First Aid Flashcards
What can you do to care for a cut?
apply pressure
clean with cool water
remove any debris with tweezers
gently wash around the wound with soap and a washcloth
cover with a band-aid
check daily for infection
True or false: iodine, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide should be applied to cuts
false
they can harm the tissue and delay healing
How long does it take for wounds to heal?
2-4 weeks
What do people experience after their wounds have appeared to be healed?
itching because of the continued healing occurring under the skin
What are the best conditions for wound healing?
moist and wet environment
less necrosis, faster healing, and better quality of healing than the dry environment
How can you create a moist environment for your wound?
petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
How long should we wait before applying petroleum jelly to a wound?
let it clot for half an hour to let the scab form
-the clot probably forms in 2-3mins but err on side of caution
How do you apply petroleum jelly to a wound?
get the wound mostly closed then add Vaseline on top
OR you could also put the Vaseline on a band-aid and then use the band-aid to close the wound
Aside from petroleum jelly, what are options to create a moist environment for a wound?
bandaid
Opsite (overkill for minor cuts)
Polysporin (antibiotics not needed for minor cuts)
When should you seek help from an MD for skin injuries?
bleeding heavily, not stopping after 5-10 mins of pressure
deep or longer than 1/2 inch
close to the eye
large cut on the face
caused by puncture, dirty or rusty object
embedded with debris
ragged edges
caused by animal or human bite
excessively painful
signs of infection
have not had the tetanus vaccine within the past 5yrs
What are signs that a wound is infected?
increased warmth
redness
swelling
drainage
What are totally fine options to clean a wound?
cool water
saline
Identify the gram positive and gram negative antibiotics in Polysporin.
gram positive: bacitracin and gramicidin
gram negative: polymyxin
What is the decision process when it comes to Polysporin?
is it needed? (in the world of “just in case”)
cream or ointment? (doesnt matter)
lidocaine needed or not? (parents choice)
In regards to the decision of needing a topical antibiotic for a wound, what are the odds the wound is infected if its dirty? What if the wound was clean?
dirty: 20-30% chance of infection
clean: 1-5% chance of infection
What are the properties of honey in wound care?
antiseptic
promotes healing
Which wound types is honey most commonly used for?
leg ulcers
burns
pressure ulcers
diabetic foot ulcers
infected wounds
When is honey used in wound care?
when conventional antibacterials/antiseptics are ineffective
True or false: using raw honey for wound care is concerning because the fructose corn syrup can spread infection
true
the corn syrup could be a substrate for bacteria
What are our suggestions for the care of piercings or tattoos?
whatever the safety sheet says
True or false: always go with the generic bandaids because they are cheaper
false
rare situation where you go with the brand name product
What can you do as an alternative to band-aids in awkward areas?
liquid bandage
cut Opsite into strips or shapes
Describe liquid bandages.
should not sting
waterproof
for larger scrapes and abrasions
not for large, deep punctures
lasts ~5 days
What do liquid bandages look like when applied?
glistened skin
Describe Opsite.
transparent, adhesive film
for superficial wounds
moisture-vapor permeable
provides a moist environment for healing
waterproof
can be left on for 7 days
True or false: Opsite is mainly used in the nursing world
true
Describe Tegaderm.
protects minor wounds
allows skin to breathe
can be left on for 7 days
Differentiate between the layers of gauze.
outside layer: covers the wound, wont stick, protects and helps
keep out water, dirt, germs
middle layer: absorbent
Which tapes do you use if you need strong adhesion? What if you want a gentle tape?
strong adhesion: transpore, blenderm (plastic)
gentle: micropore (cloth)
How do we know if a cut can be managed without stiches?
superficial (does not involve fat or muscle)
not bleeding heavily
less than 1/2 inch long
does not involve the face
When should you seek out stiches for a cut?
cuts that are gaping
longer than 1/2 inch
dont stop bleeding after 15 minutes of pressure
What is the time frame that your injury should be stitched?
6-8 hours after injury
-how infected is the wound?
-will the stiches pack down a bunch of bacteria?
What are some other options to close wounds, aside from stiches?
Krazy glue
-clean cuts, not too long, no worry about damage
Dermabond
-wound has to be straight, not OTC in Canada
-for kids who are scared of stiches
True or false: it is good to use rubbing alcohol on an area of skin that is about to receive an injection
true
very different from using alcohol on an injury
What are keloids?
an inappropriate reaction to a cut
hyperkeratotic tissue
What is used for the treatment of keloids?
silicone sheet
What is first-aid for scrapes?
wash/rinse the area with soapy water
no need to scrub
cover the area with an adhesive bandage or gauze pad
watch for infection
How do we deal with bruises?
apply cold to the bruise for 15-20mins 4-5 times a day
True or false: arnica and vinegar are great for bruises
false
Differentiate between the types of burns.
first degree: red and painful, slight swelling, turns white when
pressure is applied
second degree: produces blisters, painful, skin is white or
charred
third degree: damages epidermis and dermis, skin is white or
charred, little or no pain
Which type of burn is the most painful?
second degree
What are the four classifications of burns?
chemical
electrical
radiation (sun)
thermal
What is a very common first degree burn?
sunburn
What steps should be taken immediately following a burn?
flush with cool running water
What should never be applied to a burn?
ice
butter, grease, or powder
When can Vaseline be applied to a burn?
once the burn is completely cooled
What should be done about blisters that result from a burn?
leave them they will usually heal on their own
protect the blister if its in an area where it will get rubbed
cover a broken blister with a bandage
What is the treatment for sunburn?
cool compress for 20min
lotion
corticosteroids
True or false: aloe vera has no real value in treating sunburn
true
Should Solarcaine (contains lidocaine) be used for sunburn?
no
lidocaine can irritate the skin
True or false: Benadryl is great for sunburn treatment
false
If you were to pick an antihistamine for sunburn, which antihistamine would you pick?
2nd gen
True or false: oral analgesics and topical diclofenac can be used for sunburn
true
diclofenac 1.1% (overkill but not a problem)
True or false: there is a commercial version of diclofenac 0.1% and 0.25%
false
Which strength of topical diclofenac is effective for sunburn?
0.1%
-this is the strength that was studied
-fine to use the commercial strength of 1.1%
Rank heat exhaustion, heat rash, and heat stroke from most serious to least serious.
heat stroke>heat exhaustion>heat rash
What causes heat rash?
sweat glands become blocked causing an itchy rash or small red spots that cause a stinging or prickling feeling
trapped sweat irritates the skin
What do you do for heat rash?
cold bath or shower to cool the skin
calamine lotion or hydrocortisone for the itch
What do you do for heat exhaustion?
get the person to a cool place and lie them down
give them lots of water
What causes heat exhaustion?
loss of salt and water from the body, excessive sweating
develops slowly
happens to people who aren’t used to hot weather
What are the key things to look for in heat stroke?
fast deterioration in level of response
full bounding pulse
body temp >40C
What do you need to do for heat stroke?
quickly move them to a cool place
wrap them in a cold wet sheet and keep pouring cold water
call the ambulance
What are ways to reduce the risk of catching “the itch”?
shower and towel dry well after swimming
do not swim where risk is identified
use a pier or dock to enter water (larvae like the shore)
What is “the itch”/Swimmers Itch?
rash that may appear hours after swimming in a lake or pond that is infested with parasites from birds and mammals
-animal droppings contain eggs of the parasite
-eggs hatch larvae
-larvae burrow under the skin and cause rash
How long does Swimmers Itch last?
infection lasts 2-5d, symptoms for as long as 2wks
What are the agents for Swimmers Itch?
HC 0.5% cream
calamine
cool compress
baking soda
2nd gen AH
True or false: Swimmers Itch can spread person-to-person
false
What are a few things that can cause fainting?
drop in blood pressure
low blood sugar
standing in one position too long
Describe fainting first aid.
lay person on back
elevate legs to restore blood flow to brain
loosen tight clothing
try to revive, shake, or yell
call 911 if person is unresponsive
perform CPR if breathing stops
What can tetanus cause?
lockjaw (paralysis of major jaw muscles)
What causes tetanus?
clostridium tetani
-found in dirt, rusty nails
-deep/narrow wounds increases risk
Which vaccine is for tetanus?
DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
-series of 5 shots till 6yrs, booster at 16, then q10yrs
What do you do if a patient comes in and says they were bitten by an animal?
refer
How do you stop a nosebleed?
lean forward slightly
gently blow any blood clotting out of nose
pinch all the soft parts of the nose together for 5min
do NOT stuff your nose with tissue or cotton
What should be done about insect bites?
remove the stinger using a flat edge or tweezers
What are the three types of reactions that can occur from insect bites?
normal reaction: pain, swelling, redness
large local reaction: swelling extends beyond sting site
allergic reaction: most serious, treatment needed
What are the common symptoms of allergic reactions?
hives
swelling of throat, lips, tongue, or around eye
difficulty breathing or swallowing
What is the classic appearance of hives?
itchy
above plane
reddened welts
lesions last 1-24hrs in one spot, location changes
benign (can be part of anaphylaxis)
What is the clinical presentation of anaphylaxis?
angioedema affecting eyes and mouth
airway obstruction
How do you use an Epipen?
hold firmly with orange tip pointing downward
remove blue safety cap by pulling straight up
push orange tip firmly into mid-outer thing until “click”
hold for several seconds
seek medical attention
True or false: when in doubt, use the Epipen
true
-hives is part of an allergic reaction
What are the Epipen dosing for kids and adults?
kids 15-30kg: 0.15mg/0.3ml
adults >30kg: 0.3mg/0.3ml
What are Epipens sensitive to? How can you tell if an Epipen has been affected by these conditions?
light and cold sensitive
window is cloudy or brown
True or false: an Epipen must be administered to open skin
false
can penetrate clothes/denim but open skin is ideal
Should antihistamines be used to treat anaphylaxis?
no
they are for mild allergic reactions
What is the treatment for mosquito bites?
hydrocortisone cream or calamine for itch
cool compress
aftebite (sodium bicarb, ammonium)
Which antihistamine should be used for bug bites?
2nd gen
What is a recognized insect repellent?
DEET
-coverage increases as % increases
What is the insect repellent of choice in kids 6mo-12yrs?
icaridin
What else can be used as an insect repellent but is less effective than DEET?
oil of citronella
soybean oil
How does Lyme disease present?
flu-like
-fever, chills, headaches, aches, fatigue
-80% rash, 20% bulls-eye rash
What is the treatment for Lyme disease?
course of antibiotics for 2-3 weeks
What does frostnip look like?
numbness, pain, prickling of the area
skin retains its normal texture
What does superficial frostbite look like?
numbness
white or grayish-yellow skin with red blotches
aching
slightly hardened or swollen skin
BLISTERS
What does severe frostbite look like?
skin looks pale and waxy
unusually firm
loss of feeling/numbness
What should never be done to frostbite?
rewarming the area if it is in danger of refreezing
freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw cycle causes more damage
massaging the area by hand or ice
stopping re-warming too soon
direct dry heat can lead to burns
How do you treat frostbite?
thawing 20-40mins in warm water for superficial, as long as an hour for deep injuries
gentle moving of frostbitten area during re-warming
What are people with blisters from frostbite prone to?
tetanus
What are some distinguishing signs between sprains and breaks?
cracking noise when the injury occurred=break
numbness=break
cannot put weight on it=break
alignment deviation=break
What is the RICE method for sprains?
rest
ice
compression
elevation
What is the suggested replacement for RICE?
MICE
movement could be better than rest
ice could also be wrong and inhibit inflammation needed to heal (NSAIDs deserve equal caution)
Where does pain occur in tennis elbow? What about golfer elbow?
tennis: outside of the elbow
golfer: inside of the elbow
What do we help people with in regards to knee support?
- fabric?
- size?
- open/closed? (go for open)
True or false: knee braces with stabilizers are beyond our scope of practice
true
What do we worry about with shoulder braces?
frozen shoulder
Do we make recommendations with cervical collars, back braces, KT tape, or ankle braces?
NO
we only sell them
What causes carpal tunnel?
repetitive wrist movement
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel?
tingling/numbness in fingers
reduced grip strength
What do wrist splints do for carpal tunnel?
keeps wrist neutral
decrease pain and numbness by decreasing carpal tunnel pressure
How should wrist splints be used for carpal tunnel?
24/7 or HS (HS more common)
6-8 weeks
MD assess after 6 months
True or false: you should take a sick or injured person to the hospital
false
call 911
Why must someone be brought for medical care after undergoing anaphylaxis where they needed an Epipen?
anaphylaxis can be biphasic
-need monitoring and maybe another shot
