Essential First Aid Procedures for Emergencies at Home

1. Basic First Aid

2. Why to know first aid procedures? • Lives can be saved by the steps anyone can take until medical help can arrive.

3. First Aid Kits • Every office, factory, home and school should have an accessible first aid kit • Every kit should have the following items • First aid book • Band aids of various sizes • Elastic bandages • Gauze and adhesive tape • Antiseptic wipes (alcohol wipes) and cotton wool • Safety pins and tweezers • Scissors • Latex gloves • Calamine lotion • Clinical thermometer • Analgesic tablets (aspirin)

4. Accidents & Emergencies Can & Do Happen!

5. Severe Bleeding, Wounds and Injuries • Blood can be lost very rapidly from a severed or torn artery. • Severe blood loss can lead to shock, unconsciousness or death • Any injuries that occur in the shop need to be reported right away to ME!

6. External Bleeding • If an adult looses more than 1 liter of blood or a child looses as little as 1/3 of that amount loss is considered severe.

7. Arm or Leg Injuries • Treat by • 1. Laying the victim down and if possible, raise the injured part. • 2. Press hard on the wound with a clean pad. If the wound is gaping, hold the edges together firmly • 3. If there is a foreign body in the wound (glass, metal, etc) apply pressure alongside • 4. Take a firm pad and bind it firmly over the whole wound so that pressure is maintained. (A scarf or tie can be used) • 5. If blood soaks through the bandage do not remove it. Instead continue to apply pressure to the wound for 7-10 minutes. • 6. Seek medical attention

8. Head Injuries • Signs • Blood or fluid from the ear • Loss of consciousness • Wound • Sometimes no signs • Treatment • Very carefully, try to put flaps of skin back into position • Press firmly on the wound with a clean, (sterile if possible) pad • Hold the dressing in place with more clean cloth • If the victim is conscious, lay them with their head and shoulders slightly raised • If fluid comes from the ear, cover the ear with a clean pad and lay them on that side to allow free drainage of the fluid from the ear. • See medical help immediately

9. Chest Injuries • Cover the wound immediately using the palm of your hand or the victims if they are conscious • Place a sterile dressing or clean pad over the wound then cover the pad with a plastic bag, kitchen film or foil, held in place with adhesive strapping or firm bandaging to form an airtight seal • If victim is conscious, support him/her in a comfortable position • Call 9-1-1

10. Burns • 3 Degrees • Caused by heat, chemicals or radiation • Scalds are caused by steam or hot liquids • WARNING • 1. Never put butter or greasy ointment on a burn. • 2. Always seek medical attention if: • The victim is a child or elderly • Burn covers more than one body part • Burn is located on any sensitive part of the body • Burn is third degree • Burn is caused by chemicals

11. Burns

12. First Degree Burns • Damage the outer layer of skin • Signs • Redness • Mild pain • Swelling • Treatment • Plunge in cold water or hold under a cold running tap for 10 minutes or the until the pain stops or lessens • Cover with a clean gauze dressing for protection

13. First Degree Burns

14. Second Degree Burns • Go through to the second layer of skin • Signs • Blisters • Rough, red skin • Swelling • Extreme pain • Treatment • Remove all clothing, jewelry, watches from the burned area unless it is sticking to the skin • Pour large amounts of cold water over the affected area for at least 10 minutes • Gently blot areas. DO NOT rub; rubbing may break blisters • Lightly cover the entire burned area with a clean, dry dressing. If fluid soaks through cover with another layer. • Raise a burned arm or leg to reduce swelling but be careful not to burst blisters • Call 9-1-1

15. Second Degree Burns

16. Third Degree Burns • Less painful than 2nd degree burns because the nerve cells in the affected tissue are destroyed but the damage is greater. • The burn goes through to the third layer of skin. • Skin appears whitish or charred

17. Third Degree Burns • Do not remove any clothing near or at the site of the burn • Do not apply cold water or medication • Place clean, dry cloths over the damaged area • If burns are on arms or legs, raise the arm or leg to reduce swelling • If burns are on the face, check frequently to make sure that he/she is not having difficulty breathing • Get victim to a hospital IMMEDIATELY

18. Third Degree Burns

19. Cuts & Grazes • Bleeding usually stops within a few minutes • Treat by cleaning the area with a gauze or cotton pad • Small cuts heal best if covered • Antibiotic ointments may be used

20. Foreign Body in the Eye • Eye • When on the pupil or embedded in the white of the eye • Never try to remove the object • Cover the injured eye with a clean pad • Bandage both eyes • Take the victim to the hospital • When floating on the white of the eye • Advise the victim not to rub the eye • Have them sit down facing a light so that you can see into the eye clearly • Using your finger or thumb gently pull the eyelids of the injured eye apart • When you see the foreign body wash it out with clean water • If the foreign body has not moved, try to lift it off with a moist swab or the dampened corner of a tissue or handkerchief.