First Aid

[RescueRanger]

This thread is my public service for all PDF members, I have been teaching First Aid and Trauma Management for 18 years now and I will try to keep this as easy and informative as possible for you all. This is a real life skill and I hope you never have to use it, but it's one skill that you should rather have and NOT use it, then NOT have when you need to USE it!

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Why is First Aid so Important?
Every day in Pakistan thousands of people get injured on roads, in their homes, in schools and workplaces. According to International Journal of Medicine Trauma is the leading cause of death for adults under 44 years age.

Road traffic accidents are the second highest cause of deaths in Pakistan.

Statistics published reports by the WHO 30,000 people in Pakistan die every year due to road traffic accidents, fires claim 16,500 deaths annually whilst sudden cardiac arrest accounted for more than 80,000 deaths per year – that’s more than 200 deaths every day.

Ambulances are in short supply in large and densely populated cities. For example, Rawalpindi a city with a population of 2.1 Million has only 14 fully equipped emergency ambulances (note: this number doesn't include motorcycle fast response service).

The professional pre-hospital care provided by Rescue1122 is testament to the hard work of its staff, however it is worth considering that the volume of emergency calls has risen from 90 calls a day in 2007, to over 230 a day, in a country with a population of over 212 million those few well equipped Ambulances staffed with professional EMTs will not be able to answer every call.

Hoax calls make up the bulk of incoming calls to the emergency helpline, in 2019 Rescue 1122 received 1.18 million calls deemed to be hoax, fake, nuicense or malicious.

Therefore, teaching communities first aid is vital, especially considering in a study into pre-hospital care by five major hospitals in Karachi showed that out of 187 patients admitted during a study, none received bystander CPR or first aid. The report concluded that “Patients who received life-support interventions survived for longer time, though not clinically significant, as compared to those who did not”.

This behaviour of “bystander effect” - the more people there are at the scene of an accident, the less likely anyone is to help as they all expect someone else to take charge and it is driven in part by the shared psychology of communities.

In an article published by the Association for Psychological Science in 2015 it was stated that “children as young as 5 years old are less likely to help a person in need when other children are present and available to help”.

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First Aid: What is First Aid?

A brief history:

St. John Ambulance was the first to use the concept of first aid in the United Kingdom in 1879. Princess Christian – the daughter of Queen Victoria translated from German into English five ambulance lectures given by Prof. Esmarch in 1882, which were published under the title “First Aid to the Injured” by Smith Elder and his partners.

In 1882, St. Andrew established the First Aid Organization in Scotland in order “to alleviate the pains of the injured and patients in wartime and peacetime and to take measures required for their care”. The regulation of this organization, written by Sir George Beatson, was issued in 1891. In1908, St. John's and St. Andrew's organizations reached an agreement on merging their activities carried out in various regions of Scotland and the United Kingdom in order to manage them under a single roof (1). Esmarch (1823-1908) laid the foundations of civil first aid institutions. He became a physician in 1848, and then received education on surgery. In 1854, he specialized in surgery and ophthalmology. His main fields of interest were military surgery and first aid. He was one of the most important emergency surgeons of the 19th century. [1]

Simply put: First aid means Initial help given to a person who is sick or injured.

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The Basics: Anatomy & Physiology

To be able to give basic first aid, it is not necessary to know how the body works, but if you read the information, you will understand the reasons for the first aid which should be given. The basic functions of the human body can be simply described as follows. It processes food, water and oxygen to produce the energy necessary for living and disposes of the waste that arises. We should think of the body as a series of separate systems for doing these things.

Examples of these systems are the integumentary system (Our skin, hair, nails, external glands), skeletal system (our bones), digestive system, the respiratory or breathing system, the circulatory system and the nervous system. If any of these are badly damaged, it will affect the others.

The principal parts of theses systems are the lungs, the heart and the brain. Theses organs are protected by the skeleton. The body also has an envelope of skin to act as a barrier against infection.

If the skeleton is damaged, as it is when a bone is broken, then the part of the body that is being protected and supported may also become damaged by the broken bone ends of the bone. If the skin is pierced , or cut - infection may be admitted and this can be more dangerous than the actual injury.

In this brief explanation, we will consider only three of the body's systems - Breathing, Circulation and the Nervous system. In emergency aid you are mainly concerned with these when a life is in danger.

Respiratory System

Its purpose is to extract oxygen from the air, the oxygen is then absorbed by the blood. The lungs act as bellows, drawing air in, extracting some of the oxygen and then pusing out air which contains the waste product - a gas called carbon dioxide.

Circulatory System

Comprises of the heart, blood and blood vessels. It works with the respiratory system to provide oxygen to those parts of the body which need it. The blood absorbs oxygen from the lungs and circulates it around the body.

The heart expands and receives blood, then contracts and forces it out, in fact, one side of the heart circulates blood through the lungs, where it absorbs oxygen, and the other side supplies the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

The average body contains about 10 units or about 1.2/1.5 gallons of blood or about 1 litre of blood per 13kg of body weight. The heart pumps out the oxygenated blood through arteries and the used blood is returned to the heart through the veins. If too much of these 10 units is lost or if the lungs are not providing enough oxygen, or if the heart is not pumping properly, the blood cannot do its work efficiently and the body may eventually cease to function.

If the skin is broken, blood will escape, and infection may enter the body. However as soon as a blood vessel is cut, the blood coming from the cut will start to clot. This is the body's mechanism for sealing off a wound and preventing further blood loss.

Nervous System

Part of which controls functions such as the heartbeat. Another, very important part of the nervous system affects body movements and sensations under control of the brain. Nerves run down the spinal column in the spinal cord, rather like wires in an insulated sheath. If the spinal cord is damaged the nerves may also be damaged and paralysis may result.

A person becomes "unconscious" as a result of the brain not working properly. In accident cases this is usually due to damage to the brain or excessive bleeding.

As the various parts of the body work, they make unwanted chemicals which must be carried away in the blood. One example of this is urea, a substance like ammonia, which is extracted from the blood by the kidneys and is eventually passed out of the body as urine.

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What is the aim of First Aid:

To act quickly, calmly and correctly to:

• Preserve life
• Prevent the condition from worsening
• Promoting recovery

What are the priorities of first aid:

• Assess a situation quickly and calmly
• Protect yourself and any casualties from danger - never put yourself at risk.
• Prevent cross infection between yourself and the casualty as far as possible (wear gloves and use barriers)
• Comfort and reassure the causalities at all times
• Assess the casualty; identify, as far as you can, the injury or nature of illness affecting the casualty
• Give early treatment, and treat the casualties with the most serious(life threatening) conditions first.
• Arrange for appropriate help; call 911/1122 for emergency help if you suspect serious injury or illness; ask for AED (if you suspect a heart problem; take or send the casualty to hospital; transfer them into the care of a healthcare professional or to his home. Stay with a casualty until care is available.

Key Steps:

• Be calm in your approach
• Be aware of risks (to yourself and others) remove the danger from the casualty (only if in further danger)
• Build and maintain trust (from the casualty and bystanders)
• Give early treatment, treating the most serious (life threatening) conditions first
• Call appropriate help
• Remember your own needs too.

Infection prevention and hygiene:
It is important that as a first aider you do not transmit infections to your casualty or indeed contract infections from your casualty. To assist in minimising the risk of infection and cross contamination there are various precautions that can be taken such as:

• Having good personal hygiene
• Ensuring that barrier devices are used
• Covering any open cuts or sores
• Minimising contact with blood or bodily fluids
• Changing gloves between casualties
• Washing hands thoroughly after removing gloves

Resuscitation barrier devices

1. Resuscitation barrier devices are essential equipment and help to reduce the spreading of infection and cross-contamination. Barrier devices as their name suggests, place a barrier between the first aider and the casualty. Barrier devices include:
2. Nitrile or powder-free gloves
3. Face shields
4. Pocket masks

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Emergency Response:
At any incident involving casualties, it is essential you appear and remain claim and let your common-sense, allied with your training and skills take over. Upon arrival at an incident a scene survey must be completed to ensure the safety of the casualty, any bystanders and the first aider. The scene survey should be conducted by remembering the mnemonic CLAP:

• C: Control the situation: Stop, take a deep breath and take charge of people and vehicular traffic
• L: Look for potential hazards: Look for anything that could cause further harm to the casualty, bystanders or more importantly yourself within the immediate area.
• A: Assess the situation: Gather as much information about what has occurred from the casualty and from bystanders, and try to make a diagnosis (history of the casualty(do they have diabetes/asthma etc), any signs (things you can see i.e. blood), symptoms (anything the casualty complains about i.e. headache).
• P: Protect and Priorities: Ensure PPE is worn and that casualties are prioritised (breathing, bleeding, bones/burns and other conditions). Try to gain assistance from a bystander and contact the emergency services.

This is a good video that explains a scene assessment:

Primary Survey:

Having contacted a scene survey and established that the immediate area is safe from any dangers, you can now approach the casualty. When approaching the casualty an initial casualty assessment should be completed - this initial assessment is called a primary survey. The primary survey is a systematic process of approaching, identifying and dealing with immediate and or life-threatening conditions.

The Primary survey can be remembered by the mnemonic DRSBACD:

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Contacting the emergency services:

The Correct Way to Make an Emergency 999 Call

Knowing what to expect when making an emergency call to Dorset Fire and Rescue Service can help you provide vital information much more quickly and easily

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First aiders will either contact the emergency services themselves or instruct a bystanders to do so. Contacting the emergency services at the earliest opportunity is paramount. When contacting the emergency services on either 1122/911/15, it is important that the information given is clear, concise and sufficient. This can be achieved by remembering the mnemonic LINE:

• Location (Where are you, where is the incident, any landmark, be specific).
• Incident What has happened
• Number, provide your number for call-back
• Exact number of injured, level of injuries.

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Basic First aid for Bleeding and wounds

• Clean the wound or abrasion with clean running tap water for at least 5 minutes or until the wound is totally clean (no dirt or other matter on the wound).If tap water is not available use bottled (non-carbonated) drinking water.
• To stop the bleeding, apply firm steady pressure directly on the wound until bleeding stops.
• If gauze, cloth or sanitary pads are available, place one directly over the bleeding area and apply steady pressure. Continue until bleeding stops.
• If bleeding continues, do not remove the gauze; add more gauze on top and apply more pressure.
• As the gauze, cloth or sanitary pads become soaked replace with dry ones if available.
• Once the bleeding has stopped, apply an elastic bandage over the dry gauze, cloth or sanitary pad
• Apply triple antibiotic ointment on abrasions (scrapes) to prevent infections.

HeartStart Training - Bleeding

Video 6 in our HeartStart Training series, provided by the British Heart Foundation.In this video, we look at how to treat and bandage serious bleeds.

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First Aid at Road Traffic Collisions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMAgxMFjz6A

• Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to the victim(s).
• Make the area safe for yourself and the victim e.g. Switch off the ignition
• Check the victims. Evaluate all victims quickly and firstly give aid to those with major injuries or not breathing.
• DO NOT move the victim unless it is absolutely necessary. Treat the victim in the position where you find him or her.
• ALWAYS assume that there is a neck (spinal) injury
• If you think the victim has a spinal injury (back or neck injury) do not move the victim. If the victim is unresponsive (unable to answer your questions) and is having difficulty breathing, is vomiting or if you must leave the location to get help, place the victim in the modified recovery position.
• Recovery position :- extend one of the victim's arms above the head and roll the body onto one side. Use the extended arm as a pillow. Bend both legs to keep the body on its side. . (stabilize)
• Monitor and record the victim's vital signs (pulse, breathing, response to your questions)
• Be prepared to give CPR, if needed.

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Fire Incidents

• Call 911/1122
• DO NOT put your safety at risk.
• DO NOT attempt to fight a fire.
• Pull the nearest fire alarm. Many buildings have maps on the backs of doors with marked alarm locations and exits
• DO NOT use elevators under any circumstances
• STOP, DROP and ROLL if you or anyone else is on fire. (If possible wrap the victim in a coat, curtain, blanket, rug or other heavy fabrics) .

Fire Safety Series: Stop Drop and Roll

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Smoke and Fumes

• Smoke and fumes in a confined space create an environment that is low in oxygen and may be polluted by carbon monoxide and toxic fumes.
• If trapped in a burning building, get down on your knees and crawl across the smoke filled room (air is cleanest at the lowest level). Go to a room with a window and close the door. Encourage and assist others to evacuate (leave) the area.
• Almost all of fire victims perish from smoke inhalation, 4 maybe 5 breaths can kill you.

FireED Interactive | Smoke Inhalation

Almost all of fire victims perish from smoke inhalation, 4 maybe 5 breaths can kill you. Sleeping with your bedroom door closed and having a smoke alarm in t...

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Electrical Injuries

• Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to the victim
• Make the area safe for yourself and the victim
• HIGH VOLTAGE current found in power lines and overhead high-tension (HT) cables, is usually fatal. Immediately notify the authorities if there is high voltage electrocution, such as fallen power lines.
• LOW VOLTAGE current is found in homes and workplaces
• DO NOT touch the victim if he/she is in contact with the electrical source because you risk electrocution.
• Break the contact between the victim and electrical supply by switching off the current at the main switch or fuse box or by unplugging or disconnecting the appliance.
• If unable to reach the plug or main switch, then stand on dry insulating material such as a wooden box, a plastic mat, or a telephone book. Using a wooden stick push the victim's limbs away from the electrical source or push the source away from the victim.
• If a wooden stick is unavailable, place a piece of rope or cord around the victim's ankles or under victim's arms and then pull away from the electrical source.
• If a wooden stick or rope is unavailable then pull the victim by any loose, dry clothing (sleeve , pant leg or hem of shirt) being careful not to touch the body. Remember , you risk electrocution by touching the victim's body.
• Once the power is off, evaluate the victim's for breathing and pulse.
• Begin CPR if the victim has no pulse or is not breathing.
• Call 911/1122 emergency medical services
• All victims of electric shock need medical assistance. Internal injuries may have occurred that are not visible.
• Arrange to take or send the victim to a hospital so that he or she may be evaluated by professionals

ASHI & MEDIC First Aid | Electrical Shock

Electrical shocks and burns can be fatal if you're not properly prepared to deliver first aid. Learn how to deliver proper CPR, first aid and AED treatment ...

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NEVER enter flood waters or touch pylons or downed cables, especially during rainfall:

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

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First aid for drowning

How to perform CPR for a drowning victim

A first responder walks you through the life-saving steps.

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• Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to the victim.
• Make the area safe for yourself and the victim.
• If possible stay on land and pull the victim from the water with your hand, a stick, or a rope.
• If victim is unconscious you may have to wade or swim to the victim and bring him or her to shore.
• Begin CPR if the victim is not responsive and not breathing.
• If only one rescuer is present then start CPR and complete 5 cycles (2 minutes) before activating emergency services. If two people are present then send one person to activate emergency services and the other to start CPR.
• Once the victim is out of the water, place the victim in a position so that his/her head is lower than the rest of the body to reduce the risk of inhaling the water and protect the body from the wind to prevent the victim's body from getting colder. Remove wet clothing if possible and cover the victim with dry materials (blankets, towels, clothes).
• Arrange to take or send the victim to a hospital. As with electrical injuries the victim may have suffered injuries that are not obvious.

NEVER GET IN THE WATER TO RESCUE SOMEONE... Reach, Throw, Row, but Don't Go!

Water Rescue: Reach, Throw, Row, but Don't Go!

Reach, Throw, Row, but Don't Go is a 3-minute instructional video from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District that demonstrates techniques that ...

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First aid for Asthma attacks

How to Treat an Asthma Attack - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

This St John Ambulance first aid training video shows you what signs to look out for and how to help someone having an asthma attack. If you think someone ma...

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• Asthma is a condition where the distant/small wind pipes are swollen and the swelling results in spasms
• Asthma may be caused by an allergy, a cold, a particular drug, or cigarette smoke.
• People with asthma may have sudden attacks at night.

The symptoms are :

• Wheezing (whistling sounds when breathing), and coughing.
• They usually have to use a “rescue” inhaler at the start of an attack
• Be calm, reassure the person and ask the location of his or her inhaler
• Ask the person to take the “rescue” inhaler (e.g. Albuterol inhaler). Within few minutes he/she should feel better. If their breathing does not, improve, ask him/her to take another dose of the same inhaler. They may repeat 2-4 inhaler puffs at a time every 15-20 minutes. If the repeated inhalers are not helping then he/she should seek medical service ( doctor or emergency room service).

Signs of severe asthma attack :

• Difficulty speaking and whispering
• Gray-blue coloured lips, earlobes and nail beds
• Breathlessness, causing exhaustion
• If the person loses consciousness or is having a severe asthma attack, call 911 or 1122. Be prepared to administer CPR to the unconscious person if necessary. If it is a severe asthma attack then continue “rescue” inhaler (e.g. Albuterol inhaler) every 5-10 minutes, until the EMS arrives. Monitor and record (write it down) vital signs – level of response, pulse and breathing.

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First aid for shock:

Shock

https://www.ProCPR.org - A conscious/responsive shock victim may exhibit symptoms of restlessness, fear, shivering, rapid breathing and pulse rate, sweating,...

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• Shock is a life threatening condition.
• It occurs when the circulatory system (heart and/or blood vessel system) fails, and it cannot supply oxygen to the important organs i.e. brain, kidneys, and heart.

Signs of shock:

• Rapid pulse/heart beats
• Pale, cold, clammy skin and sweating
• Weakness and dizziness
• Gray-blue skin (cyanosis), especially inside the lips, nail bed and earlobes
• Rapid, and shallow breathing, which progresses to gasping for air.
• In later stages, pulse is weak (faint) and eventually the heart stops working.

Causes of shock:

• Severe blood loss (more than 1 Liter)
• Severe diarrhea and vomiting
• Severe burns
• Severe infection
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)
• Low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Drug overdose
• Spinal cord injury

Treatment:

• Treat the underlying cause, and activate EMS
• Raise the victim’s legs (above the level of the heart) to improve the blood supply to the vital organs.
• Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary

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Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within seconds or minutes, of exposure to the trigger/allergen and is potentially fatal.

Allergies and Anaphylaxis

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Causes of anaphylactic shock:

• Drug reaction (injection or by mouth)
• Insect stings (bees for example)
• Ingestion of certain food (peanuts for example)

Signs of anaphylactic shock:

• Anxiety
• Skin rash
• Swelling of the tongue and throat
• Rapid, and shallow breathing (wheezing)which progresses to gasping for air.
• Signs of shock

Treatment:

• Call EMS or 911 state that you suspect an anaphylactic shock.
• If the victim has auto injector of epinephrine (adrenaline) then administer it (usually administered on the thigh).
• If the victim continues to have symptoms or the symptoms are worsening, even few minutes after the first dose of epinephrine and EMS hasn't arrived then administer the second dose of epinephrine
• If the person is conscious, then sitting position helps the victim's breathing
• Monitor and record vital signs-level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary

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Heart Attack
Heart attack refers to the blockage of the blood supply to the heart muscle, which can cause the heart to become weak or stop beating. This can cause death.

Heart Attack Symptoms & How to Treat a Heart Attack - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

If you think someone is having a heart attack, knowing how to help them could be life saving. In this video a St John Ambulance trainer shares signs of a hea...

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Signs of heart attack:

• Continuous chest pain (center or left sided), radiating to the jaw and down one or both arms.
• Sudden dizziness
• Extreme fearfulness
• Profuse sweating
• A rapid, weak, pulse. Racing heart (palpitation)
• Fainting
• Gasping for air

• Treatment:
• Call 1122/911 and state that you suspect a heart attack.
• Make the victim sit in a comfortable position
• If the person is conscious, ask the person to chew a 325 mg aspirin tablet or two 81 mg baby aspirins (if no allergic reaction to aspirin or recent GI bleed)
• If victim has medicine for angina (e.g. nitroglycerine), then help him or her take it.
• Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR

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Fainting
Fainting refers to a brief loss of consciousness, due to decrease in blood flow to the brain.

Fainting Causes & Treatment - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

In this video, a St John Ambulance trainer shares how to identify signs of fainting and demonstrates what to do if someone has fainted. Fainting is when some...

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Causes of fainting:

• Lack of food/fluids
• Reaction to pain
• Exhaustion
• Emotional stress
• Prolonged periods of physical activity/inactivity (sitting or standing) in a warm environment

First aid response for fainting:

• When a person feels faint, ask person to lie down.
• Raise the person legs and support the ankles on your shoulders. This should improve the blood flow to the brain. Once the victim is fully recovered encourage victim to drink plenty of fluids.
• If the victim does not regain consciousness, then activate EMS and administer CPR

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Fractures:
A fracture means that there is a break or crack in a bone.

How To Treat A Fracture & Fracture Types - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone has a fracture and how to treat a fracture.Find out more about what to do if someone has...

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Causes of fractures:

• Direct force i.e. heavy blow to the body
• Indirect force i.e. twisting or wrenching (usually occurs when the bones are weak)

Types of fractures:

• Open fracture: Skin above the fracture is broken i.e. one of the broken bone ends may be sticking out of the skin or there is a wound at the fracture site. Since the skin is broken, there is a high risk of infection.
• Closed fracture: Skin above the fracture is intact.
• Stable fracture: The broken bone ends do not move.
• Unstable fracture: The broken bone ends can easily move out of position, resulting in severe damage to the blood vessels, nerves, and organs.

First aid response for fractures:

Closed fracture:

• Support the injured part
• Bandage the injured part to the closest parallel unaffected part of the body. For the lower limb fractures, bandage the injured leg to the uninjured one. For the upper limb fractures, immobilize the arm against the trunk.
• Arrange to transport the victim to the nearest hospital or doctor’s office
• Check the circulation (pulse point nearest to the fracture) every 10 minutes. If circulation is weak , loosen the bandage.

Open fracture:

• Place on a disposable gloves, if available
• Cover the wound with clean pads or sterile dressing.
• Apply gentle pressure to control bleeding.
• Secure the dressing and padding with a bandage.
• Bandage the injured part to the closest parallel unaffected part of the body. For the lower limb fractures, bandage the injured leg to the uninjured. For the upper limb fractures, immobilize the arm against the trunk.
• Arrange to transport to the medical facility
• Check the circulation every 10 minutes. If circulation is weak then loosen the bandages. Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary

DO NOT move the person until the injured part is secured and supported
DO NOT move or try to straighten the injured extremity
DO NOT allow the person to eat or drink until cleared by the physician
DO NOT allow the victim with a lower extremity injury to walk (bear weight) until cleared by a medical professional

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Sprains and Strains
Strains or sprains refers to the injuries to the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments).

How to Bandage A Sprain - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates how to bandage a sprain. You’ll need to put an ice pack and padding on the injury, then apply the bandage from the j...

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• Causes of strains and sprains:
  • A strain or sprain occurs when the muscle is overstretched
• Signs of strain or sprain:
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Difficulty moving the injured part
• First aid response for strains or sprains:
  • R- Rest
  • I - Icing the injured part
  • C- Compress the injured part (e.g. ACE wrap)
  • E- Elevation of the injured part
• If the pain is severe, or the person is unable to use the injured part, arrange transportation to a medical facility

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Nosebleeds
Bleeding from the nose occurs when small blood vessels inside the nostrils are ruptured.

How to Treat Nose Bleeds - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

If someone is having a nose bleed, there are simple first aid steps you can take to treat them. This St John Ambulance video shows you how to safely position...

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Causes of a nose bleed:

• Sneezing/upper respiratory infection
• Picking the nose
• Blowing the nose
• Hit to the nose
• High blood pressure

First aid response for nosebleed:

• Place person in a seated position
• Ask the person to breathe from the mouth and to pinch the soft part of the nose for up to 10 minutes. If the bleeding has not stopped, then the person can repeat the pinching of the nose for 10 minutes. This procedure may be done for a total of thirty minutes
• Advise him/her to rest quietly for a few hours and try not to swallow, cough, spit or sniff, because it may restart the nose bleed.
• If the nose bleed is due to an injury (head or nose injury) arrange for medical attention

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Spinal Injuries
Spinal injury refers to the injuries involving one or more part of the back and/or neck i.e. bones, discs, muscles, ligaments or spinal cord. The most serious risk involving a spinal injury is damage to the spinal cord. Such damage can cause loss of function or sensation below the injured area.

What To Do If Someone Has A Spinal Cord Injury - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone has a spinal cord injury, what causes a spinal cord injury and what to do to help. Learn...

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Causes of spinal injury:

• Falling from a height
• Motor vehicle accident (sudden stops)
• Injury to the head or the face
• Thrown from a horse or motorbike
• Diving into a shallow pool and hitting the bottom
• Heavy blow to the back

• Signs of spinal injury
• Pain in the neck or back at the injury site
• Change in the normal curvature of the spine
• Tenderness in the skin over the spine

• Signs of spinal cord injury
• Loss of control over the limbs; movements may be weak or absent
• Loss of bladder /bowel control
• Loss of sensation, or abnormal sensations such as burning or tingling.
• Breathing difficulties.

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Seizures

Seizures or convulsions refers to involuntary contractions of the muscles of the body, followed by loss of consciousness.

What To Do If Someone Has A Seizure - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone is having a seizure, what causes a seizure and what to do to help. Learn more about what...

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Causes of seizures:

• Head injury.
• Low oxygen to the brain.
• Low glucose (diabetes).
• Poison toxicity (alcohol, drugs, cleaning products).
• Brain damaging conditions( infections or diseases).
• High fevers in infants and children (below 6 years of age).

Signs of seizures:

• Sudden unconsciousness or unresponsiveness.
• Repetitive convulsive movements.
• Rigidity and or arching of the back.
• Breathing difficulty.
• Clenching of the teeth.
• Incontinence (urine or bowel movement).
• After the seizure a person may have a post seizure state where he or she is dazed, acts strangely or is unaware of the surroundings. This state can persist for minutes to hours..

First aid response for seizures:

• If the person is falling ease the fall
• Make space for the person, ask bystanders to move away
• Remove dangerous items i.e. hot drinks or sharp objects etc, from the surrounding.
• Note the time when the seizure started
• Loosen the clothing around the neck and place a protective soft padding under the head, if possible.
• When the seizure has stopped, be ready to administer CPR, if the victim is not responding i.e. no movement and no breathing.
• If the person is breathing then place him/her in the recovery position.
• Note the total time of the seizure.
• Call EMS or 911, if the seizure continues for more than 5 minutes, the person is unconscious for more than 10 minutes, the person is having repetitive seizures or having seizures for the first time.

DO NOT move the person unless he/she is in immediate danger
DO NOT put anything in the person’s mouth or use force to restrain the person.

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Strokes
Stroke refers to a condition in where the blood supply to a part of the brain is stopped

What To Do If Someone Has A Stroke, Signs & Symptoms - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone is having a stroke and what to do to help. Find out more about what to do if someone is ...

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Causes of stroke:

• Blood clot to the brain
• Ruptured blood vessel in the brain

Signs of stroke:

• Problem speaking
• Problem swallowing
• Decrease or loss of strength or movement of the limbs
• Tingling and numbness on one side of the body
• Sudden, severe headaches
• Sudden or gradual loss of consciousness

First aid response for stroke:

• Call 1122/911
• Help the victim lie down with head and shoulder raised and the head turned to prevent choking.
• Monitor and re/cord vital signs level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary
• DO NOT give the victim anything to eat or drink

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Burn: Electrical and Chemical
Skin is an organ that acts as a natural barrier to the infection and to fluid loss. Burns disrupt this barrier causing exposure to infection and fluid loss.

Burns - First Aid

https://www.ProFirstAid.com You can treat first, second, and third-degree Chemical Burns prior to seeking medical treatment by using saran wrap and freezer b...

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Causes of burns:

• Dry burn-flames, friction, contact with hot object.
• Scald burn-steam, hot liquids.
• Electrical burn-low-voltage: household appliances. High-voltage: power cables, lightning current
• Cold injury-frostbite, contact with freezing metal or freezing vapors i.e. liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen.
• Chemical burn-industrial chemicals or fumes or household chemicals ( caustic soda, bleach , oven cleaner )
• Radiation burn-sunburn, over exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlamp or exposure to radioactive source (x-rays)

Types of burns:

• First-degree burn: It damages the outermost layer of skin. It is characterized by redness, swelling and tenderness.
• Second-degree burn: It damages the epidermis (2nd layer of skin). It is characterized by redness, tenderness and blisters.
• Third-degree burn: It damages all the layers of the skin. It is characterized by loss of pain sensation. There may be damage to the nerves, fatty tissue, muscles, and blood vessels. These burns need immediate medical attention.

First aid response for burns:

• Evaluate the situation. Look for dangers to yourself and to the victim.
• For severe burns or burns to the airway or electrical burns, call 1122/911
• Apply plenty of cold tap water for at least 10 minutes.
• Put on disposable gloves if available.
• Carefully remove the clothing around the burn, unless it sticks to the burn.
• Cover the burned area with sterile dressing or folded triangular bandage, part of a sheet or plastic wrap, to protect it from infection and to prevent fluid loss.
• Monitor and record vital signs-level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary
• DO NOT burst any blisters. Loosely cover blister with sterile dressing, but leave blisters intact as it improves healing and reduces pain.
• DO NOT apply lotions, ointment, or adhesive tape to the burned area
• DO NOT apply ice directly on the burn as it may cause tissue injury
• DO NOT remove anything sticking to the burn

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Heatstroke
Heatstroke refers to a condition where your body overheats.

How To Treat Heat Stroke, Signs & Symptoms - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone has suffered from heat stroke and how to treat it.Find out more about what to do if some...

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Causes of heatstroke:

• Prolonged exposure to heat
• High fever
• Drugs ( ecstasy)

Signs of heatstroke:

• Headache, dizziness
• Confusion
• Hot, flushed dry skin
• Body temperature above 104 F (40 C)

First aid response to heatstroke:

• Move the person to a cool place
• Call 1122/911
• Immerse the victim in a cool water up to the chin or wrap the person with a sheet and apply cool water on the sheet, until the temperature falls below 100.4 F (35 C)
• Once the temperature has returned to normal, replace the wet sheet with a dry one. Monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse and breathing.
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary

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Hypothermia
Hypothermia refers to a condition when the body over cools i.e. temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).

First Aid Treatment for Hypothermia

First Aid Treatment for Hypothermia. Part of the series: First Aid Basics. The proper first aid treatment for hypothermia involves calling 9-1-1 immediately ...

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Causes of Hypothermia:

• Poorly heated houses
• Outdoor exposure

Signs of hypothermia:

• Shivering
• Cold, pale and dry skin
• Impaired consciousness or disorientation
• Shallow breathing
• Weak pulse

First aid response to hypothermia:

• Replace any wet clothing with warm, dry clothes
• Warm water bath, if possible
• Offer warm drinks, or soups.
• Monitor and record vital signs-level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary
• Obtain medical care for the elderly and infants/children.

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Insect bites and stings
Usually an insect sting causes a localized allergic reaction.

Bites and Stings

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• Stings from a bee, wasp, or hornet are painful rather than dangerous.
• Stings in the mouth or throat are potentially dangerous because they may obstruct the airway.

Signs of insect sting:

• Pain, redness and swelling which starts within minutes to hours after an insect sting.
• Allergic reaction may progress to anaphylactic shock

First aid response to an insect sting:

• For victims showing signs of anaphylactic shock or victims who develop mouth or throat swelling after a bite - call EMS or 911
• If the stinger is visible, then remove it with a blunt knife. DO NOT use tweezers, because it may inject more poison into the person.
• Apply an ice pack or cold compress.
• Elevate the affected part
• Follow up with a doctor if pain and swelling persists

First aid response to snakebites:

• Applying a pressure immobilization bandage to the entire length of the bitten extremity will, slow the spread of the venom (poison) by slowing the lymph flow. The pressure should be sufficient so that the bandage is comfortably tight and snug but allows a finger to be slipped under it.
• DO NOT apply suction for the snakebites.

First aid for jellyfish stings:

• Wash the area with vinegar (4-6% acetic acid solution) as soon as possible for at least 30 seconds (to inactivate the venom [poison] or nematocysts)
• If vinegar is not available, a baking soda slurry/paste may be used instead.
• Once the nematocysts are removed or deactivated, the victim should be instructed to take a hot shower or immerse the affected part in hot water (temperature as hot as tolerated, or 45°C if there is the capability to regulate temperature), as soon as possible, for at least 20 minutes or for as long as pain persists.

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Poisons
Poison/toxin is a substance that causes temporary or permanent damage to the body.

How To Treat Poisoning, Signs & Symptoms - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

A St John Ambulance trainer demonstrates what to look for if someone has swallowed a poison and how to treat poisoning.Find out more about what to do if some...

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Types of poisons:

• Swallowed - drugs, alcohol, cleaning products, food poisons
• Inhaled- fumes from the cleaning products, fumes from fire
• Injected- venom from stings and bites or drugs
• Absorbed through the skin- cleaning products, plant poisons
• Splashed- cleaning products, home and gardening products

Signs of swallowed poisons:

• Vomiting
• Look for containers near the victim
• Pain or burning sensation in mouth and throat

First Aid response to swallowed poison:

• If the person is conscious, then ask about the exposure or ingestion history.
• DO NOT give anything by mouth until advised by the poison control or emergency personnel
• DO NOT attempt to induce vomiting.
• DO NOT administer syrup of Ipecac
• If unable to contact poison control then you may give frequent sips of cold milk or water (risk of emesis or aspiration)
• Monitor and record vital signs-level of response, pulse and breathing
• Be prepared to administer CPR, if necessary
• Obtain medical help if symptoms continue or worsen
• If the person is unconscious then call 1122/911 and start CPR.

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Dental Injuries:

Dental First Aid: What to do when an adult tooth gets knocked out

Our quick reference Dental First-Aid Easy Guide will show you what to do when an adult tooth gets knocked out of the mouth.If you are a parent, a teacher, co...

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• First aid for the broken tooth:
• Clean the bleeding wound with saline or clean tap water
• Stop bleeding by applying direct pressure to the injured area with gauze or cotton
• Handle the tooth by the crown, NOT the root (i.e. do not handle the part that was beneath the gum)
• Place the tooth in milk, or clean water if milk is not available
• Contact the dentist or take the tooth and victim to an emergency care center as quickly as possible

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Choking
Choking is a life-threatening medical emergency and most commonly occurs when a piece of food, an object, or a liquid becomes lodged in the throat. The following videos provide useful advice for first aid on choking adults/children/infants:

Conscious Adult Choking

For more videos like this or to get CPR Certified please visit https://www.procpr.orgProTrainings offers a variety of courses such as:Bloodborne pathogens: h...

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Conscious Child Choking

https://www.ProCPR.orgIf a child is choking and conscious, signs include looking panicked, blue color around the lips, and the inability to talk, cough, or b...

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Conscious Infant Choking

For more videos like this or to get CPR Certified please visit https://www.procpr.orgProTrainings offers a variety of courses such as:Bloodborne pathogens: h...

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CPR
What is CPR?
CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation i.e. to help restart the heart (pulse) and lungs (breathing).

When do we perform CPR?
CPR is performed when a person stops breathing and/or the heart stops.

Why is it important to learn CPR?
47 people die of heart-attacks in Pakistan every hour, that's 411,720 people every year[2]. If you know how to perform CPR you may be able to save a life.

Why is timing important?
When the heart (pulse) and lungs (breathing) stops, the victim has 5 minutes before (gradual) brain death starts to occur, if no CPR is performed. Therefore, it is very important to start CPR as soon as possible.

What is hands-only CPR?
Any bystander who is not trained in CPR can perform this type of CPR to try to save a life. Hands-only CPR is better than no CPR. If you witness an adult or a child/infant suddenly collapse then:
1. Call 1122/911
2. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest

Hands only CPR:

Learn Hands-Only CPR from the American Red Cross

Learn CPR, visit: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-classThe American Red Cross and Howcast have teamed up to teach you how to perform the potentially life-savi...

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Know your emergency numbers:

• 911 [Public Emergency Helpline]
• 1122 [Rescue 1122 Emergency Number]
• 15 [Police Emergency Number]
• 115 [EDHI Ambulance]
• 1124 [Aman Ambulance Karachi]
• 1020 [Chippa Ambulance Karachi]

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References:
[1] Yegen B (1958). First Aid. In: The St. Andrew's Ambulance Association The British Red Cross Society. Turkish Crescent Society Publishing. 5th ed, Ankara, pp.100–150.
[2] Junaidi I (2021). ‘47 people die of heart attack every hour in Pakistan’, Dawn News. Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1649189
[3] 2021 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations
[4] Thygerson, A., Thygerson, S., Gulli, B., Mell, H. and Elling, B., n.d. First aid.
[5] Thomas, J. and Paynter, A., 2018. Assessment and management of common musculoskeletal injuries. Practice Nursing, [online] 29(11), pp.521-525. Available at: <https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/pnur.2018.29.11.521> [Accessed 5 May 2020].
[6] Outcomes following cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an emergency department of a low- and middle-income country - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12245-018-0200-0
[7] Characteristics of traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients presenting to major centers in Karachi, Pakistan—a longitudinal cohort study - https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-018-0214-7
[8] Knowledge of first aid and basic life support amongst medical students: a comparison between trained and un-trained students - https://jpma.org.pk/article-details/2839
[9] Knowledge attitude and practices of undergraduate students regarding first aid measures - https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/47256849.pdf
[10] Awareness Level of First Aid in General Population, Karachi Pakistan: A Survey Report - https://www.researchgate.net/public...l_Population_Karachi_Pakistan_A_Survey_Report
[11] Road Traffic Accidents; Predictions in Pakistan: WHO

 

[Chopchop]

Excellent post.
It would be easier to read if you would divide the post according to topics.
Like one whole post on choking, both adult and children.
Another post on cpr/bls both children and adult.
Thanks

 

[RescueRanger]

Excellent post.
It would be easier to read if you would divide the post according to topics.
Like one whole post on choking, both adult and children.
Another post on cpr/bls both children and adult.
Thanks

Thank you, perhaps I will do that, I was trying to make tabs using BB Code but the forum software doesn't allow it.