FIRST AID By SFC Cobb

Two Types of AID

FIRST AID and Self Aid

What is First Aid?

It is the first care given to casualties before treatment by medical personnel can be made available

What is Self Aid?

Emergency treatment one applies to oneself.

What is the object of first aid? To stop bleeding Overcome shock Relieve pain Prevent infection

EVALUATE A CASUALTY

Sequence of Steps Check for-- 1. Reaction 2. Airway 3. Breathing 4. Bleeding 5. Shock 6. Fractures 7. Burns

Check for Responsiveness “Are you Okay?” Gently shake or tap casualty on the shoulder. Determine level of consciousness - AVPU. A = Alert V = Responds to verbal commands P = Responds to pain U = Unresponsive

Conscious Casualty Ask where his body feels different than usual, or where it hurts. Continue evaluation by checking for bleeding. If the casualty is conscious but is choking and cannot talk, stop the evaluation and begin treatment to clear the airway.

Unconscious Casualty Position the casualty and open the airway. Assess for breathing and chest injuries. Look, listen, and feel for respiration. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway, if applicable. Check for open chest wound. Apply dressing and perform needle chest decompression, if needed.

Check for Bleeding Look for spurts of blood or blood-soaked clothes. Look for entry and exit wounds. Check back of casualty’s body and head. If bleeding is present, stop evaluation and dress all wounds. Treat for shock.

What are the three types of bleeding? Arterial- Blood is bright red and will spurt with each heart beat Venous- Blood is dark red and flows in a steady stream Capillary- Blood oozes from the wound

Check for Fractures OPEN FRACTURE CLOSED FRACTURE

Check for Burns death. Checking for burns involves: Often cause extreme pain, scarring, or death. Checking for burns involves: Checking for singed clothes. Looking carefully for reddened, blistered, or charred skin.

First-degree burns First-degree burns are considered mild compared to other burns. They result in pain and reddening of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin).

Second-degree burns Second-degree burns (partial thickness burns) affect the epidermis and the dermis (lower layer of skin). They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.

Third-degree burns Third-degree burns (full thickness burns) go through the dermis and affect deeper tissues. They result in white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.