First Aid Flashcards
Define First Aid?
Emergency care and treatment
of sick or injured person
before medical services are obtained
What are the three primary purposes of First Aid?
- Save life.
- Prevent further injury
- Minimize or prevent infection.
Discuss the following steps in initial evaluation of a victim:
- Assess situation
- Keep patient lying down
- Identify injuries
- Check consciousness
- Check breathing
- Check pulse
- Check for injuries
Discuss the possible causes/ treatment for Asphyxiation.
Causes: - little oxygen - excess carbon dioxide - obstructed airway - gassed - drowning - collapsed lung - CO poisoning - strangulation Treatment: oxygen
Discuss the probable causes/treatment for Hemorrhaging.
- Causes: amputation, GSW, knife wound
- Treatment: direct pressure (dressing or tourniquet)
Discuss the probable causes/ treatment of Cardiac arrest
- Heart’s electrical system malfunction: heart attack, blood loss, shock
- Treatment: CPR, AED, defibrillator
Discuss the probable causes/ treatment for Fractures
Causes: - Jump landing - Blasts, - GSW - May be closed/open Treatment: Immobilize bone
Discuss the probable causes/ treatment for Burns
Causes: chemical, fire, electricity - burn - hot source - scald - wet source Treatment: depends 1-3 Degree (worst) Rule of 9s to evaluate extent
Discuss the probable cause/ treatment and treatment for Shock.
Causes: blood loss, nervous system failure
- hypovolemic: fluid loss
- vasogenic: blood vessels enlarge with no increase in fluid
- cardiogenic: heart not pumping
Treatment: cool/ warm person, lie down, elevate feet, fluids
Define and discuss simple fractures and the treatment:
Closed fracture Usually swollen/ misshapen Treatment: 1. Immobilize with splint 2. MTF asap 3. X-ray 4. Don't set.
Define and discuss compound fractures and the treatment:
Open fracture Treatment: 1. Treat open wound and cover with bandage 2. Immobilize with splint 3. MTF asap 4. X-ray 5. Don't set.
Discuss the signs and symptoms of fractures.
- discoloration
- disfigurement
- bruising
- swelling
- difficulty moving
- numbness
- pain
How do you treat a fracture of the arm (upper or lower?)
- stop bleeding
- treat wound with sterile dressing
- splint
- secure arm to the body
How do you treat a forearm fracture?
- splint on underside of arm
- apply strap above and below fracture
- place in sling
How do you treat an upper arm fracture?
- splint innner and outer upper arm
- apply strap above and below fracture
- sling across body with wrist
How do you treat a fracture of the upper leg?
- Two splints
- Inner/outer groin to foot
- Secure in five places
How many securing straps should there be on a splint for an upper leg fracture
5
How do you treat a fracture of the lower leg?
- Splints on inner and outer side of leg
- Straps above and below fracture site
How do you treat a fracture of the Jaw?
- If interfering with breathing, pull jaw and tongue forward
- Apply 4 tailed bandage ensuring it pulls jaw forward
How do you treat a fracture of the Nose?
- stop bleed
- tip head backwards
- apply ice pack
How do you treat a fracture of the Skull?
- lie victim down
- apply direct pressure
- raise head and shoulders slightly
- monitor victims closely
How do you treat a fracture of the Spine?
- prevent shock
- keep warm
- place on spine board to prevent further injury
How do you treat a fracture of the Rib?
- Tape flail area upon exhale
- Strap arm to side of chest, if needed
How do you treat a fracture of the Shoulder?
- Apply sling
- Place forearm across chest, wrist 4 inches above elbow
What is an arterial bleeding?
- Bright red
- Gushes with heartbeat
- If deep wound, will flow in steady stream
What is a venous bleeding?
- Dark red
- Steady
- Even flow
Describe when it is appropriate to use direct pressure
- Apply direct pressure
2. If bleed through, 5-10 min direct pressure directly on dressing
Describe when it is appropriate to use pressure dressing.
When direct pressure and elevation does not stop bleeding
- Change dressing
- Add wad of padding
- Wrap pressure dressing around wound, tying firmly but not tourniquet tight
Describe when it is appropriate to use indirect pressure
When direct pressure/ elevation unsuccessful
- Apply direct pressure further up the extremity on a pressure point
Describe when it is appropriate to use tourniquet
- When not using one may cause loss of life
- When bleeding through pressure dressing
- Don’t loosen once applied
- Mark time applied, “T” on forehead.
Discuss the symptoms and treatments of shock.
Symptoms: 1. Clammy skin 2. pale, blotchy, blue 3. nervous 4. thirsty 5. blood loss 6. confusion 7. fast/ shallow breathing 8. nausea and vomiting Treatment: 1. Move victim to cover, out of sun 2. Lay on back, 3. Elevate feet
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for first degree burn
- Skin irritated/ red and tingles
- Apply burn cream, hydrate
- Usually 1 week recovery
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for second degree burn
Symptoms: - Affects top layer of skin - Skin blisters and red - Wound may weep Treatment: - Do not pop blister - Motrin - Water - Bandage - 2-3 week recovery
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for third degree burn
Symptoms: - Burn into muscle, fat, bone - Tissue and nerve damage - Skin is charred black and will be scarred - Loss of function Treatment: - Elevate and get to MTF
Discuss treatment for chemical burn
- flush with potable water
- treat as normal burn
Discuss the treatment for chest wound
- establish and maintain ABCs
- gently feel chest to locate edges of flail area
- stabilize flail area with pad/dressing/pillow and secure with wide cravats
- position casualty with the flail area against an external object in a semi-sitting position or lying on injured side
- treat for shock
- MEDEVAC
Discuss the treatment for abdominal wound
- Requires immediate surgical treatment
- Stabilize all other wounds and any protruding organs, keeping them moist
Discuss the treatment for head wound
Closed: - direct blow to head (concussion-headache, double vision; contusion-internal bruise with swelling, can cause loss of consciousness); - treat for shock, get to MTF Open: - treat wound - check responsiveness and motor function - bandage - stabilize - MTF
Discuss the treatment for eye injuries
Assess eyes: PEARRL
- pupils
- equal
- round
- regular in size
- react to light
1. Remove any foreign objects with no pressure on the eye or flush eye
2. If object can’t be removed, bandage and get to MTF immediately
Discuss the treatment for facial wounds
- Abrasions, contusions, lacerations, avulsion (tearing of tissue from body part)
- Treat according to first aid
Discuss the following methods of transporting victim using a Stokes stretcher.
- Wire and mesh
- Water-based rescue
Discuss the following methods of transporting victims using a Blanket drag.
- Wrap victim in a blanket and drag to safety
- Used when victim is larger than rescuer
Discuss the following methods of transporting victims using Firemen carry.
When victim is unconscious or unable to walk
Discuss the following methods of transporting victims using a 4-handed seat carry.
When patient has serious wounds or broken bones
Discuss the following methods of transporting victims using a Tied-hands carry.
- Patients hands tied together and placed over rescuers head and neck
- Patient is dragged in bear crawl
- Patient is unconscious and moved over a short distance
- Head not supported
Discuss the following methods of transporting victims using a Pack-strap carry.
Able to carry heavy patient for long distance
Define the symptoms and treatment for Heatstroke.
20% death rate - Body temp over 105 deg F - flushed, hot, dry skin Treat: cool with damp towels or ice packs on groin, armpits MTF asap
Define the symptoms and treatment for Heat exhaustion.
- Weak
- dizzy
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- clammy skin
Treat: Cool patient, plenty of fluids
MTF asap
Define the symptoms and treatment for Heat cramps.
- Ab, leg, arm muscle cramps
- dehydration
Treat: Give cool water to drink in a cool place, 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of water to re-hydrate
Apply pressure or massage muscles
If symptoms worsen, move to MTF.
Define the symptoms and treatment hypothermia.
- Body’s core temperature drops
- Shivering
- Indifference to surroundings
- Drowsy or unconscious
- Shock
- Death when temp drops to 80 deg F
Treat: - Get victim breathing and in dry, warm clothes
- Soak in warm-to-elbow tub (100-104)
- Watch for shock upon immersion
Define the symptoms and treatment frostbite.
Chillblain: 32-60 deg F
Frostbite: ice crystals form on skin and in deep tissue once temp is below 32 deg F
Re-warm affected skin by water immersion, skin-skin contact, or warm water bottle
Once warm, bandage, keep elevated, warm and clean, and get to MTF.
What is a capillary bleeding?
- Dark red,
- Slowly oozes out
What is Rule of Nines
Chart to establish burn severity over body
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for thermal burns
Depth, extent, and location of thermal burns affect treatment
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for electrical burn
- Burns to large areas under the surface of skin
- Use CPR/AED
- MTF asap
Discuss the symptoms and treatment for chemical burn
- Chemical destruction of body tissue, usually eyes, mouth, limbs
- Alkaline burns are deeper and last longer than acid burns
What is Line 1 in Nine line Medevac?
Pickup location grid coordinates
What is Line 2 in Nine line Medevac?
RF frequency, callsign, suffix.
What is Line 3 in Nine line Medevac?
Patient precedence (A-urgent, B-urgent surgery, C-priority, D-routine, E-convenient).
What is Line 4 in Nine line Medevac?
Special equipment (A-none, B-hoist, C-extraction equipment, D-ventilator).
What is Line 5 in Nine line Medevac?
Number of patients by type (A-litterborn, B-ambulatory).
What is Line 6 in Nine line Medevac?
Number and type of wounds (peacetime)
Security of pick up site (times of war: N-no EPAX, P-poss. EPAX, E-EPAX, X-armed escort req).
What is Line 7 in Nine line Medevac?
Method of marking pick-up site (A-panel, B-pyro, C-smoke, D-none, E-other).
What is Line 8 in Nine line Medevac?
Patient’s nationality and status (A-US MIL, B-US CIV, C-non-US MIL, D-non-US CIV, E-EPW).
What is Line 9 in Nine line Medevac?
Terrain (peacetime)
Contamination (time of war; N-nuclear, B-biological, C-chemical).
Discuss the Tactical Combat Casualty Care triage categories.
- Minimal (Green Tag, minor injuries)
- Delayed (Yellow Tag, time-consuming surgery)
- Immediate (Red Tag, life-saving surgery req. with high chance of survival)
- Expectant (Black Tag, extensive wounds unlikely to survive)
Discuss the steps regarding Care under fire.
- Return fire and/or move casualties to cover
- Treat life-threatening hemorrhage with tourniquet
- Continue with mission or fight.
Discuss the steps regarding Tactical field care.
Secure and establish Casualty Collection Point (CCP) for triage and/or thorough treatment
Discuss the steps regarding Tactical evacuation.
- Observe required life-saving needs, if casualties can obey commands
- If weak pulse or in respiratory distress MEDEVAC/CASEVAC
What is the special gauze used in the field to aid in control of bleeding?
Combat gauze
What does M.I.S.T stand for and why is it used?
A report on treatment provided to victim: M-mechanism of injury I-type of injury S-signs or symptoms T-treatment given.
