FIRST AID

ALBERT L. ASPREC, M.D., M.O.H.

Trauma is the leading cause of death in
the first 40 years of life, and ranks
fourth among causes of death overall
 FIRST AID

Spells the difference between :

• Life / death
• Temporary / permanent disability
• Rapid recovery / long hospitalization
Treatment priority
 Asphyxia
 Hemorrhage
 Shock
 Fractures
Airway open
Breathing restored
Circulation restored
 WOUNDS
A break in the continuity of the tissues of
the body, either internal or external
Open - break in the skin or mucous
membrane
Closed - injury to underlying tissues,
none on skin
 Common Causes of Wounds
• External physical forces
• Motor vehicle accident
• Falls
• Mishandling of sharp objects
• Tools
• Machinery
• Weapons
Types of Open Wounds
• Abrasion
• Incision
• Laceration
• Puncture
• Avulsion
 Abrasions

Skin is scraped against a hard

surface
Bleeding limited
Danger of contamination
 Incisions

Tissue is cut against a smooth sharp

surface (knife)
Bleeding is profuse
Infection is minimal
Damage to tendons, muscles, nerves
 Lacerations

Tearing of tissue (jagged, irregular or

rough edges)
Bleeding is profuse
Contamination rate is high
Massive tissue destruction
 Punctures

Pointed object piercing the skin layers

Minimal bleeding
Infection rate is high
Punctured foot
 Avulsion

Tissue is forcibly separated from the body

Rapid and profuse bleeding
High contamination
 First Aid for Open Wounds
• Stop the bleeding immediately
• Protect the wound from contamination
• Provide care against shock
• Seek medical attention
Techniques to Stop Bleeding

• Direct pressure
• Elevation
• Pressure on supplying artery
• Tourniquet
Direct pressure
Elevate
Pressure on supplying artery
Tourniquet
 Preventing Contamination

• Don’t remove the cloth pad initially placed

• Don’t cleanse the wound
• Prevent shock before & during transport
• Immobilize injured area
 If you have to clean the wound ...
 Wash your hands first with soap & water
 Wipe the wound inside going out in a
circular motion
 Don’t return to the wound
 Apply sterile dressing and bandage
 Seek medical consult
Symptoms of Infection
• Swelling
• Redness
• Warm sensation
• Throbbing pain
• Tenderness
• Fever
• Pus formation
• Lymph node enlargement
 CARDIO PULMONARY
RESUSCITATION

Thousands of lives are lost each year

as a result of respiratory & cardiac
arrest.
Many of those lives could have been
saved and we are taking that pro-active
approach to prepare you in the event of
an accident
 The brain relies on
oxygen and sugar
for energy. It can
only survive 5
minutes of
deprivation after
which some nerve
cells start to die.

CPR
The bodily functions
governed by these
cells either weaken
or are lost. CPR
can artificially
restore the nutrients
and spell the
difference between
leading a normal life
or not.
When a victim goes into C P Arrest
© Shout
© Shake
© Check obstructions in mouth (A)
© Hyper-extend the head
© Seal mouth and nose
© Start Respiratory Resuscitation (B)
© Locate Xyphoid process
© Interlace fingers and position
© Start Chest compression (C)
 POISONING

Any substance (solid, liquid or gas)

that tends to impair health or cause
death when introduced into the body

Caused by accidental intake of

chemical, medicine overdose,
combining drugs and alcohol, etc..
 Symptoms of Poisoning
• Information from victim or observer
• Presence of a container with poison
• Abdominal cramps
• Difficulty of breathing
• Burns around lips or mouth
• Breath odor
• Pinpoint pupils
Objectives in treatment of poisoning
by mouth :

• Dilute or neutralize the poison

• Induce vomiting
• Maintain respiration
• Seek medical assistance
 When you do not know what poison
was swallowed ...
• Dilute the poison with water or milk
• Try to find out what poison has been
swallowed (Look for the original container)
• Seek medical help immediately
If the victim swallowed a strong acid,
alkali, or petroleum product, and you
don’t have the original container ...
• Dilute the poison with water or milk
• DO NOT Induce vomiting
• Get medical help immediate.
R L
L
R L
R
 When acids, alkali or petroleum products
is suspected DON’T INDUCE
VOMITING.

The chemical can go back to the mouth

then to the lungs.

Poisoning
Thermal Burns
 Cross
Cross Section
section ofofskin
the Skin
 First Degree Burns

• Wash or immerse in cold water

• Apply burn ointment
• Dress if necessary
 Second Degree Burns
• Immerse in cold water (not ice water)
• Apply burn ointment and sterile dressing
• Do not break blisters or remove tissue
• Do not use antiseptic
• Elevate the involved area
• Seek medical attention
 Third Degree Burn

• Do not remove adhered particles of burnt

clothing
• Cover area with sterile dressing
• Elevate involved area
• Proceed to emergency room
 Chemical Burns on the Skin

• Wash away chemical with running water

• Take care not to contaminate yourself
• Remove the victims clothing
• Cover with clean towel or blanket
• Refer to a doctor
 Chemical Burns of the Eye

• Bring victim to a source of running

water
• Turn his head to one side (affected eye
is lower)
• Run the tap gently for 15 minutes
• Refer to a doctor
• Do not apply any eye drops, antiseptic
or ointment
 Heimlich Maneuver
• When a victim appears to choke
• Go behind him,
• Wrap your arms around the waist
• Position one fist inward, cupped by the
other
• Jerk inward and upward & release
• Repeat as necessary to dislodge
obstruction
 FRACTURES

These are breaks or cracks in the bone

brought about by a tremendous force
exerted on the skeletal system
• Open / Close
• Simple / Compound
• Comminuted / Segmental
Signs and Symptoms of a Fracture
• Deformity of the body part
• Swelling and Tenderness
• Limited range of motion
• Abnormal movement
• Shortening of the limb
• Hematoma
• Cold or discolored distal extremity
• Crepitus
• Bone protrusion
Signs and Symptoms of a Fracture
• Deformity of the body part
• Swelling and Tenderness
• Limited range of motion
• Abnormal movement
• Shortening of the limb
• Hematoma
• Cold or discolored distal extremity
• Crepitus
• Bone protrusion
 First Aid for Fractures
• Prevent motion of injured part /adjacent joints
• Apply a splint to restrict movement
• Immobilize the joint above & the joint below
• Do not attempt to set the fracture
• Do not push protruded bone ends back
• Transport to hospital
 Splint
• Is a device used to immobilize fractures
• Decreases pain and shock by
preventing motion
• Protects against further injury
• Useful if long enough and padded