M3 - First Aid Flashcards
What are 5 aims of first aid?
- Preserve life
- Prevent illness or injury from becoming worse
- Relieve pain, if possible
- Promote recovery
- Protect the unconscious
How to properly analyse a situation?
- Analyse the situation - Identify the cause and possible surrounding dangers.
- Plan how to manage the situation - priorities certain actions. Identify the resources available to deal with the emergency.
- Protect your own safety - do not become the victom, always put your own safety first.
What does DRSABCD mean? What do each mean?
D - danger: check for dangers to yourself, bystanders and the patient.
R - responsive: Ask name, squeeze shoulders.
S - send for help: Call 000 for an ambulance or ask bystander. Stay on the line.
A - airway: open mouth and check airway. If foreign material place in recovery position and
clear.
B - breathing: look, listen, feel for 10 seconds. If normal breathing place in recovery and monitor.
C - CPR: start CPR if not breathing. 30:2 continue until help arrives or patient starts breathing.
D - defibrillator: attach defibrillator and follow the voice prompts.
What is STOP used for and what does it mean?
Evaluation of suspected injuries following an acitivity
Stop the activity
Talk to the person
Observe the injured part
Prevent further injury - check if severe injury, less severe injury, minor injury.
What are the causes of bleeding? What is the body response to it? How do you manage it?
Cause: trauma damaging blood vessels.
Body response: hemostasis - constriction of blood vessels - formation of clots
Management - remove any clothing/debris on wound -> apply direct pressure to wound -> raise injured area -> if foreign body in do not remove -> patient total rest -> seek medical assistance.
What are the causes of shock? What is the body response to it? How do you manage it?
Cause: sudden drop in blood flow through body. Organs aren’t getting enought oxygen or blood.
Body’s response: constricting blood vessels in extremities - help conserve blood flow to vital organs.
Management: Follow DRSABCD, manage injuries (i.e bleeding), reassure patient, raise patients leg above heart, head flat on floor (unless snake bite or fractures)
What are the causes of neck and spinal injuries? What is the body response to it? How do you manage it?
Cause: any damage to the spinal cord that blocks communication between the brain and body.
Body Response: Result in paraplegia or quadriplegia
Management: Medications, immobilisation, surgery, experimental treatments.
What are the types of methods to move a casualty?
Drag method - crouch down low and lean back while pulling firmy on clothing near armpit.
Crutch method - position person on either side of standing casualty, shoulder to shoulder.
Four-handed seat method - make seat with arms and hands where casualty sits.
Chair lift - using chair to carry, one grasps back of chair other front.
Fireman’s carry - victim over shoulder.
When and why would a medical referral be needed? What is an example?
Non-emergency situation
Seek medical advice for an injury, to prevent any further injury and enhance treatment and rehabilitation.
Sport injuries may require x-rays to diagnose injuries and recommended treatment.
Lacerations may require stitches.
How to care of an unconscious casualty?
If a patient loses consciousness, medical assistance should be called. While waiting first aider should:
- Place them in recovery position
- Check breathing regularly
- Support head and neck
- Attend to any other injuries the patient may have
- Protect casualty from environment.
- As comfortable as possible.
What is a cut? What are the signs & symptoms? How can it be managed?
Definition: an opening, incision or wound.
Sign & Symptoms: discharge or pus, fever, increased pain, redness, swelling, warmth in affected area.
Management: Apply pressure directly to wound, cover firmly with bandage, raise injuried area above heart.
What is a laceration? What are the signs & symptoms? How can it be managed?
Definition: tearing of the skin that results in an irregular wound.
Signs & Symptoms - pain, bruising, bleeding, swelling, skin discolouration
Management: Suturing
