GENERAL FIRST AID
I. First Aid- is the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill. It includes self help and home care if medical assistance is not available or encouragement, evidence of willingness to help, and promotion of confidence by demonstration of competence.
II. Roles of First Aid
A. It is the bridge that fills the gap between the victim and the physician.
B. It ends when the service of the physician begins.
C. It is not intended to compete with or take the place of the physician.
III. Objective of First Aid
A. To alleviate suffering.
B. To prolong life.
C. To prevent added injury or danger.
IV. Needs and Value of First Aid
A. To minimize if not totally prevent accident.
B. To prevent added injury or danger.
C. To train people to do the right thing.
D. Accident happens and sudden illnesses are common and often serious.
E. People very often harm rather help.
F. Proper and immediate care is necessary to save life and limb.
V. Guidelines For Giving Emergency Care
A. Scens Size – UP is the first part of the patient assessment process. It begins as you approach the scene, surveying to determine if there are threats to your own safety or the safety of your patients or bystanders and to determine the nature of call, and to decided if you need additional help.
1.Survey Scene- Body Substance Isolation Precaution (BSIP)
a. Don’t move the victim unless necessary.
b. Assess the situation
Is the scene safe?
What happened?
How many people are injured?
Are there bystanders who can help?
2. Do a primary Survey of Victim
Make an initial assessment of the Victim:
Form a general impression – it will help you assess the condition of the patient.
Assess mental status: Check for the AVPU levels of responsiveness:
Assess the AIRWAY potency
Assess the BREATHING
Assess the CIRCULATION
Determine the priority:
High priority conditions are:
· poor general impession
· unresponsive
· Responsive, but not following commands
· Difficulty of breathing
· Shock
· Complicated child birth
· Chest pain with systolic blood pressure less than 100
· Uncontrolled bleeding
· Severe pain everywhere
3. Activate Medical Assistance or Transfer Facility
( In some emergencies, you’ll have enough time to call for specific
medical advice before administering first aid, but in some situations,
you’ll need to attend to the victim first.)
a. Depending on the situation. A bystander should make the
Telephone call for help. ( If available ) a bystander will be
requested to call for a physician. Somebody will be asked to arrange for transfer
facilities.
b. Information to be remembered in activating medical assistance.
*Where is the emergency?
* What happened?
* How many persons are injured?
* Extent of injury and first aid given
* Telephone No. which the call is being made
* Caller’s name
* Person who activated medical assistance should hang
up the phone last.
FOCUS HISTORY AND PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Quickly reconsider the following:
a. Mechanism of injury – looking for how the patient was injured and anything that may threaten you or your crew, it is very important to know these for you to know your next step in helping your patient;
b. Determine the chief complaint – is what the patient tells you matter;
c. Perform a focused physical exam – inspect and palpate the injured area and perform DCAP and BTLS.
d. Obtain baseline vital signs – measurable things such as pulse, BP, respiration, they reflect the patient condition and changes in the patient’s condition, you will take them early and repeat them often.
e. Take a sample history – medical information about the patient present medical problem and facts about the patient that existed before the ( patient need of EMS This information can affect the treatment you will give
S – Signs and symptoms O-onset
A- Allergy P- Provoke
M- Medications Q-Quality
P- Past pertinent events R-Radiation
L- Last oral intake S- Severity
E- Events leading to accident T- Time
Vital Signs:
· Determine radial or carotid pulse(pulse rate per minute)
Adult: 60 to 100
Child: 60 to 130
Infant: 80 to 160
· Determine Breathing
Adult:12 to 20
Child: 12 to 30
Infant: 20 to 50
· Determine Blood Pressure
Normal for Adult: 120/ 80
· Determine skin color
Pink Cyanotic(Blue-gray)
Pale Jaundice(Yellow)
Flushed(red) Mottling
· Determine Skin Temperature
Cool, clammy(shock anxiety)
Cold, moist(body is losing heat)
Cold, dry(exposed to cold)
Hot, dry(high fever, heat exposure)
Hot. Moist( high fever heat exposure)
Goose pimples(accompanied by shivering and chattering teeth, blue lips and pale skin)
Check the victim from head to toe, looking for other injuries.
D- deformity B-burns
C- contusion T- tenderness
A- abrasion L- laceration
P- puncture S- swelling
The Golden Rules of Emergency Care
1. what to do
a) do remember to identify yourself to the victim
b) do obtain consent if possible
c) do call for help
d) do think of the worst, its best to administer first aid for the gravest possibility.
e) do be as calm and as direct as possible
f) do loosen the clothing
g) do respect the victim’s modesty and physical privacy
h) do handle the victim to a minimum
i) do provide comfort and emotional support
j) do keep onlookers away from the injured person
k) do assist the victim with his or her prescription medication
2. What not to do
a.) Do not further harm the victim like the following:
* trying to arouse an unconscious victim
* administering fluid or alcoholic drink.
b.) Do not let the victim see his/her injury.
c.) Do not leave the victim alone except to get help.
d.) Do not assume that the victim’s obvious injuries are only ones.
e.) Do not make unrealistic promises.
f.) Do not require the victim to make decisions.
