Section 119- First Aid/ Field Sanitation Flashcards
Name the 3 phases of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).
• Commanders or their representatives are required to assess all Service members involved in a mandatory event, including those without apparent injuries, as soon as possible using the Injury/Evaluation/Distance from Blast (I.E.D.)
I. E. D. Checklist
• Injury - Physical damage to the body or body part of the Service member? (Yes/No)
• Evaluation - Referral for a medical evaluation based on involvement in a mandatory event or demonstration of any of the “HEADS” symptoms at any point,
• H – Headaches and/or Vomiting (Yes/No)
• E - Ears ringing (Yes/No)
• A – Amnesia and/or altered consciousness and/or loss of consciousness (Yes/No)
• D - Double vision and/or dizziness (Yes/No)
• S - Something feels wrong or is not right (Yes/No)
• Distance or proximity to blast or damage - Was the Service member within 50 meters of blast (Yes/No).
• Record the distance from the blast
- Direct Threat Care/Care Under Fire (DT/CUF)
- Indirect Threat Care/Tactical Field Care (ITC/TFC)
- Evacuation/Tactical Evacuation (EVAC/TACEVAC)
Describe the contents of an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK).
- Minor Injury Kit
- Trauma Kit
- Safety precautions associated with the components
Name different methods for carrying a casualty:
- Fireman’s carry
- Alternate fireman’s carry
- Support carry
- Arms carry
- Saddleback carry
- Pack strap carry
- Field expedient litter
- Load bearing equipment drag
Discuss how to apply a tourniquet.
- A tourniquet is a constricting band that is used to cut off the supply of blood to an injured limb.
- Use a tourniquet only as a last resort and if the control of hemorrhage by other means proves to be difficult or impossible.
- A tourniquet must always be applied above the wound (i.e., toward the trunk), and it must be applied as close to the wound as practical
Discuss the basics on how to keep the airway open.
- The tongue is the single most common cause of an airway obstruction
- Call for help and then position the casualty
- Open the airway using the jaw-thrust or head-tilt/chin-lift technique
Discuss how to treat a sucking chest wound.
This is a penetrating injury to the chest that produces a hole in the chest cavity.
The chest hole causes the lung to collapse, preventing normal breathing functions.
This is an extremely serious condition that will result in death if not treated quickly
Immediately seal the wound with a hand or any airtight material available (e.g., ID card). The material must be large enough so that it cannot be sucked into the wound when the victim breathes in
Firmly tape the material in place with strips of adhesive tape and secure it with a pressure dressing. It is important that the dressing is airtight. If it is not, it will not relieve the victim’s breathing problems. The object of the dressing is to keep air from going in through the wound. NOTE: If the victim’s condition suddenly deteriorates when you apply the seal, remove it immediately
Give the victim oxygen if it is available and you know how to use it
Place the victim in a Fowler’s or semi-Fowler’s position. This makes breathing a little easier. During combat, lay the victim on a stretcher on the affected side
Watch the victim closely for signs of shock, and treat accordingly
Do not give victims with chest injuries anything to drink
Transport the victim to a medical treatment facility immediately
Discuss how to apply a pressure dressing.
- The best way to control external bleeding is by applying a compress to the wound and exerting pressure directly to the wound. If direct pressure does not stop the bleeding, pressure can also be applied at an appropriate pressure point.
- At times, elevation of an extremity is also helpful in controlling hemorrhage. The use of splints in conjunction with direct pressure can be beneficial.
- In those rare cases where bleeding cannot be controlled by any of these methods, you must use a tourniquet
Discuss how to apply a splint to a fracture.
• Another effective method of hemorrhage control in cases of bone fractures is splinting. The immobilization of sharp bone ends reduces further tissue trauma and allows lacerated blood vessels to clot. In addition, the gentle pressure exerted by the splint helps the clotting process by giving additional support to compresses or dressings already in place over open fracture sites
Discuss how to treat a burn.
Burns are classified according to their depth as first-, second-, and third-degree burns
• FIRST-DEGREE BURN. With a first-degree burn, the epidermal layer is irritated, reddened, and tingling. The skin is sensitive to touch and blanches with pressure. Pain is mild to severe, edema is minimal, and healing usually occurs naturally within a week
• SECOND-DEGREE BURN. A second-degree burn is characterized by epidermal blisters, mottled appearance, and a red base. Damage extends into¾but not through¾the dermis. Recovery usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, with some scarring and de-pigmentation. This condition is painful. Body fluids may be drawn into the injured tissue, causing edema and possibly a weeping. fluid (plasma) loss at the surface
• THIRD-DEGREE BURN. A third-degree burn is a full-thickness injury penetrating into muscle and fatty connective tissues, or even down to the bone. Tissues and nerves are destroyed. Shock, with blood in the urine, is likely to be present. Pain will be absent at the burn site if all the area nerve endings are destroyed, and the surrounding tissue (which is less damaged) will be painful. Tissue color will range from white (scalds) to black (charring burns). Although the wound is usually dry, body fluids will collect in the underlying tissue. If the area has not been completely cauterized, significant amounts of fluids will be lost by plasma, weeping, or by hemorrhage, thus reducing circulation volume. There is considerable scarring and possible loss of function. Skin grafts may be necessary.
Discuss how to treat a heat injury.
• Heat exhaustion (heat prostration or heat collapse) is the most common condition caused by working or exercising in hot environments
• Treat heat exhaustion as if the victim were in shock
• Move the victim to a cool or air-conditioned area
• Loosen the clothing, apply cool wet cloths to the head, axilla, groin, and ankles, and fan the victim
Discuss how to treat a cold injury.
- General cooling of the whole body is caused by continued exposure to low or rapidly falling temperatures, cold moisture, snow, or ice
- Those exposed to low temperatures for extended periods may suffer ill effects, even if they are well protected by clothing, because cold affects the body systems slowly, almost without notice
- The steps for treatment of hypothermia are as follows
- Carefully observe respiratory effort and heart beat; CPR may be required while the warming process is underway. Re-warm the victim as soon as possible. It may be necessary to treat other injuries before the victim can be moved to a warmer place. Severe bleeding must be controlled and fractures splinted over clothing before the victim is moved
- Replace wet or frozen clothing and remove anything that constricts the victim’s arms, legs, or fingers, interfering with circulation
- If the victim is inside a warm place and is conscious, the most effective method of warming is immersion in a tub of warm (100° to 105°F or 38° to 41°C) water. The water should be warm to the elbow-never hot. Observe closely for signs of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest (re-warming shock). Re-warming shock can be minimized by warming the body trunk before the limbs to prevent vasodilatation in the extremities with subsequent shock due to blood volume shifts
- If a tub is not available, apply external heat to both sides of the victim. Natural body heat (skin to skin) from two rescuers is the best method. This is called .buddy warming. If this is not practical, use hot water bottles or an electric re-warming blanket. Do not place the blanket or bottles next to bare skin, however, and be careful to monitor the temperature of the artificial heat source, since the victim is very susceptible to burn injury. Because the victim is unable to generate adequate body heat, placement under a blanket or in a sleeping bag is not sufficient treatment
- If the victim is conscious, give warm liquids to drink. Never give alcoholic beverages or allow the victim to smoke
- Dry the victim thoroughly if water is used for re-warming
- As soon as possible, transfer the victim to a definitive care facility. Be alert for the signs of respiratory and cardiac arrest during transfer, and keep the victim warm
Discuss snake bites.
T
Discuss insect bites.
• Insect
Commonly seen signs/symptoms are pain, irritation, swelling, heat, redness, and itching. Hives or wheals (raised areas of the skin that itch) may occur
Emergency allergic or hypersensitive reactions sometimes result from the stings of bees, wasps, and ants
Wash the area of the bite/sting with soap and water (alcohol or an antiseptic may also be used) to help reduce the chances of an infection and remove traces of venom
If allergic signs or symptoms appear, be prepared to perform basic life support measures. Seek immediate medical assistance
Discuss how to evaluate personnel for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
• Commanders or their representatives are required to assess all Service members involved in a mandatory event, including those without apparent injuries, as soon as possible using the Injury/Evaluation/Distance from Blast (I.E.D.)
I. E. D. Checklist
• Injury - Physical damage to the body or body part of the Service member? (Yes/No)
• Evaluation - Referral for a medical evaluation based on involvement in a mandatory event or demonstration of any of the “HEADS” symptoms at any point,
• H – Headaches and/or Vomiting (Yes/No)
• E - Ears ringing (Yes/No)
• A – Amnesia and/or altered consciousness and/or loss of consciousness (Yes/No)
• D - Double vision and/or dizziness (Yes/No)
• S - Something feels wrong or is not right (Yes/No)
• Distance or proximity to blast or damage - Was the Service member within 50 meters of blast (Yes/No).
• Record the distance from the blast
