First Aid

February 16, 2016 |

One Second of care can save a life.
In case of a sudden injury, illness, health emergency we are all called to give the care and aid to preserve life, prevent the worse and make sure the case will be in recovery process.
Our First Aid to any person in this condition is very valuable.

We must know the basics of first aid prior to medical professional help.

Basic First Aid skills:

First aid is necessary in the following health cases:
If any of those cases becomes severe you should Call 140 as soon as possible, or get someone else to do it. Then do the necessary until help arrives:

When someone is unconscious and not breathing:
· Check breathing by tilting their head backwards and looking and feeling for breaths.
· Push firmly downwards in the middle of the chest and then release, chest compressions.
· Push at a regular rate until help arrives.

When someone is choking:
Back blows: Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades to dislodge the object.

When someone is unconscious and breathing:
· Place the person on their side and tilt their head back.
· Check breathing by tilting their head backwards and looking and feeling for breaths

When someone is bleeding heavily:
· Put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
· Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.

First aid for burns:
· Cool the burn under cold running water for at least ten minutes.
· Loosely cover the burn with cling film or a clean plastic bag.

First aid for a broken bone:
· Immobilize the affected part: Encourage the person to support the injury with their hand, or use a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.
· Continue supporting the injury until help arrives.

For someone who is having a heart attack:
· Ensure they are sitting and call 140 immediately.
· The person may have persistent, vice-like chest pain, which may spread to their arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach.
· Make sure they are in a position that is comfortable for them (e.g. sit them on the floor, leaning against a wall or chair).
· Give them constant reassurance while waiting for the ambulance.

When someone is having a stroke:
· Carry out the FAST test, think FAST:
Face: is there weakness on one side of the face?
Arms: can they raise both arms?
Speech: is their speech easily understood?
· Call 140 Immediately.

First aid for seizures (epilepsy):

· Make them safe and prevent injury, do not restrain them but use a blanket or clothing to protect their head from injury.
· After the seizure, help the person rest on their side with their head tilted back.

First aid for diabetes:
· Give them something sweet to eat or a non-diet drink.
· Reassure the person. If there is no improvement, until help arrives.

First aid for an asthma attack:
· Help the person sit in a comfortable position and take their medication.
· Reassure the person.

First aid for poisoning and harmful substance:
· Establish what they have taken. When? And how much?
· Do not make the person sick.

First aid for a head injury
· Ask them to rest and apply a cold compress to the injury.
· If they become drowsy or vomit, call 140 immediately.

First aid for less severe cases and 140 is not needed.
If any of those cases worsen you should immediately see a doctor:

Mundane bloody nose:
· Lean forward, not back. Back makes you swallow the blood that drains down the throat it irritates lining of the stomach and may cause nausea or vomiting.
· Pinch just at the bottom of the bridge of the nose (hard part).
· Hold the nose for at least 5 minutes

Cut finger:
· Rinse the cut under running water.
· Wash with soap without perfumes, it might sting.
· Place a band aid when you are sure the blood had stopped.

Sprain:
· Ice the sprain with an ice pack.
· Compress the sprain with an elastic bandage.
· Ask a healthcare provider to show you how to properly apply an elastic bandage.
· Elevate the sprain above the level of the heart as often as possible during the first 48 hours.
· Rest the sprained joint by not placing weight on it.
· Use a cane or crutch on the uninjured side to lean away from the injury.

Splinter:
· Wash your hands thoroughly before attempting to remove the splinter.
· Before trying more invasive methods, squeeze the splinter from both sides and the bottom of the splinter to try and work it back the way it came.
· Clean a needle and a pair of tweezers with povidone-iodine solution.
· Wash the wound and surrounding area with soap and warm water.
· A little povidone-iodine solution on the wound is also not a bad idea.

Diarrhea:
· In most cases of sudden diarrhea the right treatment is simply waiting it out. The body is almost always reacting to an infection or ingestion of something bad by ridding itself of toxins or bacteria and once it is finished it will stop.
· Just avoid dehydration.
· Eat probiotics.
· Try the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, apples or applesauce, and dry toast.

Nausea:
· Figure out the reason.
· Try deep slow breathing.
· Take vitamin B6 or ginger supplements.

Bug bites:
· Apply an ice pack to the site of the sting.
· Alternate on and off to prevent tissue damage, usually 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.

Distress:
· Show you are listening and calmly ask them how you can help.
· Be considerate of what is going on around them and what they need.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/

First Aid Kit :

Wherever you are keep a first aid kit with you, in your home, in your car and check it regularly to keep all your necessary items available when needed, check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents.
Buy one, you can find it in the Red Cross locations or in the pharmacies or you can make your own:

All the items that you need include:
Personal items:
· Medications
· Emergency phone numbers
· Other items your health-care provider may suggest.

All first aid kits should include the following:

· 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
· 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
· 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
· 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
· 5 antiseptic wipe packets
· 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
· 1 blanket (space blanket)
· 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
· 1 instant cold compress
· 2 pair of non latex gloves (size: large)
· 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
· Scissors
· 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
· 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
· 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
· 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
· Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non glass)
· 2 triangular bandages
· Tweezers
· First aid instruction booklet