First Aid
Unit 9
1
Introduction
 On
your drive home you come upon an
accident that has just occurred. Are you
legally responsible to stop and help the
victims?
 If you do provide first aid, can you be sued
if the patient is paralyzed or dies?
2
Introduction
 You
started first aid on the victims of the
accident. You hear that there are sirens in
the distance. Can you leave now because
you hear that help is on the way?
 One of the victims is bleeding very badly
from his leg. He tells you not to touch him
because he feels the bleeding is not that
bad. You know this is a very serous
injury. What do you do?
3
Definition
Aid – immediate care given to a
victim of an accident or illness to
minimize effect of injury or illness until
trained medical professionals can take
over
 First
 Not
full & complete treatment
 Not limited to physical treatment of victim
4
First Aid
 Why
provide first aid?
 Difference
between life & death
 Difference between recovery & permanent
disability
 Help yourself & others in time of emergency
5
Principles of First Aid
 Basic
Principles of First Aid
 Remain
calm
 Avoid panic
 Evaluate situation thoroughly (“scene safety”)
 Treatment you provide will vary depending on
type of injury or illness, environment,
equipment and supplies on hand &
availability of medical help
6
Preparing To Administer First Aid
 Recognize
that an emergency exists
 Use senses to assist you
Hearing – screams, calls for help, breaking glass,
changes in noises of machinery
 Sight – empty medicine containers, damaged
electrical wires, a stalled car, smoke, fire, blood
 Smell – chemicals, natural gas, pungent fumes,
unfamiliar odors

7
Preparing To Administer First Aid
 After
determining that emergency
exists:
 Call
for medical help immediately (9-1-1)
Time
factor is critical
Early EMS access increases survival rate
 If
instructing others to call:
Describe
victims
situation, location, number of
8
Preparing To Administer First Aid
 After
determining that emergency
exists:
 Check
scene to make sure it is safe to
approach (fuel spill, chemicals, power
lines, fire, etc.)
 Hundreds of untrained responders die
every year because of their failure to
check the scene
9
Preparing To Administer First Aid
 After
determining that emergency
exists:
 Survey
entire scene
What
happened
Dangers present
Number of people involved
10
Preparing To Administer First Aid
 If
scene is NOT safe:
 Do
NOT proceed
 Call for medical help immediately
 Inform others in area of hazard
11
Administering First Aid
 Once
you determine scene is safe:
 Approach
victim(s)
Determine if victim is conscious
Tap
gently, call out to them
If
victim is conscious find out what
happened and where they are injured
Be
brief; Assess orientation to person,
place, time and incident (A & O x4) 12
Administering First Aid
A
& O x4
 Person
 “What’s
your name?” (Introduce self as well.)
 Place
“Do
you know where you are?”
 Time
“What
year is it?” “What day is it?” “What
month is it?”
13
Administering First Aid
A
& O x4
 Incident
 “Can
you tell me what happened?”
 Obtain
patient’s permission before
touching them or rendering treatment of
any kind.
14
Administering First Aid
 NEVER
move a victim unless:
 The
victim is in a dangerous area such
as an area filled with fire, smoke, flood
waters, carbon monoxide, dangerous
traffic where vehicles may not see victim
15
Administering First Aid
 IF
you have to move the victim:
 Move
victim quickly and carefully
 NOTE: Victims have been injured more
severely by improper movement, so
avoid all unnecessary movement
16
Administering First Aid
 If
you are alone, make certain you
speak to EMS before providing care
for:
 Unconscious
adult
 Unconscious child 8 years old or older
 Unconscious infant
17
Administering First Aid
 If
victim is unconscious, confused, or
seriously ill and unable to consent to
treatment, and no other relative is
present, you can assume that you
have permission to render aid.
 Patients
have the right to refuse care!
18
Administering First Aid
 If
patient refuses care:
 Do
NOT proceed!
 If possible have someone witness
refusal
 If situation is life threatening, update
EMS immediately
19
Triage
 Triage:
method of prioritizing treatment
 If you have two or more victims, triage
also determines who gets treated first, and
who can wait for treatment
20
Triage
 Always
care for life-threatening injuries
FIRST!
No breathing or difficulty breathing
 No pulse
 Severe bleeding
 Chest pain
 Abdominal pain
 Vomiting or passing blood
 Poisoning

21
Triage
 Always
care for life-threatening injuries
FIRST!
Head injuries
 Neck or Spinal injuries
 Open chest or abdominal wounds
 Shock
 Second or third degree burns

22
Triage
 If
victim is conscious:
Provide reassurance
 Try to determine what happened
 Mechanism of injury
 Examine the victim thoroughly

 Always

have a reason for what you do
Ask the victim about pain & discomfort
23
Triage
 Check
for other injuries:
 Broken
bones
 Burns
 Shock
 Note
any abnormal signs/symptoms
 Check vital signs (pulse/respiration/temp?)
 Note temperature, color & moistness of skin
 Check & compare pupils
24
Triage
 Check
for other injuries:
 Look
for fluids or blood
draining from mouth,
nose, or ears
 Examine the body for
cuts, bruises, swelling
& painful areas
25
Triage
 Report
any abnormalities to EMS
 Obtain as much information as possible
(patient may have a change of status)
 Give information gathered to correct
authorities only
 Look for medical identification bracelets,
necklaces
 Mental picture of surroundings
26
Triage
 Mental

picture of surroundings
Do NOT give patient anything to eat or drink, unless
the situation absolutely warrants it (dehydration,
hypoglycemia)
Protect victim from extreme cold or heat
 Do NOT diagnose victim or make predictions
about their outcome
 Maintain confidentiality at all times

27
Triage
 Mental
picture of surroundings
Do NOT touch any of the items unless it is vital to
the care of your victim
 Empty medication bottles
 Alcohol
 Weapons (do not touch unless there is a threat)
 Chemicals
 Who is present (potential witnesses or suspects)
 SCENE SAFETY!

28
Triage
 Mass
Casualty Scene
 High
number of victims
 You will not be able to handle this situation
on your own.
 Call for help immediately
 Begin triage process (different than non-mass
casualty incident)
29
Triage
 Mass
Casualty Scene
 Done
quickly and efficiently
 Mass casualty triage requires training
 “Walking wounded”
 Triage Tag: white, green, yellow, red, black
30
Triage
31
First Aid Treatment
 Bleeding
& Wounds
 Open
or closed wound?
 Goal is to control bleeding and prevent
infection
32
First Aid Treatment
 Bleeding
 PPE
 Direct
pressure
 Elevate above heart
 Never remove bandage
after it has been
applied – NEVER
33
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Abrasion:
skin is scraped off, bleeding is
usually minimal
 Good chance of infection
34
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Abrasion:
treatment; clean and cover
35
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Incision:
cut or injury caused by sharp object
 Edges are usually clean, easily infected
36
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Incision:
Treatment; control bleeding,
determine need for stitches, cover
37
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Laceration:
tearing of tissue by excessive
force; edges not smooth or even
38
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Laceration:
treatment, control bleeding,
determine if stitches are needed, cover
wound
39
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Puncture:
caused by sharp object; bleeding
usually is small
 Good chance for infection
40
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Puncture:
treatment; do NOT remove object.
Anchor object in place.
41
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Avulsion:
tissue is torn or separated from
victim’s body
 Bleeding is minimal, chance of infection
42
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Avulsion:
treatment; control bleeding, clean,
place avulsed skin back, cover
43
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Amputation:
body part is cut off and
separated from body
44
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Amputation:
treatment; CONTROL
BLEEDING (tourniquet), retrieve body part,
bag it
45
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Amputation:
NEVER place an amputated
body part directly on ice. Keep body part
cold (ice) and moist.
 Transport body part with the victim
46
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Wounds
 Tourniquet:
apply tourniquet as last resort!
 Write time tourniquet was applied on
forehead
47
First Aid Treatment
 Control
Bleeding
 First
priority in caring for wounds!
 It is possible for a person to bleed to death in
a short period of time
 Arterial bleed: spurts blood each time the
heart beats, can result in heavy blood loss;
bright red blood; life threatening – must be
controlled quickly
48
First Aid Treatment
 Control
Bleeding
 Venous
bleed: slower, steadier, darker blood;
easier to control
 Observe
standard precautions
PPE
 Use thick layers of dressings
 Avoid contact with blood as much as possible
 Wash hands as soon as possible

49
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Direct
pressure
 Elevation
 Pressure bandage
 Pressure points
50
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Direct
pressure
 Apply
pressure directly to the wound using a gloved
(covered) hand and thick gauze (clean cloth)
 Apply pressure for 5-10 minutes
 If blood soaks through ADD dressing to existing one
 Do not disturb any formed clots
51
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Elevation
 Raise
injured part above level of heart
 Continue to apply direct pressure
 Do NOT elevate extremity if fracture is suspected
52
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Pressure
bandage
 Difference
between “dressing” & “bandage”
 Applied to hold dressing in place
 CHECK PULSE SITE DISTAL TO THE WOUND
53
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Pressure
points
 Used
when direct pressure,
elevation, and pressure
bandage do not stop
bleeding
 Apply pressure to main
artery and press it against
the underlying bone to cut
off main blood supply
54
First Aid Treatment
 Control
 Four
Bleeding
methods to control bleeding:
 Pressure
points
 Two
main arteries:
 Brachial
 Femoral
 When
bleeding stops
slowly release pressure
 If bleeding starts again
repeat process
55
First Aid Treatment
 Preventing
Infection
 Can
develop in any wound
 Signs & Symptoms
 Swelling
 Heat
 Redness
 Pain
 Fever
 Pus
 Red
streaks leading from wound
56
First Aid Treatment
 Tetanus
Bacterial spores are found in soil
 Can remain infectious for > 40 years
 Bacteria affects outermost nerves and moves
inward toward the spine
 After 8 days tetanus short-circuits nerve signals and
block the relaxation of muscles

57
First Aid Treatment
 Tetanus
58
First Aid Treatment
 Objects


imbedded in wounds:
If near surface, gently remove using sterilized
tweezers
Closed wounds:
Apply cold compress
 Internal injuries – can be life-threatening
 Signs & Symptoms:

 Pain,
tenderness, swelling, deformity, cold/clammy skin,
rapid/weak pulse, hypotension, restlessness, vomiting

Get medical help immediately
59
First Aid Treatment
 Shock
A clinical set of signs and symptoms that are
associated with an inadequate supply of blood to
body organs, especially the brain and heart
 Causes:

Excessive blood loss
Excessive pain
Infection
Heart attack or stroke
Poisoning
Lack of oxygen
Psychological trauma
Dehydration from burns,
vomiting or diarrhea
60
First Aid Treatment
 Types
of Shock
Anaphylactic: allergic reaction
 Cardiogenic: heart attack or cardiac arrest
 Hemorrhagic: blood loss
 Metabolic: vomiting, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance
 Neurogenic: injury to brain or spinal cord
 Psychogenic: emotional distress
 Respiratory: trauma to respiratory system
 Septic: infection that has spread throughout body

61
First Aid Treatment
 Treatment

of Shock
Reduce or eliminate that which is believed to be the
source of the shock
 Control
bleeding
 Oxygen
 Pain
control
 Emotional support
 Raise lower extremities (about 12 inches) if no fracture
 If victim has difficulty breathing, raise shoulders and not
feet
 If neck injury suspected – DO NOT MOVE PATIENT 62
First Aid Treatment
 Treatment

of Shock
Maintain body temperature
 Prevent
over heating or over cooling
 Avoid giving victim anything to eat or drink – use wet cloth
to moisten lips if needed
63
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning
Can happen at any age
 Can occur by:

 Swallowing
 Inhaling
 Injecting
 Contact
with skin
64
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If victim is unconscious:
 Check
for breathing (respiratory arrest)
 Call 9-1-1
 Position victim on their side
65
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If poison has been swallowed:
 Call
9-1-1
 Call poison control for first aid directions
(800)
222-1222
 Save
container or label for rescuers
 Try to find out how much poison was swallowed
 If victim vomits, save sample
66
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If poison has been swallowed:
 Call
9-1-1
 Call poison control for first aid directions
(800)
222-1222
 Save
container or label for rescuers
 Try to find out how much poison was swallowed
 If victim vomits, save sample
67
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If poison has been inhaled:
 REMOVE
victim from area
 Call
9-1-1
 Check for breathing (respiratory arrest)
68
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If victim has been poisoned by contact:
 Call
9-1-1
 Wash with LARGE amounts of water for 15-20 minutes
 Remove victim’s clothing and jewelry that may contain
poison
 Call poison control for first aid directions
(800)
222-1222
69
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If victim has been poisoned by injection:
 Call
9-1-1
 If arm or leg affected, position extremity BELOW the level
of the heart
 Remove embedded stingers (scrape with card-like object)
 Do NOT use tweezers!
 Wash area with soap & water
 Apply cold pack/dressing
70
First Aid Treatment
 Poisoning

If victim has been poisoned by injection:
 Call
9-1-1
 If arm or leg affected, position extremity BELOW the level
of the heart
 Remove embedded stingers (scrape with card-like object)
 Do NOT use tweezers!
 Wash area with soap & water
 Apply cold pack/dressing
71
First Aid Treatment
 Burns

Can be caused by:
 Fire
 Heat
 Chemicals
 Radiation
 Electricity
72
First Aid Treatment
 Burns

3 Types:
 First
degree:
 Least severe
 Superficial
 Epidermis only
 Reddened, discolored skin
 Mild to moderate pain
73
First Aid Treatment
 Burns

3 Types:
 Second
degree:
 Partial thickness
 Epidermis & Dermis
 Blister
 Redness, swelling of skin
 Severe pain
 Surface of skin can appear wet
74
First Aid Treatment
 Burns

3 Types:
 Third
degree:
 Full thickness
 Most severe type of burn
 All layers of skin involved as well as underlying tissue
(muscle, organs, etc.)
 White, charred appearance
 May have extreme pain or may little to no pain at all, if
nerves are burned
 Can be life-threatening (fluid loss, shock, infection) 75
First Aid Treatment
 Burns

Treatment:
 Remove
source of heat
 Cool the skin area
 Cover the burn with clean (sterile if available) dressing
 Relieve pain
 Observe for shock
76
First Aid Treatment
 Heat
Exposure
Elevation of body temperature due to extented
exposure to heat source (example: sun, extreme
workout, etc.)
 Electrolytes can become imbalanced
 Can be life threatening
 Water, salt lost through respiration

77
First Aid Treatment
 Heat

Exposure
Heat Cramps:
 Muscle
pains and spasms
 Caused by loss of salt and water through perspiration
 Apply firm pressure to the cramped muscle to provide
relief
 Have victim rest in cool area
 Sips of water or sport drink
78
First Aid Treatment
 Heat

Exposure
Heat Exhaustion:
 Overexposure
to heat
 More severe than heat cramps – affect entire body
 Victim loses water and salt through extreme perspiration
 Electrolyte imbalance
 Call 9-1-1
 Can be life threatening
 Move patient to cool area
 Loosen, remove excessive clothing
79
 Cool patient down STAT!
First Aid Treatment
 Heat

Exposure
Heat Exhaustion:
 If
victim is conscious give sips of water
 This condition can lead to heat stroke if not treated
quickly
80
First Aid Treatment
 Heat

Exposure
Heat Stroke:
 Prolonged
overexposure to high temperatures
 TRUE MEDICAL EMERGENCY
 Call 9-1-1
 Body retains heat (105 – 106 degrees)
 Victim is not sweating
 Dry, hot, red skin
 Rapid pulse (tachycardia)
 May lose consciousness
81
First Aid Treatment
 Heat

Exposure
Heat Stoke:
 COOL
VICTIM IMMEDIATELY
 High temperature can lead to seizures
 Can go into cardiac arrest if not treated quickly
 If available place victim in cool bath tub
 Place ice packs under armpits and in groin area, as well
as rest of the body
 Observe/treat shock
82
First Aid Treatment
 Cold

Exposure
Hypothermia:
 Sustained
body temperature which is lower than normal
 Normal oral temperature 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit
 Move victim to warm area as soon as possible
 Remove wet clothing (if applicable)
 WARM GRADUALLY!!!
 Warming that is done too quickly can cause irregular
heart rhythm and lower temperature of internal organs
83
First Aid Treatment
 Cold

Exposure
Frostbite:
 Actual
freezing of tissue fluids which damage skin and
underlying tissue – can lead to tissue death
 Common sites: fingers, toes, ears, nose & cheeks
 Can actually “burn” tissue
 Immerse affected body parts in WARM (not hot water)
 Blisters may form – do not puncture blisters – EVER
 Needs medical attention as quickly as possible
 Observe/treat for shock
84