First aid

Human beings, whether young or old, healthy or weak are all vulnerable to some accidents or sickness. Medical help cannot be procured instantly which may lead to fatality OF THE PATIENT. Herein first aid plays an important function, in not only alleviating the pangs and pains of the injured person but also in saving life! It is imperative that one must be prepared to handle emergencies. The treatment may consist of some simple but at times life saving, medical skills. These can be performed by a person with or without formal training.

 

First aid is the immediate and ?limited? care given to an injured or sick person until medical treatment is secured. Sometimes the injury or illness may not require high medical aid. Hence one should be prepared for emergencies. This includes a first aid Kit and practical knowledge to deal with everyday emergencies. Simple cuts, laceration of skin, fractures, and sprains, simple burns are one type of injury that will entail for First aid. The other group will include serious injuries and sickness as heart attacks, heat strokes, spider bite, seizures and the like.

The primary aim of first Aid is to:

 

1. Save life

2. Prevent further injury

3. Help recovery

A great deal of First Aid knowledge comes naturally through common sense and experience of life. But for Effective first aid knowledge a person should acquire training from formal institutions such as the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, or through commercial providers. These commercial training centers may charge a small fee.

 

First Group Emergencies

Cuts and wounds

These are most common problems faced in everyday life. Cuts, laceration of skin and wounds can occur to anyone and at anytime. It the injury is not very deep then it can be dealt at home otherwise the injured should be rushed to hospital after administering first aid.

 

Symptoms

 

? Cut of the skin

? Oozing of blood

? Pain

Note the cut could lead to infection and future blemish or scar.

Treatment

The first concern must be to stop the bleeding. This can be done by applying direct pressure and raising the injured part. Wait for some time.

The next step is to clean the area with gentle soap and water.

Antibiotic cream and a sterile gauze bandage can reduce further infection and water loss.

For very small cuts band aid will be sufficient.

If the injury is severe then the patient must be rushed to the hospital

 

Burns

Burns are most painful and fatal. The intensity of injury depends upon the amount, depth and location.They are most severe when the affected areas are on the face, neck, hands, feet and genitals and also when the burning is spread over large areas of the body.

The symptoms for all kinds of burns are:

 

? Pain

? Susceptibility to infection

? Shock (in severe cases)

Burns can be categorized by the severity of damage

First Degree burns are the least severe and fatal. The skin gets discolored or red and there is mild swelling and pain. This could occur due to over exposure to the sun.

Second Degree burns are more severe. The injury is more serious and deeper. The skin becomes red and blisters appear. There will be loss of fluid. This degree of burn is the most painful because the nerve ending are undamaged.

Third Degree burns are intensely severe and fatal. The skin is gravely charred and may appear white. If the nerve endings are intact the patient will suffer from intense pain.

Burns, which can result in damage to tissues and loss of body fluids through the burn site.

FIRST AID TREATMENT

FIRST DEGREE: Wash out the area with cool and clean water. Wet dressings must be applied and the bandage tied loosely.

SECOND DEGREE: Please note in this case do not use water and apply dry dressing and bind it loosely. Use of water could augment the risk of shock.

THIRD DEGREE: The treatment is same as that of Second Degree.

 

Chemical burns

Burns can also be due to chemicals. In such emergencies the first step is to remove the clothing on which the chemical has been dropped. Wash the affected area with lots of cool water for 15 to 20 minutes. If the chemical is in powdered form brush it out before washing.

Bandage loosely the affected area with dry and sterile cloth or dressing.

All patients with serious burns must be given Medical Aid Quickly.

 

Food poisoning

 

Symptoms

The signs are visible within 30 minutes of consumption of the poison.

The common symptoms are:

 

? Nausea

? Vomiting

? Diarrhea

? Abdominal pain and discomfort

Treatment

The severity of food poisoning depends upon the kind and amount of poison consumed.

Due to vomiting the patient is likely to lose fluids and hence the primary requirement is putting back the fluids back or dehydration.This can be done through IV (if the patient is unable to consume orally) or by drinking. Incase of severe dehydration the person must be admitted to a hospital.

Medical treatment for vomiting and diarrhea might be required.

 

Fractures and sprains

Often it is difficult to determine whether an injury is fracture or sprain or dislocations therefore it would be prudent to treat any of these conditions as a fracture.

Symptoms

 

? Harsh sensation of the bones rubbing together

? Pain

? Swelling

? Bruising

? Inability to move the joint

? Deformity

First Aid Treatment

 

? Control of bleeding (in case of bleeding)

? Splint the injured area so that there is no more movement <;/li>
? Apply cold packs to lessen pain and swelling, wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply on the injured area for 15 minutes at a time<;U>

? Rest is essential for a day or two

? Elevating the injured part above heart level may lessen swelling

The victims of fracture, dislocations and sprains must be given professional medical care.

 

Drowning

 

Drowning can be risky if immediate and adequate treatment is not given. The first step is to take out the person from the water without delay.

Seek for medical help and while you are waiting for the assistance to come check whether the patient is breathing.

 

? Help him/her to push out the water by turning the victim on their side.

? If the person is not breathing them administer CPR and keep on giving CPR until the person starts breathing.

Even if the victim has revived take him/her to the hospital.

Second Group Emergencies

 

Heart attack

Heart Attack is dangerous and number one killer in many places including the U.S. Both men and women are affected by it. The problem is that often the symptoms are not clear, or the attacks may develop slowly. In certain cases the patient may not be aware of the attack.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary from individual to individual.

Chest pain, discomfort and pressure are the most common signs of the attack.

The other symptoms are:

 

o Squeezing feeling of the chest

o Jaw pain

o Tooth ache

o Head ache

o Difficult in breathing

o Nausea

o Sweating

o Arm pain (generally on the left arm)

o Upper back pain

 

Often it is difficult to recognize the early signs of the attack. At other times the discomfort complained are mistaken as ?indigestion? or ?stress? and hence prompt professional treatment are not given.

Early detection and treatment can save lives. Delay in seeking medical help can be fatal.

 

? Even when you are not sure of the attack it is prudent to call for professional help.

 

Reference: U.S. NIH, National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute <;o:p>

(NHLBI)

Heat strokes

In case if mild stroke home care should be sufficient. But severe heat stroke requires hospital care.

 

? For mild cases shift the victim to cooler place.

? Give adequate fluids such as Sports drinks. This is essential to replace the salt lost.

? Salty biscuits and snacks can also be given.

? Loosen or remove clothing.

? Let the person rest.

 

In case of serious heat stroke rush the patient to hospital as soon possible.

While you are waiting for medical help to arrive:

Shift the person to a cooler place

You can even put the victim in a cool bath of water

You could wet the skin with lukewarm water

Switch on the fan for cool air

The person can be given cool beverages

 

Spider bite

Generally spider bites are not dangerous. Yet the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider are toxic and risky.

Black Widow spider bite

Symptoms

Bite like a pinprick, sometimes there maybe no feelings

Burning sensation

Swelling

Redness

Brown Recluse spider

Symptoms

Meek stinging

Redness

Development of severe pain

Sometimes blue or purple color formation around the bite

Blisters may also form

The general symptoms for both the spider bites are

Fever

Nausea

Vomiting

Headache

Joint pain

Depression

Rash

First aid Treatment

Wash the affected area with clean water and soap

Put ice pack over the bite

Pain relievers can be given

Raise the if possible to prevent spread of poison

 

Seek medical assistance.

 

First Aid Kit

 

A First Aid box is a must at home, office, bus or almost wherever you go. First aid kits may be basic or comprehensive. It could be prepared at home or bought. The most important point to remember is that it must placed in an easily reachable place.

 

Some of the equipments include:

 

? sterile gauze

? adhesive bandages in several sizes
? adhesive tape

? elastic bandage

? antiseptic wipes

? tweezers

? scissors

? safety pins

? disposable instant cold packs
? calamine lotion

? thermometer

? plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)
? torchlight

? mouthpiece for giving CPR

? soap

? antibiotic cream

? antiseptic solution

? antiseptic cream

? acetaminophen and ibuprofen

? emergency phone numbers

 

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