Poisons, burns & scalds Flashcards
POISONING
- 10 possible signs + symptoms
- clues (containers, tablets, syringes, etc.)
- smell on breath
- vomiting or retching
- abdominal pains
- burns around entry area
- breathing problems
- confusion or hallucination
- headache
- unconsciousness, maybe fitting
- cyanosis
POISONING for corrosive substance
- treatment
(4 things)
- make sure YOU are safe
- dilute substance (wash substances on skin, rinse mouth out, regular sips of water/milk)
- call emergency services
- if unconscious, CPR (protective covering essential) or recovery position
POISONING for non-corrosive substance
- treatment
(2 things)
- call emergency services
- check airway and breathing, resuscitate as necessary with protective face shield
what should you NEVER do with poisoning?
DO NOT try to encourage vomiting (it may endanger airway)
4 ways you can help paramedics in poisoning case
- keep bottles, labels, etc.
- find out how much was taken
- find out when it was taken
- collect samples of vomit for later analysis
DRY HEAT BURNS
- treatment
(5 things)
- check for DANGER
- ensure airway + breathing throughout
- COOL with running water (or another cool liquid, e.g. milk, is better than no cooling at all) for 10 mins
- REMOVE watches, jewllery, clothing not stuck to burn
- DRESS
- call emergency services if burn servere or smoke inhalation has occurred
what are the best dressings for DRY HEAT BURNS?
4 options
- cling film (remove 1st two turns of roll)
- new, unused plastic bag
- low adherent dressing
- specialised burn dressings
WET HEAT BURNS
(usualy water or fats)
- treatment
same as DRY HEAT BURNS
CHEMICAL BURNS
- treatment
(5 things)
- make area safe (control chemical, protect yourself)
- DRY POWDER chemicals can be brushed off first before irrigating
- IRRIGATE with cold running water (longer than other burns, perhaps 20 mins)
- call emergency services
- remove contaminated clothing carefully while irrigating
why might chemical burns in the workplace be different?
some chemicals cannot be irrigated with water alone and require antidote - workers should be trained
RADIATION BURNS (usually sunburn) - treatment
(4 things)
- remove casualty from exposure to sun (indoors ideally)
- frequent sips of water (to prevent heat exhaustion)
- cool burn with cold water (if extensive, shower or cold bath) for 10 mins
- after sun
when should you seek medical help for RADIATION BURNS?
- excessive blistering
- if you’re unsure
why can ELECTRICAL BURNS be worse?
can cause deep internal burns
ELECTRICAL BURNS
- treatment
(5 things)
- ensure connection to electricity has stopped
- ensure airway + breathing
- irrigate burns area for 10 mins
- call emergency services
- continue as if DRY HEAT BURN
5 things to NEVER do with burns
- burst blisters
- touch burn
- apply lotions, ointments or fats
- use adhesive tape or dressings
- remove clothing stuck to burns
