Do’s and Dont’s
- Remain calm. The most important thing in an emergency is not to panic.
- Provide immediate first aid as per the injury.
- Keep the person in a comfortable position till medical assistance arrives.
- Don’t slap a coughing person on the back or stick your fingers in his throat to remove an object. This could sometimes push it farther into the windpipe.
- Don’t apply ice to a burn it may freeze the area and slowdown the healing process. Don’t apply any ointments to serious burns unless a doctor has seen them.
- Don’t move a person who complains of neck or back pain or can’t feel or move parts of his body. He may have suffered a neck or back injury, & further movement may only complicate the situation. Instead isolate the part.
- Don’t touch a shock victim who is still attached to the source of electricity. Instead, switch off the current at its source or pull out the plug. If you cannot disconnect the power source, separate the person from the electric current with a non conductive object, such as a wooden stick.
Situations Requiring First AidFirst aid is required in all emergence conditions. The emergencies arrive either through illness or accident (injury). Based on definition of first aid the emergencies can be classified in two types. They are:
- Illness
- Injury
Injuries can be classified as major and minor based on the extent of damage and severity of the accident.
Illness Requiring First AidAsphyxiationAsphyxiation is lack of oxygen in the blood. A person suffering from asphyxiation may die unless first aid is given promptly since brain nerve cells can die within three minutes without oxygen.
Common Causes of Asphyxiation
- Gas poisoning- possibly from carbon monoxide given off by an exhaust in a confined space.
- Strangulation – possibly from attempted suicide by hanging/choking.
- Blockage of the airway by food, blood, vomit or broken teeth, or by the tongue falling to the back of the throat. Such blockages can occur with an unconscious person.
- Suffocation – possibly from a plastic bag being placed over the head.
- Compression of the chest or damage to the lungs, possibly in an accident.
- Electrical accidents.
- A severe attack of asthma or bronchitis.
Warning Signs
- Breathing is difficult, and may become noisy and eventually stop altogether.
- The face turns blue, and the veins on the head and neck are swollen.
- The casualty gradually loses consciousness and may have fits.
What you Should Do
- If a person is suffocating because his mouth and nose have become blocked, remove the cause. If, for example, a plastic bag covers his head, tear it
- Check that the person is breathing. If not, clear the airway
- If breathing does not start, give mouth-to-mouth respiration
- If you suspect that the airway is blocked by food, treat for choking
- Once breathing is normal, call for an ambulance but do not leave the person alone. Keep a careful watch on his breathing, and give artificial respiration again if it falters
AnaphylaxisAnaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition in which the airway can become constricted and the patient may go into shock. The reaction can be caused by a systemic allergic reaction to allergens such as insect bites or food allergy. Anaphylaxis is initially treated with an injection of epinephrine or hydro cortisone.
Heat strokeAlso known as sunstroke or hyperthermia, which tends to occur due to heavy exercise and in high humidity conditions, or with inadequate water, though it may occur spontaneously in some chronically ill persons. Sunstroke, especially when the victim has been unconscious, often causes major damage to bodies vital organ systems such as brain, kidney, liver, gastric tract. If the Patient is unconscious for more than two hours, it usually leads to permanent disability. Emergency treatment involves rapid cooling of the patient.
Heat stroke:
- Remove from hot environment.
- Seek medical attention immediately.
Heat SyncopeAnother stage in the same process as heat stroke, occurs under similar conditions as heat stroke and is not distinguished from the latter by some.
HypothermiaHypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature falls below 35 °C (95 degs F). First aid for a mildly hypothermic patient includes rewarming, but rewarming a severely hypothermic person could result in a fatal arrhythmia, an irregular heart rhythm.
Severe Hypothermia
- Remove from cold environment.
- Handle gently to avoid arrhythmias.
- Warm slowly.
FrostbiteIf bandaging, separate digits with bandages. Rewarm slowly if necessary in water bath: slightly warm and gradually warmer.
PoisoningPoisoning can occur by injection, inhalation, absorption, or ingestion. Treatment depends on the type of poison and the mode of intake. It is safer to refer any poisoning case to the hospital unless the ingested material is totally harmless.
Sucking Chest woundA life threatening hole in the chest which can cause the chest cavity to fill with air and prevent the lung from filling, treated by covering with an occlusive dressing to let air out but not in.
HyperglycemiaIt is due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels and can lead to a condition called Diabetic Coma, where the patient becomes unconscious. Emergency treatment includes keeping the patient warm and hydrated before shifting him to the hospital for further treatment.
HypoglycemiaThis condition is caused by low sugar levels in Diabetics. It can be corrected immediately by giving the patient a chocolate or some sugar. Give oral sugar ONLY if patient has gag reflex. Otherwise potential obstruction.
