Occupational First Aid & CPR / AED Course

COMMON
COMMON
EMERGENCIES
EMERGENCIES
Foreign-Body Airway Obstructions
Also known as choking, is a
common breathing emergency that
occurs when the person’s airway is
partially or completely blocked by
a foreign object, such as a piece of
food or a small toy; by swelling in
the mouth or throat; or by fluids,
such as vomit or blood.
Two Types of Obstruction
1. Anatomical Obstruction.
When tongue drops back and obstructs the
throat. Other causes are acute asthma, croup,
diphtheria, swelling and whooping cough.
2. Mechanical Obstruction.
When foreign objects lodged in the pharynx
or airways; solid or liquid accumulate in the
back of the throat.
Abdominal / Chest thrust
Is a first aid procedure that is performed on a person who is
chocking. This is done by applying pressure on the upper
abdomen or at the chest at the center of the breastbone
from the back so as to remove the chocking object.
Bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood escaping from the
circulatory system.
 Bleeding and Shock cont…
 
Techniques to Control Bleeding
 Direct Pressure
 Pressure Bandage
Closed Wound
A closed wound is a
wound where the
outer layer of the
skin is intact and the
damage lies below
the surface.
First Aid Management
 Apply an ice pack.
 Elevate the injured part.
 Do not assume that all closed wounds
are minor injuries.
 Help the person to rest.
 Provide comfort and reassure the
person.
Open Wound
In an open wound, the
outer layer of skin is broken.
The break in the skin can be
as minor as a scrape of the
surface layers or as severe
as a deep penetration.
 Types of
Open Wounds
Puncture
Abrasion
Avulsion
Laceration
Amputation
First Aid Management
General care for open wounds includes controlling bleeding, preventing
infection and using dressings and bandages correctly.

Minor Open Wounds

 Use a barrier between your hand and the wound.
 Apply direct pressure.
 Wash abrasions and other superficial wounds.
 Apply a Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) antiseptic solution or, if
available, a triple antibiotic ointment or cream.
 Cover the wound with a sterile dressing.
 Wash your hands immediately after giving care.
Major Open Wounds
 Call the local emergency number.
 Put on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
 Control bleeding by applying direct pressure or
employing a pressure bandage. 
 Monitor airway and breathing.
 In cases where the injured party is in shock, keep him or
her from experiencing chills or feeling overheated.
 Have the person rest comfortably and provide
reassurance.
 Wash your hands immediately after giving care.
Burns
Burns are injuries to the skin and to other body
tissues that is caused by heat, chemicals, electricity,
or radiation.
First Aid Management
Thermal Burns
 Check the scene for safety.
 Stop the burning by removing the victim from the source of the
burn.
 Check for life-threatening conditions.
 Cool the burn with large amounts of cold running water.
 Cover the burn loosely with a sterile dressing.
 Prevent infection. Do not break blisters.
 Apply a triple antibiotic ointment if the person has no known
allergies or sensitivities to the medication.
 Take steps to minimize shock.
 Comfort and re-assure the victim.
First Aid Management
Chemical Burns
 Remove the chemical from the skin as quickly as
possible.
 Flush the burn with large amounts of cool running water.
 If an eye is burned by a chemical, flush the affected eye
with water until advanced medical personnel take over.
 If possible, have the person remove contaminated
clothes to prevent the spread of infection while you
continue to flush the area.
First Aid Management
Electrical Burns
 Never go near the person until you are sure that he or she is no
longer in contact with the power source.
 Turn off the power at its source and be aware of any life threatening
conditions.
 Call the local emergency number.
 Be aware that electrocution can cause cardiac and respiratory
emergencies.
 Care for shock and thermal burns.
 Look for entry and exit wounds and give appropriate care.
 Remember that anyone suffering from electric shock requires
advanced medical attention.
First Aid Management
Radiation Burns
 Care for a radiation burn, i.e. sunburn, as you would for
any thermal burn.
 Always cool the burn and protect the area from further
damage by keeping the person away from the burn
source.
 Bandaging
Techniques
(Triangular Bandage)
Top of the Head
Forehead or Eye
Ear, Cheek or Jaw
Chest
Shoulder
Arm or Leg
Palm
Hand or Foot
 Bandaging
Techniques
(Roller Bandage)
Circular
Spiral
Figure-of-Eight
 Head and Spine Injuries
Types of Injury:
 Head injury
 Concussion
 Spinal injury
First Aid Management
• Call the local emergency number.
• Minimize movement of the head, neck and
back.
• Check for life-threatening conditions.
• Maintain open airways.
• Monitor consciousness and breathing.
• Control any external bleeding with direct
pressure unless the bleeding is located
directly over a suspected fracture.
• Help victim normal body temperature.
Bones, Joints and Muscle Injuries

Types
• Strain
• Sprain
• Dislocation
• Fracture
.
First Aid Management
• R – Rest
• I – Immobilize
• C – Cold
• E – Elevate
Immobilization
Techniques
 Principles of Immobilization
• Check PMS ( Perfusion, Motor & Sensory) before
and after immobilizing.
• If the BONE is injured immobilize the joint below
and above the bone
• If the JOINT is injured immobilize the bone below
and above the joint
• Immobilize the injured part on which you found it.
• Never put pressure knot on the site of the fracture.
Sling and Binder
Anatomic Splint
Soft Splint
Rigid Splint
Fainting
Fainting is a partial or complete loss of consciousness
resulting from a temporary reduction of blood flow to
the brain.
First Aid Management
• Position the victim on his or her back.
• Keep the victim in a lying position.
• Loosen any restrictive clothing, such as a tie or a
buttoned-up collar.
• Check for any other life-threatening and non-life-
threatening conditions.
• Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink.
 Heat – Related Emergencies
Heat Exhaustion
- is a milder form of heat-
related illness that can
develop after exposure to
high temperatures. This
may also be a result of
inadequate fluid intake or
the insufficient
replacement of fluids.
First Aid Management
• Remove the patient from the hot
environment. Fan the body, place ice bags,
or spray water on the skin.
• Start oral rehydration with a beverage
containing salt, or make them drink an
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
Heat Stroke
- is a form of
hyperthermia.
Prolonged exposure
to high temperatures
can contribute to
failure of the body’s
temperature control
system.
First Aid Management
• Call or have someone call the local emergency number.
• Move the person into a cool place, a shaded area, or an
air-conditioned room.
• Cool the patient immediately by immersing him/her in
water.
• If water immersion is not possible or is delayed, the
following actions can be performed: Douse the patient
with copious amounts of cold water, spray the patient
with water, fan the patient, or cover the patient with ice
towels or surround the patient with ice bags.
• Respond to any life-threatening conditions that may
come about.