immediate active intervention is necessary to
avoid coma and death.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Flushed, hot, dry skin the casualty has ceased sweating
rapid, strong pulse (sometimes irregular irrational or
aggressive behavior staggering gait visual disturbances
vomiting collapse and seizures coma - death
CARE AND TREATMENT
Urgent ambulance transport complete rest in shade
remove casualty's clothing cool casualty with any means
possible be prepared to resuscitate as nothing by mouth
- dehydration is required by intravenous fluids
administered by a doctor or ambulance crew.
Hypothermia
HYPOTHERMIA is a potentially fatal condition that
especially affects the elderly. The body’s core
temperature has been lowered to the extent that the
brain function is impaired and the heart’s activity is
about to be compromised. Urgent first aid
intervention is required.
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FAINTING
People most often faint when there isn’t enough blood
flowing to the brain. When this happens the person
becomes unconscious, and the unconscious spell is usually
brief. Fainting is not life threatening, although if the
person faints on a regular basis it may be a sign of a more
serious medical disorder, and should be discussed with
your doctor. If a person feels faint
(weak/lightheaded/dizzy/nauseous), have them lie down
with their feet elevated above the level of their heart
(about 8-12 inches), or have them sit with their head
placed down between their knees.
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When someone faints there are many things that you need
to check before beginning treatment for the fainting. Such
as…
Was the person injured when they fell?
Is the person showing any signs of shock?
Have they fainted recently?
Are they pregnant?
Are they breathing correctly/normally?
Do they have a history of heart disease?
Is the person properly fed and hydrated?
Treatment:
Lay the person on their back with their feet elevated
above their heart, or 8-12 inches, if
possible
Loosen any tight clothing and jewelry especially around
their head and neck. Watch their airways, are they
breathing correctly? If they stop breathing begin to
administer CPR. If breathing stops then the situation
becomes more serious and you should try to get medical
help as soon as possible.
Sometimes when people lose consciousness they vomit,
you may want to turn the person onto their side in case
this happens.
If you suspect a head, neck, or spinal injury get medical
help as soon as possible and do not move the person
unless absolutely necessary.
Do not try to give the person anything to eat or drink
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LIFTING TECHNIQUES
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Emergency care by Murray
2. Emergency medicine by Jeffrey
M
3. Basic First Aid by Rob Vajok
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TEACHER’S REMARKS