GAIL V.

DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

BASIC FIRST AID • Avoid treating more than one casualty

without washing hands and changing
Securing the Scene
gloves
Before performing any First Aid, Check for:
After Treatment:
1. Electrical Hazards
• Clean up both casualty and you
2. Chemical Hazards
3. Noxious & Toxic Gases • Clean up the immediate vicinity
4. Ground Hazards • Dispose of dressings, bandages, gloves
5. Fire and soiled clothing correctly
6. Unstable Equipment • 5 wash hands with soap and water

Chain of Survival Fundamentals of First Aid

In order for a person to survive: Activate EMS System “911”

✓ Early Access “911” 1. ABC (Airway-Breathing-Circulation)

✓ Early CPR or First Aid (You) > Establish Responsiveness
✓ Early Defibrillation (EMS on scene) > Use Chin Lift/Head Tilt
✓ Early Advanced Care (Hospital) > Look – Listen – Feel for breathing
> Attempt to Ventilate (every 5 seconds)
Pay attention to: > Check Pulse
HISTORY: what happened from the casualty or > Recovery Position
bystanders > Causes of Respi/Cardiac Arrest
⎯ Electrical
SYMPTOMS: what only the casualty can tell you ⎯ Drowning
SIGNS: what you can see for yourself ⎯ Heart Attack
⎯ Drugs
Universal Precautions for Airborne &
⎯ Toxic – Noxious Gases
Bloodborne Pathogens
Suffocation
HIV & Hepatitis ⎯ Trauma
⎯ Allergic Reactions
> Gloves & Respiratory Barrier device are a
2. Control Bleeding
must to prevent transmission of diseases.
3. Treat for Shock (Medical Emergencies)
Tuberculosis 4. Open wounds & burns
5. Fractures & Dislocations
During Treatment:
6. Transportation
• Avoid coughing, breathing, or speaking
Reaction Time
over the wound
• Avoid contact with body fluids > If CPR/Artificial respiration is administered
• Use a face shield or mask with one when
> Chance of Brain Damage
doing active resuscitation
• Way valve use only clean bandages and
dressings
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

Heimlich Maneuver for Conscious Airway

Obstructions
> Oxygenated blood flow must get to brain.
> Recovery rate of victim if has artificial
respiration done immediately.
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

• Should be trained to perform this

procedure
• If done improperly, could harm victim
• Courses available everywhere
• New in Late 2006
– 30 Compressions to 2 Breaths
– For Everyone!
Airway Obstructions
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

Types of Bleeding Shock

• Artery – Spurting Shock affects all major functions of the body

• Veins – Steady Flow loss of blood flow to the tissues and organs
• Capillary - Oozing Shock must be treated in all accident cases
Types of Wounds Treatment for Shock:
• Abrasion • Lie victim down if possible
• Incision • Face is pale raise the tail
• Laceration • Face is red raise the head
• Puncture • Loosen tight clothing
• Amputation • Keep victim warm and dry
• Avulsion • Do not give anything by mouth
Control of Bleeding • No stimulants

• Direct Pressure Heat Emergencies

• Elevation There are three types of heat emergencies you
• Cold Applications may be required to treat:
• Pressure Bandage
1. Heat Exhaustion
Pressure Points 2. Heat Stroke
- where the artery passes over a bone close to 3. Heat Cramps
the skin. Heat exhaustion is less dangerous than heat
stroke. It is caused by fluid loss which in turn
causes blood flow to decrease in vital organs,
resulting in a form of shock.
Signs and Symptoms

• Cool, Pale, and Moist Skin

• Headache
• Dilated Pupils
• Heavy Sweating
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Body temperature will be near normal
Tourniquet
First Aid
ABSOLUTE last resort in controlling bleeding
• Get the victim out of the heat and into a
Remember: LIFE OR LIMB cool place.
Once a tourniquet is applied, it is not to be • Place in the shock position, lying on the
removed, only by a doctor. back with feet raised.
• Remove or loosen clothing.
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

• Cool by fanning or applying cold packs or First Aid:

wet towels or sheets. If conscious, give
• Remember, Heat Stroke is a life-
water to drink every 15 minutes.
threatening emergency and requires
Important: prompt action!
• Summon professional help.
WHILE HEAT EXHAUSTION IS NOT A LIFE-
• Get the victim into a cool place.
THREATENING EMERGENCY LIKE HEAT
STROKE, IT CAN PROGRESS TO HEAT • Do not give victim anything by mouth.
STROKE IF LEFT UNTREATED! Treat for shock.
• COOL THE VICTIM AS QUICKLY AS
Heat cramps are muscular pain and spasms POSSIBLE IN ANY MANNER
due to heavy exertion. They usually involve the POSSIBLE!
abdominal muscles or legs. It is generally • Place the victim into a bathtub of cool
thought this condition is caused by loss of water water, wrap in wet sheets, place in an air-
and salt through sweating. conditioned room.
First Aid: Diabetic Emergencies
• Get victim to a cool place. Find out if victim has past diabetic history
• If they can tolerate it, give one-half glass
of water every 15 minutes. Insulin Shock (Hypoglycemia)
• Heat cramps can usually be avoided by • Result of insufficient sugar- Fast onset
increasing fluid intake when active in hot • Cold clammy skin, pale, rapid
weather. respirations and pulse, incoherent
Heat Stroke is the most serious type of heat • Treat by giving sugar bases products
emergency. It is LIFE-THREATENING and Diabetic coma (Ketoacidosis)
requires IMMEDIATE and AGGRESSIVE
treatment! • Too much sugar or insufficient insulin-
Slow onset
Heat stroke occurs when the body's heat • Warm, dry skin, slow respirations, smell
regulating mechanism fails. The body of rotten fruit on breath
temperature rises so high that brain damage -
• True medical emergency, activate EMS
and death-- may result unless the body is cooled
system immediately
quickly.
Snake & Spider Bites
Signs and Symptoms:
• Limit Activity
• The victim's skin is HOT, RED and
• Constricting bandage above
usually DRY.
• Cold Application
• Pupils are very small.
• Advanced Medical Attention
• The body temperature is VERY HIGH,
sometimes as high as 105 degrees.
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

Burns • If casualty is unconscious but breathing

normally, place in the recovery
- Cool application don’t break blisters
• Treat for shock.
- Dry sterile dressing, treat for shock • Send for medical attention and prep for
- RAPID TRANSPORT!!! transport.
Minor Burns and Scalds
Treatment:

• Place the injured part under slowly

running water, or soak in cold water for
10 minutes or as long as pain persists.
• Gently remove any rings, watches, belts,
and shoes from the injured area before it
starts to swell.
• Dress with clean, sterile, non-fluffy
material.
• Don't use adhesive dressings.
Severe Burns and Scalds
• Don't apply lotions, ointments or fat to
Treatment: burn/ scald.
• Don't break blisters or otherwise
• Cool the burn area with water for 10 to 20
interfere.
minutes.
• If in doubt, seek medical aid.
• Lay the casualty down and make him as
comfortable as possible, protecting burn Chemical Burns
area from ground contact.
Treatment:
• Gently remove any rings, watches, belts
or constricting clothing from the injured • Flood the area with slowly running water
area before it begins to swell. for at least ten minutes. (or proper
• Cover the injured area loosely with sterile neutralizing agent)
unmedicated dressing or similar non • Gently remove contaminated clothing
fluffy material and bandage. while flooding injured area, taking care
• Don't remove anything that is sticking to not to contaminate yourself.
the burn. • Continue treatment for SEVERE BURN.
• Don't apply lotions, ointments, butter or • Remove to hospital.
fat to the injury.
Fractures and Dislocations
• Don't break blisters or otherwise interfere
with the injured area. • Must treat for bleeding first
• Don't over-cool the patient and cause • Don’t straighten break; Treat the way you
shivering. found it.
• If breathing and heartbeat stop, begin • Do not push bones back into place
resuscitation immediately, position.
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

Dislocations OTHER SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR IF YOU

SUSPECT A VICTIM MAY HAVE A BRAIN
The most common dislocations occur in the
INJURY:
shoulder, elbow, finger, or thumb.
1. Clear or reddish fluid draining from the
LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:
ears, nose, or mouth
1. Swelling 2. Difficulty in speaking
2. Deformed look 3. Headache
3. Pain and tenderness 4. Unequal size of pupils
4. Possible discoloration of the affected 5. Pale skin
area 6. Paralysis of an arm or leg (opposite side
of the injury) or face (same side of the
IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED
injury)
1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from
PROPER CARE:
moving.
2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow blood 1. While waiting on help to arrive, keep the
flow to the area victim lying down in the recovery position
3. A doctor should be contacted to have the 2. Control any bleeding and be sure that he
bone set back into its socket is breathing properly.
3. Do not give the victim any liquids to drink.
Splints
4. If the victim becomes unconscious for
any amount of time, keep track of this
information so that you can report it when
medical help arrives
Neck & Spinal Injuries
Care & Treatment

• ABC
• Extreme care in initial examination
movement — minimal
• Urgent ambulance transport
• Apply cervical collar
• Treat for shock
• Treat any other injuries
• Maintain body heat
Head Injuries • If movement required, 'log roll' and use
A sharp blow to the head could result in a assistants
concussion, a jostling of the brain inside its • Always maintain casualty's head in line
protective, bony covering. A more serious head with the shoulders
injury may result in contusions, or bruises to the
brain.
 GAIL V. DISASTER NURSING – RLE – MIDTERM TRANSES

First-Aid for Sprain and Strain

• A sprain results from overstretching or

tearing a ligament (fibrous tissue that
connects bones), a tendon (tissue that
attaches a muscle to a bone) or a muscle.
• A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon
is overstretched or overexerted.
• Common causes for sprains and strains
are falls, twisting a limb, sports injuries
and over-exertion.
• Both sprains and strains result in pain
and swelling. The amount of pain and
swelling depends on the extent of
damage.
R - est
I - ce: the injured part of the body. apply ice
packs or cold compresses for up to 10 or 15
minutes at a time every few hours for the first 2
days to prevent swelling.
C - ompression: wearing an elastic compression
bandage for at least 2 days will reduce swelling.
E - levation: keep the injured part elevated
above the level of the heart to reduce swelling

• Give analgesic such as acetaminophen

or ibuprofen.
• Do not apply heat in any form for at least
24 hours. (heat increases swelling and
pain).
NOTE:
Inadequate or delayed treatment of severe
sprain may cause long-term joint instability or
chronic pain.