FIRST AID
AND SAFETY
MEASURES
(ANIMAL
BITES AND
MODUL
WOUNDS)
E1
INTRODU
CTION
• Everyone should know what to do in an emergency situation. As a student of the
National Service Training Program (NSTP), you will be trained to do some first aid
treatment or techniques. And as a part of your role to enhance social responsibility
and civic consciousness among the barangay constituents/institutions, it would be
helpful if you could teach them on how to perform first aid techniques in times of
emergency cases to save lives. This unit aims to provide you tips on how to act during
emergency cases to save lives. It aims to provide you tips on how to act during
emergency situations or disaster.
• In giving first aid, we are actually giving care and concern to people while waiting for
the professional medical services to arrive. This module will focus more on animal
bites and wound which is a common cases we encounter.
OBJECTI
VES
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. equip the students with enough background
regarding animal bites and wounds;
2. discuss preventive measures on animal bites
and wounds;
3. apply first aid for animal bites and wounds; and
4. apply the first aid techniques among the
barangay constituents during their community
immersion.
DOG
BITES
Domestic pets cause most animal bites.
Dogs commonly bite than cats. Cat bites, too
are more likely to cause infection. Bites from
non-immunized domestic animals and wild
animals carry the risk of rabies and very
fatal. Symptoms of rabies appear after an
incubation period of ten days to one year and
include fever, breathing difficulties, muscle
spasms, and, in later stages, an irrational
fear of water, also known as hydrophobia.
WARNING
SIGNS
There are several possible reasons why a dog may bite a child. Basically, the dog is protecting
itself, its possession and its identified master, or if it feels threatened. There are usually warning
signs before a bite occurs, but these can be very subtle and may be missed by many people.
Such signs include:
• The dog gets up and moves away from the child.
• The dog turns his head away from the child.
• The dog looks at you with a pleading expression
• The dog yawns while the child approaches or interacts with him.
• The dog suddenly stats scratching or licking itself.
You may think that your dog loves to have the children climbing all over and hugging it, but if
you see any of these signs, then you are being warned that a bite could occur if the dog feels it
has no other way of defending itself. Watch your dog and the child. Intervene if you notice any of
these signs.
PREVENTIVE
You MEASURES
Prevention is better than cure. Supervision and education are the two basic ways in order to maintain prevention.
should supervise all interactions between children and dogs Parents can educate their children on how to behave
around dogs and how to recognize risk situation of bites.
• Do not approach dogs that are not yours. Even if the dog is on leash with its handler (most children are bitten by a
dog that they know or by their own dog).
• Ensure that when a child visits a house with a dog. children will not be left alone with the dog.
• Act as a tree when confronted with an unknown, overly friendly or hostile dog then stop. Keep your hands at your
side while looking down at your feet. Remain still until the dog goes away.
• Never stare a dog in the eyes, avoid getting your face near a dog Never try to take something away from a dog
especially when eating or chewing on something. Never approach a dog that is resting on a bed, furniture or tied up
or in a vehicle. Never try to stop dogs fighting on the street or interact with dogs that are playing fighting.
• Be alert in a yard that has sign bearing "Beware of Dogs".
• A dog about to bite may be growling, showing its teeth. raising fur along its back or holding its tail high in the air.
• Monitor playing time of a child with a dog. involve children in training your dog. Expose your dog with positive social
interactions with people and other dogs.
• Don't encourage any kind of aggressive behavior in your dog Don't chain your dog or leave it alone in a yard for
extended periods.
• Provide your dog its own special place and don't allow it to step on furniture or on the bed.
• Do not allow your dog to bark or paw at you or others for attention.
FIRST AID
MEASURES:
• Wash the victim's wound using soap and warm water to flush out animal's saliva to
eliminate a range of infective organism from a dog's teeth and mouth.
• Cover the wound with a clean, dry dressing. Bring the victim to a doctor for an anti-
tetanus injection.
• Do not kill the dog right away, but keep it inside a pen and observe it for two weeks.
• If the dog dies within two weeks or, cannot be found or was killed, take the victim to a
health center for anti- rabies injection.
• If the dog during the period of observation becomes ferocious, refuses to eat and froths
in the mouth kill and bury it. Bring the bitten person to the center or hospital for
examination.
INSECT BITES
(Bug Bites)
Most insect and spider bites are harmless,
though they feel unpleasant. Bee, wasp, and
hornet stings and fire ant bites usually hurt.
Stings and bites from insects are common. They
often result in redness and swelling in the
injured area. Mosquito, flea and mite bites
usually itch. Insects can also transmit fatal virus
and 5 diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue
and malaria. Sometimes a can cause a life-
threatening allergic reaction. sting An insect bite
can be fatal if the victim has an allergic reaction
or is bitten in the mouth or throat. Such
emergencies should be dealt with once at a
hospital casualty department.
Preventive measures against
insect
you eat outsidebites.
• Don't bother insects. Use insect repellant. Wear protective clothing.
• Be careful when because food attracts insects.
• If you know you have severe allergic reactions to insect bites, carry an emergency
epinephrine kit.
First Aid
• Wash the bitten area with soap and water, alcohol, vinegar, or the juice of any sour fruit such as
Measures
lemon om calamansi. • Garlic can also be used on the affected area by rubbing on directly.
• If the bite is on a limb (arm/leg), tie the limp above the bite (at once) with a torque.
• If ice is available, pack and wrap around the affected area.
• Anaphylactic shock may call for resuscitation (mouth-to-mouth ventilation), (which can be life-
saving)
• Laryngeal edema (swelling of the larynx) may call for emergency opening into the windpipe
(tracheostomy).
• Bee stings should be removed immediately, preferably with tweezers, and then apply cold
compress. Stings or bites by ants, midges, wasps, and mosquitoes can be relieved with
antihistamine cream. Ask the victim first he or she is not allergic on it.
SNAKE
BITES
Snakes are always considered dangerous
because they are most likely to bite when they feel
threatened, startled. provoked and cornered. Snake
species greatly vary dramatically that is why they
cannot be identified easily.
Poisonous snake bites are medical
emergencies and require immediate attention. The
bite of a snake can cause severe local tissue
damage and often requires follow-up care. The right
anti-venom can save a person's Me. Even though
most snakes are not poisonous avoid picking up or
playing with any snake unless you have been
properly trained.
SNAKE
BITES
There are two kinds of snake bite the poisonous and
the non-poisonous: The bite of a poisonous snake has fang
marks which quickly inject the victim with venom. Venom is
a complex mixture of proteins that destroy various tissues of
the body, immobilizing or killing the prey. Venoms are
frequently classified in two: neurotoxic (nerve affecting),
and hemotoxic (blood-affecting). Actually all venoms contain
elements of both types, but one type usually predominates.
In general, the neurotoxic type is more effective, usually
acting on the central nervous system to produce respiratory
failure of suppression of the heart action. Hemotoxins
destroy blood cells. she lining of the blood vessels, and
other tissue. Because of the local destruction of circulatory
cells, hemotoxic venoms spread more slowly and have a
slower action than the neurotoxins.
The bite of a non-poisonous snake has teeth marks of two
rows but without fang marks.
FIRST AID
1. Wash the bite with soap and water. However, do not attempt to clean the bitten area with any type of chemical.
MEASURES:
2. Protect the patient and others, including yourself) from further bites. While identifying the species it is desirable in
certain regions, not to risk further bites or delay proper medical treatment by attempting to capture or kill the snake. If
the snake has not already fled, carefully remove the patient from the immediate area.
3. Keep the patient calm and call for help to assist the transport of the patient to the nearest hospital emergency room.
4. Make sure to keep the bitten limb in a functional position (and) below the victim's heart level (so as) to minimize blood
returning to the heart and other organs of the body.
5. Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink like consumable alcohol, known vasodilators which will speed up the
absorption of venom. Do not administer stimulants or pain medications to the victim, unless specifically directed to do
so by a physician.
6. Remove any items or clothing which may constrict the bitten limb if it swells (rings, bracelets, watches, footwear, СС
etc.)
7. Keep the patient as calm as possible.
8. Do not incise the bitten site.
9. Do not cut or squeeze the bite or suck out the venom. The old practice of sucking and splitting out the poison is no
longer recommended. If the person who does this has wound or open sores in the mouth, or if he has tooth decay, he
could also be poisoned.
10. If medical attention cannot be obtained within 30 minutes, call the regional poison center to seek advice on how to
treat the victim.
WOUND
In medicine, a wound is defined as a type of
S
physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or
punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force
trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). In
pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which
damages the dermis of the skin.
Before any medical or paramedical evaluation,
(a) wound is considered as minor depending on its
severity. Closed wounds can be just as dangerous as
open wounds. An injury to the brain such as a
contusion is an extremely dire closed wound, requires
emergency medical attention.
TYPES OF
WOUNDS
✓ OPEN WOUNDS
Open wounds can be classified according to the
object that caused the wound.
The types of open
wound:
Incisions or incised
wounds
caused by a clean, sharp edged
object such as a knife, a razor or a
glass splinter. Incisions which
involve only the epidermis are
legally classified as cuts, rather
than wounds.
Lacerati
ons
Irregular wounds caused by a blunt impact to
soft tissue which lies over hard tissue (e.g.
laceration of the skin covering the skull) or tearing
of skin and other tissues such as caused by
childbirth. Lacerations may show bridging. (as)
connective tissue or blood vessels are flattened
against the underlying hard surface, commonly
misused in reference to injury with sharp objects,
(which) would not display bridging (connective
tissue and blood vessels are severed).
Abrasions
(grazes)
topmost layers of the skin
(the epidermis) are scraped
off, - a superficial wound in
which the often caused by a
sliding fall onto a rough
surface.
Puncture
wounds
caused by an
object
puncturing the
skin, such as a
nail or needle.
Penetration
wounds
caused by an
object such as a
knife entering the
body.
Gunshot
wounds
caused by a bullet or
similar projectile driving into
or through the body. There
may be two wounds, one at
the site of entry and one at
the site of exit.
✓ CLOSE WOUND
Close wounds have fewer categories, but are as
dangerous as open wounds.
[Link]
The types of close
wound:
Contusi
ons
(more commonly known as
a bruise) - caused by blunt
force trauma that damages
tissue under the skin.
Hemato
ma(also
tumor)
called a
caused
blood
by
damage to a blood vessel
that in turn causes blood
to collect under the skin
Crushing
Injuries
caused by a great
or extreme amount of
force applied over a
long period of time.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
FOR WOUNDS
• Severe/major open wound
Priority with major wounds is to prevent further blood loss. Treat the
casualty to control the bleeding, prevent shock, and call for help as soon as
possible.
1. Emergency medical services should be called.
2. Disposable gloves should be used. The casualty's clothing should
be removed to expose the wound.
3. Get the casualty to raise the wound above the level of the heart
(it the wound is in a limb) and, if there is no object embedded in the
wound, apply direct pressure to the area with his/her own hand.
4. Help the casualty to lie down (on a blanket or carpet to protect
him/her from the cold). If shock is suspected, raise the casualty's
legs and support him/her on a chair.
5. A sterile dressing should be applied (or if not
available, an improvised dressing made of a clean
towel or cloth). The dressing should be secured with a
bandage that is tight enough to maintain pressure on
the wound (but not so tight as to impair circulation
beyond the wound).
6. If blood seeps through the first dressing, apply a
second dressing on top of the first. If blood continues to
seep through the second, apply pressure to the
appropriate artery. Maintain pressure on dressings by
wrapping more gauze. You should not remove the blood
soak bandage from the wound because it will interfere
with the coagulation of the blood cells.
7. The injured part should be supported in a raised
position- a leg supported on a chair, or an arm rested
across the chest (so that it is above the level of the
heart).
Puncture wound
1. Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop
bleeding on their Own. If they don’t, apply gentle pressure
with a clean cloth or bandage. If bleeding persists if the
blood spurts or continues to flow after several minutes of
pressure seek emergency assistance
2. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound well with clear water.
Tweezers cleaned with alcohol may be used to remove small,
superficial particles. IT larger debris still remain more deeply
embedded in the Wound, see a doctor. Thorough wound
cleaning reduces the risk of tetanus. To clean the area
around the wound, use soap and a clean washcloth
3. Apply an antibiotic. Alter you clean the wound, apply a
thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin
Polysporin ) to maintain and help keep the surface moist.
These products don’t make ne wound heal faster, but will
discourage infection and allow your body to close the wound
more efficiently. Certain ingredients in some ointments can
cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop
using the ointment.
4. Cover the wound. Exposure to air slows
down healing, and bandages can help keep
the wound clean and free from harmful
bacteria out.
5. Change the dressing regularly. Do at
least daily or whenever it becomes wet or
dirty. If you're allergic to the adhesive used
in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free
dressings or sterile gauze and
hypoallergenic paper tape, which don't
cause allergic reactions.
6. Watch for signs of infection. See your
doctor if the wound doesn't heal or if you
notice any redness, drainage, warmth or
swelling.
If an object is embedded in a wound
If there is an object (for example, broken glass) embedded in
the wound or an open fracture where a broken bone sticks
through the skin, pressure should not be applied over the bone
or object. Never try to remove an embedded object yourself.
Treat as follows:
1. Put on disposable gloves, if available, to protect yourself
from infection.
2. Press firmly on either side of the embedded object to push
the edges of the wound together.
3. If the wound is in a limb, raise and support the limb above
the level of the heart.
4. Help the casualty to lie down (on a blanket or carpet to
protect them from the cold). If you suspect that shock may
develop, raise the casualty's legs and support them on a chair.
5. Build up padding on either side of the object (using dressing
pads, rolled-up bandages, or similar), so that you are able to
bandage over the object without pressing on it.
6. Secure an ambulance if you have not sent someone to do
such. ( alternatively if the wound is minor, the wound is not
bleeding heavily, and the casualty is comfortable, arrange the
transport of the casualty to the hospital or by any other
means). Monitor the casualty's condition until help arrives.
Major closed wounds (hematoma and crushing injuries)
1. Put ice on the wound (recommended in instances of 20 minutes on,
20 minutes off) however, direct contact of ice with the skin is
discouraged, as this may cause ice burns or abrasions. Wrap the ice in
a towel the burns.
2. Use a pressure dressing or manual compression to slow or stop
internal bleeding.
3. Elevate - if the injury is a limb, elevate injured tissue above the
heart. This will help to keep the swelling down, which decreases pain.
4. Splint - If necessary, splint above and below the wound to slow or
stop bleeding and to reduce pain.
Than
k
You