FIRST AID DEMONSTRATION

Note: Ask for consent by saying, “Hello, my name is _____ and I’m training in first aid. May I help
you?” Use square knots to tie bandages on the opposite side from the injured limb.

Fractured lower leg (anatomic splint)

- Support the injured leg by moving the other leg to the side
- Check circulation (toes)
- Position four bandages under the injured leg and over the other leg
- Place a blanket between the legs for cushioning
- Align both legs together
- Tie the bandages on the opposite side from the injured leg
- Check circulation (toes)

Fractured forearm or lower arm (rigid splint)

- Check circulation (fingertips)

- Place the splint under the injured arm (ask the person to support it with their other arm)
- Put a piece of cushioning under the fingertips of the injured arm
- Tie two bandages (making knots away from the injury) around the splint arm
- Check circulation (fingertips)
- Position the sling UNDER the arm on the left side and OVER the arm on the right side.
Then, tie both sides together on the back and place cushioning under the knot
- Tie a bandage around and over the sling to secure it
- Check circulation (fingertips)

Sprained ankle (soft splint)

- Support the injured part by moving one leg aside

- Check circulation (toes)
- Position three bandages under the injured part
- Wrap the injured foot with a soft object and ask the person to hold the edges
- Tie the bandages securely around the soft object
- Check circulation (toes)

Dislocated shoulder (sling and binder or sling and a swath)

- Make sure the patient is seated in a comfortable position

- At the point of a triangle bandage, make a knot (which forms a pocket)
- Slip the pocket under the patient’s elbow and underneath the arm (left side OVER, right
side UNDER)
- Tie both sides around the neck and put a gauze pad behind the knot for cushioning
- Tie the second bandage above the injured arm and around the body to secure the sling
WRITTEN TEST INFORMATION

Choking

Choking occurs when a piece of food, an object, or a liquid blocks the throat. Children often choke
as a result of placing foreign objects into their mouths. Adults can choke from breathing in fumes
or eating or drinking too rapidly. A person who’s choking may display an inability to speak, cough,
make noise, and [Link] may also have a bluish tint to the lips, skin, or nails from a lack of
oxygen. To help someone who’s choking, bend them over and give them up to five back blows
(between the shoulder blades) with the heel of your hand. Back blows create a strong vibration
and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage. Then, use the
heimlich maneuver by putting a fist above their navel and thrust with the other hand in an inwards
and upwards motion up to five times. Abdominal thrusts squeeze the air out of the lungs and may
dislodge the blockage. Alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts until their airway is
cleared. If they become unresponsive, tilt their head back, which opens the airway by pulling the
tongue forward. Give chest compressions at a regular rate by pushing firmly (with both hands)
downwards in the middle of the chest and release. For a child over one, use one hand to do chest
compressions. For an infant, use two fingers. Chest compressions keep blood pumping around
their body helping to keep the vital organs, including the brain, alive.

Bleeding

Minor bleeding is caused by small cuts and abrasions that are not bleeding excessively. To treat
it, clean the injured area with sterile gauze soaked in normal saline or clean water. Then, apply an
appropriate dressing such as a band aid or a non-adhesive dressing held in place with a
hypoallergenic tape. Change it regularly.

External bleeding happens when blood exits through a break in the skin. First aid for severe
external bleeding includes direct pressure on the wound maintained by using pads and bandages,
and raising the injured area above the level of the heart if possible. Pressure points nearest to the
heat are also used. They are areas of the body where blood vessels run close to the surface. By
pressing on these blood vessels, blood flow further away will be slowed, allowing direct pressure
to stop bleeding. Common pressure points include the brachial artery in the arm between the
shoulder and elbow, the femoral artery in the groin area along the bikini line, and the popliteal
artery behind the knee. Turquinets can also be used in dire emergencies. They severely restrict or
occlude blood flow to the arm or leg to which they are applied. Using a tourniquet to stop bleeding
has the potential to damage the entire arm or leg. For bleeding on the forehead, lie the person
down. Firmly press gauze on the wound for 15 minutes and add another layer on top if blood
soaks through. Keep the person’s head still.

Internal bleeding occurs when blood leaks out through a damaged blood vessel or organ. The
most common type of visible internal bleed is a bruise, when blood from damaged blood vessels
leaks into the surrounding skin. Some types of internal injury can cause visible bleeding from an
orifice. For example, bowel injuries cause bleeding from the anus, head injuries cause bleeding
from the ears or nose, lung injuries can lead to coughing up frothy, bloody sputum, and urinary
tract injuries cause blood in the urine. An internal injury can sometimes cause bleeding that
remains contained within the body (concealed internal bleeding). The signs and symptoms that
suggest concealed internal bleeding depend on where the bleeding is inside the body. Internal
bleeding requires medical emergency, but if possible: lie the person down, cover them with a
blanket to keep them warm, raise the person’s legs above heart level, don’t give the person
anything to eat or drink, and place them on their side (perform CPR if necessary) if they become
unconscious.

Bandaging

When tying a bandage, work from the side of the injury so you don’t have to lean across their
body. Keep the injured part supported in the position it’ll be in when the bandage is on. Use the
right size bandage–different parts of the body need different widths of bandage. Avoid covering
the fingers or toes when bandaging a limb so you can check the circulation. Apply it firmly, but not
tightly, and secure the end by folding it over and tying a knot in the end. Alternatively, you can use
a safety pin, tape, or bandage clip. If the bandage is too tight, color will not return immediately
when checking the circulation (which must be every 10 minutes).

Roller bandages
- Bandages made of open-weave material allow ventilation, but do not put pressure on
wounds and do not support joints
- Elasticated bandages mold to a person’s body shape and are used to secure dressings
and support soft tissue injuries (like sprains)
- Crepe bandages are used to give firm support to injured joints
To apply a roller bandage, keep the rolled part of the bandage above the injury and the unrolled
part below the injury. Wrap twice around the injury to hold the end in place. Then, work up the
limb, winding the bandage in spiraling turns, making sure that each new layer covers half of the
previous one. Finish by wrapping the bandage around once more and securing the end.

When applying bandages to elbows and knees to hold dressings in place or support sprains or
strains, flex the joint slightly, apply the bandage in a figure of 8, and extend the bandage quite far
on each side of the joint. On hands, work from the inside of the wrist using diagonal turns across
the back of the hand to the end of the little finger, leaving the thumb free.

Tubular bandages, made of seamless fabric tube, are used to hold dressings on fingers or toes
and to support injured joints. Elasticated ones can be placed over the joints. Ones made from
tubular gauze can be placed over the fingers or toes, but do not provide any pressure to stop
bleeding.

Triangular bandages are used as large dressings, to secure a dressing in place, or as slings to
support a limb (it is opened out when used on an arm injury).
Ask the person to support their arm by holding it across their chest. Then, put the bandage under
the arm and around the back of the neck. Put the other half of the bandage over the arm to meet
at the shoulder and tie it into a knot. Tuck the loose ends of the bandage in at the elbow or use a
pin.

If the triangular bandage is used to support a lower limb or large dressing, fold it in half
horizontally so the point of the triangle touches the middle of the long edge. Then fold it in half
again in the same direction to make a broad strip.

Amputation

Amputations are the removal of a body part. They can be traumatic (due to an accident or injury)
or surgical (due to any of multiple cases such as blood vessel disease, cancer, infection,
excessive tissue damage, dysfunction, pain, etc.) double amputation is the removal of both hands,
feet, arms, or legs. Healing, recovery and rehabilitation from a major amputation require a
multidisciplinary approach. The person undergoing an amputation may use a prosthetic as part of
the recovery plan. Another type of amputation is congenital amputation, which refers to a missing
or incompletely formed hand, foot, arm or leg that is present at birth.

Traumatic amputations, caused by a motor vehicle, occupational or industrial accident or combat

injury, account for 45% of amputations. If tissue destruction, infection or disease affects a body
part in a way that makes it impossible to repair or endangers the person’s life, surgical amputation
is used. Trauma or disease that cuts off blood flow to a body part for an extended time can also
cause tissue death requiring an amputation. About 54% of all surgical amputations result from
complications of vascular diseases and other conditions that affect blood flow. Chronic vascular
problems can lead to tissue death in the toes, feet, or legs. 2% of amputations are also used to
prevent the spread of certain types of cancer. Severe sepsis, also called septicemia or blood
poisoning, affects blood flow and causes tissue death. If antibiotic medicines cannot control the
infection, an amputation may be necessary.

Orthopedic and orthopedic oncologic surgeons work with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon,
along with a range of nurses and surgical technologists, to perform a surgical amputation
procedure. Together, they remove the diseased or damaged body part, and then work with the
remaining bone and soft tissue to shape the stump. The surgical team may form the soft tissue at
the end of the limb to help accommodate a prosthetic, or leave bone in place for subsequent
osseointegration (OI). Osseointegration allows a prosthetic to attach onto a steel implant in the
leftover bone. Other common approaches include standard amputation, where the end of the
bone is covered with skin, and rotationplasty, which is used for patients with a tumor in bone or
soft tissue. Surgeons remove the part of the limb where the cancer is, and any healthy tissue
below the tumor is turned around and re-attached. After the initial bandage is removed, a patient
preparing to have a prosthetic may use a compression device called a shrinker sock to prevent
swelling in the stump as the blood vessels heal. The patient may undergo phantom limb
sensations and phantom pain syndrome, which are caused by the nerve connections in the spinal
cord and brain.

Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds
or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
include a rapid, weak pulse; a skin rash/hives, swelling of the lips, face, eyelids, or throat, and
nausea and vomiting. Common triggers include certain foods, some medications, insect venom
and latex. Anaphylaxis requires an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) and a follow-up trip to an
emergency room. If not treated immediately, anaphylaxis can be fatal. The best way to prevent
anaphylaxis is to stay away from substances that cause this severe reaction and to carry an
EpiPen. Sometimes, when the cause of this immune system overreaction is never identified, it is
known as idiopathic anaphylaxis. Risk factors include a previous anaphylaxis reaction, allergies or
asthma, and a family history of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis causes the immune system to release a flood of chemicals that can lead to
anaphylactic shock — blood pressure drops suddenly and the airways narrow, blocking breathing.
When undergoing anaphylactic shock, one may experience confusion, dizziness, a sudden feeling
of weakness, and loss of consciousness. To treat it, make sure the person is in a comfortable
position and elevate their legs to keep blood flowing to their vital organs. Administer an EpiPen if it
is available. If they are not breathing, give them CPR until a medical emergency team arrives. At
the hospital, the person will receive epinephrine through an IV. they may also get glucocorticoid
and antihistamine, which are medications that help reduce inflammation in the air passages. They
may also be given supplemental oxygen and beta-agonists to make breathing easier.

Bites and stings

Most insect bites and stings are mild and can be treated at home. They might cause itching,
swelling and stinging that go away in a day or two. Some bites or stings can transmit disease-
causing bacteria, viruses or parasites. Stings from bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets and fire
ants might cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Mild reactions can be treated by removing the stinger in a safe area to avoid more bites and
stings. Then, gently wash the area with soap and water. To help reduce swelling, apply a cloth
dampened with cold water or filled with ice to the area for 10-20 minutes. If the injury is on an arm
or leg, raise it. Apply calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or 0.5%-1% of hydrocortisone cream to
the affected area several times a day until symptoms subside. Take an anti-itch medicine
(antihistamine) by mouth to reduce itching. Options include non-prescription cetirizine,
fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy, Children's Allegra Allergy), loratadine (Claritin). Seek medical
attention if the swelling becomes worse or the site shows signs of infection. If it becomes infected,
keep the area covered.

A serious reaction to a bite or sting requires emergency care. While waiting for medical help, ask
whether the injured person is carrying an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others). Ask
whether you should help inject the medication. This is usually done by pressing the autoinjector
against the thigh and holding it in place for several seconds. Loosen tight clothing and cover the
person with a blanket. Don't offer anything to drink. If needed, position the person to prevent
choking on vomit.

Diabetic emergencies

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects blood sugar levels. Normally, people’s bodies maintain
the ideal blood sugar levels automatically. When a person has diabetes, their body fails to
maintain the blood sugar balance, so they need to manage it through diet, tablets or insulin
injections. Insulin is a chemical produced by the pancreas (that lies behind the stomach). It
regulates the blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. There are two types of diabetes: type 1,
insulin dependent diabetes, and type 2, non-insulin dependent diabetes. Someone with diabetes
may be wearing a medical warning bracelet or necklace, carrying glucose gel or glucose tablets,
or have medication (such as an insulin pen, a special pump or tablets and a glucose testing kit).

Those with diabetes can suffer from diabetic emergencies. In most cases, the person’s blood
sugar levels become too low; this is called hypoglycaemia. Signs and symptoms include:
weakness, faintness or hunger, confusion and irrational behavior, sweating with cold, clammy
skin, a rapid pulse, palpitations, trembling or shaking, and a deteriorating level of response.
Help them sit down. If they are fully alert, give them something sugary (and glucose gel or tablets
if they are available) to raise their blood sugar levels. If they improve quickly, give them more of
the sugary food or drink and let them rest. If they have a blood glucose testing kit, help them use it
to check their blood sugar level. If they go into a diabetic coma (become unresponsive), open their
airway, check their breathing, and prepare to start CPR until medical help is available.

Burns

Burns occur when a person comes in contact with fire or a hot liquid, causing damage to the
layers of the skin and pain. The severity, or how bad a burn injury is, depends on the temperature
of the burning substance or surface and the duration of contact with the skin. Fire and flame
injuries are the most common causes, followed by scalds, contact with a hot object, and electrical
[Link] vast majority of burn injuries happen in the home, and can be caused by many things,
including dry or wet heat, chemicals, heated objects, electricity or friction.

First-degree or superficial burns are damage to the thin outer layer of skin (epidermis). It is pink,
red, dry and painful, but generally mild (such as a sunburn). To treat it, immediately immerse the
burn in cool tap water or apply cold, wet compresses. Do this for about 10 minutes or until the
pain subsides. Cover the burn with a nonstick, sterile bandage, and let any blisters that form heal
on their own. Apply petroleum jelly two to three times daily. For pain medication, acetaminophen
or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation. Once the burn heals, protect the
area from the sun by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing or applying a broad-spectrum,
water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This will help minimize scarring, as the
redness from a burn sometimes persists for weeks, especially in those with darker skin tones. If
the burn is kept clean and moist, it will usually heal over a week or two.
Second-degree or partial-thickness burns affect a deeper layer of the skin. There is damage to the
top layer or epidermis and some damage to the second layer of skin (dermis). There are blisters,
which may be broken or intact, and swelling. The skin under the blisters is wet, weepy, pink and
painful. This type of burn may occur from a scald, hot grease or contact with a hot surface.
Superficial second-degree burns typically heal with conservative care. Gently rinse the burn and
dry it with a soft, clean cloth. If the blisters are broken, wrap the burns loosely in non-stick
bandages, changing them daily. With proper care, a new epidermis will grow in one to three
weeks. Deep second-degree burns appear more pale than pink. The skin is drier and the
sensation of that skin can be diminished. Sometimes, these burns will need surgery for skin
grafting.

Third-degree or full-thickness burns destroy all three layers of the skin, including the
subcutaneous tissue (or hypodermis), a fat layer above muscle and bone that helps the body
maintain temperature. For a third-degree burn, blisters may be present and color of the skin varies
(red, pale pink, white and tan). Typically, these burns have very diminished to no pain. Third-
degree burns require immediate medical care. Do not soak the burn with water, apply ointment,
butter, grease, or spray, or remove any clothing that is stuck to the area. Cover the area with a
sterile bandage or loose clean cloth. These burns usually require surgery for skin grafting.

Fourth-degree burns, primarily caused by flames or chemicals, go through both layers of the skin
and underlying tissue as well as deeper tissue, possibly involving muscle and bone. There is no
feeling in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed. While waiting for medical assistance,
raise the injured body part above heart level. Cover the wound with a loose bandage or cloth.
Place a light sheet or blanket over them, as they might be cold from reduced blood pressure.
They may experience shock, and their major organs are susceptible to inflammation. Amputations
may be necessary. Fifth and sixth-degree burns are similar to fourth-degree burns, but sixth-
degree burns have possible fatalities.

Chemical burns may be felt immediately or take time to develop. Take the following first aid
measures for a chemical burn: Wear protective gloves and brush off any dry chemical. Then, flush
the area with cool water for at least 10 minutes. Remove any clothing or jewelry that may have
touched the chemical. Cover the area loosely with gauze or a nonstick material or cloth. If the
area begins to hurt again, repeat flushing with cool water.

Electrical burns require immediate medical assistance. Signs and symptoms include: severe
burns, confusion or loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and muscle spasms or seizures.
When the patient is no longer in contact with the source of the electrical burn, try to keep them
warm and drape a clean cloth (made with fibers that will not stick to the wound) over the affected
area. Administer CPR if they are unresponsive.

There are also thermal burns, radiation burns, friction burns, and cold burns (or frostbite).