First Aid

You will learn how to…

• Stop bleeding• Treat fractures• Care for burns• Treat someone in shock• Care for someone with hypothermia

Bleeding (if you have gloves, wear them)

• Have the injured person lie down• Clean out any obvious dirt and debris from

wound if they have something impaled in them, do not remove it, if possible.

• Use a cloth or your hand to cover the wound and apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops.

If the bleeding continues

• Continue to apply direct pressure to the wound

• If the cloth you are using bleeds through, Do Not Remove it! Put more cloth on top of the wound.

• Get the person to the emergency room as quickly as possible.

Fractures

• Stop any bleeding using direct pressure

• Immobilize the area by making a splint if you are unable to get to an emergency room.

To make a splint for a broken arm

• Find a piece of wood that is long enough to fit above and below the broken bone.

• Use strips of cloth or gauze if available to tie the wood to the arm above and below the broken bone.

• The splint should be tied tight enough to provide support for the broken bone, but not so tight that it cuts off the blood supply.

• Seek medical attention immediately

Example of a Splint

Burns

3 Kinds of Burns:

First Degree- first layer of skin is burned.

Second Degree- first and second layers of skin are burned.

Third Degree- multiple layers of skin burned, resulting in permanent damage.

1st Degree Burn

• Least serious of the burns.

• Skin is usually red, sometimes with pain and swelling.

• Treat it as a minor burn.

2nd Degree Burn

• Blisters develop, skin takes on a blotchy appearance.

• Severe pain and swelling.• If burn is no larger than 3 inches in

diameter, treat as a minor burn.• If larger than 3 inches in diameter, treat as a

major burn and seek medical help immediately.

Treatment for minor burns

• Cool the burn under cold running water until the pain subsides. Do not ice the burn.

• Wrap the burn loosely with gauze, to decrease pain and to protect the blisters.

• Take an over the counter pain reliver such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

• Will usually heal on their own, but watch for oozing, fever, swelling and redness. This could indicate an infection.

3rd Degree Burn

• Most serious of the burns and will not be painful because of permanent tissue damage.

• Areas may be charred black or appear white.

• Person may have difficulty breathing.

Treating a Major Burn

• Call 911• Do not remove burned clothing, but do make sure

clothing is not on fire.• Do not immerse in cold water-this could cause

shock.• Check to make sure they are breathing-do CPR if

necessary.• Elevate the burned body part if possible.• Cover the area with a cool, moist, sterile cloth.

Shock

• May result from trauma, heat stroke, allergic reactions, severe infection, poisoning, or other causes.

Signs of Shock

• Skin is cool and clammy, may appear pale

• Weak and rapid pulse

• Person may seem to stare off into space

• If conscious, they may feel faint, weak, or confused.

• Sometimes shock may make a person overly excited or anxious.

If a person is in shock

• Dial 911• Have them lie down with their feet higher than their

head.• Check to see if they are breathing, if they aren’t

begin CPR.• Keep the person warm and comfortable, but do not

give them anything to drink.• Turn them on their side if vomiting or bleeding

from their mouth.• Wait for help to arrive.

Hypothermia Signs and Symptoms

• Shivering

• Slurred Speech

• Breathing very slowly

• Cold, pale skin

• Fatigue, lethargy, and apathy

Treatment for Hypothermia

• Move person out of the cold• Remove wet clothing and replace with a dry

covering, try not to move the person too much.• Insulate the person’s body from the ground.• Monitor their breathing, do CPR if they stop.• Share body heat, and if they are conscious,

encourage them to drink warm non-alcholic beverages.

What not to do if someone has Hypothermia

• Don’t apply direct heat-this could burn the person.

• Don’t rub or massage the person, they are at risk of having a heart attack so they should be handled gently.

• Don’t give them alcohol-alcohol lowers the body’s ability to retain heat.

Now a few questions…

• How do you stop a wound from bleeding?• How would you make a splint for a person with a

broken leg?• How do you treat a minor burn? Major burn?• What are some reasons a person may go into

shock? What symptoms might they have?• How do you treat someone with shock?• What can you do for someone if they have

hypothermia?