First Aid and Water Safety Reviewer

Introduction

First Aid and Water Safety – is a two units' course that revolves around the principles of first aid

in emergencies; application of artificial respiration and treatment of shock; first aid in cases

involving burns, bone injuries such as dislocation and fractures, immobilizing and transfer of the

victim to a place of safety and transporting the injured to the hospital

First – preceding all others in time or order.

Aid – to provide with what is useful or necessary

First Aid – refers to assessments and interventions that can be performed by a bystander (or by

the patient/victim) with minimal or no medical equipment before the arrival of medical assistance

- is the assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury, with care provided

to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, and/or promote recovery.

- Initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help being available,

such as performing CPR while awaiting an ambulance, as well as the complete treatment

of minor conditions, such as applying a plaster to a cut while waiting for further medical

assistance.

- This includes initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help

being available, such as performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) while waiting

for an ambulance, as well as the medical practitioners.

- An immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill

- It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is not available or delayed

(Philippine National Red Cross).

Accident – is an incidental and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or

necessity.

- It usually implies a generally negative outcome which might have been avoided or

prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon,

prior to its occurrence.

- Injury prevention refers to activities designed to foresee and avoid accidents.

Objectives of First Aid:

1. Preserve Life – First aid measures aim to preserve and sustain human life. Also to save

the victim from imminent danger.

2. Prevent illness or injuries from becoming worse – Also sometimes called prevent the

condition from worsening, or danger of further injury.

3. Promote recovery/alleviate suffering – One of the main objectives of first aid is to be

able to help to reduce or totally alleviate suffering and further promote the complete

recovery of the victim/injured person.

Characteristics of First Aider:

• Gentle – First aider should not cause, inflict pain as much as possible.

• Resourceful – Makes the best use of things at hand.

• Observant – Should notice all signs, be aware of what is happening and what may happen.

• Tactful – Handling the victim with utmost care and in a calm manner.

• Empathetic – Should be comforting.

• Respectful – Maintains a professional and caring attitude.

Emergency Action Principles:

• Survey the Scene

1. What happened?

2. How many people are injured?

3. Are there bystanders who can provide help?

4. Introduce yourself as a trained first aider.

• Primary Survey

1. Responsiveness

2. Airway – head-tilt, chin-lift

3. Breathing – look, listen, feel

4. Circulation

• Secondary Survey

1. Interview victims and/or bystanders

2. Perform head-to-toe surveys

3. Check vital signs

General Guidelines in Administering First Aid

1. Plan of Action – Established based on anticipated needs and available resources.

- Example: Getting to know where the First Aid Kits are located as well as other

emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire alarm switches and fire exits.

Also, by being aware of the emergency numbers such as ambulance providers,

hospital emergency room, fire department, and police stations.

2. Gathering of needed materials – Preparation of equipment and personnel.

3. Initial response (sequence of actions)

a. Ask for help

b. Intervene. Give appropriate interventions

 c. Do not further harm

d. Safety First

4. Survey the scene

a. Is the scene safe? Safe for you and the injured?

b. What happened?

c. How many people are injured?

d. Are there someone who can help?

e. Get consent before giving first aid care

Conditions to Transport a Casualty:

1. You have evaluated and given first aid to a victim which must be transported for further

medical aid. No help is available.

2. You have evaluated and given first aid to a casualty but it is needed to move the victim to

get further medical aid. You have a companion to help you. Materials to make a litter

maybe available.

Standards: Transport the casualty without dropping him or her, or causing any further injury,

using appropriate one- man carry, two- man carry, or a properly improvised litter.

Performance Steps:

Note: Manual carries should not be used to move a casualty with a neck or spine injury unless a

life- threatening hazards is in the immediate area.

Types of manually carrying victims depending on the situation:

• One-Man Carry – It serves as the most convenient way of manually transporting a

casualty when no help is available. It includes the following techniques:

1. Fireman’s Carry – usually used with an unconscious or severely injured casualty.

2. Arm’s Carry – used for a casualty who is unable to walk and is used for short

distances only
3. Support Carry – used for casualty who is able to walk or at least hop on one leg.
4. Saddleback Carry – used for a conscious casualty only
5. Pack strap Carry – transporting a casualty to moderate distances
6. Pistol Belt Carry – best one-man carry for long distances. The hands of the casualty

and bearer are free.

7. Neck Drag – useful in combat but cannot be used if the casualty has a broken arm

and usually used for short distance.

8. Cradle Drop Drag – useful for moving a casualty who cannot walk when he or she

must be moved up or down stairs.

• Two-Man Carry – is applicable if help can be provided by another person in

transporting the casualty. It may be in the following variations:

1. Two-man Support Carry – used for both conscious and unconscious casualty.
2. Two-man Arms Carry – used for moderate distances and for placing a casualty on a

litter. In extreme emergencies, the two-man arms carry is the safest one for

transporting a casualty with a back or neck injury.

- If possible, two more bearers should be used to keep the casualty’s head and legs

in alignment with his or her body

3. Four- Hand Seat Carry – good for a casualty who can stand but cannot walk and is

used for moderate distances

4. Two- Hand Seat Carry – useful for carrying a casualty to short distances and for

placing him or her on a litter.

Transporting a Victim Using an Improvised Litter – Litter should be used if materials are

available and the casualty must be moved at a long distance or manual carries will cause further

injury.
First Aid and Water Safety Midterms Reviewer

Wound – Is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body either internal or external tissues.

Classification of Wound:

● Closed wound – Break in the continuity of a body tissue without the skin being broken

down.
 - A common closed wound is a bruise, which develops when the body is bumped or

hit.

- Causes: blunt object result in contusion or bruises and application of external

force

● Open wound – Is an injury involving external or internal break in the body tissue usually

involving the skin.

3 Layers of the Skin:

● Epidermis

● Dermis

● Hypodermis (Subcutaneous/Subcutis)

Layers of the Epidermis:

● Stratum corneum

● Stratum lucideum

● Stratum granulosum

● Stratum spinosum

● Stratum basale

Contusion – is the bleeding underneath the skin without the development of inflammation.

- It occurs when small veins and capillaries under the skin break.

Hematoma – is the bleeding underneath the skin with the development of inflammation.

- It is the collection of blood outside the blood vessel.

Signs and Symptoms:

● Pain

● Tenderness
 ● Swelling

● Discoloration

● Hematoma

First Aid Management of Closed Wound:

1. Rest the affected area.

2. Ice compress

3. Compression

4. Elevate the affected area

5. Splinting

Perform further assessment and put the injured person under observation. Seek for

medical advice if:

● The pain is unbearable

● Hematoma is spreading

● The affected area is the head (including face and neck)

● Involves the spine area

● Bleeding is noted in mouth, ears and nose

● Coughing and vomiting of blood

Types of Open Wound:

1. Puncture (Natusok) – Small opening, maybe deep or shallow and external bleeding can

be minor

- COMMON CAUSES:Sharp pointed objects such as pins, ice picks and nails

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Dressing and direct pressure

 ● Elevating the infected area.

2. Incisions (Hiwa) – Sharp, even cuts with smooth edges; degree of bleeding depends on

the depth and extent of the wound; healing is better as compared to instrument laceration.

- COMMON CAUSES: Sharp cutting objects such as knife, blade; caused by

sharped edged/blade.

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Dressing and direct pressure

● Elevating the infected area.

3. Laceration (Hiwa) – Profuse bleeding due to the irregular and jagged break in the Skin

- COMMON CAUSES: Sharp but uneven objects such as broken glass or bottle,

serrated objects. Caused by tearing forces. The skin is torn by sharp objects with

irregular edges.

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Dressing and direct pressure

● Elevation

● Tourniquet

4. Abrasions (Gasgas) – Otherwise known as “Sliding or Rubbing Injuries''. Bleeding is

limited to oozing from ruptured small veins and capillaries and is not usually severe; it

can be painful because of the exposed nerve ending.

- COMMON CAUSES: Friction of the skin with another object rubbing/scraping

of the skin against rough or hard surfaces

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Dressing
 5. Avulsions (Wakwak) – Severe and extreme Bleeding occurs due to the forcible

separation or tearing of a flap of tissue from the victim’s body. If the flap of tissue still

has some attachment and is folded back, blood supply to it can be compromised because

the blood vessel may kink so you have to align the flap in its normal position.

- COMMON CAUSES: Animal bites and accidents involving motor vehicles and

Heavy Machineries; tissues are forcefully separated from the body

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Dressing and direct pressure

● Elevation

● Tourniquet

6. Amputation (Naputol) – Immediately after a traumatic amputation, prompt first aid

limits blood loss, prevents shocks, and increases the victim’s chance for a successful

replantation. Applying first aid with skill in this frightening situation also helps calm the

victim and bystanders.

- COMMON CAUSES: Accident , Unlawful attacks, Animal bites

- POSSIBLE FIRST AID TECHNIQUE:

● Cover the wound with clean, dry material and apply firm pressure

● If severe bleeding, lie down the victim and elevate feet to increase blood

pressure.

Other Classifications of Open Wounds:

● Defense wounds – self-defense wound is an injury received by the victim of an attack

while trying to defend against the assailant

● Mortal Wound – is an injury that will ultimately lead to a person's death.

 ● Human Bite – If someone cuts his or her knuckles on another person's teeth, as might

happen in a fight, this is also considered a human bite.

● Penetrating wound – are caused by objects that penetrate the body, that is, they pierce

the skin and lacerate, disrupt, destroy, or contuse adjacent tissue, thus creating an open

wound.

● Chop Wound – represents a combination of sharp and blunt force injuries, typically

produced by a heavy or "powerful" object that has an edge that is somewhat sharp to very

sharp, or by a sharp object wielded with a tremendous amount of force.

● Decapitation Injury – occurs due to the severing of the ligaments connecting the spine

to the skull. The severity of this injury is not from that tearing of the ligaments but rather

due to movement of the head afterward. If the head moves too much, it can cause brain

stem damage.

● Dog Bite – is a bite upon a person or other animal by a dog, including from a rabid dog.

● Incised Wound – A clean, straight cut caused by a sharp edge

Dangers of an Open Wound:

● Hemorrhage – severe bleeding

● Infection – introduction of bacteria/parasites

● Shock – decreased in circulatory (blood volume). A fatal condition.

First Aid Management of an Open Wound

For wounds with severe bleeding:

● Inspect

● Control bleeding

● Refer to a physician
 ● Continuous assessment and observation for shock

For wounds with mild to moderate bleeding:

● Clean

● Disinfect

● Dress

Burn – is an injury involving the skin, including muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. This

results from exposure to direct heat (fire), chemicals, electricity, solar or other forms of radiation.

Classification of Burns:

● Thermal Burn

● Chemical Burn

● Electrical Burn

Thermal Burns – Caused by direct or indirect contact with flames and other hot objects, steam,

or liquids.

Classifications of Thermal Burns:

● First degree burn – burn affects only the first (epidermis) layer of the skin. Very painful

and the skin is red in color.

● Second degree burn – affects the first and second layers (epidermis and dermis) of the

skin. Blisters are expected to form.

● Third degree burn – Affects the first and second layers of the skin and may extend up to

the proximal subcutaneous tissues. Usually less painful.

First Aid Care for Thermal Burns:

● For First and Second Degree Burn:

○ Relieve pain
 ○ Cover

● For Third Degree Burn:

○ Cover

○ Prepare for emergency transfer

First Aid and Water Safety Finals Reviewer

Basic First Aid – Perform first aid techniques to a victim of choking (abdominal/ or chest thrust)

and to a victim of drowning or other unconscious victim (CPR/AR)

Conditions:

1. Given a conscious victim who is experiencing difficulty in breathing because he is

choked or something is stuck in his throat.

2. Given an unconscious victim due to drowning or any accident and does not appear to be

breathing.

Standards:

1. Attempt to clear the object from the casualty’s throat. Give abdominal or chest thrusts

until the casualty can talk and breathe normally.

2. Perform AR/ CPR depending on the situation.

In dealing with a victim of choking, the following should be taken into consideration:

Condition:

1. Good Air Exchange

2. Poor Air Exchange

3. Complete Airway

Symptom:

1. Unable to speak, coughs forcefully.

2. Weak coughing with high pitched noise between coughs.

3. Cannot speak, breathe, or Obstruction coughing at all; maybe clutching neck and moving

erratically.
If the victim has good airway exchange, there is no need to interfere except to encourage the

victim. On the other hand, if the victim experiences either poor airway exchange or complete

airway obstruction, perform the necessary first aid technique which maybe as follows:

A. Correctly position for giving abdominal or chest thrusts.

B. Abdominal or chest thrust should be employed on the victim in accordance with the

situation

a. Abdominal Thrusts – Stand behind the victim and wrap your arm around the

victim’s waist.

- Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb of the fist against the

abdomen slightly above the navel and well below the tip of the breastbone.
 - Grasp the fist with the other hand and give quick upward and backward

thrusts.

- NOTE: Abdominal thrusts should be used unless the victim is in advanced

stages of pregnancy, is very obese, or has significant abdominal wound.

Each thrust should be a separate, distinct movement and it may be

repeated 6- 10 times to clear the airway.

b. Chest Thrusts – Stand behind the victim and wrap your arm around the victim’s

armpits and around the chest.

- Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side of the fist on the

middle of the breastbone.

- Grasp the fist with the other hand and give quick upward and backward

thrusts.

-
Unconscious Victim Due to Drowning or Other Accident:

● Upon finding the victim, immediately make a general assessment of the surrounding area

or accident area and ensure that the victim is safe from further injury. If the situation

dictates, move the victim to an area where both of you would be safe from harm before

applying first aid.

● Call for help

● Carefully position the victim by slowly rolling the victim into his back and carefully

check if the victim has some body injuries.

● Open the airway using the head tilt/ chin-lift method. Do not use the thumb to lift and do

not press deeply into the soft tissues under the chin with the fingers.

● Kneel at the level of the victim’s shoulder.

● Place one hand on the forehead and apply firm, backward pressure with the palm to tilt

the head back.

● Place the fingertips of the hand under the bony part of the lower jaw and lift, bringing the

chin forward.

● Check for the breathing within 3 to 5 seconds by placing the ear over the victim’s mouth

looking towards his chest if it has a rise and fall.

● If the victim does not breathe but still has a pulse, perform Artificial Respiration (AR). If

the victim does not have a pulse and has no breathing, perform Cardio- Pulmonary

Resuscitation (CPR).
Artificial Respiration:

● Open the airway and gently pinch the nose closed using the hand on the forehead.

● Take a deep breath, open your mouth wide and make an airtight seal around the victim’s

mouth. With your eyes focused on the victim’s chest, blow into his airway and observe

for the rise and fall of his chest. If the chest does not rise or fall, ventilation is not

effective.

● Remove your mouth from the victim’s mouth airway and listen for the return of air to the

lungs.

● If the victim’s exhalation is noisy, elevate his jaw some more.

● After the exhalation of air, blow another deep breath into the airway.

● Once the victim regained his breathing, elevate and assist the victim to rest on your knees

for better breathing while waiting for help.

CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is commonly known as CPR

- is an emergency procedure performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain

function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and

breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.

- It is indicated in those who are unresponsive with no breathing or abnormal breathing.

1. CHECK the scene for safety, form an initial impression and use personal protective

equipment (PPE).

2. If the person appears unresponsive, CHECK for responsiveness, breathing, life

threatening bleeding or other life-threatening conditions using shout-tap-shout

3. If the person does not respond and is not breathing or only gasping, CALL 9-1-1 and get

equipment, or tell someone to do so.

4. Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface

5. Give 30 chest compressions

● Hand position: Two hands centered on the chest

● Body position: Shoulders directly over hands; elbows locked

● Depth: At least 2 inches

● Rate: 100 to 120 per minute

● Allow chest to return to normal position after each compression

6. Give 2 breaths

● Open the airway to a past-neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique

● Ensure each breath lasts about 1 second and makes the chest rise; allow air to exit

before giving the next breath

● Note: If the 1st breath does not cause the chest to rise, retilt the head and ensure a

proper seal before giving the 2nd breath If the 2nd breath does not make the chest

rise, an object may be blocking the airway

7. Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths. Use an AED as soon as one
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

— Abraham Lincoln