Basic First Aid Flashcards
What is considered as one of the most important ways to reduce infection transmission?
Hand hygiene
What does PPE stand for?
Personal
Protective
Equipment
When should we perform hand hygiene?
(7)
Before touching a patient
Before a clean or aseptic (sterile) technique
After body fluid exposure risk
After touching a patient
After touching a patients immediate surroundings
Before putting on gloves
After putting on gloves
Which hand hygiene should we mostly use?
Hand gel
When shouldn’t we use hand gel as hand hygiene?
(4)
When the patient has a known infection
The patient is vomiting
The patient has diarrhoea
The patient is visibly dirty
What is the prompt response to any injury?
First aid
What is the aim of first aid?
The 3 Ps
What are the 3 Ps?
Preserve life
Prevent deterioration
Promote recovery
What is the emergency call in every hospital in the UK?
2222
What should we always do when calling 2222?
(7)
State whether it’s an adult or child
State the building you’re in
State the floor you’re on
State the department you’re in
Send someone to the department entrance to guide the team
Get the department crash trolley
Move other people out of the area if possible
How many drawers does a resuscitation crash trolley have?
4
What does the top drawer of a resuscitation crash trolley have?
Equipment for maintaining the airway
What does the 2nd drawer of the resuscitation crash trolley have?
Breathing equipment
What does the 3rd drawer of the resuscitation crash trolley have?
Equipment to maintain circulation
What does the bottom shelf of the resuscitation crash trolley have?
2 drug boxes
What is in the 2 drug boxes at the bottom shelf of the resuscitation crash trolley?
Emergency drugs
Arrhythmia drugs
What should we always know about the resuscitation crash trolleys?
Where they’re located
What type of resuscitation crash trolleys are found in some areas?
Specialist trolleys,e.g. in paediatrics
How often should the resuscitation trolleys be checked?
Regularly- daily or monthly
What should we do with the resuscitation trolleys after a crash call?
Check and restock the trolley
What does BLS stand for?
Basic
Life
Support
How can we prevent blood loss?
Apply and maintain pressure to the wound
What should we try to wear when stopping bleeding?
Why?
Disposable gloves
Because they reduce any chance of infection
What shouldn’t we do if there’s an object embedded in a wound?
Don’t put pressure on the object
What shouldn’t we use when trying to stop bleeding?
(4)
Antiseptic ointment
Antiseptic wipes
Cotton wool
Sticky dressings
What should we use to dress a wound after bleeding?
A petroleum- based gauze wrap, e.g. Vaseline
What are some symptoms of shock?
(7)
Altered functioning: confusion, reduced awareness, sleepiness
Cold,moist skin
Weak heart rate
Rapid heart rate
Rapid breathing and hyperventilation
Nausea
Vomiting
What are some solutions when someone has gone into shock?
(5)
Lay them down and elevate their legs and feet slightly
Loosen tight clothing
Encourage them to keep still
Roll them to their side if they look like they’re going to vomit
Seek support
What shouldn’t we do when someone goes into shock?
Don’t give them anything to eat or drink
What is choking? (S)
Silent
What should we do if someone is choking?
(5)
Encourage them to cough
Give upwards back slaps to dislodge the item
Stand behind them and put one hand on their chest and lean them forwards slightly
Give 5 slaps with the heel of your hand between their shoulder blades
If not dislodged, try abdominal thrusts and call an ambulance
What should we do if someone faints?
Why?
Lay them down and raise their legs
Because it promotes blood back to the brain
How can we tell if someone with lighter skin is about to faint?
Their skin goes paler
How can we tell if someone with darker skin is about to faint?
(2)
Their eyes go paler
The inside of their mouth goes paler and less pink
What is the scientific word for allergic reaction?
Anaphylaxis
What are some symptoms of anaphylaxis?
(5)
Skin reaction: redness, rash, paleness
Breathing difficulties
Swollen tongue
Wheezing
Dizziness/fainting
What should we do if someone’s having an allergic reaction?
(4)
Always call an ambulance first
Lie the patient down with their legs raised
If the patient is struggling to breathe, raise their shoulders or sit them forwards
Use an auto-injector (epipen) if available
What is anaphylaxis?
An allergic reaction
What shouldn’t we let a person who’s having an allergic reaction do, even if they feel well?
Stand or walk
Why is an auto-injector used on people having an allergic reaction?
The auto-injector administers adrenaline, which relaxes the airways and blood vessels which allows for easier blood flow and breathing.
What are seizures?
Sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain which temporarily affects function
Do all seizures involve convulsions?
No
When should we do only if a patient having a seizure is in danger?
Move them
What should we do when someone is having a seizure?
(5)
Cushion their head
Note the start time of the seizure
Loosen any collars
Once the seizure stops, put them into the recovery position
Note the end time
What should we do once someone has stopped having a seizure?
(2)
Put them in the recovery position
Note the end time
What should we do to prevent someone who’s having a seizure from their tongue blocking their airways?
Put their head to the side
What is hypoglycaemia?
Low blood sugar
What are some signs of hypoglycaemia?
(8)
Trembling
Dizziness
Sweating
Rapid heart rate
Easily irritated
Tearful
Confusion
Slurred speech
What should we do to someone with hypoglycaemia?
(2)
Why?
Give them a sugary drink/sweet
Give them a carbohydrate snack
Because it increases their blood sugar
What should we do to someone with hypoglycaemia if it’s diabetes related?
Confirm it with a finger prick test
What is hyperglycaemia?
High blood sugar
What are some signs of hyperglycaemia?
(5)
Feeling very thirsty
Urinating more often
Weak/tired
Blurred vision
Weight loss
What should we do with someone with hyperglycaemia?
(4)
They should take prescribed medication regularly
They should avoid starchy and sugary foods
They should reduce stress
They should increase exercise
Which is more likely to be related to diabetes- hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia?
Hyperglycaemia
What are the types of seizures?
(10)
Simple partial seizures
Complex partial seizures
Tonic-clonic seizures
Absence seizure
Myoclonic seizures
Clinic seizures
Tonic seizures
Atomic seizures
Status epilepticus
Seizure seizures
How long should handwashing take?
15-20 seconds
What should we do before performing hand hygiene?
(4)
Expose forearms
Remove all jewellery (a religious bangle can be worn but should be moved up the forearm)
Make sure fingernails are clean and short
Cover all cuts or abrasions with a waterproof dressing
What should we usually use for routine hand hygiene during patient care?
Alcohol based hand rubs
How should we take care of our hands?
(3)
Dry hands thoroughly after washing hands using disposable paper towels
Use emollient hand cream regularly
Don’t use communal tubs of hand cream
What should we do when we have a cough or cold?
(4)
Cover the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue. If unavailable, use the crook of the arm
Dispose of all used tissues promptly into a waste bin
Wash hands with non-microbial liquid soap and warm water after coughing, sneezing, using tissues, etc
Keep contaminated hands away from the eyes,nose and mouth
What should we use when we have a cough or cold and there’s no running water or hand hygiene facilities available?
Use hand wipes followed by ABHR and wash hands at the first available opportunity
When should we wear PPE?
(4)
When we’ll be exposed to
blood,
other bodily fluids,
non intact skin
or mucous membranes
Why should we avoid overusing or inappropriate we of PPE?
(2)
Because it’s risky and
harms the environment
When should we wear gloves?
(4)
When exposed to blood,
Other bodily fluids,
Non-intact skin,
Or mucous membranes
When should we change gloves?
(5)
Immediately after seeing each patient
After completing a procedure/task- even on the same patient
When hand hygiene has been done
If a puncture in the glove(s) is suspected
When it’s appropriate for the tasks being done- substances used, type and duration of contact
What is used to clean surfaces or frequently touched areas within the care area?
Detergent wipes
What is recommended for routine cleaning?
A fresh solution of general-purpose neutral detergent in warm water
What should be used routinely on sanitary fittings?
1 000ppm available chlorine
What should cleaning protocols include responsibility for?
(2)
Frequency of environmental decontamination
Method of environmental decontamination
What is clinical waste?
Waste that contains micro-organisms or their toxins that cause disease to humans and other living beings
What 3 things is offensive waste NOT?
(3)
Clinical waste (it’s not clinical waste)
Infectious (it’s non-infectious)
Hazardous (it’s non-hazardous)
What is a cardiac arrest?
When the heart suddenly stops pumping, which stops blood from flowing to vital organs
What are cardiac arrests caused by?
Certain types of arrhythmias that prevent the heart from pumping blood
What can the lack of blood flow to the brain caused by a cardiac arrest cause?
(3)
A person to lose consciousness
A person to become disabled
A person to die
What is the medical term for a heart attack?
Myocardial infarction
What will a patient look like in a cardiac arrest?
(3)
No pulse
Grey and cold
Unresponsive
What is the chain of survival?
(4)
Early recognition and call for help
Early CPR
Early defilibration
Post resuscitation care
Why is early recognition and call for help important in the chain of survival?
It prevents cardiac arrest
Why is early CPR important in the chain of survival?
It buys time
Why is early CPR important in the chain of survival?
To buy time
Why is early defibrillation important in the chain of survival?
It restarts the heart
Why is post resuscitation care important in the chain of survival?
It restores the quality of life
How do we give chest compressions?
(6)
Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest
Place the palm of your hand on top of your hand that’s on their chest and interlock your fingers
Position yourself so your shoulders are directly above your hands
Use your body weight and press down 5-6cm on their chest
Release the compression whilst keeping your hands on their chest to allow their chest to return to its original position
Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100-120 times a minute until help arrives
