106 Flashcards
106
First Aid and Field Sanitation Fundamentals
9 general first aid rules
- Get Organized
- Unless contraindicated, make preliminary exam in position and place you find the victim
- In a multi-victim situation, use ABCs
- Exam for fractures
- Remove enough clothing to determine injury
- Keep victim reassured and comfortable
- Avoid touching open wounds and burns with fingers and unsterile objects
- Unless contraindicated, position victim to minimize choking and aspirating vomit
- Always carry litter feet first
Triage
French “to sort”
Tactical triage
Class I - minor
Class II - immediate
Class III - delayed
Class IV - expectant
Non-tactical triage
Priority I - life threatening
Priority II - serious but not life-threatening
Priority III - minor injuries
Priority IV - expectant
Primary survey
Rapid initial assessment
Secondary survey
Complete and detailed assessment
ABCDE
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
Expose
Conducted during primary assessment within 10 minutes
Signs and symptoms of shock
- Eyes glassy and dull
- Rapid or labored breathing, gasping
- Very pale or ashen gray skin
- Cool and clammy skin
- Rapid, weak, thready pulse
- Lowered BP
Hemorrhagic Shock Pulse
140 or higher
Neurogenic Shock Pulse
60 or below
3 ways to control bleeding
- Pressure dressing (external bleeding)
- Pressure points
- Tourniquet
Head Wounds
- No medications
- Keep victim flat w/ head/body level
- Wound back of head, lay patient on side
Facial Wounds
Make sure tongue or tissue don’t block airway
Sucking Chest Wound
- Seal the wound
- Tape material in place
- During combat lay patient on affected side
Abdominal Wound
- Supine position
- If intestine protruding, knees up
- Do not touch push in or manipulate intestine
- Nothing to drink
Closed Fracture
Entirely internal
Open Fracture
Open wound in the tissues and skin
Forearm Fracture
- Splints from elbow to wrist
- Hold splints with bandages
- Across chest
- Palm in
- Thumb up
- Wide sling and cravat
- Hand raised 4 inches above elbow
Upper Arm Fracture
Do not attempt to straighten or move it in any way
Thigh Fracture
Fastened in 5 places
- Around the ankle
- Over the knee
- Just below the hip
- Around the pelvis
- Just below the armpit
Do not move the victim until injured leg is immobilized
Lower Leg Fracture
Apply 3 splints
- One on each side
- One underneath
Clavicle Fracture
Same as forearm fracture
Rib Fracture
- Make victim comfortable and quiet to avoid internal injuries
- Arm at 45 degree angle secured to chest
First Degree Burn
- Epidermal layer
- Irritated
- Reddened
- Tingling
- Recovery in 1 week
Second Degree Burn
- Epidermal blisters
- Mottled appearance
- Red base
Recovery 2-3 weeks
Third Degree Burn
Full thickness penetrating muscle and fatty connective tissue or even bone
Heat Cramps
- Shade
- Cool water w/ tsp of salt for a liter or quart
- Massage to relieve spasm
Heat Exhaustion
SYMPTOMS
Skin
- Ashen gray
- Cool
- Moist
- Clammy
Dilated pupils
TREATMENT
Apply cool wet cloth to:
- Head
- Axilla
- Groin
- Ankles
Fan the victim
Heat Stroke
- 20% mortality rate
- 105 F or higher
- Apply cold water or towels to whole body
- Move to coolest place
- Remove clothing
- Do not give hot drinks or stimulants
- Discontinue when rectal temp reaches 102 F
Hypothermia
- First symptom is shivering
- Death when core reaches 8 F
- Most effective treatment is immersion in tub 100 F to 105 F
- Buddy warming (no tub available)
Immersion Foot
- Hands and feet
- Wet cold temps of above freezing to 50 F
Signs and Symptoms
- Tingling and numbness
- Swelling
- Bluish discoloration
- Painful blisters
Treatment
- Get off feet
- Remove all footwear
- Expose to warm, dry air
- Do not rupture blisters
Frostbite
Occurs when ice crystals form in the skin or deep tissue after exposure to 32 F or lower
Superficial Frostbite
Surface of the skin feels hard but underlying tissue is soft
- Go indoors
- Rewarm in warm water immersion
- Never rub affected area
Deep Frostbite
When freezing reaches deep tissue layers
- Monitor pulse/breathing for respiratory and heart problems
- Do not attempt to thaw if possibility of refreezing
- Immersion in water 100 F to 105 F
Use of Iodine Tablets
- Fill with cleanest water available
- 1 tablet for clear water
- 2 tablets for cloudy water
- Replace cap and wait 5 minutes
- Shake
- Loosen cap, tip canteen allowing leakage around threads
- Tighten cap
- Wait 25 minutes or 30 total
Use of Calcium Hypochlorite
- Fill with cleanest water available
- Leave airspace of 1 inch
- Fill canteen half full of water
- Add calcium hypochlorite from ampule
- Stir until dissolved
- Fill cap half full of solution
- Add to water in canteen
- Shake thoroughly
- Loosen cap, tip canteen allowing leakage around threads
- Tighten cap
- Wait at least 30 minutes
Boiling Water
- Need fuel
- Takes too long and cools
- Needs residual protection
- Must be held at boiling point for at least 15 minutes for safe drinking
Cat Hole
- 1 ft wide
- 1 ft deep
- Pack down with dirt after use
- Used on the march
Straddle Trench
- 4 ft long
- 2 1/2 ft deep
- 1 ft wide
- Cover with dirt after each bivouac
- Used for 1-3 day bivouac sites
Methods of Carry a Casualty
- Fireman’s carry
- One man support carry
- One man arms carry
- Saddleback carry
- Pack strap carry
- Pistol belt carry
Improvised Litter
- Poncho and poles
- Jacket and poles
