FIRST AID

What is First Aid?

- It is an immediate care given to a
person who has been injured or
suddenly taken ill. It includes self-
help and home care if medical
assistance is not available or delayed.
 Roles and Responsibilities of First Aider
1. Bridge that fills the gap between the victim and
the physician.
- It is not intended to compete with, nor take the
place of the services of the physician.
- It ends when the services of a physician begin.
2. Ensure safety of him/herself and that of
bystanders.
3. Gain access to the victim.
4. Determine any threats to patient’s life.
5. Summon advanced medical care as needed.
6. Provide advanced personnel.
7. Assist advance personnel.
8. Record all findings and care given to the patient.
Objectives of First Aid
•To alleviate suffering.
•To prevent added/further
injury or danger.
•To prolong life.
 YOUR ROLE IN THE EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) SYSTEM
1.Recognize that an emergency exists.
2.Decide to act.
3.Stay Calm.
4.Provide Care and Ensure Safety of
him/herself.
5.Record all findings and care given to
the victim.
 Characteristics of a Good
First Aider
Gentle should not cause pain.
Resourceful should make the best use of
things at hand.
Observant should notice all signs.
Empathetic should be comforting.
Tactful should not alarm the victim.
Respectful should maintain professional
and caring attitude.
 Hindrances in Giving First Aid

❑Unfavorable surroundings.

❑The presence of crowds.

❑Pressure from the victim or relative.

 TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES AND THE FIRST
AIDER
How Diseases Transmitted
1. Direct CONTACT
- Occurs when a person touches an infected person’s body
fluids.
2. INDIRECT CONTACT
-Occurs when a person touches objects that have been
contaminated by the blood or another body fluid of an
infected person.
3. AIRBORNE
- Occurs when a person inhales infected droplets that have
become airborne as an infected person cough or sneezes.
4. VECTOR
Occurs when an animal such as a dog or an insect such as
tick. It transmits a pathogen into the body through a bite.
 Body Substance
Isolation (BSI)
-are precautions taken
to isolate or prevent risk
of exposure from any
type of bodily substance.
 Basic Precautions and Practices
Personal hygiene.
Protective equipment.
Equipment for cleaning and disinfecting.
 First Aid Equipment and Supplies
Suggested or Basic First Aid Kit
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Povidone Iodine
• Cotton
• Gauge pads
• Tongue depressor
• Penlight
• Betadine
• Band Aid
• Scissors
• Gloves
• Triangular bandage
• Elastic bandage
• Plaster
• Thermometer
Clothe materials commonly used
in First Aid
•Dressings – any sterile clothe material
used to cover the wound.
•Bandages – any clean clothe materials
sterile or not use to hold the dressings in
place.
 GUIDELINES IN GIVING
EMERGENCY CARE
GETTING STARTED
•Planning of Action
•Gathering of needed materials
•Remember the INITIAL RESPONSE as
follows:
A- sk for help
I- ntervene
D- o no further harm
•Instructions to helper/s
EMERGENCY ACTION PRINCIPLES
1. SURVEY THE SCENE
•Is the scene is safe?
•What happened? The mechanism of injury
•How many people are injured?
•Are there bystanders who can help?
•Identify yourself as a trained first aider.
•Get consent to give care.
2. ACTIVATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND
TRANSPORT FACILITY

DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION

•Phone First Phone Fast
•A bystander should make the telephone call
for help (if available).
•A bystander will be requested to call a
physician.
•Somebody will be asked to arrange for
transport facility.
INFORMATION TO BE REMEMBERED IN
ACTIVATING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

•What happened?
•Location
•Number of persons injured.
•Extent of injury and first aid given.
•Telephone number from where you are
calling.
•Person who activated medical assistance
must identify him/herself and drop the phone
last.
3. INITIAL ASSESSMENT/ PRIMARY
SURVEY
•Check responsiveness (if unresponsive,
consent is implied)
•Protect spine is necessary
•CHECK ABC’s

AIRWAY
•Open the airway by tilting the head
backwards and lifting the chin with two
fingers.
 BREATHING
• Keep your hands on the person’s head & chin
•Place your cheek above their mouth and look at
their chest
•Look, listen and feel for regular breathing for up
to 10 seconds.
•If the person is not breathing, commence
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
•If they are breathing, then place them in the
recovery position in order to protect their airway
•The recovery position involves rolling the casualty
onto their side with their head tilted back.
 CIRCULATION

- For ADULT and CHILD: CAROTID

or RADIAL and INFANT:
BRACHIAL for 60 seconds
The recovery position – steps
•Kneel by the casualty’s waist
•Grasp the hand nearest to you, place the
back of their hand against their cheek
closest to you
•Lift the left furthest away from you at the
knee and place their foot on the floor
•Using their knee as a lever, pull the
person onto their side
•Ensure their head is still tilted back and
they are on their side
4. FINAL ASSESSMENT/ SECONDARY SURVEY

1. Interview the victim

•Ask the victim’s name

•Ask what happened.
•Assess the SAMPLE history.
S-Signs/ Symptoms
A-Allergy
M- Medication Taken
P- Past Medical History
L- Last Intake
E- Events leading to the episode of attack
2. Check the vital signs
•Determine radial or carotid pulse
Adult 60-100 beats per minute

Child 80-100 beats per minute

Infant 120-160 beats per minute

•Determine breathing
Adult 12-20 cycle per minute

Child 18-25 cycle per minute

Infant 30-60 cycle per minute

•Determine skin appearance

- Look at the victim’s face and lips.
- Record skin appearance temperature, moisture
and color.
3. Do head-to-toe examination looking for
DCAP-BTLS (Deformity, Contusion,
Abrasion, Puncture, Burn, Tenderness,
Laceration and Swelling)
-Check and compare pupils of both eyes

Dilated Pupils indicate bleeding and state of shock

Constricted Pupils indicate heat stroke or drug over

dose.

Unequal Pupils indicates there is suspected head

injury or stroke.
-Check for fluid or blood in ears, nose and mouth.
-Gently feel the sides of the neck for signs of injury.
-Check and compare both collar bones and shoulder.
-Check the chest and rib cage.
-Check the patient’s abdomen for tenderness by pressing
lightly with flat part of your fingers.
- Check the hipbone by pressing slowly downward and
inward for possible fracture.
-Check one leg at a time.
-Check one arm at a time.
-Check the spinal column by placing the victim into side
lying down the position and press gently from the
cervical to the lumbar for possible injury.
-Last to check the pulse, motor and sensory.
-Record all assessment including the time.
-Keep the patient lying down his/her head level with
his/her feet.
- Keep the patient warm and guard against chilling.
GOLDEN RULE IN GIVING EMERGENCY CARE

WHAT TO DO WHAT NOT TO DO

•Identify the victim. •Do not let the victim to see
•Respect victim’s modesty his/her injury.
and physical privacy. •Do not leave the patient except
asking for help.
•Calm and direct as •Do not assume that obvious
possible. injuries are the only one.
•Do care to obvious injuries •Do not make any unrealistic
first. promises.
•Do not trust the judgment of a
•Loosen tight clothing. confused victim and require
them to make decision.
 Common
Emergencies
•Soft Tissues Injuries
- Wounds
- Burns
•Poisoning
•Shock
WOUND
WOUND
- It is an injury or break in the continuity
of soft tissues of the body either internal
or external. Soft tissues are the layers of
skin, fat, and muscle beneath the skin.
 Classification of
Wound
1.Internal Wound/ Close
Wound
2.External Wound/ Open
Wound
INTERNAL/ CLOSE WOUND
•It is caused by injury,
illness, or certain
medications.
•It can be difficult to
detect as signals are
less obvious and can
take days or weeks to
appear.
CAUSES:
Blunt object result in
contusion or bruises
Application of external
forces
 Signs/symptoms:
•Tender, swollen, bruised, or hard areas of the
body, such as the abdomen.
•Rapid weak pulse.
•Skin that feels cool or moist, or looks pale or
bluish.
•Vomiting or cough up blood.
•Discoloration
•Hematoma
•Passage of blood in the urine or feces
•Sins of blood along mouth, nose and ear canals
•Excessive thirst.
•Becoming confused, faint, drowsy, or
unconscious.
FIRST AID MANAGEMENT
EXTERNAL/ OPEN WOUND
•It is a break in the skin or soft tissues.
Types of Open Wounds
Abrasion
Puncture
Incision
Laceration
Avulsion
Abrasion
– It is results from scrapping from rough surface.
Characteristics: Shallow, wide, oozing of blood
and dirty.
Puncture
-It results when skin is pierced by pointed objects
such as nails, ice picks, and etc.
Characteristics: Deep and narrow, serious or slight
bleeding.
Incision
-It is an incised or cuts on
soft tissues caused by sharp
objects such as blades, razors
etc.
Characteristics: Clean cut,
deep severe bleeding wound is
clean.
Laceration
– It is a tear of the soft tissue or a tear in the skin
which results from an injury.

Characteristics: With irregular edges, serious or

slight bleeding.
Avulsion
– It involves the forcible separation or tearing of tissue
from the body, it is caused by explosion, animal bites,
mishandling tools and etc.

Characteristics: Tissue forcefully separated from the

body.
Dangers of Open
Wounds
◦Hemorrhage
◦Infection
◦Shock
First Aid Management
for Minor Bleeding
 Wash with water and
soap
 Apply mild antiseptic
 You may cover the
wound w/ dressing and
bandage or you may not
First Aid Management for
Severe Bleeding
 Control bleeding
 Cover the wound
with dressing and
secure w/ a bandage
 Care for shock
 Consult or refer to a
physician
REMINDERS:
•All wounds must be thoroughly inspected and covered
with a dry dressing to control bleeding and prevent
further contamination.
•Once bleeding is controlled by compression, the limb
should be splinted to further control bleeding, stabilize
the injured par, minimize the victim’s pain and facilitate
the patient’s transport to the hospital.
•As with closed soft tissue injuries, the injured part
should be elevated to just above the level of the victim’s
heart to minimize severity.
•Amputated body parts should be saved, wrapped in dry
gauze place in plastic bag, kept cool and transported
with the patient.
•Don’t induce further bleeding to the clean wound.
•Don’t use absorbent cotton as dressing.
BURNS
BURNS
- It is an injury
involving the
skin including
muscles, bone
nerves and
blood vessels.
 Classification of
Burns
1. First Degree
Burn

2. Second
Degree Burn

3. Third
Degree Burn
 first Degree Burn
❑ It involves only the top layer of the skin,
the epidermis

❑Appearance: reddened, blanches with

pressure, dry minimal or no edema.

❑Recuperative Course: Complete recovery

within a week, no scarring and peeling.

❑Sunburn – is a good example of a

superficial burn
 second Degree Burn
❑It involves the epidermis and
some portion of the dermis
❑Appearance: Blistered, mottled
red base, broken epidermis,
weeping surface and there is
edema.
❑Recuperative Course: Recovery
in 2-4 weeks and some scarring and
depigmentation contractures
❑Blister – is common, partial
thickness burns cause intense pain
 Third Degree Burn
❑It extends through all skin layers
and may involve subcutaneous
layers, muscle, bone, or internal
organ. Signs include charred and
peeling skin.
❑Appearance: Dry, pale white,
leathery, or charred. With broken
skin with fat exposed and there is
edema.
❑Recuperative Course: Eschar
sloughs, grafting necessary,
contractures and scarring and
loss of contour and function.
 Types of Burns
Thermal Burn – It is burned by
direct heat contact.

Chemical Burn – It occurs when

acid, alkali, and other chemicals
come in contact w/ the skin and
mucous membrane.

Electrical Burn - It is due to

electrical current and voltage of
electricity.

High voltage burns - It may occur

when the victim may direct contact w/
power lines.
 First Aid Management for Thermal Burn

✓Cool the affected areas by applying a wet, cold

clothe.
✓To stop the burning process and to relieve the
pain, place under running water for at least 10-
15 minutes
✓Covered the burned area w/ dry dressing or
bandage
✓Transport the victim
 First Aid Management for Chemical Burn
✓Immediately remove the chemical by flushing
w/ water
✓Remove the victim’s contaminated clothing
while flushing w/ water
✓Flush for 20 mins. or longer. Let the victim
wash w/ a mild soap before a final rinse
✓Cover the burned area w/ dry dressing
✓Seek medical attention immediately
 First Aid Management of Electrical Burn

✓Unplug, disconnect, or turn off the power

✓Check the ABC’s
✓If the victim falls, check for spine injury
✓Treat the victim for shock
✓Seek medical attention immediately
 First Aid Management of Electrical Burn

✓Check the ABC’s

✓If the victim falls, check for spine injury
✓Treat the victim for shock
✓Seek medical attention immediately
• Do not try to remove clothing sticking to a burn,
instead cool through the clothing
• Do not apply toothpaste / butter / creams to a
burn. Running water is the most effective cooling
method.
o Exception: “Aftersun” lotion is useful for sunburn
• Do not burst any blisters
• Do not stop cooling before 10 minutes is up!
• Try and keep the wound as clean as possible
• Try to avoid contact with the casualty’s blood
o Wear disposable latex / nitrile gloves if available
o If not, use any available items to create a barrier (e.g: a
plastic bag)
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
afterwards
• Seek medical advice if you are concerned
The Rules of Nine
This guide is used to calculate
the extent of a burn as percentage
of the body’s total surface area.
 Head 9 %
 Front of Trunk 18%
 Arm 9 %
 Crotch 1 %
 Front of Leg 9%
 Back of Leg 9%
POISON
POISON
- It is any substance: solid,
liquid or gas that tends to
impair health or cause
death when introduced
into the body or onto the
skin surface. A poisoning
emergency can be life
threatening.
Causes:
Common in
suicide
attempts
Occasional
Accidental
Poisoning
 Ways in which
Poisoning may occur
 Ingestion – by mouth
 Inhalation – by breathing
 Injection – by animal bites,
stings and syringes
 Absorption – by skin contact
 Common Household Poison
◦Sleeping pills
◦Pain relievers
◦Insect and rodent poisons
◦Kerosene
◦Denatured alcohol
◦Poisonous plants
◦Contaminated water
 CLASSIFICATION OF POISON

1. CORROSIVE POISON – It is an
alkaline or acidic agent, causes tissue
destruction after contact.

2. NON-CORROSIVE POISON – it is a
mild alkaline or acidic agent, causes
mild tissue destruction after contact.
Ingested Poison
Signs and symptoms:
•Altered mental status
•History of ingesting poisons
•Burns around the mouth
•Odd breath odors
•Nausea, vomiting
•Abdominal Pain
•Diarrhea
First Aid Treatment for Ingested
Poison:
 Try to identify the poison
 Place the victim on his/her left
side
 Save an empty container,
spoiled food for analysis
 Save any vomitus and keep it
w/ the victim if he/she is
taken to an emergency facility.
Inhaled Poison
Signs and symptoms
•Breathing difficulty
•Chest pain
•Cough and burning
sensation in the throat
•Cyanosis
•Dizziness, headache
•Seizures
 First Aid for Inhaled
Poison:
 Remove the victim
from the toxic
environment and
into fresh air
immediately.
 Seek medical
attention
Absorbed Poison
Signs and symptoms:
•History of exposure
•Liquid or powder on the skin
•Burns
•Itching, irritation
•Redness, rash, blisters
 First Aid Treatment for Absorbed
Poison:
 Remove the clothing
 With a dry cloth, blot the poison
from the skin. If the poison is a
dry powder, brush it off.
 Flood the area with copious
amount of water
 Continually monitor the
patient’s vital signs
Injected
Poison
INSECT BITE
Insect Bite
Signs and symptoms:
Stinger may be present
Pain
Swelling
Possible allergic reactions
First Aid Treatment for Insect
Bite
 Remove stinger
 Wash wound
 Cover the wound
 Apply a cold pack
 Watch for signals of allergic
reaction
Spider Bite/Scorpion
Sting
Signs and symptoms:
 Bite mark
 Swelling
 Pain
 Nausea and
vomiting
 Difficulty
breathing or
swallowing
First Aid Treatment for
Spider Bite/Scorpion
Sting:
 Wash wound
 Apply cold pack
 Get medical
care to receive
antivenin
 Call local
emergency
number if
necessary
SNAKE BITE
Snake Bite
Signs and symptoms:
 Bite mark
 Pain
First Aid Treatment for Snake
Bite:
 Wash wound
 Keep bitten part still and lower
than the heart
 Call local emergency number
 VENOMOUS NON-
VENOMOUS
MOVEMENT WINDING CURVATURE

HEAD SEMI-TRIANGULAR OBLONGATED

BODY RECTANGULAR CIRCULAR

SKIN ROUGH SMOOTH

PUPIL VERTICAL ROUND

MANNER OF NONCONSTRICTOR CONSTRICTOR

ATTACK
BITE MARK WITH FANG MARKS HORSESHOE SHAPE
DOG BITE
Dog Bites
• Rabies- it is rare but
potentially fatal disease
transmitted through saliva.
• It is a viral infection of the
brain that causes irritation
and inflammation of the
brain and spinal column.
How to Determine a
rabies animal
 Byobserving the animal for
10 days to 1 year

 Kill
the dog and let the
head examine for virus.
Signs and Symptoms
• Hydrophobia- fear of water
• Photophobia- fear of light
• Drooling of saliva
• Mental disturbances
• Aggressive behaviour
First Aid Treatment
• Wash with soap and water
• Cover the wound
• Rush the victim to the
nearest clinic or hospital
or rabies center.
 MARINE
LIFE STING
 Marine Life Sting
Signs/ symptoms:
 Possible marks
 Pain
 Swelling
 Possible allergic
reaction
FIRST AID
 If jellyfish - soaked area in vinegar
 If sting ray - soak in non-scalding
hot water until the pain goes away
 Clean and bandage the wound
 Call local emergency number, if
necessary
SHOCK
•It is a depressed condition of
many body functions due to
failure enough blood to circulate
throughout the body following
serious injury.
Dangers of Shock
•Lead to death.
•Predisposes body to infection.
•Lead to loss of body parts.
Causes:
•Severe bleeding
•Crushing injury
•Infection
•Heart Attack
•Perforation
•Shell bomb and bullet wound
•Rupture of tubal pregnancies
•Anaphylaxis
•Starvation and disease may also cause shock
 Factors which contribute to
shock
F- atigue
P- ain
R- ough handling
I- improper transfer
C- continous bleeding
E- xposure to extreme cold and
excessive heat
Signs and Symptoms
Early Stage:
•Face is pale and cyanotic in color
•Cold clammy skin
•Irregular breathing
•Rapid weak pulse
•Nausea and vomiting
•Weakness
•Thirsty

Late Stage:
•Unresponsive
•Sunken eyes with vacant expression
•Dilated pupils
•Congested blood vessels producing mottled appearance
•Very low blood pressure
•Unconscious may occur, body temperature falls
 First Aid Treatment
for Shock:
•Proper Body Position
– Trendelenburg
•Proper Body Heat
•Proper Transfer
 SUDDEN
ILLNESS/EMERGENCIES

HEAT CRAMPS
HEAT STROKE
FAINTING
Heat
Cramps
- It is a muscular
pain and spasm
due largely to
loose of salt from
the body through
sweating.
Signs and
Symptoms of
Heat Cramps
Muscle Cramps
Light
Headedness
Heavy
Perspiration
Weakness
First Aid
✓Bring the victim to a
cool/shade area.
✓Elevate lower extremities.
✓Give electrolytes beverages.
✓Massage affected part
gently and firmly.
✓Stretching
Heat Stroke
➢Astroke is caused
by lack of oxygen to
the brain when a
blood vessel bursts
or becomes
narrowed by a clot.
Signs and Symptoms
1. Constriction of pupils
2. Skin is red and hot
3. High body
temperature
4. Dark urine
5. Light-headedness
6. Weakness
7. Unconsciousness
First Aid Treatment:
✓Cool the victim
✓Turn on a fan
✓Pour a bucket of water
✓Apply cold compress
✓Bring victim to an air
conditioned room/car.
 FAINTING
 IT OCCURS WHEN
THERE IS AN
INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY
OF BLOOD TO THE
BRAIN FOR A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME.
SIGNS
 TEMPORARY LOSS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS
 OFTEN BECOMES PALE AND
SWEATY BEFORE LOSING
CONSCIOUSNESS AND
COLLAPSING.
 FIRST AID TREATMENT
 ELEVATE THE FEET
UNLESS THERE IS A
SUSPECTED HEAD,
NECKBACK, HIP OR LEG
INJURY.
 LOOSEN ANY
RESTRICTIVE CLOTHING.
 DO NOT SPLASH THE
VICTIM WITH WATER OR
SLAP HIS/HER FACE.
BONES, JOINTS
AND MUSCLE
INJURIES
BONES, JOINTS, AND MUSCLE
INJURIES
•SPRAIN
•DISLOCATION AND
BONE FRACTURE
•MUSCLE CRAMPS
•MUSCLE STRAINS
 COMMON CAUSES OF
BONES, JOINTS AND
MUSCLE INJURIES

•Sports
•Vehicular Accidents
•Falls
•Mishandling of tools and
equipments
Signs and Symptoms:

•Pain
•Bruising
•Swelling
•Irregular in shape
•Obvious deformity
•Exposed bone
•Numbness further down the arms or les
•Discoloration of the skin
•Loss of pulse in the injured limb
SPRAIN
- It is caused by torn fibers in a ligament.

Signs and Symptoms:

•Swelling
•Bruising

First Aid Treatment for Sprain

•Remove any clothing or jewelry from around the
joint.
•Apply cold compress
•Elevate the affected part by putting a pillow or
clothes
•Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory as prescribed
by the physician.
DISLOCATION
- It is the displacement of a bone from its normal position at a joint.
BONE FRACTURE
- It is a break or disruption in bone tissues.

Signs and Symptoms:

•Pain
•Loss of function of the affected area
•Swelling
•Irregular in shape

First Aid Treatment for Dislocation and Bone Fracture

•Check the victim ABC’s
•Keep the victim still
•Prevent infection by covering sterile dressing
•Immobilize
•Splint or sling the injury
•Prevent shock
•Seek medical help immediately.
Muscle Cramps
- It is the sudden painful tightening of a muscle.

Muscle Strains
- It is the sudden painful tearing of muscle fiber during exertion.

Signs and Symptoms:

•Pain
•Swelling
•Bruising
•Loss of movement and function of the affected area

First Aid Treatment for Muscle Strains

•Apply cold compress
•Elevate the limb to reduce swelling and stop the bleeding within
the muscle.
•Rest the pulled muscle for 24 hours.
•Seek medical help.