First Aid

Notes
Lectures...

Content Page
Introduction (First Aid)
Wounds
Bleedings
Fractures
Burns
Cardio- Pulmonary Resuscitation
Shock
Asthma Attack

Introduction (First Aid)

What is First Aid?

Aims of First Aid
The ABC of Life
First Aid Priority
4 stages of consciousness
Examination Techniques

What is First Aid?

Initial help given to a casualty
before the arrival of professionals

Aims of First Aid

To preserve life
To promote recovery
To prevent others injuries

The ABC of Life

Airway- Check the airways are
open and clear, no obstructions
Breathing- Look and see that the
chest is rising and falling. Sound of
breathing
Circulation- Check for pulse

First Aid Priority

Safety
Consciousness
Pulse & Respiration
Bleeding
Fractures
Poisoning
Shock
Disposal of casualty

4 stages of consciousness

Fully Conscious
Drowsiness
Stupor
Coma

Examination Techniques

Hands- Check nails and palms for

anaemia
Pulse- Check the rate, rhythm &
volume
Blood pressure- Hypotension is
low, hypotension is high
Head- Eyes, ears,lips and mouth
Neck- check not broken or bruised
Chest- Lungs and heart

Head- Eyes, ears,lips and mouth

Neck- check not broken or bruised
Chest- Lungs and heart
Abdomen- Liver, spleen, kidneys
Limps- Look, feel, move

Wounds

Incised wound
Laceration
Abrasion(Graze)
Contusion(Bruise)
Puncture wound
Gunshot wound
Treatments

Incised wound
Straight Cut
Profuse bleeding
Caused by blade/ broken glass

Laceration
Rough tear by crushing on ripping
forces
Bleed less profusely than incised
wound
Often contaminated by germs

Abrasion(Graze)
Caused by sliding fall of friction
burn
Superficial wound

Contusion(Bruise)
Blunt blow
Caused by hammer etc.

Puncture wound
Caused by nail and needle
Small site of entry deep track of
internal damage
Risk of infection is high

Gunshot wound
Caused by bullet

Treatments
Remove any clothing from around
the wound
Clean the skin round the wound
and irrigate the wound to remove
any dirt
Cover it with a clean dressing

Dressing
When applying sterile dressing
Remove the wrapping
Unfold the dressing pad, holding
the bandage on each side of the
pad. Put the pad directly on the
wound.

 Wind the short end of the bandage

once around the limb and the
dressing to secure the pad, leaving
the tail hanging free
To secure the bandage, tie the ends
in a reef knot, tied over the pad to
exert firm pressure on the wound
Check the circulation to the
extremity of the injured limb

Bleedings

Arterial bleeding
Venous bleeding
Capillary bleeding
Treatment for bleeding
Signs and symptoms of internal
bleeding

Arterial bleeding

Bright red
Spurts out
Under high pressure
Richly oxgenated

Venous bleeding
Dark red
Gushing out
Under lesser pressure than arterial
bleeding
Given up its oxygen

Capillary bleeding
Red in colour
Oozing out

Treatment for bleeding

Severe wounds
Apply direct pressure to the wound
in order to stop the flow of the
blood
Apply sterile dressing with firm
pressure to control the bleeding
If there is no fracture, try to raise
the limb that has been wounded &
support it

Signs and symptoms of

internal bleeding

Pale, clammy skin

Rapid and weak pulse
Rapid, shallow breathing
Tenderness in abdomen
Any pain of discomfort
Nausea and/or vomiting
Shock

Fractures

What is a fracture?
Types of fractures
Signs
Treatment

What is a fracture?
A closed, or simple, fracture is
where the broken bone ends remain
beneath the skin, whereas an open,
or compound, fracture is where
both ends of the bone protrude
through the skin

Types of fractures

Simple fracture
Compound fracture
Complicated fracture ( includes
organs)
Neck fracture
Skull fracture
Fractured ribs
Greenstick Fracture(happen to small
children )

Signs
Swelling
Deformity or projecting bone ends
Severe pain, made worse by
movement
Bruised
Tenderness

Treatment
Do not try to force the bones back
together again but seek medical
assistance
Treat all open wounds with a clean
dressing
Splint the fractured area in exactly
the position that you find it in,
pending removal to hospital or the
arrival of expert medical aid

 If the arm is fracture, splint it, and

then set up a sling if the arm can be
moved across the chest.
Do not move the victim at all if
you suspect a spinal injury

Burns

- Type of burn
First degree
Second degree
Third degree

First degree
Top layer of skin
Skin turns red and then peels off
Treatment: Rehydrating creams,
Cool water at regular intervals

Second degree
Deeper damage to the skin, causing
blisters. Shock.
Treatment: Use antibacterial
dressing, or leave wound undressed
but kept scrupulously clean.

Third degree
Damage to all layers of skin

Treatment: Requires specialist

treatment

Cardio- Pulmonary
Resuscitation
What is CPR?
Steps of CPR

What is CPR?
Used when the patient has stopped
breathing and when there is no
pulse
Only be performed by someone
who has had training in this
method

Steps of CPR
Tilt victims head backwards in
order to open the airway
Pinch the victims nose with thumb
and forefinger
Take a deep breath, place your
mouth tightly over the victims
mouth and blow air from yours
into their mouth

 Stop blowing when the victims

chest is expanded
Lift your hand from the victim and
watch for the chest to fall. Give the
victim further quick breaths, taking
a deep breath yourself between
each one.

 Carry on blowing into the victims

lungs at a rate of 12 breaths per
minute until the victim begins to
breathe on his or her own.
You can stop blowing at this stage.

Shock
What is shock?
Signs
Treatment

What is shock?
Rapid lowering of blood pressure
owing to lack of circulating
volume to vital body organs, such
as the brain, heart, liver and
kidneys.

Signs

Weak and giddy

Nausea/ may vomit
Thirst
Rapid shallow breathing
Weak Pulse

Treatment

Lay casualty down

Reassure the casualty
Raise and support the leg
Loosen tight clothing
Keep casualty warm
Check and record the casualtys
breathing, pulse, level of response

Asthma attack
Treatment
Reassure and calm casualty
Find a position that the person
finds comfortable
Tell him/her to try taking slow,
deep breaths
Help to find the reliever(Blue)

 Allow casualty to use it and it will

take effect within minutes
If attack eases within 5-10 minutes,
encourage him/her to take another
dose and breathe slowly and deeply
Tell casualty to inform doctor if
attack is very severe or first attack

End of presentation!!
Hope you have learnt more
about First Aid !!!