First Aid
Chapter 1
Emergency: a situation requiring immediate action.
First Aid: immediate care given to a person with an injury or sudden illness until more advanced care can
be obtained.
Types of Emergencies
1.
2.
3.
4.
Injury
Sudden illness
Life-threatening
Non-life threatening
Emergency medical services (EMS) System: a network of community resources and medical personnel
that provides emergency care.
Your role in the EMS is a lay responder:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Recognizing that an emergency exists
Deciding to act
Activating the EMS System by calling 9-1-1
Giving care until medical help arrives and takes over
Recognizing an Emergency: unusual noises, sights, odors, appearances or behaviors
Emergency Action Steps: three basic steps you should take in any emergency. (The three C’s)
CHECK: the scene and the person
CALL: 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
CARE: for the person
Check:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is the scene safe?
What happened?
How many people involved?
Any bystanders to help?
What is wrong with the victim?
Call:
1. When to call
2. Making the call
A. Your name
B. What happened
C. Number of people involved
D. Condition of the victim
E. Any care being given
3. If you are alone: Call First or Care First
Care:
1.
2.
3.
4.
DO NO FURTHER HARM
Monitor the victim
Comfort the victim
Give specific care as needed
Checking the Person
Vocabulary:
1. Aspirate: Inhale blood, vomit, saliva or other foreign material into the lungs.
2. Head tilt/chin lift technique: used to open a person’s airway by pushing down on the forehead
while pulling up on the bony part of the jaw.
3. Stoma: a surgical opening created in the front of the neck following surgery on the trachea to
allow a person to breathe.
I.
Life-Threatening Conditions:
A. Unconsciousness
1. To determine consciousness: tap them on shoulder and shout “Are you okay?”
a. Infants: tap gently or flick bottom of their foot
2. If conscious: interview the victim and give a head to toe exam
3. If unconscious: Call 9-1-1 and check ABC’s
B. Airway
1. Check if the airway is open and clear
a. Adults: head tilt/chin lift
b. Child: one hand on the forehead and tilt slightly past neutral
c. Infant: one hand on the forehead and tilt to neutral
C. Breathing
1. Position yourself so that you can:
a. Look: chest rise and fall
b. Listen: for breath sounds
c. Feel: breaths from nose and mouth
2. Check for no more than 10 seconds
3. If breathing continue to check for other life-threatening conditions
4. If not breathing: give 2 rescue breaths
a. Adult, Child and Infant each breath should last 1 second
b. Infant: seal around nose and mouth
c. If breaths do not go in: re- tilt and try again and look for obstructions
D. Circulation
1. Check for a pulse
a. Adult and Child: two fingers on the carotid artery
b. Infant: two fingers on the brachial artery
2. Check for severe bleeding
Chapter 6: Cardiac Emergencies
Define the following on page 94:
Angina Pectoris
Atherosclerosis
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Cholesterol
Coronary Heart Disease
Defibrillation
Heart Attack
Signals of a Heart Attack:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Persistent chest pain, discomfort or pressure
Discomfort in the upper body: shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, stomach, back
Trouble breathing
Pale or ashen skin, damp or sweaty skin, dizziness, nauseous, lose consciousness
Care for a Heart Attack:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Stop what they are doing and rest comfortably
Monitor closely until EMS arrives
Be prepared to perform CPR if they lose consciousness
Ask their history of heart disease or any medications
Keep them calm
Loosen any restrictive clothing
Talk to any bystanders to get more info
Do not drive them yourself to the hospital wait for EMS
Signals of Cardiac Arrest:
1. Unconscious
2. No breathing
3. No pulse
Cardiac Chain of Survival:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Early recognition and early access to the EMS System
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation
Early advanced medical care
Chapter 7 Breathing Emergencies
Define the following on page 126:
Airway Obstruction
Anatomical Obstruction
Mechanical Obstruction
Respiratory arrest
Respiratory distress
I.
A breathing emergency is any respiratory problem that can threaten a person’s life
A. Causes
1. Airway Obstruction(partial or full)
a. Anatomical
b. Mechanical
2. Chronic Conditions
a. Asthma
b. Emphysema
c. Bronchitis
d. COPD
3. Severe allergic reactions
a. Bee or insect
b. Antibiotics
c. Pollen
d. Foods (nuts, fruit, shellfish)
4. Illness
5. Electrocution
6. Heart attack
7. Drug overdose
8. Poisoning
II.
Signals of Respiratory Problems
A. Slow or rapid breathing
B. Deep or shallow breathing
C. Gasping
D. Trouble speaking
E. Wheezing, high pitched noises
F. Moist or cool skin
G. Flushed pale or ashen skin
H. Dizziness
I. Tingling in hands, feet or lips
III.
Care
A. Three C’s
B. Conscious person:
1. Rest comfortably
2. Check for other conditions
3. Ask yes or no questions
4. Reassure them until EMS arrives
5. Monitor and watch for signs
6. Assist with medication
C. Unconscious:
1. Check for pulse
2. 2 rescue breaths
3. Start CPR if necessary
Chapter 8 Bleeding
Define the following on pg. 156:
Arteries
Capillaries
Clotting
Direct Pressure
Tourniquet
Bleeding is the escape of blood from arteries, capillaries, or veins.
A large amount of bleeding in a short period of time is called a hemorrhage.
External bleeding is visible outside the wound.
Internal bleeding occurs inside the body and is hard to recognize.
Blood
A. Three functions
1. Transporting oxygen, nutrients and wastes
2. Protecting against disease
3. Maintaining body temperature
B. Composition
1. Plasma- liquid part
a. Makes up half the total blood volume in the body
2. Platelets- solid part
a. Red and White blood cells
b. Essential for clotting
c. Red out numbers white 1000 to 1
d. White fights infection
e. Red transports oxygen
C. Types of External Bleeding
1. Arterial- rapid and severe, bright red
2. Venous-easier to control, steady flow, dark red
3. Capillary-most common, low pressure, oozing, pale red
D. Care for External Bleeding
1. Apply direct pressure with bandage until clotting occurs
2. Make sure there is a barrier between you and the wound
3. If bleeding continues add more bandages and keep direct pressure on wound
4. Minimize shock and monitor victim
5. Have them rest comfortably
6. Wash your hand immediately after giving care
E. Internal Bleeding
1. Signs
a. Tender swollen, bruised areas
b. Rapid breathing, moist skin
c. Vomiting blood or coughing up blood
d. Excessive thirst
e. Injured extremity is blue
f. Confusion, drowsy, unconscious
2. Care
a. Do no further harm
b. Monitor breathing and consciousness
c. Help them rest comfortably
d. Keep them from becoming chilled or overheated
e. Give any specific care needed