Basic First Aid

In southwest Florida, if not the whole state, we are having a bit of a heat episode and the weather channel advises that we avoid the heat by staying inside. I did my run this morning and then did oblige. To make the most of my indoor time, I took an online course. This has everything to do with my experience yesterday as well as a comment regarding the days event. It was said that I was the one at the "scene" who appeared to know what to do. Alas, that is scary because I didn't.

Today I took the American Red Cross Basic First Aid certification class. I chose this because I could do it entirely on line and it was only forty dollars. To make the most of my money, I will use some of what I learned for the blog entry, which of course will improve my chances of remembering the information. I have taken the CPR and AED courses in the past.

The course was good in that it covered a broad ranges of emergencies. I learned that the most common cause of death for the adult is Sudden Cardiac Death and that the most important thing to do in that and many situations is call 9-1-1. It is also clear that a lay person such as you or I, should be prepared to provide immediate but temporary care for a sudden illness or injury.

When responding then, it is crucial to check the scene for safety, i.e. an explosion, fire, domestic violence... call 9-1-1 and then provide care that you feel secure to dispense because you have been trained to do so.

The standard, many of you may recall (ABC) remains your first response. Check the scene, check the person, (tap shoulder, ask if ok), call 9-1-1- if appropriate and provide CARE.

By the way, it is necessary to get consent "to assist" from an awake adult and from a child's parent. The A, of the ABC's, is for airway, tilt chin back to open it, the B is for breathing, watch chest, feel for breath and the C is for circulation... and one checks for injury at that time. The rescue position and how to roll people over was also taught. Interesting carrying techniques were taught along with when and when NOT to move a person.

I learned that in some cases you do not elevate a persons legs or feet and it isn't just when you expect head or back injury but also when the person is nauseated. That seems important. I also learned that when a person exhibits the signs of shock, one of which being excessive thirst, the responder is NOT to give food or drink. The definition of shock is when the circulatory system cannot get oxygenated blood to vital organs. It is a critical condition.

Different types of wounds and how to "treat" them was another section of the class and included video learning. I absorbed a few things there as well, beginning with types of wounds.

Abrasion - this scrape should be cleaned with soap and water for FIVE minutes
Laceration- this cut may or may not be severe
Avulsion- tearing away of some skin, or possibly an amputation
Puncture wound- something sharp has penetrated the skin, usually less bloody, but more risk of infection

Only minor wounds should be washed, do not wash if there is excessive bleeding, but apply pressure with some barrier between wound and your skin. If it is not serious, the bleeding should abate in ten minutes. When treating bleeding, hold pressure for the ten minutes and then wrap in a sterile bandage, if the blood leaks through, wrap over that wrap, always over the existing wrap. Continue with the pressure until EMS arrives.

Oh and interestingly, when treating a head wound that is bleeding, apply the bandage over the wound, but the pressure along the sides of the wound.

Except for the cheek, do NOT remove an object from the skin or body (puncture wounds). This can lead to serious blood loss.

We should all have a tetanus shot and or booster between 5 and 10 years.

Internal bleeding, even a small bruise, generally responds to the pressure, ice and elevation protocol. If a person has a nose bleed, they should put chin towards chest and pinch nostrils, EXCEPTION- do not try to stop a nose bleed if there is also a head injury.

If a person looses a tooth, say violently, pick it up by the biting end AND put the tooth in milk. Get person and tooth to the DDS right away.

If a person has lost a limb or appendage, wrap it in a sterile bandage and put in a plastic bag and THEN put in or on ice, but not directly in or on ice. Keep body part with the person.

Burns came next and they too have particular responses as we try to do no further harm (as the course stated).

The severity of a burn; first, second, third and critical degree is related to these factors:
Temperature of the burn source
Duration of contact with source
Body part burned
Age and health status of victim

All burns should be cooled with water, but only the most minor should be iced. There are heat, chemical and electrical burns. Chemicals should be brushed off, not with a bare hand, before flushing with water begins. Shock must be considered in almost all circumstances. (not our minor cooking burns, a minor burn is dry and red, the more serious ones blister, are moist and in third degree, the tissue is charred)

Electrical and chemical burns are always considered critical and so are burns that are located on more than one body part OR hands, feet, the head or genitalia.

The musculotskeletal portion of the course was somewhat a review and did go over brief treatment for sprains, strains, dislocation and fracture. I did learn that one does not elevate an open fracture but the RICE acronym would otherwise apply. This is again, treating during emergencies, not diagnosing or treating people in the general sense.

A special note for head, back and neck injuries, in that they would be expected if the symptoms included any blood or fluid from nose or ears, bruising behind ears or under eyes, loss of feeling in and/or inability to move hands and feet. In this case, it is the best to keep the person still, watch for shock, immobilize the head, control extremity bleeding, but do not try to stop the fluid from nose or ears. 911 would have been called immediately.

Finally I got to the part of the course that was my motivation for signing up. Fainting and such! This part was titled sudden illness and many types were covered:

Fainting, which usually self corrects
Seizure, place something under the head, a pad, do NOT touch or immobilize person
Stroke, check face (smile), arms (raise both), speech, time of event... call 9-1-1
Diabetic emergencies, could be too low or too high glucose, the response was give sugar (according to the training, which is the only part I question)
Poisoning, four ways of happening with distinct signs of each.
BTW, an injected poison includes bites and stings
Anaphylaxis, is a severe and life threatening allergic reaction. Care needs to be given within minutes. A person with a history of this may have their own epinephrine to inject.
Spiders and scorpion bites, apply ice, get help
Snake bites, do not do the stuff you have seen on TV. Clean and immobilize,get help.

AND, Heat and Cold Emergencies

The heat related info is a review from yesterday's blog, but did not mention syncope. Noting that heat exhaustion and heat stroke require EMS or 9-1-1- if the person vomits or refuses water and/or has a change in level of consciousness. Heat stroke includes rapid breathing and pulse, but a weak pulse and red, hot skin. Remove wet clothes and offer small sips of water here.

Interestingly, with frost bite when you warm the body part in water, do not let the part touch the sides of the basin. It is also important that you do not RUB the frost bitten body part. With hypothermia which is life threatening, the heart rate is also abnormal, but slow and irregular. Warm the person slowly, remove wet clothing and use warm dry blankets. Offer warm drink, if fully conscious. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.. no hot toddy!

So that is about all that I learned in the course which was followed by a test for a three year Basic First Aid certification. I passed. Interested in the test yourself?

https://www.redcrossonlinetraining.org/Distance/Default.aspx?chid=399