First Aid
First Aid is a helpful technique given in the moment of a crisis, minor injury or a major accident.
It is important to know the basics of what to do in case of an emergency. These topics will include the preventive measures of items to include in a home first aid kit, and first aid situations (e.g. unconsciousness, strains, poisoning).
Breathing Difficulty
Symptoms:
- coughing
- gurgling, wheezing, or whistling sounds
- labored breathing, tense chest muscles
- shortness of breath; inability to breathe deeply
- confusion
- weakness
- lightheadedness
First Aid:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Check the victim's airway, breathing and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing, CPR, and bleeding control.
- Loosen any constricting clothing.
- Assist the victim with any prescribed medication (such as an asthma inhaler or home oxygen)
- Continue to monitor the victim's breathing and circulation until medical help arrives.
- Do not mistake drowsiness for an improvement in the victim's condition. Do not assume that the victim's condition is improving if you can no longer hear wheezing.
- If there are no open wounds but the victim's chest moves in an uneven way while breathing, suspect broken ribs. Firmly support the injured side.
- If there are open wounds in the neck or chest, they must be closed immediately, especially if air bubbles appear in the wound. Bandage such wounds at once.
- A sucking chest wound allows air to enter the victim's chest cavity with each breath; this can cause a collapsed lung. Bandage the wound with plastic wrap, a plastic bag or gauze pads covered with petroleum jelly, sealing it except for one corner. This allows trapped air to escape from the chest but prevents air form entering the chest through the wound.
Call Immediately for Emergency Assistance If:
- the victim is having severe breathing problems
- the victim is having chest pain with difficulty breathing
- the victim stops breathing (start CPR)
Convulsion Epilepsy
Convulsion epilepsy is a common cause of seizures; however, seizures that come on suddenly without any prior history of epilepsy may be caused by a high fever, head injury, poisoning, drug overdose, withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, stroke, tumor, low blood sugar, or other causes. In young children with high fevers, convulsions may be due to febrile seizures or diseases such as meningitis. Most seizures last only a short time and stop spontaneously.
Anyone suffering a seizure for the first time should be brought promptly to a hospital emergency room.
Symptoms:
- Part of the person's body (or the entire body) may stiffen or jerk.
- The person may urinate and/or defecate.
- Saliva or foam may come out of the mouth.
First Aid:
- Protect the person from injury by laying them gently down on a soft or padded surface. If there is any possibility of a cervical spine injury, take proper precautions. Turn the head to one side, keeping the airway open. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to place anything between the upper and lower teeth.
- Do not restrain the person during the seizure. Instead move to an area where there is no danger of injury.
- If vomiting occurs, turn the person on her side so the vomit is expelled from the mouth and not inhaled into the windpipe and lungs.
- Keep a careful watch and begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if breathing stops more than briefly after a seizure. Make sure the airway is not obstructed. Begin CPR immediately if breathing and pulse are absent at any point.
- If poisoning is suspected, try to identify the source and contact the local poison control center for guidance.
- If the convulsions are related to a high fever in an infant or child, lower the body temperature by using cool compresses. Do not place in a bathtub and do not use rubbing alcohol.
- Observe the person until she is fully awake, for at least 10 to 20 minutes.
- If the seizure continues for more than a few minutes, or if it recurs in a short time, call for an ambulance.
- Provide first aid for injuries that may have been sustained during the seizure.
Poisoning
Approximately 10 million people are poisoned annually, and 4,000 of them are poisoned fatally. The first aid you give before you get medical help can save a victim's life. In a poisoning emergency, immediate first aid is critical.
Causes:
- medicines (such as an aspirin overdose)
- household detergents
- household plants (eating toxic plants)
- insecticides
- animals (exposure to the toxic substances produced by some animals)
- paints (swallowing)
- cosmetics (incorrectly used)
- illicit drug overdose (accidental or intentional)
- occupational gaseous poisoning
- food poisoning (such as botulism)
Call Immediately for Emergency Assistance If:
- someone has been poisoned. Call your local poison control center which is Los Angeles Regional Drug and Poison Information Center, (213) 222-3212. You may also find more information here.
First Aid:
Always call your local poison control center for advice! Locally, call
(213) 222-3212 or the State Poison Control Center at
(800) 876-4766.
First Aid for Swallowing Poison:
- Check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
- Try to make sure that the victim has indeed been poisoned. It is not always obvious. Some signs include chemical-smelling breath, burns around the mouth, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or unusual odors on the victim. If possible, identify the poison.
- Call your local poison control center at (213) 222-3212.
- Only induce vomiting if the poison control center tells you to do so.
- To induce vomiting give the victim 1 tablespoon of ipecac syrup followed by 2 glasses of water. Another technique is to use a glass of warm water containing 3 teaspoons of salt or 1 spoonful of dried mustard.
- If the victim vomits, protect the airway. If you must clear the victim's airway, wrap a cloth around your fingers before cleaning out his or her mouth and throat.
- Monitor the victim's vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). If the victim starts having convulsions, protect him or her from injury and give convulsion, first aid.
- Reassure the victim and keep him or her comfortable while getting or awaiting medical help. If the poison has spilled on the victim's clothes, remove the clothing and flush the skin with water.
First Aid for Inhaling Poison:
- Call for emergency help. Never attempt to rescue without notifying others first.
- Rescue the victim from the danger of the gas, fumes, or smoke. Hold a wet cloth over your nose and mouth. Open windows and doors to remove the fumes.
- Avoid lighting a match as some gases may ignite.
- Take several deep breaths of fresh air, then hold your breath as you go in.
- After rescuing the victim from danger, check his or her airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, perform rescue breathing and CPR.
- As necessary, perform first aid for skin burns, eye injuries (eye emergencies), or convulsions (convulsion, first aid).
- If the victim vomits, protect his or her airway.
- Even if the victim seems perfectly fine, get medical help.
Unconsciousness or Coma
Symptoms:
The person may not be totally unconscious. Symptoms before or after an unconscious episode may include; disorientation, drowsiness, and stupor.
Call Immediately for Emergency Assistance If:
- the victim does not regain consciousness right away.
First Aid:
- Check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
- If a spinal injury is not suspected and the victim is lying on his or her back, place the victim in the recovery position. To do this, kneel beside the victim, turn his or her face toward you, put the victim's near arm at his or her side and place it under his or her buttock. Place the victim's other arm across the chest. Move the victim's far leg over the near leg so the ankles are crossed. While supporting the victim's head with one hand, grab the clothing at the hip and pull the victim toward you. Bend the victim's top arm to support the upper body. Bend the victim's top knee to support the lower body. Gently tilt the victim's head back to make sure the airway is open.
- If a spinal injury is suspected, leave the victim as he or she was found (as long as he or she is breathing freely). If spinal injury is suspected and the victim vomits, "log roll" the victim by supporting the neck and spine to keep head position neutral with body position while turning the victim on the side.
- Gently restrain the victim if he or she becomes agitated.
- Give first aid for convulsions, if necessary.
- Keep the victim warm until medical help is obtained.
- If unconsciousness is due to low blood sugar, have the victim eat or drink something sweet upon gaining consciousness.
Choking: Heimlich Maneuver
The Heimlich Maneuver is best known method of removing an object from the airway of a person who is choking. You can use it on yourself or someone else. These are three steps:
- Stand behind the choking person and wrap your arms around his or her waist. Bend the person slightly forward.
- Make a fist with one hand and place it slightly above the person's navel.
- Grasp your fist with the other hand and press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust. Repeat this procedure until the object is expelled from the airway.
References and Resources
Active First Aid
Health World: Emergency and First Aid
