First Aid Flashcards
First Aid
The care given to a person when
they suffer an injury or sudden
Illness.
Benefits of first aid
It can mean the difference between
life and death.
quicker recovery time
Temporary vs. permanent disability
Injuries
•The most important public health
problem.
Injury statistics
2 million people per year are
hospitalized
142,500 deaths per year
EMS
Emergency Medical System
911
Good Samaritan law
> Protects you from liability as long as the following are obeyed: 1.) Act in good faith 2.) Not reckless or negligent 3.) Show care 4.) Only provide care within your ability
Emergency
An unforeseen event or condition that
requires prompt response
3 step model for emergency response
•Step 1: Assess
-Survey the scene. Is the person
approachable? Life-threatening?
Breathing, circulation, bleeding…
3 step model for emergency response part 2
Step 2: Alert
-Call EMS if necessary
3 step model for emergency response part 3
Step 3: Attend
complete head-to-toe exam, provide
necessary care until EMS arrives.
Unconscious assessment steps
- ) Call EMS
- ) Check airway
- ) Check for breathing and circulation
- ) Provide CPR
- ) Control bleeding if necessary
- ) Care for shock
Conscious assessment steps
- ) Introduce yourself, ask if you can help
- ) Control bleeding if necessary
- ) Head-to-toe exam
- ) Provide first aid if appropriate
- ) Care for shock
- ) Call EMS if necessary
When to call EMS
- ) Victim is or becomes unconscious
- ) Victim has chest pain or pressure
- ) Victim has difficulty breathing
4) Victim is bleeding severely - )Victim has pain or pressure in the abdomen
- ) Victim is passing or vomiting blood
7) Victim has slurred speech, severe headache or seizures - ) Victim has head, neck, or back injury
- ) Victim has possible broken bones
- ) Victim has been poisoned
Triage
Process in which the first aid provider
prioritizes the injured victims (more than
one victim)
Critical
Life threatening
Serious
Not life threatening
Walking wounded
Victims who are stable and can move
Fatally injured
Dead
Steps for head to toe exam
1.) Signs and symptoms:
1. Check level of consciousnes 2. Primary complaint? 3. Check vital signs
2.) Allergies: Ask victim about allergies to foods,medications, insects,
etc
•3.) Medications: Ask victim if they are taking
medications or under the influence of drugs
4.) Pre-Existing Medical History: Ask victim about
any medical conditions that relate to their current
problem
5.) last meal: ask victim what they last ate
6.) Events: Ask victim what led up to
illness/injury
Reduce risk of infection steps
> 1.) Always place a barrier between you and
someone else’s body fluids (latex or vinyl alaves
› 2.) Cover all cuts, scrapes, hangnails, rashes, etc.
3.) Minimize the splashing of body fluids
›4.) Handle any sharp object with caution
›5.) Do not handle food, cigarettes, make-up, etc.
when around body fluids
6.) Ensure that body fluid spills are cleaned and the area is properly disinfected
7.) Wash hands or any exposed area immediately
Bleeding emergencies
•Average adult holds 6 quarts of blood.
The rapid loss of one quart can lead to
shock/death
Capillary bleeding
•The capillaries are the smallest and most
numerous blood vessels in the body.
(Slow bleeding/body clots)
Venous bleeding
› Deep cut that opens veins. Flow is
steadv.
> You must control bleeding or it could be life-
threatening.
Arterial bleeding
Opening in an artery, Results in the
most serious type of bleeding,
> Death can occur in one minute,