Poisoning, Heat/Cold, Burns & Bleeding

Basic Information  Obtain help A.S.A.P.  Be confident and calm.  Protect the victim.  Maintain confidentiality.  Avoid further injury of the victim.  Only provide treatment you’re qualified to give.

 Happens by swallowing, inhaling, injecting, and contact with skin.  Obtain help A.S.A.P.  Poison Control Center:  Know type of poison (if noticeable)  Know how the injury came about.  Know how the victim came in contact with the poison. Basic Information

Swallowing  S/S: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, changes in consciousness, and seizures.  Call Poison Control Center.  Provide the S/S.  Determine type of poison, how much was ingested, and when it was taken.  Don’t give victim anything to eat or drink unless instructed to do so.

 If patient is conscious:  Induce vomiting by: Syrup of Ipecac, warm salt water, and tickling the back of the throat.  DO NOT induce if: pt. swallowed acid, alkaline, or petroleum products, pt. is having convulsions, or if pt. has fresh burns.  If patient is unconscious:  Check for breathing.  Always triage (to prioritize pt’s according to severity of injury.) Swallowing cont….

 Call poison control center.  S/S: pale or bluish skin.  Remove the victim from the toxic fumes.  Check breathing. Inhaling

 Call Poison Control Center.  Wash area with large amounts of water.  Remove clothing and jewelry.  If contact with poison ivy, poison oak, etc. use calamine lotion or make a paste with baking soda and water. Contact with Skin

 Remove the stinger with a plastic card or a pair of tweezers.  Wash area with soap and water, cover, and apply ice to reduce swelling and pain.  Check for S/S of shock.  Call for help A.S.A.P. if signs of shock.  Give CPR if needed.  S/S for allergic reaction: redness or swelling, itching, hives, and pain, swelling of the throat, dyspnea, and dizziness. Stings and Bites

 Wash the wound.  Keep body part very still.  Keep body part lower than the heart.  Look for S/S of shock and allergic reactions and provide CPR if needed.  DO NOT: apply ice, cut the wound, or apply a tourniquet. Snakes

 Injuries can be caused by fire, heat, chemicals, radiation, and electricity.  When a burn breaks the skin, infection can occur.  Burns can result in difficult breathing.  Call for help A.S.A.P. Basic Information

 Involves the top (epidermis) layer of skin.  S/S: redness, discoloration, swelling, pain, and dry.  Heals in 5-6 days without permanent scarring.  Causes: the sun and mild contact with heat and flames. Superficial Burns ** 1 st Degree Burns**

Partial –Thickness Burns **2 nd Degree Burns**

2 nd Degree

 Involves all layers of the skin, muscle tissue, fat, bones, and nerves.  S/S: appears brown or black (charred) with white underlying tissue, can be extremely painful to painless.  This burns is critical and requires immediate medical attention. Full-Thickness Burns **3 rd Degree Burns**

3 rd degree

All 3 types

 Remove the victim from the source of heat.  Cool the skin with large amounts of water.  Cover the burn with a sterile dressing.  If possible, relieve the pain.  Check for S/S of shock.  Prevent any infection. How to care for burns

 Heat Cramps: muscle spasms and pain; thru perspiration you have a lack of Sodium. Care: move victim to cooler area and give small sips of water and encourage them to rest.  Heat Exhaustion: body temperature is normal, you have a lack of fluids because of excessive diaphoresis. S/S: similar to shock. Care: move victim to cooler area, use cold wet cloths, and give small sips of water.

 Heat Stroke: ***Medical Emergency*** body is no longer able to cool itself off, body temperature is 105  F. or more. S/S: no ability to sweat, skin is dry, red, and hot, fast, but strong pulse, loss of consciousness and disoriented. Care: cool victim down with a tepid bath. If you don’t get the victim cooled down, convulsions can occur then death. Victim CAN NOT take a warm bath/shower, get into a sauna or a hot tub or exercise for one week.

Frostbite

 Move victim to a warmer place.  Remove the wet clothing.  Apply warm cloths to affected area for minutes.  Apply dry, sterile dressings.  Check for S/S of shock and provide CPR if needed. Ways to care for frostbite

 To stop bleeding on an open wound: apply pressure with a clean absorbent cloth.  Raise the wounded body part above the heart.  Once the bleeding stops, clean wound with soap and water.  Wrap in a sterile dressing.

 Have the victim sit with their head tilted a bit forward.  Pinch their nostrils together.  Place an ice pack on the bridge of the nose. Nosebleeds