Assorted Injuries Flashcards
What is the most common cause of choking in adults?
Foreign bodies - food
How can a partial airway obstruction be identified? a complete obstruction?
How should a rescuer respond to a partial airway obstruction?
Partial - coughing, speaking/sounds
Complete - cannot cough or speak
Encourage victim to cough
What action should be taken if a choking victim becomes unconscious?
When can a finger sweep be used?
What is the maximum time suctioning may be used on an adult? On an infant?
Lower carefully to ground, activate EMS, begin CPR, check for obstruction
When the obstruction is visible
15 seconds, 10 seconds child, 5 sections infant
How is first aid distinguished from basic life support?
What is the purpose of a secondary assessment?
FA - medical care for injuries or illnesses not immediately life-threatening
LS - life-threatening
2nd - action occurring after an initial assessment for urgent needs
What action provides the best chance for survival of an avulsed tooth?
Reimplantation
Soak in milk
What is the primary first aid for seizures? for poisoning? for exertional dehydration?
Move object away from victim, protect but don’t restrain
Activate EMS, monitor breathing and prepare to perform BLS
Oral rehydration
What restrictions should be observed by someone who may have suffered a concussion?
Physical and metal rest required, avoid vigorous activity
What is asthma?
noncontagious respiratory illness characterized by airway narrowing and enhanced bronchial thickening
What are the signs and symptoms of heart attack?
heavy pressure or squeezing pain in the center of the chest or center of the back shoulder, arm, neck or jaw pain nausea and vomiting shortness of breath indigestion, heartburn sweating sense of impending doom
What is hypoglycemia versus hyperglycemia?
Hypo - low blood sugar
Hyper - elevated blood sugar
What is hypothermia?
What is the first aid response?
What special consideration must be taken into account for hypothermia?
Lower body temp
Prevent further heat loss and initiate rewarming
Coe temperature after-drop - after rewarming individual core temp drops
Cold-water immersion - handle carefully to avoid cardiac arrhythmias - symptom severity and mental status
What is hyperthermia?
What is the first aid response?
Overheating
Stop activity, rehydrate
What are four methods of heat transfer, and how can they benefit the hyperthermic individual?
Conduction - heat warmer to cooler - immersion in cooler fluid
Convection - heat loss due to movement of fluid or gas - wind chill/fans
Evaporation - head absorbed by sweat and released once in gas phase - sponge with cool water/mist
Radiation - transfer of energy between diff temps - remove from sunlight to shade
What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
E - heavy sweating, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, weakness, headache, muscle cramps
S - Rapid pulse, dry hot skin, confusion, seizures
What two tactics can prevent slips and falls?
What are the steps and general guidelines in a secondary assessment of slips and falls?
Proper drainage and rubber matting, warning signs
Leave in position, identify possible injuries, talk to victim
Check head, neck eye dilation, collarbone, work down body
What is the role of a splint?
Immobilization of injure extremity - reduce movement and physical stress to injury
How are burns categorized? What is a superficial burn? What is a second-degree burn? What is a third-degree burn? What is a fourth-degree burn? What is the general first aid treatment for burns? How should chemical burns be treated?
Based on depth of tissue involvement
Sup - epidermis, redness, minimal swelling
2nd - epidermis and dermis, scalding, blisters, blanching, most painful
3rd - down to subcutaneous, dry/leathery, waxy/charred, variable pain
4th - muscle or bone, electric shock
Application of cool or very cold water (not ice)
Brush off chem remove jewelry, flush with copious water for 25-20 mins
What are the three general categories of marine life injuries?
What protective measures should a first aid provider utilize?
Envenomations, traumatic injuries, seafood poisoning
Gloves, eye protection
What is an envenomation?
process by which venom or toxin is injected into another creature by means of a bite, puncture or sting
What is the usual trigger for marine animal bites? (3 reasons)
Defensive reactions (feels threatened) or misidentification of diver’s body part (mistaken for prey) (humans engaged in spearfishing or feeding)
What is the primary cause of seafood poisoning?
Ingestion of food or liquids contaminated with specific, harmful toxins
By what mechanisms do envenomations occur?
Why do most envenomations occur?
What three factors may affect an individual’s response to envenomations?
stings, spines, bites and barbs
animal’s defensive actions or accidental contact
Animal: venom potency, volume injected and the area involved
Person: health status, sensitivity to venom and delays to first aid and treatment
What are the first-aid steps for venomous fish injuries? for jellyfish stings? for treating injuries resulting from contact with marine life?
Fish - cleaning the wound remove object, controlling bleeding and pain (heat), and applying topical antibiotics
Jelly - heat/vinegar inactivation, remove tentacles, wash area, apply heat and treat
Marine life - monitor vitals, hydration, removal of foreign bodies, irrigation of wound
For which three injuries is the pressure immobilization technique recommended?
Sea snake bites, Molluscs (cone, octopus) injuries
How does the body respond to bleeding?
What is the primary method used to control most external bleeding?
Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and platelet activation to clot blood
Direct pressure to help clot blood and limit bloodloss
When should a tourniquet be utilized?
How long should a tourniquet be left in place?
Bleeding is a massive arterial bleed and/or is life-threatening
Until the injured person is under medical care
Why are marine animal bites of particular concern?
High risk for infection
What are the signs and symptoms of infection?
inflammation, pus/discharge, fever, chills P - pain R - redness I - immobilization S - swelling H - heat
What is the primary cause of seafood poisoning?
What are the three well-established types of seafood poisoning?
How can the risk of seafood poisoning be minimized?
ingestion of either contaminated or naturally toxic seafood
ciguatera, tetrodotoxin poisoning and scombroid fish poisoning
avoid eating fish known to cause poisoning, properly store fish
What are the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction?
What steps should be taken if an allergic reaction occurs?
generalized itching, redness, swelling, puffy eyes, airway narrowing
Allergy meds, monitor breathing/airway
What are the signs and symptoms of cardiogenic shock?
What steps should be taken if cardiogenic shock occurs?
hypotension, altered mental status, cold hands/feet, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath, weak pulse, cardiac arrest, chest pain
Lie on their back, check for circulation, warm/comfortable
What are the signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock?
anxiety/agitation, pale cool skin, confusion, rapid breathing, unconsciousness
What twelve dive safety practices can reduce the risk of injuries by marine life?
Plan dive, Pack first aid, exposure protection, shuffle feet,
Streamline body, situational awareness, avoid reef touching, passive interactions,
don’t touch shells, don’t carry speared fish, watch out when surfacing, avoid fish
