First Aid Flashcards
What are the physiological effects of flying
Altitude, oxygen and anxiety
What is hypoxia?
This is when the levels of oxygen are too low for the body. If not treated promptly, this will lead to permanent damage to major organs such as the brain, heart and lungs and may lead to death if untreated
What can hypoxia be caused by?
Airway obstruction, low oxygen content in the air, smoke and fumes, decompression, chest, head, spinal injury or lung disease, damage to nerves that control breathing, stroke/intoxication or low oxygen content in the blood which leads to shock.
Hypoxia recognition features?
Difficulty in Co-ordination and speaking, agitation and aggression, difficulty in breathing, sleepiness, fatigue and blue grey skin. Impaired vision, hearing and other sensory functions, lack of normal judgement so over confident and cold or clammy skin.
How do you treat hypoxia?
Administer oxygen (4l/min) or place in recovery position if unconscious.
What is the pre flight check of a FOX?
Alf and 1500PSI
Ear and sinus pain- eustachian tubal infection
The changes in air pressure when flying effect the ears and sinuses and can cause discomfort and pain. If a person has a cold, hay fever, ear or sinus infection, the sinuses or the passages in the ears can become blocked and the pain becomes worse.
Ear and sinus pain recognition features
Pain behind the eyes and spreading down the face, mild to severe pain in the affected ear or sinus, crying due to pain.
Ear and sinus pain treatment
Advise the person to yawn/ swallow or suck on a sweet, instruct the person to close their mouth, hold the nose closed and blow. In infant; give something to drink or dummy
What happens when scuba diving?
You can’t fly until 48 hours after if you went deeper than 10m
You can’t fly until 24 hours after if you went within 10m
What is barotrauma
Physical damage to body tissues caused by a different in pressure between a gas space inside and outside the body.
What is deep vein thrombosis?
Blood clot forms in a vein, usually the leg. Some or all, of the clot may break off, travel through the bloodstream and lodge in an artery, causing a blockage known as an embolism. A pulmonary embolism of the lung can be fatal. Cause if a DVT may be but not limited to immobility, recent operation, pill, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy or obesity.
Recognition features of DVT?
Pain, swelling, reddening and hear in the lower leg, tenderness in the affected area.
DVT Treatment
Loosen tight clothing, calm and reassure, sit the person down with the leg slightly elevated and give water to prevent dehydration
Roles and responsibilities of crew
PRESERVE life
PREVENT deterioration
PROMOTE recovery
Arrange medical assistance
Notification of communicable diseases?
These forms are located in the spare document folder. Passengers who are seated 2 rows in front and 2 rows behind and within the same row as the sick passenger will need to complete an infectious disease form. This includes children and infants. Pass the form to Port health.
What are the 3 roles in first aid?
First aider, communicator and assistant
PRIMARY SURVEY
DR,ABCDE
Danger
Response
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disfunction
Primary survey D
Disfunction we use AVPU
Alertness
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive
Primary survey E
Examine
Signs and Symptoms
Allergies
Medication
Past medical history
Last food or fluid intake
Extra events
What’s a head to toe examination
- Lay casualty.
- Check the skull
3.Face,eyes,ears, mouth, nose and lips
4.Neck
5.Collarbone
6.Chest
7.Abdominal
8.Arms
9.Pelvis
10.Legs
Recovery position
Unconscious but breathing
Rotate every 30 minutes
Drainage
Keeps tongue forward
Doesn’t allow chocking
Stops pressure on the chest
Pat down with the back of your hands
Put affected side at the bottom in case of stroke
What 4 questions do you ask someone before administration of mediation?
- Have you had any alcohol or medication within the last 4 hours?
2.Are you pregnant?
3.Have you got a history of stomach ulcers?
4.Are you allergic to this type of medication
EMK
Used for in flight emergencies
Taken off by designated ccm in an emergency evacuation
PDC-Alf, seal intact
Access to the EMK
Commander limits the access
Once open can’t be left unattended, sealed asap after usage
Drugs should only be issued by medically qualified persons
Oral drugs shouldn’t be denied in medical emergencies where no medically qualified persons are onboard the flight (on medlinks advice)
ERK / emergency response kit
Bag valve mask for child and adult, suction system and yellow seals.
How to use the OP in the EMK?
Pulls tongue forwards
Small, medium and large
Measure the way the tongue goes (down side of the corner to the mouth to the angle of the jaw)
Bottom of the colour (fat) bit to the angle of the jaw
Put in upside down until you feel resistance and then rotate 180 degrees
If the passenger starts to choke then gently remove the item over the top of the mouth
FIRST AID KIT (FAK)
Only to be used when everything in the OMK has nothing else in it.
Take with you in evacuation
Used for accidents
Put down in the ATL when opened and used as well as the cabin report.
PDC-Alf and seal intact
On board medical kit (OMK)
To be used in inflight emergencies
To be taken off by designated CCM in an emergency evacuation.
PDC-Alf, seal intact.
Operation: The paperwork consists of contents list, medication usage and precautions guide
Whenever the OMK is used, the details if medication administered and passengers name/condition should be recorded on the associated paperwork.
If content is beneath minimum seal with yellow seal
Pulse oximeter
Displays band monitors pulse rate
Oxygen saturation level in blood (should be above 90%)
Abdominal pain
May be a result of gastro-intestinal disturbance, usually caused by medical condition. An irritation of the digestive system or an allergic reaction. E,g bleeding, kidney stones, cystitis, miscarriage, unusual/rich foods, contaminated foods, alcohol and medications.
Treatment of abdominal pain
Refer to diarrhoea, intoxication, indigestion and monitor for shock.
We can only use OP AND EPIMEN from the EMK, what’s the epipen do?
Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh, black to thigh.
Top part of the thigh for 10 seconds and then massage leg for 10 seconds
Can go through certain clothes?
Asthma
Common medical condition in which the air passages of the lungs go into spasm.
Most asthmatic know how to deal with an attack and usually carry their own medication but attacks can happen to person for the first time ever as well.
Recognition features of asthma
Wheezing and coughing
Difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath
Anxiety, restlessness, drowsiness and confusion
Blue or grey skin
Asthma treatment
Ask for own medication
Suitably trained person can administer bronchial dilator
Sit upright lean slightly forward
Loosen tight clothing
Encourage to breathe slowly and deeply
Calm and reassure
Administer oxygen if needed
Specific asthma considerations
Severe asthma can be life threatening. Seek immediate help if there’s not response to the Meds.
A person with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents similar symptoms to asthma. It is important to establish this. Administration of first aid oxygen In this case can be life threatening. If oxygen is needed to treat a person with COPD, give 2l/min for maximum 15 minutes at the time intervals of 15 minutes.
Pregnancy allowances
Single birth: women allowed to travel up to 28 weeks without doctors note
Medical certificate required from beginning of week 29 to the end of week 36
From beginning of the week 37, they cannot travel with Us
Multiple birth: Medical certificate required for, the beginning of week 29 to the end of week 32.
From beginning of week 33, they cannot travel with us
3 Stages of pregnancy
1/ Opening of the cervix
2/Crowning, where you an see baby head come out which is also a slow down indicator, check for umbilical cord around the neck and make sure it’s not suffocating the baby, let one shoulder at once and then the whole baby will come out
3/push out the placenta, we don’t cut cord until we’re told to do so, so keep the placenta above the baby
Only cut once it has stopped pulsating, 3cm away from baby and 3cm away from placenta
Baby should be crying
Chocking method
Firstly start with 5 sharp back blows
Then continue with 5 abdominal thrusts
If nothing occurs you must keep rotating the methods until better or completely unconscious then you would start cpr
After we fly for 5 years we cannot donate our organs.
Pinch skin and if it stays up you’re dehydrated
In this case you must drink water EVERY 30 MINUTES
can also add some salt
Communicable diseases allowance
Chicken pox-Clear to travel 7 days after the appearance of the last spot
Rubella-Clear to travel 4 days after the rash appears
Measles-Clear to travel 7 Days after the last spot
Diabetes
Condition, in which the body fails to regulate the concentration of sugar in the blood. Life threatening conditions such as hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycaemia (high blood pressure) can result from these. The blood sugar levels are controlled by a hormone called insulin.
Hypoglycaemia (HYPO/LO)
Caused by overdose of insulin, insufficient food intake or emotional or physical stress. Usually rapid in onset
May seem confused, disorientated, appear drunk, irritable and aggressive weakness, faintness, hunger headache pale, cold and clammy skin, possible seizure or coma leading to permanent brain damage
Hyperglycaemia
Caused by lack of insulin, stress or illness, usually gradual in onset
Lethargic, drowsy, fatigues, extreme thrust, no headache, warm, dry skin, fruity, sweet acetone breath
Hypoglycaemia
Conscious: Control blood sugar level with the blood glucose testing equipment (EMK)
Give a non fizzy sugary drink (orange or apple juice)
Calm and reassure
Encourage the person to eat carbs
Unconscious: suitably trained personnel to control the blood sugar level with the blood glucose testing testing equipment
Place in recovery
Suitable trained can administer an injection of medications
Oxygen
Hyperglycaemia
Conscious: Control blood sugar levels with the blood glucose testing equipment
Give water to drink if the person is thirsty
Calm and reassure
Encourage the person to administer their own insulin
Unconscious:
Suitably trained personnel to control the blood sugar level with the blood glucose blood testing equipment
Place in recovery
Administer oxygen
Diabetic facts
Take 15g of glucose and check in 15 minutes to see if it goes up, if no follow process again
Normal blood sugar is 4-6MMOL
Epilepsy/seizures
Minor epilepsy which may not affect unconsciousness
Major epilepsy which is characterised by violent seizures
Minor: blank stare, blinking or fluttering of the eyelids, twitching of limbs, suddenly switching off, lip smacking, plucking at clothing or fiddling with objects
Major:Becomes rigid and/ or jerking movements, breathing may stop briefly, leading to blue tinge to the face and neck, saliva may be blood stained if lips or tongue have been bitten, loss of bladder and or bowel control, should stop after a few minutes followed by deep sleep
Treatments of seizures
Note the time
Support snd protect the person, especially the head if possible
Remove hazards
Loosen tight clothing
Do not put anything into the mouth
Once the seizures have ended, place into recovery position
Calm and reassure
Review primary survey and stay with the person until fully recovered
Advise to seek medical assistance if that was their first seizure
Fractures and soft tissue injury
Where injuries to a limb occurs, it is very difficult for a CCM or medial profession to identify whether we are presented with a strain, sprain or closed fracture by visual examination only.
Types Fractures and soft tissue injury
Soft tissue injuries recognition
Pain to touch and movement
Limited movement
Swelling snd bruising over the inured area
Deformity of the limb
Administer RICE
REST- sit person down steady and support injures area
ICE-Apply covered ice pack for at least 20 minutes
COMPRESS- support with bandage splint or splint
ELEVATE- support and raise injured area
Monitor limb for impaired circulation by comparing the good limb against the injured limb for different in colour, temperate and pulse
Closed fracture
Skin is not broken although the bone ends may damage nearby area
Internal bleeding is a risk
Pain in movement or touch
Difficult or limited movement
Swelling- bleeding into tissues and bruising
Deformity of the limb or joint
Grating of the bone edges may be heard or felt
Nausea
Open fracture
Exposed bone
Likely to suffer from bleeding
Infection is big risk
Nausea
Fracture treatment
Closed/Rice, calm and reassure, seek medical assistance
Open/rice, calm and reassure, seek medical assistance, control bleeding, prevent shock, prevent infection.
Definition of wounds
Minor: very common, usually dealt by by plasters or wound dressings
Major: broadly classified as anything that needs urgent medical assistance
Definition of bleeds
Arterial bleeds: the blood is under pressure, bright red and supports with each heartbeat. Often hard to control and if not treated promptly, may prove fatal.
Venous bleeds: under less pressure, dark red and doors more steadily. Generally easier to control than arterial bleeding but can be serious were a large amount of blood is lost
Internal bleeding
Suspect if following an injury, signs of shock develop without obvious blood loss. May be bruising
Sometimes visible through the body’s orifices.
Internal bleeding treatment
Primary survey
Elevated the injured part above the heart
If necessary, lay the person down, legs raised
Prevent shock
Administer oxygen if required
Seek medical assistance
Recognition and indications
Ear: fresh, bright, red blood could be injury to inner ears
Mouth: bright red, frothy, coughed up blood could be bleeding in the lungs
Nose: fresh, bright red blood could be ruptured blood vessel in the nose
Anus: black, tarry, offensive smelling blood. Fresh, bright red blood. Could be injury to the anus
Urethra:Urine with red or cloudy appearance and occasional clots could be bleeding from the bladder or kidneys
Vagina: either fresh or dark blood could be menstruation, miscarriage, disease or injury to the vagina or womb
Abdominal wounds treatment
Position person on their back so that the wound does not open
Keep head and shoulders raised with knees bent
Observe for recognition features of shock
Cover the wounds with a dressing and secure with bandage
Varicose veins
Can rupture with gentle knock and bleed severely.
Lay them down on back with injured leg raised as high as possible
Apply direct pressure onto the wound and cover with dressing and bandage
Ensure nothing restricts blood flow back to the heart. Observe for shock
Nose bleed
Follow primary survey
Sit the person up and lean them forwards
Pinch the lower fleshy part of the nose for at least 10-15 minutes to allow blood clot
If doesn’t stop do again for the same duration
Apply covered ice pack to the area
Ensure they breath through the mouth
Spit out blood
Advise no hot drinks for 30 minutes, no picking or blowing the nose
Seek medical assistance after 30 minutes of bleeding
Do not allow head tilt back
Mouth or dental bleed
Sit the person down and lean them forward
Advise them to bite on a sterile clean pad or place the pad over the area and apply pressure
Advise no hot drinks for 12 hours
If the bleed persists seek medical assistance
Bleeding from the ear recognition features
Bleeding from the ear
Sharp pain, if the eardrum ruptures
Earache and deafness
Bleeding from the ear treatment
Follow the primary survey
Sit the casualty down with the head inclined to the injured side;
Cover the ear with a sterile dressing but do not block the ear
Sharps
Encourage bleeding of the injured area
Thoroughly wash the injured area with soap and tepid water do not scrub
Notify SCCM to record and report full details of incident
Seek medical advice as soon as possible.
External bleeding
Follow primary survey
Control bleeding
Lay the person flat with legs raised and treat for shock
Administer oxygen if required
External bleeding extras
Put on protective gloves, and apply direct pressure with a dressing to the bleeding site. Elevate inured part above the level of the persons heart. Secure pressure dressing with a bandage. If this becomes blood soaked, add another dressing, if this does not control the bleeding, remove and start again.
If direct pressure if ineffective, apply pressure to the artery above the wound. This will cut off blood supply to the limb bust must not be applied for more than 10 minutes
Shock
The circulatory system distribute blood around the body so the oxygen and nutrients can pass through and Norwich the tissues.
When is system fails shock will develop
If this is not treated quickly vital organs such as the heart and brain may fail which can lead to death
How can shock develop
When the heart pump fails to work efficiently causing the pressure of the circulating blood to be reduced (heart attack’
When the volume of fluid circulating the body is reduced such as bleeding severe diarrhoea vomiting burns or anaphylactic shock.
When the nervous system is affected and cannot control the size of the blood vessels (dilation) including spinal injury drugs or fainting
Shock recognition features
Pale clammy skin
Rapid shallow breathing
Rapid weak pulse
Extreme thirst
Restlessness and anxiety
Disorientation, confusion, altering levels of consciousness
Shock treatment
Calm and reassure
Treat cause of shock
Lay the person down with legs raised
Administer oxygen 4l/min
Loosen tight clothing
Keep warm
If unconscious place in recovery position
