Lesson 13.3 Knowing Basic First Aid

Keep a First-Aid Kit on Hand

To administer , you need to have certain on hand. A contains the supplies needed to treat many types of minor injuries. You can put together your own kit or purchase a ready-made kit at most drugstores or from the . The American Red Cross suggests keeping a first-aid kit in the home and in vehicles. When spending time doing , such as hiking or camping, it is a good idea to carry a first-aid kit with you. Keep the first-aid kit out of reach and out of sight of , and away from family pets. Figure 13.21 shows supplies often included in a first-aid kit.

Determine If You Can Help

Before any first aid, you need to check the scene to determine if you can safely help the . If you cannot safely get to the person because of that person's location, or because of hazardous conditions, call . Do not risk becoming injured yourself. If you can and provide help, then stay calm and use your knowledge to implement the following response plan:

1.Check the injured . Do a very quick of the situation. Is the person , or is the person unresponsive? Does the injury appear to be life-threatening? Signs of a life-threatening injury may include the following:

• severe

• or no breathing

• —a life-threatening condition in which the vital organs do not receive enough blood and oxygen unconsciousness—the person passes out and cannot be awakened

• Do not move the person unless you must leave a dangerous situation.

2. Call 911. As soon as you can, or your local emergency services, or tell someone else to call while you perform first aid (Figure 13.22). If you are at school, tell a teacher or coach about the emergency. These may be able to call 911 or help give first aid while you call 911.

3. Give . If possible, ask the injured person whether that person wants to receive first aid. This is called obtaining consent, and it is typically done for legal reasons. Under the law, you may perform first aid without consent if the person is unconscious or a child.

Provide Treatment for Common Injuries

By learning and first-aid skills, you will be able to , think clearly, act rationally, and follow a response plan for an injury. By studying Chapter 8, you have already learned how to treat sprains and know what to do if a bone becomes or dislocated. In the following sections, you will learn about standard precautions and basic first-aid treatments for some other common injuries.

Standard Precautions

A person giving first aid is often at risk for . This is because first-aid procedures often bring a person in contact with (Figure 13.23). People who perform first aid should follow standard precautions to protect themselves from infection.

Standard precautions are based on universal precautions. Standard precautions were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Like universal precautions, standard precautions protect from bloodborne infections, such as . Standard precautions, however, also protect from by respiratory droplets.

Standard precautions apply when giving to any person under any circumstances. An example of a standard precaution is to wear when there is a risk of contact with blood or bodily fluids that may contain blood. with soap and water after giving first aid is another example of a standard precaution.

Cuts, Scrapes, and Puncture Wounds

A person who gets a or scrape often does not need to receive medical treatment. Some bleeding may occur, but the bleeding will often stop on its own. If the does not stop, follow the response plan in Figure 13.24.

usually require provided by a medical professional. A cut is considered deep if the edges of the cut do not easily when you apply gentle pressure. Some cuts are so deep that they expose the dermis or . People with deep cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds may also need a vaccine to prevent tetanus, a infection associated with these types of wounds.

Puncture wounds—such as from nails, thorns, or other sharp objects—usually bleed a small amount and appear to close up right away. The object that caused the puncture, however, can introduce bacteria deep into the tissues where it can become trapped and cause infections.

Severe Bleeding

The most important part of first aid for severe bleeding is the application of pressure to the wound. Other steps slow blood loss by careful positioning of the body. Use the following response plan when providing first aid to someone experiencing severe bleeding:

1. to wound using a sterile bandage, if possible.

2. Position the than the heart.

3. Continue applying pressure and with gauze and bandages.

4. Keep the injured .

5. the injured person for (Figure 13.25).

Bites and Stings

People may experience bites from , such as dogs or cats. Wild animals, such as raccoons or snakes, may also bite people. Common biting and stinging insects include , wasps, , and some types of ants.

All animal bites require a doctor’s attention. Bite wounds that the skin carry the risk of vector-borne infection. For example, the infects the nerves, brain, and spinal cord. The disease is fatal if not treated immediately, before the virus reaches the brain and symptoms begin. Until you see the doctor, you can wash the bite wound with soap and water, cover it with a , and elevate the affected area.

Mild reactions to insect bites are common, and often include at the site of the bite. Treat these reactions with cool cloths, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream if the itching is severe.

More are typically associated with stings from bees, wasps, yellow jackets, and fire ants. The of these insects triggers pain, swelling, and redness. Some people develop hives—a swollen, fluid-filled skin rash (Figure 13.26). Treat these stings with cold compresses or ice, pain reliever, elevation of the stung area, and rest. Use tweezers to remove any stingers stuck in the skin, wash the area, and apply hydrocortisone cream to relieve swelling and itching.

A few people experience an extremely severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to insect stings, called anaphylaxis. is an allergic response in which fluid fills the lungs and air passages narrow, restricting breathing. This type of reaction requires immediate emergency care or the person could die. People who have such reactions often have medication such as the EpiPen® (Figure 13.27).

Electrical Shock

occurs when the body is in contact with an . The shock could come from fallen power lines or damaged or frayed cords or wiring. People also get shocked when standing in flooded streets or basements. In these situations, the water to the body from electrical wires, outlets, or downed power lines.

An electrical shock may cause , internal injuries, , or even death. Use the first-aid steps in Figure 13.28 to treat electrical shock while waiting for help to arrive.

Burns

Burns are common injuries that range from . Causes of a burn can include exposure to any source of heat and energy such as fire, burning or smoldering materials, steam, hot surfaces, or extremely hot gases and liquids. , electric current, and the sun are also possible causes of burns.

All types of burns can seriously . Dangerous complications from burns include infection, shock, dehydration, pain, and immobility of the affected body part. is essential for all burns. To give appropriate first aid, you need to identify whether the burn is a first-, second-, or burn (Figure 13.29).

Respond to Medical Emergencies

A medical emergency is an , life-threatening situation. Examples of medical emergencies may include a person choking or requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( ). When medical emergencies such as these arise, call 911 right away. Then, using appropriate , follow an emergency response plan. These medical emergencies require an immediate response. Otherwise, the injured person could die.

Choking

is a medical emergency in which an object, such as a piece of food, . This means that a choking person cannot breathe. Choking may occur when people chew their food too quickly or when young children put objects in their mouths.

Many people instinctively grab their with both hands when they are choking, but there are other signs as well. If you know these signs, you can quickly recognize when someone is choking and provide help. The following are signs of choking:

• hand signals or

• wheezing

• inability to breathe normally

• inability to talk or make noise

• inability to cough or

• , lips, and nails

The American Red Cross recommends the method for helping a person who is choking (Figure 13.30). This method involves a series of back blows alternating with abdominal thrusts, which force air out of the choking person’s lungs. This should help push the stuck object out of the airway. Abdominal thrusts are also called the Heimlich maneuver.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Your and your in air to keep you alive. Medical emergencies in which a person’s heart stops beating or someone stops breathing are life-threatening. In these situations, first aid and medical care must begin as soon as possible to restore breathing and heartbeat. The main technique used to and is cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or .

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an that uses chest compressions to restore heartbeat. Full CPR involves mouth-to-mouth breathing, or rescue breaths. Hands-Only™ CPR only involves chest compressions. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the recommend that rescuers use Hands-Only™ CPR for adults in most cases. This is because rescue breaths require training, and almost anyone can perform without training. Hands-Only™ CPR delivers to people who experience cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest describes a condition in which the heart stops beating. Figure 13.31 describes how to perform Hands-Only™ CPR for adults.

Do not slow down or stop performing CPR until arrive, or an (AED) is available and ready for use. This rescue device delivers a controlled, precise shock to the heart and gives automated instructions (Figure 13.32). An can restore a person’s heartbeat after cardiac arrest. Hands-Only™ CPR and AEDs can be used even by people with little or no training.