First Aid

This is the emergency or immediate care provided to an injured or ill person until full medical treatment is available.

For minor conditions, first aid may be enough. For serious problems, first aid care should be continued until more advanced care become available.

Aims of first aid

• preserves life,
• prevents the condition from worsening,
• promotes recovery

Methods in first aid are

• stop Catastrophic bleeding(massive external bleeding)
• Airway(clearing airways)
• Breathing(ensuring respiration)
• Circulation(internal bleeding)
• Disability(neurological condition)
• Environment(overall examination, environment)

Situations that require first aid include

1. Burn and scald
2. Fractures
3. Bleeding
4. Fainting
5. Epilepsy
6. Drowning

First Aid Kit

Should contain at least the following

• Bandages, roller bandages and tape
• Safety pins
• Sterile gauze
• Antiseptic wipes and swabs
• Absorbent compresses
• Antibiotic cream
• Burn ointment
• Mask for breathing (rescue breathing/CPR)
• Chemical cold pack
• Eye shields and eyewash
• First aid reference guide that includes local phone numbers

 

Burns and scalds

Burns and scalds are damage to the skin caused by heat. Both are treated in the same way.

A burn is caused by dry heat – by an iron, naked fire, friction, electrocution, etc.

A scald is caused by something wet, such as hot water, hot porridge, or steam.

Burns can be very painful and may cause:

• red or peeling skin
• blisters
• white or charred skin
• swelling

Treating burns and scalds

To treat a burn, follow the first aid advice below:

• immediately get the person away from the heat source to stop the burning
• cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes – don’t use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances such as butter, cow dung, soil, cooking oil.
• remove any clothing or jewelry that’s near the burnt area of skin, including babies’ nappies – but don’t move anything that’s stuck to the skin
• make sure the person keeps warm – by using a blanket, for example, but take care not to rub it against the burnt area
• cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it – a clean plastic bag could also be used for burns on your hand
• use painkillers such as paracetamol or  ibuprofen to treat any pain
• if the face or eyes are burnt, sit up as much as possible, rather than lying down – this helps to reduce swelling

Preventing burns and scalds

Many severe burns and scalds affect babies and young children. Examples of things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of your child having a serious accident at home include:

• keeping your child out of the kitchen whenever possible
• testing the temperature of bath water using your elbow before you put your baby or toddler in the bath
• keeping matches, lighters and lit candles out of young children’s sight and reach
• keeping hot drinks well away from young children

 

Bone fractures

A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a partial or complete break in the continuity of a bone.

 

Types of fractures

1. Simple or closed fracture

This is a fracture where a broken bone does not pierce the skin

2. Open or compound fracture is broken bone pierce the form a wound that communicated with the bones. This may expose the bones to contamination.

Open injuries carry a higher risk of infections.

 

What are the symptoms of a broken bone?

A broken bone can cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• intense pain in the injured area that gets worse when you move it
• Numbness in the injured area
• bluish color, swelling, or visible deformity in the injured area
• bone protruding through the skin
• heavy bleeding at the injury site

 

First Aid for fractures

If you suspect that someone has a broken bone, provide first-aid treatment and help them get professional care:

• Stop any bleeding: If they’re bleeding, elevate and apply pressure to the wound using a sterile bandage, a clean cloth, or a clean piece of clothing.
• Immobilize the injured area: If you suspect they’ve broken a bone in their neck or back, help them stay as still as possible. If you suspect they’ve broken a bone in one of their limbs, immobilize the area using a splint or sling.

 

• Apply cold to the area: Wrap an ice pack or bag of ice cubes in a piece of cloth and apply it to the injured area for up to 10 minutes at a time.
• Treat them for shock: Help them get into a comfortable position, encourage them to rest, and reassure them. Cover them with a blanket or clothing to keep them warm.
• Get professional help: Call 112 on cellular phone or 999 on landline phone or help them get to the emergency department for professional care.

 

 Cuts and wounds

1. Stop Bleeding

• Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops.
• If blood soaks through the material, don’t remove it. Put more cloth or gauze on top of it and continue to apply pressure.
• If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart, if possible, to help slow bleeding.
• Wash your hands again after giving First Aid and before cleaning and dressing the wound.
• Do not apply a tourniquet unless the bleeding is severe and not stopped with direct pressure.

2. Clean Cut or Wound

• Gently clean with soap and warm water. Try to rinse soap out of wound to prevent irritation.
• Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can damage tissue.

3. Protect the Wound

• Apply antibiotic cream to reduce risk of infection and cover with a sterile bandage.
• Change the bandage daily to keep the wound clean and dry.

4. When to Call a Doctor

• The wound is deep or the edges are jagged or gaping open.
• The wound is on the person’s face.
• The wound has dirt or debris that won’t come out.
• The wound shows signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or a thick discharge, or if the person runs a fever.
• The area around the wound feels numb.
• Red streaks form around the wound.
• The wound is a result of an animal or human bite.
• The person has a puncture wound or deep cut and hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past five years, or anyone who hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
• Bleeding is severe
• You suspect internal bleeding
• There is an abdominal or chest wound
• Bleeding can’t be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure
• Blood spurts out of wound
• Fainting occurs

 

Fainting

Fainting, or syncope, is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. This usually occurs due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.

Fainting is not usually serious. However, sometimes it can indicate a serious medical issue. People should treat every case of fainting as a medical emergency until they have uncovered the cause and treated the symptoms.

When a person faints, they may:

• fall over or slump
• appear unusually pale
• have reduced blood pressure and a weak pulse

Possible triggers of fainting include:

• an unpleasant or shocking image, such as seeing blood
• sudden exposure to an unpleasant sight or experience
• abrupt emotional upset, such as after receiving tragic news
• extreme embarrassment
• standing still for a long time
• being in a hot and stuffy environment for a long time
• taking pressure drugs
• dehydration
• diabetes

First Aid for fainting person

• Lie the individual down on their back.
• If they are breathing, raise their legs about 12 inches above heart level to restore blood flow to the brain.

• Try to loosen all belts, ties, collars, and other forms of restrictive clothing.
• When the person regains consciousness, do not let them get up too quickly.
• If they remain unconscious for more than about a minute, put them in the recovery position and get emergency medical help.

Fits or seizure

About 1 in 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime. This means seizures are common, and one day you might need to help someone during or after a seizure

These are general steps to help someone who is having any type seizure:

• Stay with the person until the seizure ends and he or she is fully awake. After it ends, help the person sit in a safe place. Once they are alert and able to communicate, tell them what happened in very simple terms.
• Comfort the person and speak calmly.
• Check to see if the person is wearing a medical bracelet or other emergency information.
• Keep yourself and other people calm.
• Offer to call a taxi or another person to make sure the person gets home safely.
• Ease the person to the floor.
• Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help the person breathe.
• Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp. This can prevent injury.
• Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head.
• Remove eyeglasses.
• Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make it hard to breathe.
• Time the seizure. Call 112 if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.

Never do any of the following things

• Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements.
• Do not put anything in the person’s mouth. This can injure teeth or the jaw. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his or her tongue.
• Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (like CPR). People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure.
• Do not offer the person water or food until he or she is fully alert.

Snake bites

Most snakes aren’t dangerous to humans however their some snake bite bites can cause severe injuries and sometimes death.

If a venomous snake bites you, call 999 or your local emergency number immediately, especially if the bitten area changes color, begins to swell or is painful. Many emergency rooms stock antivenom drugs, which may help you.

If possible, take these steps while waiting for medical help:

• Move beyond the snake’s striking distance.
• Remain still and calm to help slow the spread of venom.
• Remove jewelry and tight clothing before you start to swell.
• Position yourself, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of your heart.
• Clean the wound with soap and water. Cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
• Note the snake appearance

Caution

• Don’t use a tourniquet or apply ice.
• Don’t cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom.
• Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol, which could speed your body’s absorption of venom.
• Don’t try to capture the snake. Try to remember its color and shape so that you can describe it, which will help in your treatment. If you have a smartphone with you and it won’t delay your getting help, take a picture of the snake from a safe distance to help with identification.

Fire

Basically, fire is light and heat that comes from a special kind of chemical reaction such as burning

Four elements, also known as the fire tetrahedron, must be present in order for a fire to exist.

These fire tetrahedron include:

• Oxygen.
• Heat.
• Fuel.
• Chemical reaction.

When you remove one of the four elements, the fire can then be extinguished.

Fire prevention at school and homes: 5 tips to keep everyone safe

It is now common to hear the news of a burnt school or home.

The probable cause of the fire being identified as an electrical short circuit, burning candles, forgotten sigri burning and so on.

This is why it’s important to take fire safety very seriously and to take careful measures to avoid the outbreak of fire in schools.

Check electrical appliances

Any devices in a building that have a plug should be checked periodically to ensure they are in good working order. This includes any electrical tools and appliances, even those brought in by teachers that don’t necessarily belong to the school.

Check all fire safety equipment

Legally, all school buildings must be equipped with a sufficient number of fire extinguishers and/or hoses. It’s important that this equipment is maintained and checked regularly.

 Implement a fire-free zone

Have a designated area for teachers who smoke, equipped with the appropriate cigarette disposal containers. This will avoid cigarette butts being neglected in places where a fire could break out.

Signs for safety

Ensure that your school has the correct and sufficient signage to direct people to fire extinguishers and fire exits. Each classroom should have a map showing the path to take from that classroom should an incident occur.

Have an escape plan

Even with the proper checks and policies in place, accidents can and do happen. If a fire were to break out at school, is everyone aware of the procedure to escape or evacuate? Additionally, is all the emergency lighting operational, and are the fire escape stairs always clear? Hold regular fire drills so that everyone is aware of their roles and the evacuation procedure.

Action on fire outbreak

​What to do if there is a fire in your home or school

You should follow your escape plan and get out immediately. You should:

• Make an alert to everyone like vocal alarm “fire”: get together and take your planned route out
• If there is smoke in the air, stay low to the ground, especially your head, to reduce inhalation exposure. Keep on hand on the wall to prevent disorientation and crawl to the nearest exit.
• feel doors before opening: if warm, don’t open them as the fire is on the other side
• shut all doors behind you on the way out
• never use lifts
• leave valuables and pets
• meet at your agreed point
• stay outside: NEVER go back in the burning building to rescue pets or valuables
• call 999 immediately and wave down the fire engines when they arrive

 

Methods of fighting fire outbreak

Never attempt to fight fighter which is beyond your ability

1. Pour water on fire
2. Water cannot put out fire caused by petrol because petrol floats on water and continue burning
3. Pour sand
4. Use fire extinguishers. Some of these contain inflammable dense gases such as carbon dioxide and tetrachloromethane. The gases displace oxygen from burning objects and stop the fire.

Drowning

Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid.

Drowning may lead to sicken or death

What to do

1. Make an alarm and call for help
2. Do not put yourself in danger when trying to rescue a casualty.

Stretcher

In first Aid , a stretcher is a device used to carry a person who must lie flat and can’t move on their own. It takes two strong people to carry a patient on a stretcher.

Road accidents

Activity the community can do to reduce road accidents.

There should be Zebra crossing for pedestrian to cross safely

Do not play on the road

They should be road signs

Avoid over speeding

Putting humps in dangerous spot

Motor vehicle should be in good mechanical condition

Obey traffic lights

For Questions and answers download PDF below

First Aid, burns and scalds, fainting, fire, drowning, cuts and wonds, snake bite

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Compiled by Dr. BBosa Science +256 778 633 682