Rendering First Aid (1)
RENDERING FIRST AID (1) Compiled by Hamzat Mariam Odunola
It is not unusual to have an emergency medical situation. Accident is a common case in our homes and highways. Sometimes too, people collapse suddenly from unforeseen illness. A research carried out by NTCP8 in 2015 has shown that emergency victims often die because they were not given first aid. Therefore, a quick medical intervention and in the absence of a certified medical practitioner could be life saving.
First aid is the assistance given to a person having a sudden injury or illness, in order to preserve life or prevent their condition from worsening. First aid is also given to improve the delicate state of an ailing patient so that they can be transported to a medical facility without any complication. The person giving first aid is not expected to possess any special skill; a layman with basic First aid knowledge can attend to the patient prior to the arrival of a medical practitioner. Thus it is pertinent on everybody to have the knowledge, just in case we happen to be at the place where it is needed. Here is a list of some basic first aid that could be given when the case warrant it.
First aid is the assistance given to a person having a sudden injury or illness, in order to preserve life or prevent their condition from worsening. First aid is also given to improve the delicate state of an ailing patient so that they can be transported to a medical facility without any complication. The person giving first aid is not expected to possess any special skill; a layman with basic First aid knowledge can attend to the patient prior to the arrival of a medical practitioner. Thus it is pertinent on everybody to have the knowledge, just in case we happen to be at the place where it is needed. Here is a list of some basic first aid that could be given when the case warrant it.
FAINTING
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to shortage in supply of oxygenated blood to the brain owing to low beat of the heart.
Symptoms
1. Pale face
2. Sweating
3. Weak pulse
4. Weakness
5. Dizziness and unconsciousness
6. Irregular breathing
First Aid Measures
1. Let the victim lie or sit down and support him at the back to prevent further fatigue
2. Do not let people crowd around him, Let the victim receive sufficient supply of fresh air so that oxygenated blood is carried to the brain. Fan him if necessary
3. Loosen his clothes at the neck, chest and waist so that he can receive sufficient air and prevent over heating of the body.
4. Bend his head between his legs if he is sitting down so that blood flows to the brain for quick recovery. But if he is lying down, his legs should be raised above his head in order to increase blood flow to the brain.
5. When signs of recovery appear, give him clean water to drink so as to replenish the lost fluid due to sweating. Allow him to rest sufficiently.
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to shortage in supply of oxygenated blood to the brain owing to low beat of the heart.
Symptoms
1. Pale face
2. Sweating
3. Weak pulse
4. Weakness
5. Dizziness and unconsciousness
6. Irregular breathing
First Aid Measures
1. Let the victim lie or sit down and support him at the back to prevent further fatigue
2. Do not let people crowd around him, Let the victim receive sufficient supply of fresh air so that oxygenated blood is carried to the brain. Fan him if necessary
3. Loosen his clothes at the neck, chest and waist so that he can receive sufficient air and prevent over heating of the body.
4. Bend his head between his legs if he is sitting down so that blood flows to the brain for quick recovery. But if he is lying down, his legs should be raised above his head in order to increase blood flow to the brain.
5. When signs of recovery appear, give him clean water to drink so as to replenish the lost fluid due to sweating. Allow him to rest sufficiently.
BURNS/SCALDS
A burn is an injury caused by dry heat such as fire, hot metal, hot charcoal, electric shock etc. A scald is an injury caused by moist heat such as steam, hot water, hot oil or hot coal tar.
First Aid Measures:
1. Keep the victim flat and quiet to prevent more injuries.
2. Wash the area with clean water to prevent infection
3. Cover the burn or scald with a sterile dressing or clean handkerchief before bandage. Pains are caused by air coming in contact with burns or scalds. The even pressure of a bandage helps reduce pain.
4. Give pain relieving tablets.
5. The victim needs a lot of liquid and salt
6. Send for medical doctor or take the victim immediately to a nearby hospital or clinic.
A burn is an injury caused by dry heat such as fire, hot metal, hot charcoal, electric shock etc. A scald is an injury caused by moist heat such as steam, hot water, hot oil or hot coal tar.
First Aid Measures:
1. Keep the victim flat and quiet to prevent more injuries.
2. Wash the area with clean water to prevent infection
3. Cover the burn or scald with a sterile dressing or clean handkerchief before bandage. Pains are caused by air coming in contact with burns or scalds. The even pressure of a bandage helps reduce pain.
4. Give pain relieving tablets.
5. The victim needs a lot of liquid and salt
6. Send for medical doctor or take the victim immediately to a nearby hospital or clinic.
ELECTRIC SHOCK
When a person unknowingly touches or steps on a live electric wire, the person receives severe electric shock. The victim may either receive burns at the point of contact with live wire, get stuck to the wire. Electric shock may or may not result in loosing consciousness.
First Aid Measures:
1. Switch off the electrical current if it is within reach to stop further flow of current into the victim’s body( You must wear rubber shoes to protect yourself from shock as well).
2. Remove the victim from the live wire. (wear rubber gloves or use dry wood to push him off)
3. Remove his clothes if they are wet as they may still conduct current; clean his body with dry towel or clothes.
4. Artificial respiration (mouth to mouth breathing) should be done if the victim has stopped breathing.
5 Where only burns have occurred, apply first aid (as discussed above) for burns.
When a person unknowingly touches or steps on a live electric wire, the person receives severe electric shock. The victim may either receive burns at the point of contact with live wire, get stuck to the wire. Electric shock may or may not result in loosing consciousness.
First Aid Measures:
1. Switch off the electrical current if it is within reach to stop further flow of current into the victim’s body( You must wear rubber shoes to protect yourself from shock as well).
2. Remove the victim from the live wire. (wear rubber gloves or use dry wood to push him off)
3. Remove his clothes if they are wet as they may still conduct current; clean his body with dry towel or clothes.
4. Artificial respiration (mouth to mouth breathing) should be done if the victim has stopped breathing.
5 Where only burns have occurred, apply first aid (as discussed above) for burns.
HEMORRHAGE (BLEEDING)
Hemorrhage is the loss of blood from the blood vessels which have been damaged. The loss of
blood to the outside is called External hemorrhage while the loss of blood to the tissues is
called Internal hemorrhage.
The first aid treatment of a person with internal bleeding is not advisable, such a person should
be taken to a nearby hospital where he will be treated by a medical doctor.
Mouth Bleeding
1. The mouth should be rinsed with cold water many times
2. Put ice block (if available) into the mouth and let it remain there for sometime to reduce bleeding
Nose Bleeding
1. Let the Victim sit on a comfortable place such as a cushion chair.
2. Let him receive fresh air.
3. The victim’s head should be bent backward slightly so as to reduce or prevent further loss of blood.
4. The victim should be encouraged to breathe through the mouth and not through the nose to reduce or prevent loss of blood and also to promote clotting. The nose should be pinched for about 10 minutes.
5. Use cotton wool or tissue paper to remove blood from his nostril and push in some of it into the nostrils to absorb blood. The blood soaked cotton wool should be removed at interval and new cotton wool is pushed in until bleeding stops.
6. The nose must not be blown, as doing so will promote bleeding.
7. Apply pressure. Press the carotid artery(found in the neck region) against the jaw bone to reduce bleeding.
8. Send the victim to hospital for medical treatment.
blood to the outside is called External hemorrhage while the loss of blood to the tissues is
called Internal hemorrhage.
The first aid treatment of a person with internal bleeding is not advisable, such a person should
be taken to a nearby hospital where he will be treated by a medical doctor.
Mouth Bleeding
1. The mouth should be rinsed with cold water many times
2. Put ice block (if available) into the mouth and let it remain there for sometime to reduce bleeding
Nose Bleeding
1. Let the Victim sit on a comfortable place such as a cushion chair.
2. Let him receive fresh air.
3. The victim’s head should be bent backward slightly so as to reduce or prevent further loss of blood.
4. The victim should be encouraged to breathe through the mouth and not through the nose to reduce or prevent loss of blood and also to promote clotting. The nose should be pinched for about 10 minutes.
5. Use cotton wool or tissue paper to remove blood from his nostril and push in some of it into the nostrils to absorb blood. The blood soaked cotton wool should be removed at interval and new cotton wool is pushed in until bleeding stops.
6. The nose must not be blown, as doing so will promote bleeding.
7. Apply pressure. Press the carotid artery(found in the neck region) against the jaw bone to reduce bleeding.
8. Send the victim to hospital for medical treatment.
Limb Bleeding
1. Let the patient lie down or sit and raise the bleeding limb above the heart so that less blood flows to the wound area thereby reducing loss of blood and promoting clotting except in case of a fractured limb.
2. Direct pressure
a. If the wound is small, use finger to apply direct pressure on the surface of the wound area.
b. If the wound is large and bleeding is serious, you may have to use your bare hand to apply pressure evenly on the wound area for someone to bring dressing material. Pressure squeezes the damaged blood vessels closer together and promotes clotting of blood. If the pressure is not evenly applied, the unpressed area may continue to bleed.
3. Clean the surrounding skin (not the wound itself) with iodine and methylated spirit or hydrogen peroxide.
4. Cover the bleeding spot with clean soft material (e.g. handkerchief, shirt, sanitary napkin) or wool and apply pressure until the bleeding has stopped or slowed to the point that a bandage can be applied. (Don’t be in a hurry to stop the pressure).
5. Apply the bandage firmly over the pad and continue the pressure. (The bandage must be checked after the knot has been tied to be sure that it is not too tight to stop blood circulation to the area).
1. Let the patient lie down or sit and raise the bleeding limb above the heart so that less blood flows to the wound area thereby reducing loss of blood and promoting clotting except in case of a fractured limb.
2. Direct pressure
a. If the wound is small, use finger to apply direct pressure on the surface of the wound area.
b. If the wound is large and bleeding is serious, you may have to use your bare hand to apply pressure evenly on the wound area for someone to bring dressing material. Pressure squeezes the damaged blood vessels closer together and promotes clotting of blood. If the pressure is not evenly applied, the unpressed area may continue to bleed.
3. Clean the surrounding skin (not the wound itself) with iodine and methylated spirit or hydrogen peroxide.
4. Cover the bleeding spot with clean soft material (e.g. handkerchief, shirt, sanitary napkin) or wool and apply pressure until the bleeding has stopped or slowed to the point that a bandage can be applied. (Don’t be in a hurry to stop the pressure).
5. Apply the bandage firmly over the pad and continue the pressure. (The bandage must be checked after the knot has been tied to be sure that it is not too tight to stop blood circulation to the area).
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