Quick access to the helpless or unconscious

DROWNING
Drowning is death due to suffocation in water or any other liquids. Death does not occur immediately. A person who has stopped breathing has only 4 to 6 minutes to live, therefore, First Aid must be fast.
A drowned person’s lungs are filled with water resulting in suffocation. The drowned person can be revived if the water can be removed from his lungs and his natural breathing is restored by artificial respiration.
Artificial respiration
Artificial respiration is an emergency method of supplying air to the lungs of a person who has stopped breathing.
Artificial respiration in an emergency situation that require first aid is practically carried out through mouth to mouth breathing.
Artificial/Mouth to mouth Respiration
The following step should be employed
Lay the victim on his side with his head lower than the rest of the body. With the heel of your hand on his belly between the ribs and navel, make a quick upward push to force water from his lungs and stomach.
Then turn the victim to lie on his back. All tight clothing must be loosened to allow free passage of fresh air to the lungs.
Pull his lower jaw forward to open the mouth and remove any obstacle such as mucus, weeds or mud that may likely block his air passage (the throat) to the lungs.
Close his nostrils with your fingers and open his mouth wide and cover his mouth with your mouth tightly. Take a deep breath and gently blow in air into his lungs.
Remove your mouth so that the person breathes out while you wait to take another deep breath. Repeat this procedure for about 15 times per minute.
Repeat mouth – to – mouth respiration until the person is able to breathe on his own. In some cases, it takes up to one hour for normal breathing to be restored.

EPILEPSY
Epilepsy is a sudden and brief loss of consciousness as a result of temporary disturbance of the cerebrum of the brain. Consciousness is regained after.
Sign of Epilepsy
1.Jerking of limbs, neck and head.
2.     Fronting (foaming) in the mouth.
3.The tongue may be bitten.

First aid Measures
1.The patient should be removed from a place of danger such as fire place and water body; hard and sharp object such as woody chair, stone, knife, cutlass which may cause him physical injuries.
2.The patient should lie on the ground and his head turn to one side and supported so that the tongue may not fall backward
3.Gently open his mouth and place a clean object such as folded handkerchief or a piece of rubber between his teeth to prevent him from bitting his tongue.
            If his teeth are closed together, do not force them open as injuries may occur
4.Do not disturb him during the Period of unconsciousness as disturbance may delay recovery.
5.Allow the patient to inhale plenty of fresh air so that sufficient oxygenated blood flows to the brain for quick recovery
6.The patient should be allowed to sleep as long as he wishes in order to regain strength.

FITS (CONVULSIONS)
A fit is a sudden loss of consciousness due to a problem in the brain. The common causes of fits are high fever, severe dehydration, malaria of the brain, poisoning or meningitis. In children, the common causes are high fever and dehydration.
First aid Measures
1.Keep the patient from injuring himself if he falls to the floor or ground by removing dangerous objects on the floor.
2.Wrap his leg loosely with a blanket to control his legs from shaking about. The restricted movement of the legs will reduce weakness.
3.If the fit is due to high fever, pour could water over the body or allow him to sit under the fan to reduce his body temperature.
4.Put dresses soaked in cold water on his chest and forehead to continue to reduce the temperature. High body temperature is harmful to enzymes in the body.
5.Prevent the biting of his tongue and cheek as described in epilepsy.

DISLOCATION
A Dislocation is the displacement of a bone at a joint and more often with the tearing of tendons and ligaments around the joint. Most dislocations occur are at the ankle, hip, shoulder,elbow, fingers and lower jaw.
Signs and symptoms of dislocation
1.Severe pains at the affected joint
2.Swelling around the affected joint
3.The limb cannot move at the affected joint
4.The length of the limb may not be the same as other limb
5.Deformity at the affected joint
6.There is no power in the affected limb
First Aid Measures
1.Bind the affected joint with a bandage or handkerchief or piece of cloth so as to give support to the limb, the bandage should not be too tight so that it may not interfere with blood circulation.
2.Apply cold water or ice water to the bandage frequently to reduce pains.
3.Rest the patient in bed
4.Apply embrocation gently to the affected joint to reduce pains.

FRACTURE
Fracture is a disjunction in any part of the human skeleton.

   Sign Of Fracture 
1.Pain at the part fractured
2.Fractured part swells
3.Internal bleeding as broken bones punctures blood vessels
4.Fractured part becomes disfigured as the part lengthens or shortens or left in unnatural position
5.Inability to move fractured part.

First Aid Measures
1.Place splints in front and back of the whole fractured limb.(one bandage above and one below) to immobilize the limb, and to keep the bones in place to prevent more damages to the bone and surrounding tissues. (Note: In absence of bandage, handkerchief, necktie, belt or scarf can be used).
A splint is a narrow strip of wood.
2.Place the fractured hand inside the sling with the fingers coming out of the sling with the fingers coming out of the sling as in diagram. This makes the hand to be at right angle position.
A sling can be made by folding a large piece of cloth or towel diagonally. The two ends of the cloth or towel are then tied around the neck. Slings help to immobilize the entire arm and gives support.
3.The victim should be carried on a stretcher to avoid holding the fractured area so as to prevent more injuries.
4.If there is bleeding, this must be treated first before the fracture is tied with splints in order to avoid infection and loss of blood that may lead to fainting.

Thigh (Femur)
1.Hold the ankle and foot and as much as possible straighten the limbs slightly.
2.Splint the body from the chest into the feet
3.Bandage the chest , waist, ankles/legs and knees
4.In absence of splint, tie the two legs together in several places

Reference
College Biology