First Aid - Introduction

FIRST-AID:
1) Fundamentals: Emergency procedure to save life avoid other dangers to victims.
Decrease suffering until you get a doctor or to a hospital. To do so one MUST:
1) Learn to discover the pain's source then:
2) To know what to do or not to do.
3) How to do it.

FIRST-AID FORMATION:
1) To prevent accidents.
2) To do the right move at the right moment in order to: Save lives. To avoid other injuries.
3) To organize if needed a sure & appropriate way of transportation.
In order to do this one MUST have cold blood in crisis by:
A) Studying the first-aid principles.
B) Knowledge & instructions in how to move a victim of accident with normal or improvised materials.
C) Constant & repeated exercises.

TAKING CHARGES:
First Job of a rescue team.
1) MAKE SURE that no one else is doing the First-AID.
2) Avoid to panic & have other to help you by giving them clear & concise orders.
3) Call or have someone call the police ambulance or firemen advise the doctor or the hospital or both.
4) Keep the crowd away in order to prevent confusion & aggravation of the wounds & that #secourist# may work well.

PROTECT THE VICTIM:
Quickly determine the possible dangers for the victims and or helpers in:
Checking the surroundings: ex: Electrical wires, slippery grounds scaffolding etc.
1) It may be necessary to move the victim away, to place guardians who will warn approaching vehicles or to build temporary shelter.
2) As much as possible keep the victim laid down until an examination has revealed its case.
DON'T change without good reason the position that the victim hastaken.
3) If the victim vomits put him in half prone position inorder to help liberate its breathing passages.
4) Reassure the victim.
5) If unconscious chptr
6*.

SEMI PRONE POSITION:
1) Cover the victim to keep its body heat protect from cold or rain etc.
2) In case of violent accidents (cars) think of possible internal injuries.
3) To determine injuries.
4) Determine the most appropriate method to move the victim if necessary.
5) Call an ambulance for transport.

EXAMINE THE VICTIM:
Quickly & systematically:

PRIORITIES:
1) Does the victim Breath?
A) Check if bleeding signs.
B) To what point is the victim conscious.
THESE STATES REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION:
2) Proceed to a good exam but don't take off clothes unduly.
A) If you MUST take clothes off, start with the unwounded side.
B) If you MUST cut them off do it along the seam.
C) While examining check for medical card or other signs. Badges revealing vital information of the victim. (Warning bracelets etc.).
3) Examine with attention to find the presence of other wounds.
A) If victim is conscious ask him if he suffers & where.
B) If it is at the head see if the ears or nose bleed or runs.
C) Note the size of eye pupil.
D) If it's at the neck or back; pass firmly your hand up & down along the vertebral column. Without moving the victim. A sensitive spot may indicate a fracture.
E) A painful respiration or cough can indicate wound's chest.
F) If the victim has lost consciousness proceed as above exam.
G) Ask spectators around to know exactly what as happened.
H) Feel the head for any lumps or swellings.

SHOCKS:
Shocks state results from the weakening activities of the principals organism's functions. This power break down is due to a diminished blood flow circulation.
Shocks can be a result of wounds, a violent pain, a sudden sickness, a bad news or experience.
The gravity of a shock depends of many factors such as the importance of the wounds the age or general health of the victim.

SUMMARY:
To save life by Immediate attention to:
Haemorrhage/ Respiratory Troubles/ poisoning/ Unconsciousness.

DRESSING:
Wound dressings can be made of many types of tissues avoid wool.
It MUST be clean, thick enough to absorb blood etc. & MUST cover entirely the wound.
Emergency dressing can be a Tampax & Stay-Free type they are made to absorb blood & are in clean germ free wrapping.
All you have to do; is to lay it on them over the wound then use some kind of tapes or bandages to secure them on & apply a little pressure on the wound.

Wadding or cotton wool can be used to pad splints to absorb blood or suppuration or to clean around wound.
But NEVER to put directly on the wound, it would stick & make cleaning more painful. They can be put between 2 layers of thin cloth.

Sterile compress can be found in drug stores or made sterile by the use of a strong heat.
Whenever you use sterile compress NEVER put your fingers on it.
Germs are on your hands, so be careful.
Triangular bandage is usually made of yellow cotton & is washable so it can be reused. You can improvise one using pillow case shirt etc.
3 types: Open, large, narrow.

KNOTS:
(Flat)
The most useful one is the Flat knot it doesn't slip & is easy to undo. Take both ends have your left hand go over the right one then the right one over the left.

SPLINTS
They are used to immobilize a wounded limb while transportation of broken bones badly wounded flesh.
You can use many types even rolled newspaper yet the splint MUST be as flat as possible light & easy to move around.
A set of splint should be in your house car etc. They can be made of light wood or cardboard as found in drugstores.
They MUST be long & wide enough & strong to immobilize the articulation below & above the wound.
Well padded with the help of any tissues to wed the body shape.
Well attached to both ends or wherever needed. Here is a sample of size ALWAYS in pairs.

SPLINTS SIZE:
3/8" x3 1/2" x 15" (18"& 22" & 33" & 45" & 54") Using those 6 different lengths will cover most crisis