Girl Scout First Aid Training Packet
How to Call 911
First Aid Basics
Always follow these rules:
 If you think someone is seriously hurt, yell for the help of an
adult, and if you can get to a phone call “911”.
 Never leave the person alone, send someone else to go get help.
 Never move the person that is injured until an adult or
paramedic arrive
 If there is a deep wound with lots of blood coming out use
whatever you can find to put pressure on the wound to stop the
bleeding.
 If there is blood, and if you have rubber gloves—PUT THEM ON!
How to diagnose a person for your 911 Call:
 Check to see if the person is breathing.
 Talk to the person and see if they will answer you.
 Without moving the person, see if you can see blood or other
wounds anywhere.
Insect Bites
Call 911 if the person has:
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Trouble breathing
Feelings of faintness or dizziness
Hives
A swollen tongue
Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing
Hoarseness or trouble speaking
Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting
Fast heartbeat or pulse
Skin that itches, tingles, swells, or turns red
A history of severe allergy reaction to insect stings
If the person does not have severe allergy symptoms:
1. Remove the Stinger
 Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it.
 Don't pinch the stinger -- that can inject more venom.
2. Control Swelling
 Ice the area.
 If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
 Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might
become hard to get off.
3. Treat Symptoms
 For pain, an adult can give you some medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
 For itchiness, an antihistamine like Benadryl cream will help. You can also apply a mixture of
baking soda and water or calamine lotion.
Burn Treatment
Call 911 if:
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Burn penetrates all layers of skin
Skin is leathery or charred looking, with white, brown, or black patches
Burn blister is larger than two inches or oozes
Hands, feet, or face are burned
The person Is an infant or elderly
For All Burns
1. Stop the Burning Immediately
 Put out fire or stop the person's contact with hot liquid, steam, or other material.
 Help the person "stop, drop, and roll" to smother flames.
 Remove smoldering material from the person.
 Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing sticks to skin, cut or tear around it.
2. Remove Tight Clothes and Jewelry Immediately
 Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly.
Then take the following steps.
For First-Degree Burns (Affecting Top Layer of Skin)
A first-degree burn is a minor red burn of the top layer of skin, such as a mild sunburn. The burned skin
may hurt and be slightly swollen, and it may make a person feel slightly feverish.
1. Cool Burn
 Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until pain
subsides.
 Use compresses if running water isn’t available.
2. Protect Burn
 Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
 Do not apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection.
3. Treat Pain
 A parent or Leader can give over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin),
acetaminophen (Tylenol), or naproxen (Aleve).
4. Prevent Shock
Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury, or it would cause discomfort:
 Lay the person flat- unless their face is burned, then they need to sit up
 Elevate feet about 12 inches.
 Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible.
 Cover the person with coat or blanket.
Heat Stroke: Symptoms and Treatment
Call 911 if:
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You think someone has Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency. If you think that someone
has heat stroke -- also known as sunstroke -- you should call 911 immediately and render first aid until
paramedics arrive.
Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures -- usually in combination with
dehydration -- which leads to failure of the body's temperature control system. The medical definition of
heat stroke is a core body temperature greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, with complications involving
the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures. Other common symptoms
include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
The hallmark symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. But
fainting may be the first sign.
Other symptoms may include:
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Throbbing headache
Dizziness and light-headedness
Lack of sweating despite the heat
Red, hot, and dry skin
Muscle weakness or cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak
Rapid, shallow breathing
Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering
Seizures
Unconsciousness
First Aid for Heat Stroke
If you suspect that someone has a heat stroke, immediately call 911 or transport the person to a hospital.
Any delay seeking medical help can be fatal.
While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiate first aid. Move the person to an air-conditioned
environment -- or at least a cool, shady area -- and remove any unnecessary clothing.
If possible, take the person's core body temperature and initiate first aid to cool it to 101 to 102 degrees
Fahrenheit. If no thermometers are available, don't hesitate to initiate first aid.
You may also try these cooling strategies:
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Fan air over the patient while wetting his or her skin with water from a sponge or garden hose.
Apply ice packs to the patient's armpits, groin, neck, and back. Because these areas are rich with
blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature.
Immerse the patient in a shower or tub of cool water, or an ice bath.
Hypothermia and Cold Temperature
Exposure
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when the body gets cold and loses heat faster than the body can make it.
What can cause hypothermia?
Hypothermia can occur when you are exposed to cold air, water, wind, or rain.
What are the symptoms?
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Shivering.
Cold, pale, or blue-gray skin.
Lack of interest or concern (apathy).
Poor judgment.
Mild unsteadiness in balance or walking.
Slurred speech.
Numb hands and fingers and problems performing tasks.
The trunk of the body is cold to the touch.
Muscles becoming stiff.
Slow pulse.
Breathing that is shallow and slower.
Weakness or sleepiness.
Confusion.
Loss of consciousness.
Shivering, which may stop if body temperature drops below 90F.
How to Stay Warm
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Keep your head warm, wear a hat or hood
Keep your lower back warm
Keep your hands and feet warm
Layer your clothes
What to do
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Try to get the person to a warm place
Remove any wet clothes, shoes or socks
Put a blanket on the person
It their hands or feet are white and frost bitten put them on your tummy or back
Treating Broken Bones
Call 911 if:
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The bone has broken through the skin.
The arm is bleeding heavily.
The arm is numb, white, or blue.
1. Examine the Injury
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Do not try to straighten the arm or leg.
If the bone has broken through the skin, do not touch it. Drape gauze or a clean cloth over the
injury, apply pressure to control the bleeding, and get emergency help.
2. First Aid Steps
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Control bleeding . Apply steady, direct pressure for a full 15 minutes. Use a clock-15 minutes can
seem like a long time. Resist the urge to peek after a few minutes to see whether bleeding has
stopped. If blood soaks through the cloth, apply another one without lifting the first. If there is an
object in the wound, apply pressure around the object, not directly over it.
Remove all bracelets or rings. It may be difficult to remove the jewelry after swelling develops.
Make a splint.
If a bone is sticking out of the skin, do not try to push it back into the skin. Cover the area with a
clean bandage.
3. Make a Splint
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Don't try to straighten the arm or leg. Try to keep it still and don't move it.
Put some soft padding around the arm, like a soft cloth.
Splint the wrapped arm or leg with a ruler, newspaper, or magazine to keep it from moving too
much.
Gently wrap cloth or tape around the splint and wrapping to hold them together.
Make sure the splint and wrapping aren't cutting off circulation.
4. Get Help
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If there is a broken bone you need to go to the doctor’s office or the emergency room.
5. Reduce Swelling and Pain
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While waiting to see a doctor, put a wrapped ice pack or ice in a towel on the arm for a few
minutes at a time.
If possible, keep the broken arm or leg elevated (above the heart).
Treatment for Cuts or Scrapes
Call 911 if:
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A cut is bleeding severely
Blood is spurting out
Bleeding can't be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure
In general, a cut that needs stitches has to be repaired within 6 hours of the injury. The exception is cuts
to the face and scalp, which generally can be repaired up to 24 hours after the injury.
Take the following steps for minor cuts.
1. Stop the Bleeding
 Apply direct pressure on the area.
2. Clean and Protect
 Clean the area with warm water and gentle soap.
 Apply an antibiotic ointment to reduce chance of infection.
 Put a sterile bandage on the area.
3. Call a Health Care Provider
Call a health care provider if:
 The cut is deep or over a joint
 You cannot get the cut or laceration clean
 The injury is a deep puncture wound or the person has not had a recent (within the last 5 to 10
years) tetanus shot or booster
 The cut is from a human or animal bite
Scratches and Cuts on the Face
Your injury's location can affect how you bandage it. For most injuries, first you'll want to
clean it with water to get rid of debris and help prevent infection. Then, stop bleeding by
applying pressure with sterile gauze. Face injuries can bleed a lot. But once bleeding
stops, minor face cuts can go uncovered. Or a small adhesive strip can work well. You
may need stitches if your cut is jagged, deep or longer than a half inch.
Don't Pop Blisters!
Small, unbroken blisters can be left uncovered and will usually heal on their own. The
exception -- if a blister is in an area where it might get rubbed, such as on the sole of
the foot. In that case, protect the blister with a soft dressing to cushion the area. For a
broken blister that has drained, protect it from infection by covering it with a bandage.
Sprains and Strains
A sprain means a stretched or torn ligament, while a strain involves an injury of a muscle
or tendon. The signs are pain and swelling. In addition to icing the injury, wrap it with an
elastic compression bandage and keep it elevated when possible. In some cases of
severe sprain or strain, surgery and/or extensive physical therapy may be needed.
How to Treat Minor Burns
Seek medical help for burns if they are severe, on the face, or bigger than 2 inches.
For treating small minor burns at home, rinse the area in cool water. Never use butter,
grease, or powder on a burn. After rinsing, cover the burn with a thin layer of antibiotic
ointment. Then bandage it. A nonstick dressing is best and you may need tape to
hold the dressing in place.
Cuts on Your Hands or Feet: Keep Them Clean
The hands and feet are exposed to more dirt than the face, so it's best to keep cuts
covered. Bandaging can also prevent shoes and socks from irritating wounds on the
feet. Adhesive strips can be used for small cuts, but be sure to change the bandage if
it gets wet or dirty. Seek medical help for deep cuts or puncture wounds on the hands
or feet.