FIRST AID

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ASIA AND THE
PACIFIC HIGH SCHOOL
AMIEL FRANCISCO REYES, RN, MSN
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST AID & BASIC
LIFE SUPPORT
 FIRST AID
• is immediate help to provide to a sick or
injured person until professional medical help
arrives or become available.
 BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS)
• are emergency procedure that consist of
recognizing respiratory or cardiac arrest or
both and the proper application of CPR to
maintain life until a victim recovers or
advanced life support is available.
 Objectives of First Aid
• Preserve life.
• Prevent further harm and complications.
• Seek immediate medical help.
• Provide reassurance.
 Legal Concerns
• Consent
• Duty to act
• Standard of care
• Negligence
• Abandonment
• Confidentiality
EMERGENCY ACTION PRINCIPLES
 Scene Sized-up
• Scene safety
• Knowing what happened
• Cause of injury
• Nature of illness
• Role of bystanders
• Number of casualties
• Asking permission or permit
 Primary Assessment
I. Assessing Responsiveness
• A patient’s response level can be summarized
in the AVPU mnemonic as follows:
A-alert
V-responsive to voice
P-responsive to pain
U-unresponsive/unconscious
 Primary Assessment
II. Active Medical Help
• Ask someone to call for local emergency
number and get an Automated External
Defibrillator (AED).
• “Call First or Care First”
 Primary Assessment
III. Airway
• An open airway allows air to enter the lungs
for the person to breathe. If the airway is
blocked, the person cannot breathe.
 Primary Assessment
IV. Breathing
• While maintaining an open airway, quickly
check an unconscious person for breathing by
doing the LLF technique for no more than 10
seconds.
 Primary Assessment
IV. Circulation
• Pulse

• Bleeding

• Shock

• Skin color, temperature, and moisture.

 Secondary Assessment
• If you determine that an injured or ill person is
not an immediately life-threatening conditions
that may need care.
> Interviewing- the person and bystanders
> Checking the person from head to toe.
> Checking for vital signs.
 Secondary Assessment
SAMPLE approach:
Signs and symptoms
Allergies
Medications
Pertinent past and medical history
Last intake and output
Events leading up to the injury
COMMON EMERGENCIES
 Common Emergencies
HEART ATTACK
Also called myocardial infraction

Occurs when the blood and oxygen supply to the

heart is reduced causing damage to the heart
muscle and preventing blood circulating effectively.

It is usually caused by coronary heart disease.

 Common Emergencies
HEART ATTACK
Signs and Symptoms
• Chest pain, discomfort or pressure.
• Pain maybe associated from discomfort to
unbearable crushing sensation in the chest.
• Person may describe it as pressure,
squeezing, tightness, aching or heaviness in
the chest.
• Some individual may not show signs at all.
 Common Emergencies
HEART ATTACK
What to do:
• Have patient stop what he or she is doing and sit
or lie him/her down in a comfortable position. Do
not let him/her to move around.
• Have someone call the physician or ambulance for
help.
• If patient is under medical care, assist him/her in
taking his/her prescribed medicine/s.
 Common Emergencies
CARDIAC ARREST
• Is a condition occurs when the heart stops
contracting and no blood circulates thru the blood
vessels and vital organs are deprived of oxygen

**Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
• Is a combination of chest compression and
rescue breathing.
 Common Emergencies
CHEST COMPRESSION ONLY CPR
unwilling or unable to perform rescue
breathing

When to STOP CPR:

Spontaneous signs of breathing and
circulation
Turned over
Operator is exhausted
Physician assumes responsibility
 Common Emergencies
FOREIGN-BODY AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS
• 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 small toy; by
swelling in the mouth or throat; or by fluids, such as vomit
or blood.

Two Types of Obstruction

• Anatomical Obstruction. When tongue drops back and
obstructs the throat. Other causes are acute asthma, croup,
diphtheria, swelling and whooping cough.
• Mechanical Obstruction. When foreign objects lodged in
the pharynx or airways; solid or liquid accumulate in the
back of the throat.
 Common Emergencies
FOREIGN-BODY AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS

Two Classifications of Obstruction

• Mild Airway Obstruction

• Severe Airway Obstruction

 Common Emergencies
FOREIGN-BODY AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS
Causes
• Swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food;
• Drinking alcohol
• Wearing dentures
• Eating while talking excitedly, laughing or eating
too fast;
• Walking, playing or running with food or objects
in the mouth;
• In infants and children, chocking occurs while
eating or by putting non-food items such as coins
or toys inside the mouth while playing.
 Common Emergencies
FOREIGN-BODY AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS

• 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.
 Common Emergencies
BLEEDING
• Is the loss of blood escaping from the circulatory
system.

• Techniques to Control Bleeding

> Direct pressure
> Pressure bandage
 Common Emergencies
SHOCK
• Is a condition in which the circulatory system fails
to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s
tissues and vital organs.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
• Restlessness or irritability
• Altered level of consciousness
• Pale, greyish, moist skin
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid and weak pulse
• Excessive thirst
 Common Emergencies
SHOCK
> First Aid Management
• Make the person lie down.
• Control the external bleeding.
• Legs may be raised to 6 to 12 inches.
• Help the person maintain normal body
temperature.
• Do not give the person anything to eat or to drink.
• Reassure the person every so often.
 Common Emergencies
CLOSED WOUND
• Is a wound where the outer layer of the skin is
intact and damage lies below the surface.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
Tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas of the body
Rapid, weak pulse
Cool, moist, pale/bluish skin
Vomiting or coughing of blood
Excessive thirst
 Common Emergencies
CLOSED WOUND
First Aid Management:
• Apply an icepack.
• 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.
 Common Emergencies
OPEN WOUND
• In an open wound, the outer layer of the skin is
broken. The break in the skin can be s minor as a
scrape of the surface layers or as severe as a deep
penetration.

First Aid Management

• General care for open wounds includes controlling
bleeding, preventing infection and using dressings
and bandages correctly.
 Common Emergencies
OPEN WOUND
> 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 sterile dressing.
• Wash your hands immediately after giving care.
 Common Emergencies
OPEN WOUND
> 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 bleeding.
• 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 hand immediately after giving care.
 Common Emergencies
BURNS
• Burns are injuries to skin and to the other body
tissues that is caused by heat, chemicals,
electricity or radiation.
Superficial (First degree)
• Red without blisters
• Dry
• Painful
• 5–10 days
• Heals well; Repeated
sunburns increase the
risk of skin cancer later
in life
Superficial partial thickness (Second
degree)
• Extends into superficial (papillary) dermis
• Redness with clear blister
• Blanches with pressure.
• Moist
• Very painful
• less than 2–3 weeks
• Local infection/cellulitis but no scarring
typically
Deep partial thickness (Second degree)
• Extends into deep (reticular) dermis
• Yellow or white
• Less blanching
• May be blistering
• Fairly dry
• Pressure and discomfort
• 3–8 weeks
• Scarring, contractures (may require
excision and skin grafting)
Full thickness (Third degree)

• Extends through entire dermis

• Stiff and white/brown
• No blanching
• Leathery
• Painless
• Prolonged (months) and incomplete
• Scarring, contractures, amputation (early
excision recommended)[6]
 Common Emergencies
> 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 sterile dressing.
• Prevent infection. Do not break blisters.
• Apply antibiotic ointment if the person has no known
allergies or sensitiveness to the medication.
• Take steps to minimize shocks.
• Comfort and reassure the victim.
 Common Emergencies
> Chemical Burns
• Remove the chemical from the skin a quickly as
possible.
• Flush the burn with large amount 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.
 Common Emergencies
> 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.
 Common Emergencies
> 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.
 Common Emergencies
HEAD AND SPINE INJURIES
Types
• Head injury
• Concussion
• Spinal injury
 Common Emergencies
HEAD AND SPINE INJURIES
First Aid Management
• Call the local emergency number.
• Minimize movement of the head, neck and back.
• Check for life-threatening conditions.
• Maintain open airways.
• Control any external bleeding with direct pressure
unless the bleeding is located directly over a
suspected fracture.
• Help victim normal temperature.
 Common Emergencies
BONES, JOINTS AND MUSCLES INJURIES
Types
• Strain
• Sprain
• Dislocation
• Fracture
 Common Emergencies
BONES, JOINTS AND MUSCLES INJURIES
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Pain
• Bruising and swelling
• Significant deformity
• Inability to use affected part
• Bone fragments sticking out
• Grating sensation
• Cold, numb and tingly sensations
 Common Emergencies
BONES, JOINTS AND MUSCLES INJURIES
First Aid Management
• R-Rest
• I-Immobilize
• C-Cold
• E-Elevate
 Common Emergencies
FAINTING
• Fainting is a partial or complete loss of consciousness
resulting from a temporary reduction of blood flow to
the brain.
Causes
• An emotionally stressful event.
• Pain.
• Specific medical conditions such as heart disease.
• Standing for long periods of time overexertion.
• Pregnant women and the elderly are more likely than
others to faint when suddenly changing positions.
 Common Emergencies
FAINTING
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Light-headedness
Signs of shock
Nausea
Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
 Common Emergencies
HEAT-RELATED EMERGENCIES
Heat Exhaustion
• Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related
illness that can develop after exposure to high
temperature.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Heavy sweating Dizziness
• Paleness Headache
• Cramps Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness and weakness Fainting
 Common Emergencies
HEAT-RELATED EMERGENCIES
Heat Exhaustion
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 Rehydrated
Solution.
 Common Emergencies
HEAT STROKE
• Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia. Prolonged
exposure to high temperatures can contribute to
failure of the body’s temperature.
SIGNS and SYMPTOMS
High body temperature
Absence of sweating
Red, hot, dry, flushed skin
Rapid, pulse
DOB, nausea and vomiting
Fatigue, weakness
 Common Emergencies
• Heat Stroke
• 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 amount of water, spray the patient with water, fan
the patient, or over the patient with ice towels or surround
the patient with ice bags.
• Respond to any life-threatening that may come about.