First Aid and Field Sanitation Fundamentals Flashcards
What are the 9 general first aid rules?
- Get organized
- Unless contraindicated make your preliminary examination in the position and place you find the victim.
- Observe for airway, breathing and circulation.
- Examine the victim for fractures, especially neck, back etc.
- Remove clothing to get a clear idea of the extent of the injury.
- Keep the victim reassured and comfortable.
- Avoid touching open wounds or burns with your fingers or unsterile objects.
- Unless contraindicated position the patient on the side or back to minimize choking or aspiration.
- Always carry the litter patients feet first so you can constantly observe the victim for respiratory or circulatory distress.
Explain Triage in a Tactical situation
Class I - Patients with minor injuries or ambulatory that can be returned to duty in a short period of time.
Class II - Patients who require immediate life-sustaining measures. They require minimum amount of time, personnel, and supplies.
Class III - Treatment can be delayed without jeopardy to life or loss of limb.
Class IV - Injuries require extensive treatment beyond immediate medical capabilities. Treatment of these casualties would be detriment to others.
Explain Triage in NonTactical Situation
Priority I - Correctable life-threatening injuries like respiratory arrest or obstruction, femur fractures or critical or complicated burns.
Priority II - Serious but non- life threatening injuries such as moderate blood loss.
Priority III - Minor injuries
Priority IV - Dead or fatally injured. Exposed brain matter, decapitation, incineration.
What is a primary survey?
Rapid initial assessment to detect and treat life-threatening conditions that require immediate care, followed by a status decision about the patient’s stability and priority for immediate transport to a medical facility. It’s a treat-as-you-go process. Each wound is treated when its found before moving to the next one.
Explain the steps of the primary survey
ABCDE process.
A-Airway-check for obstruction
B-Breathing-check for respiratory arrest
C-Circulation - check for pulse
D-Disability - asses level of consciousness and neck or head injuries
E- Expose - you cannot treat what you don’t see. Remove clothing
What are the signs and symptoms of shock?
- Restlessness
- Eyes glassy or dull/ Pupils may be dilated
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Pale skin / cyanotic lips
- Cool skin with clammy sweat
- Rapid, weak, and thready pulse
- Blood pressure(systolic) drops below 100 while pulse rises above 100. The body is compensating for circulatory fluid loss by peripheral vasoconstriction
- Nausea, vomiting, thirst, faintness.
How you control hemorrhage by using Pressure Dressing?
By applying a compress to the wound and exerting pressure directly to the wound.
How you control hemorrhage with pressure points?
Bleeding can often be controlled by applying hand pressure to the appropriate pressure point which is the spot where the main artery to an injured part lies near the skin surface and over a bone. Pressure is applied with the fingers or the heel of the hand.
How you control hemorrhage with a tourniquet?
It must always be applied above the wound, never over a joint. The pressure object goes under the band and must be placed directly over the artery.
How do you treat Head Wounds?
- Be aware of brain damage
- Never give any medications
- Keep the victim lying flat
- If the wound is at the back of the head, turn the victim on their side
- D not use direct pressure to control hemorrhage if the skull is depressed or fractured.
How do you treat facial wounds?
- Treat like other fresh wounds
- Make sure neither the tongue nor injured soft tissue blocks the airway
- Position the victim so the blood can drain out from mouth and nose
- Never attempt to remove anything that has penetrated the eyelids
