Apply principles of first aid in

managing clients

Ccohasd
Rebecca Paul
 Learning Tasks

By the end of this session, students are

expected to be able to:
 Define the terms commonly used in first
aid
 Identify the various tools/equipment in first
aid kit.
 Explain the principles of first aid
 Provide first aid to a patient with burn
 Cont..

 Provide first aid to a patient with

hazardous material spill on body and
splashed in eyes
 Provide first aid to a patient with minor
cuts and puncture wounds
 Provide first aid to a patient with snake and
insect bite
 Provide first aid to a patient recovered
from drowning
 Definitions

 First Aid. Is defined as the immediate care of

a person injured in an incident or suffering
from sudden illness. Its purpose is to; Save
life, Prevent further injury, Alleviate suffering
and, Promote recovery until professional
medical care becomes available, or the
casualty recovers.
 OR o Is immediate and temporary care given
to the victim of an accident or sudden illness
until the definitive care obtained.
 Defin…

Casualty: Is a person who is injured or killed in an accident.

Mass casualty: is any incident in which emergency medical
services resources, such as personnel and equipment, are
overwhelmed by the number and severity of casualties.
Emergency: An urgent condition perceived by patient
requiring immediate medical Or Surgical evaluation or
surgical treatment
First aider: A person who is trained to give first aid.
First aid kit: Is a box which contains first aid tools.
 Purposes of First Aid

 Save life
 Prevent further injury
 Alleviate suffering
 Promote recovery until professional medical
care becomes available, or the casualty
recovers.
Tools/Equipment/Items Used in First Aid Kit

 Basic Materials for First Aid Kit

o Bandage tape.
o Hot water bottle.
o Cotton balls.
o Protective gears like Mask, Gloves, etc.
o Disposable facial tissues.
o Disposable gloves (non-latex).
o Flashlight.
o Gauze bandage (1 inch and 2 inch widths).
o Ice bags.
o Disposable towels.
 Cont..
o Pocket mask/face shield for Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR).
o Safety pins.
o Sanitary, trauma or obstetrics and gynecology (OB) pads.
o Soap (plain).
o Sterile adhesive compresses (1 inch x 3 inches),
individually packaged.
o Sterile cotton tipped applicators, individually packaged.
o Sterile gauze squares (2 inches x 2 inches; 3 inches x 3
inches), individually packaged.
o Tongue blades.
o Triangular bandages for sling.
 Cont…
Additional Useful
o Two crepe rollers
o Scissors
o Tweezers
o Cotton wool
o Non alcoholic wound cleaning wipes
o Adhesive tape
o Notepad, pencil and tags
o Plastic face shield
o For outdoor activities blanket, survival bag, torch
and whistle.
o Thermometer
 Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses
 First aid manual.
The manual will help you know how to treat
wounds,sprains,bites and other health common
issues.
. Tweezers.
Can be used to remove debris such as glass, dirt or
splinters from the wound’
Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses cont.....

.Alcohol swabs.
Are used to clean the infected or wounded
area before bandage are placed on the area.
.Antibiotic ointment .
Helps to keep infection out of wound and
proper healing of wound area.
Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses cont.....

 Bandages
Used to support a gauze pad after placing in
the wound, also used for arm sling
 Gauze pads
Used to cover a wound and to absorb blood
 Medical tape.
Used to secure gauze pads
Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses cont......

 Elastic bandages
Helps to keep sprained joint immobile and
reduce swelling, this can be wrapped around
ankles,knees,wrists and elbows until you can
get to a doctor.
.Pain relievers
Used to relieve minor aches and pains
Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses cont......

 Scissors.
Used for cutting gauze or bandage
 Tissue forceps.
helps for holding tissue in case of bleeding or
stitching.
 Disposable non-latex gloves, such as
surgical or examination gloves.
Uses for wearing or protect the hand from
being infected.
Items in a first Aid kit and their
uses cont......
 Flashlight, with extra batteries in a separate
bag.
Uses for lighting in case of dark
 Pen and writing pad.
Uses for keeping records
. Emergency blanket.
Uses for covering casualty
Items in a first Aid kit and
their uses cont......

 Eye patches. Used to protect the eye

 Thermometer. Used for measuring body
temperature
 Barrier devices, such as a mask or face
shield.
Used for covering the mouth and nose.
 Prepare first Aid kit

Introduction .
 A well stocked first aid kit allows you to
respond quickly and effectively to
emergency. It should include supplies to
treat a variety of injury, including
cuts,scrapes,sprains and minor burns.
 The following pictures are an example of fist
aid kit
First Aid Kit example
 Principles of First Aid

1. First aid Priorities

o Assess the Situation
o Observe what has happened quickly and calmly
o Look for danger to yourself and casualty
o Never put yourself at risk
o Asses all Casualties and identify the priority
needs of care using TRIAGE system as follows;
 TRIAGE system

Red Tag
o Need Immediate care (Life Threatening), treat as you
find
Yellow Tag
o Need Medical care within Thirty minutes.
Green Tag
o No need of Treatment, Can be kept under
reassurance of Health Care professional to alleviate
anxiety and allow them to relax before discharge.
Black Tag
o Deceased (No sign of Life).
 Principle….
2.Make the Area Safe
o Protect the casualty from danger
o Keeping a casualty still to avoid
aggravating their injury
o Be aware of your limitation

3. Taking immediate action

o This is the key principle – a quick response to
an accident can save lives and minimize the
risk that things get worse.
o If someone needs help, either from an injury
 Principle….

4. Calming down the situation

o First aiders should be able to remain
calm under pressure and help reduce the
overall stress levels of the injured person
as well as other people who may be
concerned.
o Reassurance can provide more support
that you might expect in an emergency
situation and help people make the right
decisions
 Principle….
5. Asses and Maintaining the
ABCDE
Before a medical professional does arrive, you
will need to asses the condition of patient and
maintain ABCDE (Air way Breathing
Circulation Disabilities Exposure) in order to
stabilize the condition of the injured person.
This comes under the ‘preserve life’ banner,
and follows this flow of procedures:
 Principle….

6. Calling for medical assistance

o Make sure to get a hold of the emergency
services by calling 999 as soon as possible,
either by calling directly yourself or asking a
bystander to do so if you’re preoccupied
handing the injury.
o This will ensure that a medical professional
arrives quickly to handle the situation in a
more comprehensive manner and provide
more specialist treatment
Common Condition Requires
First Aid Treatment

 Air way obstruction (Foreign body in upper

respiratory tract)
 Hemorrhage, Shock, Wound, Fractures, Burn,
Poisoning
 Bites and stings
o Snake bite
o Insect bite
 Cont…..

 Chocking, Drowning, Stroke, Severe

haemorrhage, Heart attack
 Seizures and febrile convulsions
 Acute abdomen
 Head injury
 Spinal injury
 Pandemic threats (SARS & Bird flue
 Hypoglycemia
 Chest injury
 1. First-degree burns (minor burns):

Do the following Aid

 - Cool the burn wound to alleviate the pain by
holding the burned area under cool (not freezing)
running water for 10 to 15 minutes.
 - Remove any accessories (such as: rings, watches
or belts) if any, and remove shoes or clothes
quickly and gently before the area swells.
 - Cover the burn using a damp sterile bandage or
a cool clean cloth, to reduce the risk of infection.
 - Take painkillers to relieve the pain if necessary.
 Cont…

Don't the following

 - Don’t try touching the blister bubbles
resulting from the burn.
 - Don’t apply any ointments or use
butter or toothpaste or any other burn
 remedies.
 - Do not put ice directly on the burned
area.
 2. Second-degree burns:
Do the following Aid
 Protect the burned person from further harm.
 - Remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive
items, especially from around burned areas
like the neck.
 - Take painkillers to relieve the pain if
necessary.
 - Cover the burn using a damp sterile bandage
or a cool clean cloth.
 - Cover opened blisters with a dry, sterile
bandage.
 Cont…

Don't the following

 - Don’t remove burned clothing stuck to
the skin.
 - Don’t cover the burn with adhesive
bandage.
 - Avoid placing larger burned areas of
the body in cold water as this may
cause shock.
 Cont…

 - Do not put ice directly on the burned

area.
 - Don’t apply any ointments or use
butter or toothpaste or any other burn
remedies.
 - Avoid touching the blister bubbles
resulting from the burn.
 - Don’t place thin cotton on the burned
area as it could irritate the skin.
 3. Third-degree burns:

Third-degree burns are considered

the most serious of all burns,
injuring all the layers of the skin
and extending into the fat layer
and sometimes the burn can
extend to the underlying muscle
tissue.
 Cont…

Do the following
 - Check the patient’s vital signs like breathing.
 - Protect the burned person from further harm
by keeping them away from flammable
substances, smoke or sources of heat.
 - Elevate the burned area above the patient’s
heart level, if possible.
 - Cover the burn using a damp sterile bandage
or a cool clean cloth.
 Cont…

Don't the following

 - Don’t remove burned clothing stuck to
the skin.
 - Don't place larger burned areas of the
body in cold water as this may
 cause shock (sudden drop in body
temperature).
 - Don’t cover the burn with adhesive
bandage.
 Cont…

 - Don’t apply any ointments or use

butter or toothpaste or any other
burn
 remedies.
 - Don’t place thin cotton on the
burned area as it could irritate the
skin.
 Provide first aid to a patient with hazardous
material spill on body and splashed in eyes
.

 Stop the source

 Remove the victim from contact with the
chemicals spills, Airborne particles, or fumes.
 Remove patient contaminated cloth and jewellery
 Clear the lungs by taking victim to fresh air
 Perform CPR if no there is no pulse or breath
 If chemical splashes on the body and eyes wash
with water at least 15 minutes
 Do not rub area affected by the spill
 Take the patient to the hospital for medical
assistance
 SNAKE BITE

 This is a wound caused by a snake

bite.
 This is a puncture or tearing of the
skin by the teeth caused by an animal
like snake.
 First aid to a patient with
snake
 Remove the victim from the danger of a
second bite.
 Keep the victim at rest, preferably lying
down. Don’t allow him to move.
 Splint the limb.
 Keep the bite area below the level of the
heart
 Place a constricting band (not a
tourniquet) on the site of the bite. Be
sure you can feel the pulse below the
restricting band. Loosen the band every
 CONT…

 The band should not be placed around

a joint, or around the head, neck, or
trunk.
 To reassurance the casuality.
 If shock develops keep the casualty
warm.
 If breathing stop give artificial
respiration. I f the heart stops,
perform Cardiopulmonary
 Cont…

 Resuscitation (CPR) if you are trained.

 It is extremely important to get the casualty
to a hospital as soon as possible, even if no
 symptoms develop.
DON’Ts
 Do not apply cold to the bitten area, such as
cold compresses, ice pack and sprays.
 Do not make incisions or give suction over
the wound.
 INSECT’S BITES

 This is a sharp, starting sensation as of

wound cause by insect stings bite
 A painful wound caused by the thrust of an
insect stinger into skin.
 First aid to a patient with
insect bite
 If the sting is still present it should be
carefully removed.
 Ice should be applied locally, to limit
inflammation at the site of the sting as well
as systemic distribution of the venom.
 (Diphenhydramine or other antihistamine)
should be given by mouth or parentally.
 If signs and symptoms of anaphylactic
reaction exist, epinephrine should be
administered
 Cont…

 Corticosteroids are given to reduce the risk of

delayed allergic responses.
 Patients who had large local reactions or
systemic reactions to sting be referred for
desensitization (Immunotherapy).
 Reassure the casualty
 Multiple stings can also be dangerous Sting
in the mouth or throat are serious as the
swelling they can cause obstruction of the
airway.
 DROWNING

 Drowning is the process of experiencing

respiratory impairment from
submersion/immersion in liquid.
 Just 30 mm of liquid and you can drown.
 First aid to a patient recovered
from drowning

 1. Don’t put yourself in danger when trying to

rescue a patient
 Perform primary assessment ABC
 Call for help 999 0r 112 if patient not responsive
 Try to call the drowning person and shake their
shoulder to make sure they are responding
 Start CPR, Place patient on film surface and open
their airway give 30 compression and two rescue
breath.
 Cont..
 Be aware many casualties that drown may bring up
stomach contents, so be prepared to roll them onto
their side to clear their airway.
 If patient shows the signs of becoming responsive
such as coughing, opening eyes, speaking, and
start to breath.
 Monitoring the patient’s level of response and
prepare to give CPR again if necessary.
 Monitoring patient vital sign until the ambulance
arrives.
 Cuts and Wound

 Cuts and Wound; Are injuries involving an

external or internal break in body tissue,
which can be caused by an external action
and include bruising, cuts and hematomas.
 First aid to a patient with
minor cuts and puncture wounds

 Wash hands, This help to prevent infection.

 Stop the bleeding, apply gentle pressure with
clean cloth or bandage to stop the bleeding and
hypovolemic shock
 Clean the cut or wound, make sure the dirty
and debris are removed
 Disinfect the wound to prevent infection by
apply topical antiseptic
 Cont..

 Dress the wound, cover the wound with sterile

gauze pad and secure with adhesive tapes.
 Refer to a physician or hospital, if wound is
deep and there’s heavy bleeding refer patient
to the hospital for intensive treatment such as
suturing or other surgical procedure.
 Watch out for signs of hypovolemic shock, such
as pallor, cyanosis clammy skin weak and
rapid pulse, irregular breathing and weakness.
 THE END

THANKS FOR LISTENING

 References
1. Resuscitation Council (2005) guidelines which can be
found at www.resus.org.ukHand H & Banks A (2004)
2. The contents of the resuscitation trolley. Nursing
Standard14(8) 43-52Jevon(2006)
3. Resuscitation skills –part 1: the recovery position
Nursing Times102(25) 23-9Jevon(2006) Resuscitation
skills –part 2: clearing the airway Nursing
Times102(26) 26-7Jevon(2006)
4. Resuscitation skills –part 3: basic airway management
Nursing Times102(27) 26-7Jevon(2006)
5. Resuscitation skills –part 4: chest compressions
Nursing Times102(28) 26-7JevonP (2008) Maintaining
an airway: Nursing Standard22(26) pp35-7