Western First Aid & Safety - First Aid Reference Guide

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FIRST AID REFERENCE GUIDE

First Aid Precautions

When administering first aid, you can be exposed to bloodborne pathogens which spread disease. To avoid infection, the best practice is to treat all blood or bodily fluids as if they are infectious, whether you think they are or not. To reduce the risks, always wear disposable gloves when giving first aid or cleaning up body fluid spills, and use a face shield or mask when performing CPR. When removing contaminated gloves, do so carefully to prevent any splattering of blood or body fluids. After removing gloves, immediately clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, if available; otherwise wash carefully using soap and water.

Heart Attacks

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
· Chest discomfort with light-headedness
· Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts
    more than a few minutes
· Pain that may spread to the shoulders, neck or arms
· Nausea, sweating and/or shortness of breath
· Pale or ashen skin
  Victims will often deny symptoms

First Aid for a Heart Attack
· The victim should stop any physical activity.
· The victim should sit or rest in a position slightly elevating the upper body.
· Loosen any constricting clothing.
· If heart attack signs persist, call 911.
· Ask the conscious victim if they have medication for chest pain. Assist with administration
    if necessary.
· Provide supplemental oxygen if available.

Stroke

Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
· A sudden headache
· Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, an arm or leg
· Sudden confusion or trouble communicating
· Unexplained dizziness or unsteadiness
· Inability to speak, slurred or incoherent speech
· Dimness or a loss of vision, usually in one eye
· Loss of consciousness

First Aid for a Heart Attack
   Check for responsiveness. If no response:
· Call EMS / 911.
· Assess for breathing and circulation. Provide necessary care.

   If breathing and circulation are present:
· Place victim on their affected side.
· Make sure EMS / 911 has been alerted.
· Comfort and reassure victim.
· Continue to monitor breathing and circulation.

Emergency Response

1.) Assess
· Assess the emergency scene for safety. Is it safe to approach the victim(s)? If the
    scene is not safe, alert EMS for help. Look for additional bystanders for assistance
    and make them aware of any existing danger.
· If you can approach, assess the victim(s) for life-threatening conditions. Assess
    victim(s) for breathing, signs of circulation or hemorrhaging (severe bleeding).

2.) Alert
· Call EMS / 911 for medical assistance if necessary. Remember not to hang up until
    told to do so.

3.) Attend
· Complete a head-to-toe exam and provide the necessary care until advanced medical
    help (EMS) arrives and takes over.

Basic CPR

A = Airway
· Open airway; tilt head/lift chin. If you suspect a neck injury, open airway without
    tilting head.

B = Breathing
· Check breathing; place your cheek over victim's mouth and nose while looking at chest.
· Look for chest to move.
· Listen for air.
· Feel for breath on your cheek and ear.
· Look, listen and feel for 5 seconds (no more than 10 seconds).
· If not breathing normally, give 2 breaths that make the chest visibly rise.

C = Compressions
· Give 30 chest compressions, 2 rescue breaths. Repeat.
· Middle of the chest between nipples.
· For children use one hand or two, for infants use two fingers.
· Push hard and fast.
· Minimize interruptions.
· Continue 30:2 until and AED or EMS arrives, or victim shows signs of life.

D = Defibrillation
· Expose the chest, turn on AED.
· Follow the AED voice prompts.
· SHOCK advised: CLEAR and give 1 shock. Immediately resume chest compressions.
· NO SHOCK advised: Immediately resume chest compressions.
· 30:2 x 5 cycles. Continue as directed by the AED.
· For children, use child-specific AED pads/settings. Do not defibrillate infants.

Choking / Severe Blockage

Responsive Victim
· Ask "are you choking?"
· If yes, act quickly.
· Stand behind victim (kneel if victim is a child).
· Make a fist. Place the thumb side against the victim's abdomen, just above the navel.
· Give quick inward and upward thrusts until the object is expelled or the victim becomes
    unresponsive.

Unresponsive Victim
· Carefully get the victim to the ground, immediately alert EMS / 911 or activate your
    Emergency Action Plan.
· Open the airway. Remove the object if you can see it. Begin CPR.

Severe Bleeding and Shock

Apply Direct Pressure
· Apply firm direct pressure over the wound.
· Victim can do this for themselves, if they are able.

Apply Pressure Bandage
· Wrap an elastic bandage snugly over the gauze pad to maintain pressure and hold
    gauze in place.

If Bleeding Continues...
· Or the first dressings become soaked with blood, apply more pads, dressings, and
    maintain direct pressure.
· Do not remove the first dressings.

Manage Shock
· Assure an open airway and adequate breathing.
· Keep the bleeding under control.
· Prevent chilling or overheating.
· It is best to leave the victim lying flat.
· If it's available and you are properly trained, give emergency oxygen.

Minor Wounds

· If bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or absorbent pad.
· Wash with clean, running tap water for about 5 minutes, or until there appears to
    be no foreign matter in the wound.
· Apply triple antibiotic lotion or cream to speed healing and reduce infection.
· Cover the area with an adhesive bandage or gauze pad.

Burns

Major (third degree)
· Expose burn.
· Cut and gently lift away any clothing covering the burned area.
· If clothing is stuck to the burn, do not remove it.
· If the victim is in contact with a liquid chemical, immediately flush the chemical
    off with large amounts of water.
· Remove jewelry if possible (burns cause swelling).
· Separate fingers or toes with dry, sterile, non-adhesive dressings.
· Lightly cover the burn area with a dry sterile bandage or a clean sheet if the
    burned area is large.
· If it's available and you are properly trained, give emergency oxygen.

Minor (first/second degree)
· Expose the burn.
· Cool heat burns with cold water as quickly as possible and continue cooling at
    least until the pain is relieved.
· After cooling, cover the burn with a dry, sterile bandage or a clean dressing.
· Protect the burn from pressure and friction.
· DO NOT pop burn blisters.
· DO NOT apply ointment, butter, ice, medications, cream, oil, spray or any
    other substance to a burn.

Strains and Sprains

Rest
· Discontinue activity.
Ice
· Apply a cold pack (do not place directly on skin).
Compress
· Use an elastic or conforming wrap to hold the ice in place on the injury. Do
    not make the wrap too tight.
Elevate
· Injured area should be elevated above heart level to control any internal bleeding.

Dislocations and Fractures

· Immobilize the area, using pillows, jackets, blankets, etc. Stop movement by
    supporting the injured area.
· Call EMS or 911.
· Care for shock, if necessary.
· Treat any additional secondary injuries.

Head, Neck or Spinal Injury

· Stabilize head and neck to stop movement.
· Maintain an open airway.
· Call EMS or 911.
· Care for shock, if necessary.

Heat-Related Injuries

Heat Cramps
· Signs: painful muscle cramps; moist and cool skin; heavy sweating.
· Move to a cool place.
· Give water or saline solution.
· Massage muscle.

Heat Exhaustion
· Signs: cold and clammy; heavy sweating; weak pulse; shallow breathing; nausea,
    stomach cramps, weakness or fatigue, headache.
· Move to a cool place.
· Elevate legs.
· Remove sweat-soaked clothing.
· Apply cool packs.
· Give water.
· Monitor victim for improvement.

Heat Stroke
· Signs: hot, dry, red skin; confusion or unconsciousness; little or no
    sweating; full, rapid pulse.
· Move to a cool place.
· Immediately cool victim by fanning and applying cool water and/or ice packs.
· Remove any excess clothing.
· Call EMS (911).

Cold-Related Injuries

Frostbite
· Signs: skin is white and waxy, area may feel frozen on the surface.
Frozen
· Signs: skin is hard and looks blotchy white to yellow-grey or blue-grey.
· Remove victim from cold environment.
· Transport victim immediately to a medical facility.
· Do not allow victim to smoke. Smoking will further constrict the blood vessels,
    hindering the body's own heating abilities.
· Do not rewarm area if there is a chance of refreezing.
· Only rewarm the area if medical authorities advise you to do so.
· Seek medical attention.

Mild Hypothermia
· Signs: shivering; slurred speech; stumbling or staggering; conscious and can talk.
· Remove victim from cold environment.
· Have a source of heat (warm water, fireplace, etc...).
· Replace wet clothes with dry.
· Provide a hat, blankets, coats to insulate the victim.
· Seek medical attention.

Severe Hypothermia
· Signs: body core temperature is below 90°F; shivering has stopped; muscles are
    stiff and rigid; skin has bluish appearance; skin does not react to pain; pulse
    and respiration are slow; pupils are dilated; victim may appear dead.
· Call EMS (911).
· Keep victim from getting colder.
· Rewarming in the field is not recommended.
· Be careful when moving victim, treat them as if they might break.
· While checking vitals, perform a thorough pulse check before determining the need
    for CPR.

This guide is from a publication by the American Safety & Health Institute. We do not guarantee the medical validity of this information or the results obtained from using this information. Nor do we presume that every acceptable safety procedure is covered. Abnormal or unusual circumstances may require further or additional procedures. Western First Aid & Safety assumes no liability for using information provided in this guide.

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