Short First Aid Training
02 December 2007
SHORT FIRST AID TRAINING
Data showed more than three million accidents occur each year. Accident can be happened in the street, school, and event in your home. This article give you the practical guideline about basic first aid principle; casualty saving technique; right act to the casualty.
This part featuring first aids on accident and all condition that possible you met in home. Including mild injury such as strains and sprains, broken bones, nosebleeds, insect stings, burns, sunburn, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. In every case, were detailed how the wound and its condition, with sign and symptom, and what can you do while waiting medical care assistance.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult a doctor. Review this with a doctor prior to use.
STRAINS AND SPRAINS
What’s the difference between a strain and sprain? Sprains involve a stretch or partial tear of ligament (which connect muscle to bone). The ankle is where sprains occur most commonly.
What to expect:
• Pain
• Difficulty moving the injured part
• Decreased strength
• Swelling and bruising
What to do:
1. Stop activity right away
2. Think R.I.C.E for the first 48 hours after the injury :
• Rest: rest the injured part until its less painful.
• Ice: wrap an ice pack or cold compress in a towel and place over the injury immediately. Continue for no more than 20 minutes at a time four to eight times a day.
• Compression: support the injury with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days.
• Elevation: rise the injured part above heart level to decrease swelling.
3. Give the child ibuprofen ( such as Proris ) for pain and reduce swelling.
4. The doctor will prescribe an exercise program to prevent stiffness.
Seek Emergency Medical Care if the child has:
• Severe pain when the injured part is touched or moved.
• Trouble bearing weight and the child cant walk for more than 4 steps after an injury.
• Increasing bruising
• Numbness or a feeling “pins and needles” in the injured area.
• A limb that looks “bent” or misshapen.
• Signs of infection ( increasing warmth, redness, streaks, swelling, and pain )
• A strain or sprain that doesn’t seem to be improving after 5 to 7 days.
Think Prevention!
Teach children to warm up properly and to stretch before participating in any sport activity, and make sure they always wear appropriate protective equipment.
BROKEN BONES
Broken bones are not uncommon in children – especially after a fall. A broken bone requires emergency medical care.
The child may have a broken bone if:
• You or the child heard a “snap” or a grinding noise during the injury
• There is swelling, bruising, tenderness, or a feeling of “pins and needles”
• Its painful to bear weight on the injured area or to move it.
What to do?
1. Remove clothing from the injured part.
2. Apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in cloth.
3. Keep the injured limb in the position you find it.
4. Seek medical care, and don’t allow the child to eat, in case surgery is needed.
Do not move the child – and call for emergency medical care – if:
• The child may have the seriously injured the head, neck, or back.
• A broken bone come trough the skin (apply constant pressure with a clean gauze pad or thick cloth, and keep the child lying down until help arrives, do not wash the wound or push in any part of the bone that is sticking out).
Think prevention!
Prevent injuries as children grow: use safety gates at bedroom doors and at the top and bottom of any stairs for toddlers, make sure children plying sports always wear helmets and safety gear, and use car seats or seatbelts t all ages.
NOSE BLEEDS
Although they can be scary, nosebleeds are common in children ages 3 to 10 years and usually aren’t serious. In fact, most nosebleeds stop on their own and can be treated safety at home.
Did You Know?
If a child’s bed in near a heather – in the winter time, especially the membrane inside the nose can become dry and itchy, causing the child to pick at his or her nose and further irritate the nasal tissue.
What to do?
1. Have the child sit up with his or her head tilled slightly forward. Do not have the child lean back (this may cause gagging, coughing, or vomiting).
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose (just below the bony part) for at least 10 minutes.
Call a doctor if the child:
• Has frequent nosebleeds
• May have put something in his or her nose
• Tends to bruise easily, or has heavy bleeding from minor wounds
• Recently started a new medication.
Seek emergency medical care or call the child’s doctor if bleeding:
• Is heavy, or is accompanied by dizziness or weakness
• Continues after two attempts of applying pressure for 10 minutes each
• Is the result of a blow to the head or a fall
Think prevention!
Most childhood nosebleeds are caused by dryness and nose picking. To help combat dryness, use saline (salt water) nasal spray or drops (or put petroleum jelly on the inside edges of the child’s nostrils) and use humidifier in the child’s room. To help prevent damage from nose picking, keep the child’s fingernails short.
INSECT STINGS
Although insect stings can be irritating, symptom usually don’t require treatment by a doctor. However, kids who are highly allergic to insect stings may have life threatening symptoms and may require emergency treatment.
Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction:
Swelling af the face or mouth, difficulty swallowing or speaking, chest tightness, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
What to do?
If there are sign of severe reaction, call for emergency medical care, and give diphenhydramine while waiting for the ambulance. If your child has been previously prescribed inject able ephinephrine, it should be given if sign of a severe reaction are present.
If there are no sign of a severe reaction:
1. Remove the child from the area where he or she was stung.
2. If the child was stung by a honeybee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket, and the stinger is visible, remove it by gently scraping the skin horizontally with the edge of a credit card or your fingernail.
3. Wash the area with soap and water.
4. Apply ice or a cool wet cloth to the area to relieve pain and swelling.
5. If the area is itchy, apply a paste of baking soda and water, or calamine lotion (do not apply calamine to the child’s face or genital).
Seek emergency medical care if:
• The child shows symptom of a severe allergic reaction.
• The sting is anywhere in the mouth.
• He child has a known severe allergic to a stinging insect.
• Inject able epinephrine (EpiPen) was used.
Think Prevention!
Try to have the child avoid: walking barefoot while on grass; using scented soap, perfumes, or hair spray; dressing in bright colors or flowery print; areas where insect nest or congregate; and drinking from soda cans. Also makes sure that: outside garbage cans have tight-fitting lids; there are not stagnant pool of water (in rain gutters, flower pot, birdbath, etc.); and food is covered when eating outside.
BURNS
Burns from fire or other sources of heat range from mild to life threatening. Some burns can be treated at home; others need emergency medical care.
Types of Burns
• First degree burns, usually caused by brief contact with heat, can cause redness, pain, and some swelling.
• Second degree burns are more severe and usually result in blisters and more intense redness.
• Third degree burns are the deepest and may be painless due to nerve damage.
What to do?
If you can’t get the child to hospital right a way or must wait for an ambulance, begin this treatment:
1. Remove clothing from the burned areas, except clothing stuck to skin.
2. Run cool (not cold) water over the burn until the pain lessens.
3. Do not put ay ointment, butter, or others remedies on the burn, this can makes the burn worse.
4. Lightly apply a gauze bandage if it’s a small first degree burn.
Seek emergency medical care if:
• It’s a second or third degree burn.
• The burned area is large (cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel)
• The burn came from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals.
• The burn is on face, scalp, hands, or genitals.
• The burn looks infected (with swelling, pus, or increasing redness or red streaking of the skin near the wound.
Think Prevention!
You can help prevent burn injuries by being careful when using candles, space heaters, and curling iron, and by not allowing young children to play in the kitchen while someone is cooking. Keep children away from hot drinks and radiators, and always check the temperature of bath water before putting a child in the tub.
SUNBURN
The best treatment for sunburn is prevention. Mild sunburn result in skin irritation and redness and can be safely treated at home. Severe sunburn requires medical attention.
Did you know?
More than 90% of skin cancers are the result of sun exposure. Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for kids who have many moles or freckles, very fair skin and hair, or a family history of skin cancer.
What to do?
1. Remove the child from the sun right a way.
2. Place the child in a cool (not cold) shower or bath, or apply cool compress, several times a day.
3. Offer the child extra fluids for the next 2-3 days.
4. Give the child ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed, if needed, to relieve pain.
5. Make sure all sunburned areas are fully covered to protect the child from the sun until healed.
Call a doctor if the child has:
• A sunburn that forms blisters or is extremely painful
• Facial swelling from a sunburn
• A sunburn that covers a large area
• Fever or chills after getting sunburned
• Headache, confusion, or a feeling of faintness
• Signs of dehydration (increased thirst, or dry eyes and mouth)
• Signs of infection on the skin (increasing redness, warmth, pain, swelling, or pus)
Think Prevention!
Before kids go out in the sun, remember, “Slip Slap Slop”
Slip on a shirt.
Slap on a brimmed hat and sunglasses
Slop on sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 (reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or if the child has been in water or sweating a lot).
HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEATSTROKE
During hot, humid weather, the body’s internal temperature can rise and can result in heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If not quickly treated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which requires immediate emergency medical care and can be fatal.
Signs and symptom:
Heat exhaustion:
• Severe thirst
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Irritability
• Headache
• Increased sweating
• Cool, clammy skin
• Elevated of body temperature to less than 104 degree Fahrenheit (40 degree Celsius)
Heatstroke:
• Severe, throbbing headache
• Weakness, dizziness, or confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased responsiveness or loss of consciousness
• May not be sweating
• Flushed, hot, dry skin
• Elevation of body temperature to 104 degree Fahrenheit (40 degree Celsius) or higher.
What to do:
If the child has a temperature of 104 degree Fahrenheit (40 degree Celsius) or more, or shows any symptom of heatstroke, seek emergency medical care immediately. In case of heat exhaustion and while a waiting help for a child with possible heatstroke:
1. Bring the child indoors or into the shade immediately
2. Undress the child
3. Have the child lie down; elevated feel slightly.
4. If the child is alert, place in cool (not cold) bath water, or sponge bathe the child repeatedly. If outside, spray the child with mist from a garden hose.
5. If the child is alert, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids (clear juice or sports drinks are best)
6. If the child is vomiting, turn his or her body to the side to prevent choking
7. Monitor the child’s temperature.
Think Prevention!
Teach the children to always drink plenty of fluids before and during any activity in hot, sunny weather – even if they aren’t thirsty. Make sure kids wear light-colored loose clothing and only participate in heavy activity outdoors before noon or after 6 pm. Teach children to come indoors immediately whenever they feel overheated.
(collected from many sources)
To be continued on next medical news…..
