INTRODUCTION TO
EMERGENCY CARE
EMERGENCIES
• Sudden illness or injury
that requires an
immediate medical
response
• Emergencies can
happen at any time.
FIRST AID
• In many cases, emergency
care may require some
form of first aid.
• It is important that the
general population and all
health care workers know
how to perform emergency
care.
• Agencies such as the
American Red Cross and
the American Heart
Association train people to
perform these life-saving
procedures.
EFFECTIVE FIRST AID PROVIDERS
Obtain proper first aid
training
• This includes:
▫ Anyone in the medical
field
▫ People in jobs that
involve child care
▫ Park guides, camp
counselors, life guards,
etc.
EFFECTIVE FIRST AID PROVIDERS (CONTINUED)
Be alert for emergency
situations
• Unusual sounds
• Unusual sights
• Unusual odors
• Unusual behaviors
EFFECTIVE FIRST AID PROVIDERS (CONTINUED)
Assess the situation before
taking action
• The first aid provider
should have a reason for
every action that is taken.
• Treatment depends on
multiple factors
EFFECTIVE FIRST AID PROVIDERS (CONTINUED)
Remain calm in emergency
situations and observe
safety precautions
• If possible, get the patient’s
consent
• If possible, wash their hands
and put on gloves
• Make sure supplies are clean.
• If possible, explain the
procedure
• Be careful when lifting heavy
objects.
• Flush solutions that come into
contact with eyes or skin
• Only perform care for which
trained
EFFECTIVE FIRST AID PROVIDERS (CONTINUED)
Perform a safety check of the
scene before taking action
• Some emergency scenes are
unsafe to enter.
• Call for help immediately.
Prioritize tasks and triage
• Triage is a way to prioritize
treatment. It determines
which patient or which injury
is treated first.
• Life-threatening injuries
should always be attended
to first.
PRINCIPLES OF CARE
• Get professional care as soon
as possible.
• Do not move a patient unless it
is required for safety reasons.
• Keep the patient calm.
• Do not give unconscious or
vomiting patients any food or
fluids, unless the first aid
procedure requires it.
• Regulate the patient’s
temperature by adding
blankets or removing layers of
clothing.
• Administer first aid quickly and
efficiently.
• Do not attempt to diagnose
the patient or discuss the
patient’s condition.
• Avoid further injury if possible.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
• Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) provides
expert care for serious
emergencies.
• In many areas of the
country, immediate help is
available by dialing 911.
• When calling for help, be
sure to give complete and
accurate information.
• If you cannot call
immediately, ask someone
else to call for help.
EMERGENCY CARE LEGAL ISSUES
• The haste in which
emergency care occurs
often leaves the
caregivers with little or no
time to consider the legal
consequences of their
actions.
• Emergency care
professionals, other health
care workers, and anyone
else who has first aid
training should be aware
of some basic legal issues
related to emergency
care.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN ACTS
• State that physicians and first
responders are not required
to acquire patient consent
before performing life-saving
procedures in the case of an
emergency.
• To be protected by these
Acts:
▫ Give care in good faith.
▫ Act within the scope of
their training and
knowledge.
▫ Use as much care as
possible according to the
circumstances.
▫ Do not bill the patient.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
• Even a Good Samaritan
Act cannot protect
caregivers who perform
procedures outside of
their scope of practice.
• Emergency care
providers should only
perform tasks for which
they have been trained.
KEEPING RECORDS
• Event report after each
emergency
• This report includes:
▫ The patient’s name and
address
▫ The date and time of
emergency
▫ The location of emergency
▫ A description of the
emergency and its cause
▫ A description of actions
taken
▫ The names, addresses, and
signatures of any witnesses
▫ The name and signature of
the person preparing the
report
INJURY CARE
TECHNIQUES
DRESSINGS
• A dressing is a sterile
covering for a wound or
injury.
• Dressings are used to:
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stop bleeding
prevent infection
absorb secretions
treat pain
• Gauze pads are the most
common materials used
for dressings. However, in
an emergency situation,
any clean cloth can be
used.
BANDAGES
• A bandage is material
used to secure dressings
and splints.
• Tight enough to control
bleeding and to hold
dressings, but do not
interrupt blood circulation
• Three popular types of
bandages are:
▫ Triangular
▫ Roller gauze
▫ Elastic
TRIANGULAR BANDAGES
• The triangular bandage is
a triangular shape of
cloth. It is often used for:
▫ Head and scalp injuries
▫ To create slings for shoulder,
arm, wrist, and hand injuries
• Triangular bandages can
also be folded into
cravats, which is a long
strip of bandage folded to
the proper width
according to the injury.
ELASTIC AND ROLLER GAUZE
BANDAGES
• Secure dressings and
support injured areas.
• Elastic bandages stretch
and mold to the body.
• Elasticity makes it easy to
wrap an injury too tightly.
SPLINTS
• Rigid device that
supports and immobilizes
• Can be created using
anything that will support
the injured area.
• Do not apply a splint if
professional medical help
is on the way.
SLINGS
• Keeps hand, forearm,
arm, or shoulder
immobilized
• In combination with a
cast or used in place of a
cast or splint
• Can be created using a
triangular bandage.
CRUTCHES
• Help a patient ambulate
• Used when unable to put
weight on an injured or
impaired leg, knee, ankle
or foot.
• Proper fit and use are
important
TYPES OF CRUTCHES
• Axillary crutches
• Forearm crutches
• Platform crutches
ADJUSTING CRUTCHES
 Crutches must fit patients
correctly.
CRUTCH GAITS
• There are several
types of crutch gaits.
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•
Four-point
Three-point
Two-point
Swing-to
Swing-through
SHOCK AND
BONE/JOINT INJURIES
SHOCK
• Reduction of blood flow
in the body
• Often results from
physical or emotional
trauma
• If left untreated, shock
can be fatal, even in
cases where the initial
injury was not fatal.
CAUSES OF SHOCK
• Trauma causes shock.
• Types of trauma that can
cause shock include:
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Hemorrhage
Severe pain
Infection
Heart attack
Stroke
Poison
Lack of oxygen
Dehydration
Psychological trauma
SYMPTOMS OF SHOCK
• Shock has many
symptoms, including:
▫ Pale, blue-gray skin color,
especially under the nails
and around the mouth
▫ Cool skin
▫ Rapid, weak pulse
▫ Irregular breathing
▫ Low blood pressure
▫ Anxiety or restlessness
• Shock symptoms vary from
patient to patient.
TYPES OF SHOCK
• Anaphylactic Shock
• Cardiogenic Shock
• Hemorrhagic Shock
• Metabolic Shock
• Neurogenic Shock
• Psychogenic Shock
• Respiratory Shock
• Septic Shock
TREATING SHOCK
• Begin treatment
immediately
• There are several aims for
treating shock, including:
▫ Eliminating or controlling
the cause of shock
▫ Improving blood flow
▫ Providing oxygen
▫ Regulating body
temperature
BONE AND JOINT INJURIES
• Include:
•
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fractures and breaks
Dislocations
Sprains
strains
FRACTURES
• Fractures are breaks or
cracks in a bone.
▫ Compound facture
▫ Simple fracture
• Symptoms:
Deformity
Limited or loss of motion
Pain and swelling
Discoloration
Protrusion of bone through
the skin
▫ Hearing the bone break
▫ Grating sensation
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DISLOCATIONS
• A dislocation occurs
when a bone separates
from a joint or is moved
out of place in the joint.
• Symptoms:
▫ Deformity
▫ Limited or abnormal
movement
▫ Swelling
▫ Discoloration
▫ Pain
▫ Shortening or lengthening
of the limb
SPRAINS
• A sprain is a stretch or
tear in the ligaments and
tendons around a joint.
• Symptoms:
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Swelling
Discoloration
Pain
Possibly limited motion
STRAINS
• A strain occurs when a
muscle is overused or
overstretched. Strain
injuries are common in the
back.
• Symptoms:
▫ Sudden pain
▫ Swelling
▫ Bruising
WOUNDS AND BURNS
LESSON 1– WOUNDS
• Injury that damages the
body’s tissues
• Watch for excessive
bleeding and infection
LESSON 1– SIGNS OF INFECTION
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Heat
• Fever
• Pus
• Red streaks coming
from the wound
LESSON 1– CLOSED WOUNDS
• Damage to the tissue
under the skin
• Caused when the
body hits against a
blunt object, such as in
a bump or fall
• Usually heal on its own
in a few weeks
LESSON 1– OPEN WOUNDS
• Incisions - clean wounds with
regular, smooth edges
• Lacerations - rough, irregular
wounds caused by jagged or
blunt objects that crush or rip
the skin
• Abrasions - wounds in which
the top layer of skin is rubbed
or scraped off by a rough
surface
• Punctures - caused when a
sharp object, such as a nail or
needle, pierces a hole in the
skin
• Avulsions - wounds in which
tissue is torn and separated
from the body
• Amputations - wounds in which
a body part is completely cut
off of the body.
LESSON 1– MINOR OPEN WOUNDS
• Shallow and produce
very little blood
• Not life-threatening
and can be treated at
home
• Untreated, or
improperly treated,
minor wounds can
become infected or
can cause tetanus
LESSON 1– MAJOR OPEN WOUNDS
• It is important to act quickly
when treating a patient with
a major wound because a
patient can bleed to death
in a short period of time
• Care for a major wound
includes stopping the
bleeding and then cleaning
and covering.
• When caring for major
wounds, the health care
worker should also check the
patient’s vital signs, and
watch for signs of shock.
LESSON 2– BURNS
• A burn is an injury
caused by fire, heat,
chemicals, radiation, or
electricity.
• Burns are traumatic in
that they can cause
extreme pain,
permanent
disfigurement,
psychological problems,
and even death.
LESSON 2 – TYPES OF BURNS
• Thermal
• Chemical
• Electrical
LESSON 2– FIRST-DEGREE BURNS
• First-degree burns:
▫ Superficial burns
▫ Most mild burn
▫ Damages only the
epidermis
• Symptoms:
▫ Hot, red, dry skin
▫ Mild Swelling
▫ Pain
• Causes:
▫ Sunburn
▫ Brief contact with hot
objects, steam, or weak
acids
LESSON 2– SECOND-DEGREE BURNS
• Second-degree burns:
▫ Partial-thickness burns
▫ Affects the epidermis and
the dermis
• Symptoms:
▫ Blister or vesicle
▫ Skin appears wet and
mottled
▫ Swelling
• Causes:
▫ Boiling liquid and fire
▫ Extreme sunburn
▫ Artificial radiation
LESSON 2– THIRD-DEGREE BURNS
• Third-degree burns:
▫ Full-thickness burns
▫ Affects the epidermis,
dermis, the tissue beneath
the skin, and possibly the
muscles and bones
• Symptoms:
▫ White or charred skin
• Causes:
▫ Fire and flames
▫ Extended contact with hot
objects
▫ Exposure to electricity
▫ Immersion in a boiling
substance
LESSON 2– EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF
BURNS
• Burns are also categorized
based on the extent and
severity of the injury
• The Rule of Nines
▫ Adults should get medical
care if burns cover more
than 15% of the body
▫ Children should get
medical care if burns
cover more than 10% of
the body.
• Another method for
categorizing burns is a
combination of the burn’s
depth and its size.
FOREIGN BODIES
AND POISON
LESSON 1– FOREIGN BODIES
• Objects or substances that
have entered the body
and do not belong there
• Range in seriousness from
a simple splinter in a foot
or finger to the lifethreatening situation of an
object blocking a person’s
airway
• The location determines
type of care
LESSON 1– FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
EYE
• Common objects that
can get into the eye
include soap, beauty
products, dirt,
eyelashes, and insects.
• Sharp objects that are
lodged in the eye
should be removed by
a doctor.
LESSON 1– FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
EAR
• Common objects that can
get into the ear include
insects, small objects, and
chemicals.
• Generally, objects in the
outer part of the ear do
not cause significant
damage, and they often
fall out when the head is
gently shaken .
• More stubborn objects
can usually be removed
with blunt tweezers or
forceps.
LESSON 1– FLUSHING OBJECTS FROM
THE EAR
• If an object cannot be
removed from the ear
using tweezers, the ear
can be flushed with a
few drops of warm oil
or water.
• If flushing the ear does
not remove the object,
then the patient should
seek medical help.
LESSON 1– FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
NOSE
• Common objects that can
get into the nostrils include
insects and chemicals that
are accidentally inhaled.
• Children are also famous
for placing objects such as
coins, buttons, pebbles,
marbles and other small
toys in their noses.
• In most cases, the foreign
body can be safely
removed without medical
help.
LESSON 1– FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
SKIN
• Common objects that
can get into the skin
include splinters, insect
stingers, and fish hooks.
• In most cases, the
foreign body can be
safely removed without
professional medical
help.
LESSON 2– POISONS
• Any substance that
causes injury, illness, or
death when it enters or
comes in contact with the
body.
• Poison may be swallowed,
injected, inhaled, or
absorbed through the skin.
• Exact treatment for
poisoning varies
according to the
substance, the amount,
the way it enters the body,
and whether the patient is
conscious or unconscious.
LESSON 2– THE POISON CONTROL
CENTER
• In most cases, poison does
not enter the bloodstream
right away, so fast action
can prevent injury or
death.
• If a patient has swallowed
or inhaled poison, the
health care worker should
call EMS or the local
Poison Control Center
immediately.
• The Poison Control Center
is prepared to help treat
poison cases by giving
specific instructions over
the phone.
LESSON 2– SIGNS OF POISONING
• Symptoms of
poisoning:
▫ Burns or redness
around mouth and lips
▫ Breath that smells like
chemicals
▫ Vomiting
▫ Difficulty breathing
▫ Sleepiness or confusion
▫ Dramatic changes in
appearance or
behavior
LESSON 2– GATHER INFORMATION
• What is the poisonous
agent?
• How did the poison
enter the body?
• How much poison
entered the body?
• What time did the
poison enter the body?
EXTREME
TEMPERATURES
LESSON 1– EXPOSURE TO HEAT
• Overexposure can cause
a chemical imbalance
that prevents the body’s
cooling system from
working properly
• Causes include:
▫ Being in extreme heat for
too long
▫ Working or exercising on
a hot day
▫ Illnesses, such as heart
conditions, diabetes, and
high blood pressure
LESSON 1– HEAT CRAMPS
• Heat cramps occur
when a person perspires
a lot, usually through
working or exercising on
a hot day.
• A heat cramp is
essentially a muscle
cramp.
• Symptoms:
▫ Muscle pain
▫ Muscle spasm
LESSON 1– HEAT EXHAUSTION
• Similar to heat cramps,
heat exhaustion also
occurs when the body
loses too much water and
salt through perspiration.
• Symptoms:
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Pale and clammy skin
Excessive perspiration
Weakness and tiredness
Headache
Heat cramps
Nausea and dizziness
Vomiting or fainting
LESSON 1– HEAT STROKE
• A heat stroke occurs when
heat causes high blood
pressure and very high
body temperature.
• Symptoms:
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Red, dry, flushed skin
Rapid, shallow breathing
High temperature
Fast, strong pulse
Seizure
Irritability and confusion
Unconsciousness
LESSON 2– EXPOSURE TO COLD
• Cold temperatures cause
the body to shiver, which
helps to keep it warm.
However, even shivering is
unable to keep the body
warm in some conditions.
• Causes of exposure to
cold include:
▫ Improper dress
▫ Immersion in very cold
water
▫ An affect of illnesses
LESSON 2– HYPOTHERMIA
• A patient with
hypothermia will have a
temperature reading
below 95°F.
• Hypothermia can be
caused by submersion in
extremely cold water. It
can also result from
spending too much time in
cool, damp environments.
• Symptoms:
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Shivering
Numbness
Drowsiness
Confusion
Poor coordination
Unconsciousness
LESSON 2– FROSTBITE
• Frostbite occurs when skin
and the tissues and fluids
beneath it freeze from
exposure to extremely
cold temperatures.
• Symptoms:
▫ Redness and tingling
▫ Numbness and white or
gray/yellow, glossy skin
▫ Blisters
▫ Confusion
▫ Fatigue and weakness
▫ Unconsciousness