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BASIC FIRST AID PRIORITIES
1. To initiate a prompt response, don't wait, call 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
If EVER in question, call 9-1-1.
2. ABC's --
(A) - Ensure the victim has an open airway.
(B) - Mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation as necessary,
and
(C) - Control severe bleeding.
Know your address and/or address and phone number of the emergency.
INJURY TO BONES AND JOINTS CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Suspect fracture.
2. DO NOT MOVE the injured part.
3. Support the injured part (as well as the joint and area above and below the injured site).
4. In cases of major joint injury -- knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, or suspected back or neck injury DO NOT MOVE PATIENT, but control severe bleeding.
CHOKING -- AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINEUNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
CONCIOUS PERSON
1. If the person can speak, cough or breathe, do not interfere. 2. If the person cannot speak, breathe or cough:
a. Give forceful upward abdominal thrusts (between the navel and the bottom of the rib cage). b. Repeat sequence until successful, or, if victim becomes unconscious.
UNCONSCIOUS PERSON
1. Place person on back, open airway and try to blow into the lungs. 2. If airway is blocked, give 5 quick upward abdominal thrusts (between the navel and the bottom of the rib cage).
3. Clear mouth with a finger sweep; attempt to ventilate.
4. Repeat sequence until successful.
CHEST PAINS/HEART ATTACK
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
Take chest pains SERIOUSLY -- It is a must!
SYMPTOMS: One or all of these symptoms may be present:
* Severe chest pains behind the breastbone, the pain MAY or MAY NOT radiate to neck, jaw, arm or back.
* Sweating.
* Nausea or sick to stomach.
* Shortness of breath.
* Anxiety.
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Keep patient resting comfortably, seated in an upright comfortable position to help their breathing.
2. Monitor person's breathing.
3. DO NOT give food or drink.
4. BE PREPARED to administer CPR.
STOPPAGE OF BREATHING CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Open the air passage by tilting the head as shown above.
2. Determine if person is breathing by placing your ear close to their mouth, listen and feel for air movement; look to see if the chest rises and falls.
3. If not breathing, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation:
a. Pinch nostrils shut.
b. Cover victim's mouth with yours.
c. Blow 2 deep breaths directly into victim's mouth.
CHECK FOR A PULSE:
- If there is no pulse - START CPR
- If a pulse is present: do the following...
d. Administer 1 deep breath every 5 seconds.
e. Remove your mouth between breaths and allow victim to exhale.
REMEMBER: Be sure air is getting to the person. You must see their chest rise and fall. If the chest does not rise and you positioned the person's head tilt correctly, SUSPECT BLOCKAGE, AND REFER TO CHOKING AND AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION.
FAINTING -- UNCONSCIOUSNESS
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINEUNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
FAINTING
1. Lay patient flat or keep them lying down in a comfortable environment.
2. Patient who has fainted, although appearing to have recovered completely, should not be sent away.
3. Always wait for rescue personnel's evaluation.
UNCONSCIOUSNESS
1. Keep patient flat and warm.
2. Check to see that patient is breathing and they have a pulse. If the patient is not breathing and there is no pulse -- Start CPR.
3. Loosen tight clothing.
4. DO NOT move patient.
5. DO NOT leave patient.
CONVULSIONS/SEIZURES CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. DO NOT restrain patient's movement any more than necessary to prevent from doing self harm.
2. DO NOT force objets into their mouths.
3. DO NOT try to revive them with fluids, stimulants, fresh air or walking.
4. When convulsion ends, maintain airway, monitor breathing, and check pulse.
5. Wait for help to arrive.
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINEUNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Be sure scene is SAFE of fire, electrical wires and vehicle positioning. IF NOT SECURE stay away from vehicle until professional help arrives.
2. Park your car in a safe location, turn your emergency flashes on.
3. Call or send for help. -- KNOW:
a. Accident location i.e., landmarks, mile markers.
b. Type of accident, number and type of vehicles.
c. Number of people injured.
d. DO NOT MOVE victims, wait for help to arrive, unless a hazard is immediate or the patient needs CPR.
POISON INGESTION
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
IN CASE OF POISON INGESTION:
1. Locate the container if possible or ask the victim what was taken.
2. Call your poison control center -- 1-800-732-2200 (North Dakota)
- North Dakota Regional Poison Center.
3. Be able to provide if possible:
- Patient's age
- Patient's weight
- What was taken
- How much was taken
- How long ago it was taken
4. Follow poison control's directions.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
1. Information from victim or observer.
2. Presence of container known to have poison in it.
3. Sudden onset of pain or illness.
4. Burns around lips.
5. Breath odor.
HEAD INJURIES
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINEUNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. If unconsciousness, convulsions, bleeding or fluid from ears occur DO NOT MOVE PATIENT.
2. Maintain and support and open airway with no neck movement.
3. If severe headache, nausea and/or vomiting, incoherence or dazed conditions occur, DO NOT MOVE PERSON - KEEP PERSON AT REST.
4. Control and bandage any bleeding.
5. For minor blows to the head:
a. Allow person to rest.
b. Observe patient for symptoms note above in #3.
c. Caution person against over-activity.
EYE INJURIES
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
FOREIGN OBJECT IN EYE
1. Instruct patient not to rub eye. Have him pull upper eyelid over lower lid in hope that the tears may wash the speck out and into view.
2. Irrigate with plain water. Patient may be instructed to hold face under gently running water and blink eye open and shut.
3. If object does not easily wash out, cover both eyes with dry gauze dressing. Send patient to physician.
CHEMICAL BURN TO EYE
1. Wash immediately, thoroughly and repeatedly with large amounts of tap water, for at least 15 minutes.
2. Patient may be instructed to hold face under gently running water and blink eye open and shut, rinsing lid from the inner corner of the eye outward.
3. This type of injury must be seen by a physician for further care.
EYE WOUNDS
1. Instruct patient to close both eyes.
2. Apply sterile gauze dressing loosely over both eyes (DO NOT attempt to remove imbedded or penetrating objects).
3. Keep patient calm and flat on back.
BURNS
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
Definition of Burns:
First Degree: The most common and minor of all burns, skin is dry, no blisters, skin is reddened and can be extremely painful.
Second Degree: Results from contact with hot liquids, solids, direct flame, chemicals or sun. The burned area is blistered and extremely painful.
Third Degree: Full thickness of skin burns and this is the most serious burn. Results from contact with hot liquids, solids, flames, chemicals or electricity. Skin becomes dry, leathery and charred with a mixture of colors (white, dark and charred). May be extremely painful and full depth pain may be minimal to absent, for the nerves endings are damaged.
First Degree Burns:
1. Immerse burned area in cold water immediately for minimum of 5 minutes.
2. If necessary, apply gauze dressing LIGHTLY.
3. Chemical Burns: Wash immediately with large quantities of water for at least 15 minutes. Cover with gauze dressing. DO NOT OPEN BLISTERS.
Burns on or around the face and lungs should always seek medical attention.
CUTS - BLEEDING - SHOCK - BITES AND STINGS
BITES AND STINGS
A medical emergency only when a large amount of swelling is present or the victim is known to suffer allergic reactions.
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Keep patient resting quietly.
2. Ask if they carry medication with them, if so, read carefully and administer immediately.
3. Apply pressure around the area ABOVE the bite location.
4. Watch the victim's breathing, if victim stops breathing, begin rescue breathing and check for pulse frequently.
SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Clean with soap and water.
2. Apply Band-Aid.
TO STOP BLEEDING
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Apply direct pressure over wound with clean cloth or gauze. Press hard enough to stop bleeding.
2. If pad becomes blood-soaked, leave it on, put another on top.
3. Maintain pressure.
SHOCK
CALL 9-1-1 AND STAY ON THE LINE
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:
1. Watch for proper breathing.
2. Keep patient lying down.
3. Elevate legs slightly
4. Cover patient only enough to keep him from losing body heat.
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First Aid