Basic First Aid for Cardiac Arrest

First Aid for Suspected Cardiac Arrest

According to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross 2019 guidelines, the steps to take when a cardiac arrest is
suspected are:1

 Command someone to call 911 or the medical alert system for the locale.
 Immediately start chest compressions regardless of your training. Compress hard and fast in the center of the chest, allowing
recoil between compressions. Hand this task over to those who are trained if and when they arrive.
 If you are trained, use chest compressions and rescue breathing.
  An AED should be applied and used. But it is essential not to delay chest compressions, so finding one should be commanded
to someone else while you are doing chest compressions.

Basic First Aid for Bleeding

Regardless of how severe, almost all bleeding can be controlled. Mild bleeding will usually stop on its own. If severe bleeding is not
controlled, it may lead to shock and eventually death.
First Aid for Bleeding

Steps to take if you are faced with bleeding right now:

1. Cover the wound with a gauze or a cloth.

2. Apply direct pressure to stop the blood flow.
3. Don't remove the cloth. Add more layers if needed. The cloth will help clots form to stop the flow.

Basic First Aid for Burns

First Aid for Burns

 Take these first aid steps:

1. Flush the burned area with cool running water for several minutes. Do not use ice.5
2. Apply a light gauze bandage.
3. Do not apply ointments, butter, or oily remedies to the burn.
4. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief if necessary.
5. Do not break any blisters that may have formed.
6.

Basic First Aid for Blisters

Whether or not a blister needs any treatment is debatable. If the blister is small, unbroken and not very painful, it is probably best to
leave it alone. Cover it to prevent continued rubbing and pressure on it that can cause it to swell more and possibly burst on its own.

If the blister is large or painful—especially if the activity isn’t finished (such as you are in the middle of a hike)—follow steps to drain
and dress a blister:7

1. Use a sterilized needle and make small punctures at the edge of the blister.
2. Express the fluid.
3. Then apply antibiotic ointment.
4. Cover it to protect it from further rubbing and pressure.

Basic First Aid for Fractures

First Aid for Suspected Fracture

Take these steps for a suspected fracture:

1. Don't try to straighten it.

2. Stabilize the limb using a splint and padding to keep it immobile.
3. Put a cold pack on the injury, avoiding placing ice directly on the skin.
4. Elevate the extremity.
5. Give anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen.

Basic First Aid for Sprains

The symptoms of a sprain are almost exactly the same as that of a broken bone. When in doubt, first aid for sprains should be the same
as broken bones. Immobilize the limb, apply a cold pack, elevate it, and take anti-inflammatory drugs.9 See your doctor for further
diagnosis and treatment.

Basic First Aid for Nosebleeds

First Aid for Nosebleed

The first aid for nosebleed includes:10

1. Lean slightly forward, not back.

2. Pinch the nose just below the bridge. Don't pinch the nostrils closed by pinching lower.
3. Check after five minutes to see if bleeding has stopped. If not, continue pinching and check after another 10 minutes.
4. You can also apply a cold pack to the bridge of the nose while pinching.

Basic First Aid for Bee Stings

1. Get the stinger out any way you can to prevent more venom being delivered. It's a myth that any particular way is better or
worse.
 2. If the person is known to be allergic to bee stings, use an EpiPen to prevent anaphylaxis or call 911 if none is available.
3. Use a cold pack to reduce swelling at the site, but take care not to cause frostbite. 
4. Use an antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to reduce swelling and itching. 
5. Try ibuprofen or Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain.
6. Monitor the person who was stung by signs of anaphylaxis, including hives, redness or itching in other areas of the body, and
shortness of breath.

Basic First Aid for Jellyfish Stings

1. Rinse the area of the sting generously with vinegar for at least 30 seconds. If you don't have vinegar available, use a baking
soda slurry instead.
2. Immerse the affected area in hot water, as hot as the person can tolerate, for at least 20 minutes or until the pain goes away. If
hot water isn't available, use dry hot packs. If those aren't available, use dry cold packs. Other methods to relieve pain are less
effective (such as urine, freshwater wash, papain or meat tenderizer).
3. Do not use a pressure bandage.

Antidotes Recommended Stocking

(Generic Name & Trade Names) Poisoning or Overdose Indications Level

Acetylcysteine (MucomystTM, Acetaminophen toxicity 20% oral solution-7 x

Antidotes Recommended Stocking
(Generic Name & Trade Names) Poisoning or Overdose Indications Level

30mL;
AcetadoteTM) 20% IV solution-4 x 30mL

Antivenom (Latrodectus mactans) Black widow spider envenomation 1 vial

Bradydysrhythmias, cholinesterase inhibitor

Atropine toxicity 1g

Benztropine (CogentinTM) Acute dystonia 3 x 2mL, 1mg/mL

Botulinum antitoxin / trivalent ABE Botulism Available from CDC

Calcium disodium EDTA (VersenateTM) Lead, copper, zinc, cobalt, cadmium toxicity 18 x 5mL, 200mg/mL

Hydrofluoric acid exposure, calcium channel

Calcium gluconate 10% blocker toxicity 20 -30 vials, 1 gram each

Crotalinae polyvalent immune FAB

(CroFabTM) Crotalinae (rattlesnake) envenomation 10-20 vials

32mg (4mg tablets or

Cyproheptadine (PeriactinTM) Serotonin syndrome 2mg/5mL syrup)

Malignant hyperthermia, neuroleptic malignant

Dantrolene (DantriumTM) syndrome 35 x 20mg vials

Deferoxamine mesylate (DesferalTM) Iron toxicity 12x 500mg vials

Diazepam / lorazepam (ValiumTM / 20mg parenteral

AtivanTM) Seizures, severe agitation; stimulant toxicity formulation
Antidotes Recommended Stocking
(Generic Name & Trade Names) Poisoning or Overdose Indications Level

Digoxin-specific antibody fragments

(DigifabTM, DigibindTM) Digoxin and other cardiac glycoside toxicity 15-20 vials

Dimercaprol / BAL Arsenic, lead, mercury toxicity 6 x 3mL, 100mg/mL

Diphenhydramine (BenadrylTM) Acute dystonia; histamine receptor blockade 8 x 1mL, 50mg/mL

Flumazenil (RomaziconTM) Benzodiazepine toxicity 10 x 10mL, 0.1mg/mL

Folic acid (FolviteTM) Methanol toxicity 6 x 10mL, 5mg/mL

Fomepizole (AntizolTM) Ethylene glycol, methanol toxicity 4 x 1.5mL, 1g/mL

100mg (100 kits, 1unit

Glucagon Beta-blocker, calcium channel blocker toxicity each)

Hydroxocobalamin (CyanokitTM) Cyanide exposure / smoke inhalation 15g (3 kits)

Leucovorin calcium Methotrexate toxicity 2 x 10mL, 10mg/mL

Levocarnitine (CarnitorTM) Valproic acid toxicity 7 x 5mL, 1g/5mL

Levoleucovorin calcium Methotrexate toxicity 1 x 50mg vial

Methylene blue 1% Methemoglobinemia 5x 10mL, 10mg/mL

Naloxone (NarcanTM) Opioid toxicity 3 x 10mL, 1mg/mL

Octreotide (SandostatinTM) Sulfonylurea toxicity 2 x 1mL, 0.1mg/mL

Physostigmine (AntiliriumTM) Anticholinergic toxicity 10 x 2mL, 1mg/mL

Antidotes Recommended Stocking
(Generic Name & Trade Names) Poisoning or Overdose Indications Level

Phytonadione / Vitamin K1 10 x 1mL, 10mg/mL; 20 x

(AquaMEPHYTONTM / MephytonTM) Oral anticoagulant / rodenticide toxicicty 5mg tablets

Cholinesterase inhibitor (organophosphate /

Pralidoxime / 2-PAM (ProtopamTM) carbamate) toxicity 12 x 1g vials

Protamine Heparin reversal 1 x 25mL, 10mg/mL

Ethylene glycol / isoniazid / Gyromitra

Pyridoxine / Vitamin B6 mushroom toxicity 7 x 30mL, 100mg/mL

Cyclic antidepressant / salicylate toxicity, 10 amps or syringes

Sodium bicarbonate metabolic acidosis (~500mEq)

Succimer / DMSA (ChemetTM) Arsenic, lead, mercury 21 x 100mg capsules

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, ethylene

Thiamine / Vitamin B1 glycol toxicity 5 x 2mL, 100mg/mL