Sunday, December 5, 2010

First aid for Fractures , Poisoning , Cuts , Burns and Heat and Cold Wa es

W!at is First aid " First aid is t!e #ro ision of initial care for an illness or in$ury% &t is usually #erformed by a non'e(#ert #erson to a sic) or in$ured #erson until definiti e medical treatment can be accessed% Certain self'limiting illnesses or minor in$uries may not re*uire furt!er medical care #ast t!e first aid inter ention% &t generally consists of a series of sim#le and in some cases, #otentially life'sa ing tec!ni*ues t!at an indi idual can be trained to #erform +it! minimal e*ui#ment%

W!at is t!e &m#ortance of First aid " &t is im#ortant to !a e a first aid )it because t!ey enable someone +!o is in$ured, to be *uic)ly treated +it! basic first aid, before t!ey can be #ro#erly treated at t!e local !os#ital% ,!erefore in an emergency situation, it is recommended someone )no+s +!ere t!e nearest first aid )it is located and !o+ to use t!e contents +it!in it% Fractures

W!at are fractures " - bone fracture is a medical condition in +!ic! t!ere is a brea) in t!e continuity of t!e bone% - bone fracture can be t!e result of !ig! force im#act or stress, or tri ial in$ury as a result of certain medical conditions t!at +ea)en t!e bones, suc! as osteo#orosis, bone cancer, or osteogenesis im#erfecta, +!ere t!e fracture is t!en #ro#erly termed a #at!ologic fracture% Fractures can be of t+o ty#es . /#en Fracture Closed Fracture 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Ho+ to treat an o#en fracture"

-ssess for fracture 1see 2Ho+ to -ssess for Fracture During First -id23%

&mmobili4e t!e in$ury% -ny mo ement +ill be ery #ainful and can +orsen t!e in$ury% Disinfect at least a liter of +ater ' de#ending !o+ large and dirty t!e +ound is ' using iodine tablets% Clean t!e +ound by t!oroug!ly rinsing it +it! t!e disinfected +ater, using an irrigation syringe% 5ealign t!e fractured bone, unless it6s a +rist or s!oulder fracture Clean and dress all +ounds 5emo e tig!t clot!ing, +atc!es, $e+elry. anyt!ing t!at could im#ede circulation% C!ec) circulation, sensation and motion beyond t!e fracture site% S#lint t!e fracture 5e'c!ec) circulation, sensation and motion beyond t!e fracture site% 7le ate t!e fracture 8'102 to reduce s+elling% -##ly cold #ac)s or ice to t!e fracture as long as t!ere is no ris) of !y#ot!ermia or frostbite% 9onitor and treat for s!oc) 1see eHo+s on s!oc)3% :i e ibu#rofen if #ain is #ersistent and t!ere are no signs of s!oc)% &f #ossible, administer oral antibiotics if more t!an t!ree !ours from a !os#ital% 7 acuate% 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Ho+ to treat a Closed Fracture" -ssess for fracture 1see 2Ho+ to -ssess for Fracture23% &mmobili4e t!e in$ury% -ny mo ement is not only ery #ainful but can +orsen t!e in$ury% Decide +!et!er or not to realign t!e fractured bone, and realign if necessary

Clean and dress all +ounds 5emo e tig!t clot!ing, +atc!es, $e+elry ' anyt!ing t!at could im#ede circulation% C!ec) circulation, sensation and motion beyond t!e fracture site%

S#lint t!e fracture 5ec!ec) circulation, sensation and motion beyond t!e fracture site% 7le ate t!e fracture 8 to 10 inc!es to reduce s+elling% -##ly cold #ac)s or ice to t!e fracture, as long as t!ere is no ris) of !y#ot!ermia or frostbite% 9onitor and treat for s!oc) 1see eHo+s on s!oc)3% :i e ibu#rofen if #ain is #ersistent and t!ere are no signs of s!oc)% Proceed +it! treatment for ot!er in$uries% 7 acuate% 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Poisoning1food3

W!at is #oisoning " Food #oisoning mig!t be described as a food borne disease% Food t!at contains a to(in, c!emical or infectious agent 1li)e a bacterium, irus, #arasite, or #rion3 and cause sym#toms in t!e body are considered ty#es of food #oisoning by most in estigators% ,!ose sym#toms may be related only to t!e gastrointestinal tract causing omiting or diarr!ea or may in ol e ot!er organs suc! as t!e )idney, brain or muscle% W!at causes food #oisoning " C!emical causes . Scombroid #oisoning usually is due to #oorly coo)ed or stored fis!% ,!e affected #erson +ill e(#erience flus!ing, itc!ing, s!ortness of breat!, and difficulty s+allo+ing +it!in 1 to 2 !our of eating% Ciguatera #oisoning is anot!er fis! to(in t!at occurs after eating fis! suc! as grou#er, sna##er, and barracuda% Sym#toms include omiting and diarr!ea, muscle ac!es, and neurologic com#laints including !eadac!e, numbness and tingling, !allucinations, and

difficulty +it! balance 1ata(ia3% 9us!room ingestions can cause initial sym#toms li)e omiting and diarr!ea% 7ating -manita mus!rooms can cause li er and )idney failure leading to deat! Bacterial causes. ; Sta#!ylococcus aureus #oisoning is due to a to(in t!at is #re'formed in food before it is eaten% &t causes omiting +it!in 1 to 8 !ours after eating t!e contaminated food% ; Bacillus cereus is an infection t!at occurs after eating #oorly coo)ed or ra+ rice% ; Clostridium Perfringens is a s#ore t!at infects coo)ed meat t!at !as been stored in an en ironment t!at +as too +arm% Wit!in < to 12 !ours, it may cause #rofuse diarr!ea% /t!er causes. Drug o erdose /ccu#ational e(#osure Cleaning detergents=#aints Carbon mono o(ide gas from furnace, !eaters &nsecticides Certain cosmetics Certain !ouse!old #lants, animals Food #oisoning 1Botulism3

Some Sym#toms of Food Poisoning. Blue li#s S)in 5as!es Difficulty in breat!ing >omiting=?ausea Fe er Head ac!e :iddiness=dro+siness Double ision

-bdominal=c!est #ain Pal#itations=&rritability @oss of a##etite=bladder control ?umbness 9uscle t+itc!ing Sei4ures Wea)ness @oss of consciousness Diarr!ea

Ho+ to treat food #oisoning "

See) immediate medical !el# as soon as #ossible 9ean+!ile, ,ry and identify t!e #oison if #ossible C!ec) for signs li)e burns around mout!, Breat!ing difficulty or omiting &nduce omiting if #oison s+allo+ed &n case of con ulsions, #rotect t!e #erson from self in$ury &f t!e omit falls on t!e s)in, +as! it t!oroug!ly Position t!e ictim on t!e left till medical !el# arri es 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Cuts

W!at are cuts 1+ounds3 " &n medicine, a +ound is a ty#e of in$ury in +!ic! s)in is torn, cut or #unctured 1an o#en +ound3, or +!ere blunt force trauma causes a contusion 1a closed +ound3% &n #at!ology,

it s#ecifically refers to a s!ar# in$ury +!ic! damages t!e dermis of t!e s)in%

9inor Cuts 1Scra#ings3

9inor cuts dont need any serious treatment% But care is to be ta)en to #re ent infection%

,reatment for 9inor Cuts

Clean +ound +it! +ater - oid soa# 5emo e dirt=debris in t!e +ound -##ly antise#tic=antibiotic ointment Dress= bandage t!e +ound C!ange dressing daily 9inor cuts sto# bleeding in10 min -##ly gentle #ressure if bleeding #ersists 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Dee# Cuts

Dee# cuts may bleed !ea ily and e(#ose t!e underlying tissues%

,reatment for Dee# Cuts

9ay re*uire stitc!ing 5e*uires ,etanus ,o(oid 1,,3 if.

a% Cut is dirty or !as debris b% ,, ta)en 5 years ago Consult a doctor in case of. a% Delayed +ound' !ealing b% Pus Disc!arge c% Fe er Please note . Do not try to clean a ma$or +ound Do not remo e dee#ly' lodged debris Do not breat!e on an o#en +ound Do not #us! bac) e(#osed body #arts 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Burns W!at are Burns " - burn is a ty#e of in$ury to fles! caused by !eat, electricity, c!emicals, lig!t, radiation or friction%9ost burns only affect t!e s)in 1e#idermal tissue and dermis3% 5arely dee#er tissues, suc! as muscle, bone, and blood essels can also be in$ured% 9anaging burns is im#ortant because t!ey are common, #ainful and can result in disfiguring and disabling scarring% Burns can be com#licated by s!oc), infection, multi#le organ dysfunction syndrome, electrolyte imbalance and res#iratory distress% @arge burns can be fatal, but modern treatments, de elo#ed in t!e last 80 years, !a e significantly im#ro ed t!e #rognosis of suc! burns, es#ecially in c!ildren and young adults% ,reating a burn begins +it! sto##ing t!e burning #rocess% Cool t!e burned area +it! cool running +ater for se eral minutes% &f an ambulance is coming, continue running +ater o er t!e burned area until t!e ambulance arri es%@oo) for blistering, sloug!ing, or c!arred 1blac)ened3 s)in% Blistering or sloug!ing 1s)in coming off3 means t!e to# layer of s)in is com#letely damaged and com#lications are li)ely% C!arring indicates e en dee#er damage to all t!ree layers of s)in 1see illustration3%

&f t!e damaged area is bigger t!an one entire arm or t!e +!ole abdomen, call A11 or ta)e t!e ictim to t!e emergency de#artment immediately%

>ictims +it! burns to t!e follo+ing areas need emergency medical assistance 1call A113. face !ands feet genitalia 9ild burns +it! reddened s)in and no blisters may be treated +it! a to#ical burn ointment or s#ray to reduce #ain%

Cool +ater 1not cold or +arm3 may also !el# +it! #ain%

D/ ?/, -PP@B BC,,75 /5 /&@ ,/ -?B BC5?D / er t!e counter #ain relie ers li)e ibu#rofen or acetamino#!en can be used for t!e #ain of a mild burn 1ty#ically redness only3% &f stronger #ain relief is needed, contact a #!ysician or go to t!e emergency de#artment% Please ?ote . Burns cause s+elling% Burns of t!e face and nec) can sometimes s+ell enoug! to cause difficulty breat!ing% &f t!at !a##ens, call A11 immediately% Burns t!at com#letely circle t!e !ands or feet may cause suc! se ere s+elling t!at blood flo+ is restricted% &f s+ollen or tig!t !ands and feet become numb and tingly, blue, cold, or 2fall aslee#,2 t!en call A11 immediately% W!ile t!e burn is !ealing, +ear loose natural clot!ing li)e sil)s or lig!t cottons% Hars!er fabrics +ill irritate t!e s)in e en more% Burns destroy s)in and t!e loss of s)in can lead to infection, de!ydration and !y#ot!ermia 1loss of body !eat3% 9a)e sure t!at burn ictims get emergency medical !el# if e(#eriencing any of t!e follo+ing. di44iness or confusion +ea)ness fe er or c!ills s!i ering cold s+eats

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Heat Wa es

W!at is a !eat +a e " - !eat +a e is a #rolonged #eriod of e(cessi ely !ot +eat!er, +!ic! may be accom#anied by !ig! !umidity% ,!ere is no uni ersal definition of a !eat +a eE t!e term is relati e to t!e usual +eat!er in t!e area% ,em#eratures t!at #eo#le from a !otter climate consider normal can be termed a !eat +a e in a cooler area if t!ey are outside t!e normal climate #attern for t!at area %,!e term is a##lied bot! to routine +eat!er ariations and to e(traordinary s#ells of !eat +!ic! may occur only once a century% Se ere !eat +a es !a e caused catastro#!ic cro# failures, t!ousands of deat!s from !y#ert!ermia, and +ides#read #o+er outages due to increased use of air conditioning%

Sym#toms of !eat +a e e(!austion. !ea y s+eating #aleness muscle cram#s tiredness +ea)ness di44iness !eadac!e nausea or omiting fainting

Heat e(!austion treatment Cooling measures t!at may be effecti e include. cool, non'alco!olic be erages, as directed by your #!ysician

rest cool s!o+er, bat!, or s#onge bat! an air'conditioned en ironment @ig!t+eig!t clot!ing :et t!e #erson to a cooler #lace and !a e !im or !er rest in a comfortable #osition% @ig!tly stretc! t!e affected muscle and re#lenis! fluids% :i e a !alf glass of cool +ater e ery 15 minutes% Do not gi e li*uids +it! alco!ol or caffeine in t!em, as t!ey can cause furt!er de!ydration, ma)ing conditions +orse%

Cold Wa es

W!at is a cold +a e " - cold +a e is a +eat!er #!enomenon t!at is distinguis!ed by a cooling of t!e air% S#ecifically, as used by t!e C%S% ?ational Weat!er Ser ice, a cold +a e is a ra#id fall in tem#erature +it!in a 2F !our #eriod re*uiring substantially increased #rotection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social acti ities% ,!e #recise criterion for a cold +a e is determined by t!e rate at +!ic! t!e tem#erature falls, and t!e minimum to +!ic! it falls% ,!is minimum tem#erature is de#endent on t!e geogra#!ical region and time of year%

,reatment for Cold Wa es 1!y#ot!ermia3 .

W!en a cold +a e occurs and a #erson is e(#osed to lo+ tem#eratures, t!e body starts losing !eat and t!is brings do+n t!e core body tem#erature% ,!is is )no+n as !y#ot!ermia and can be fatal% 9o e t!e #erson to a !eater #lace% Guic)ly cool t!e body% &mmerse ictim in a cool bat!, or +ra# +et s!eets around t!e body and fan it% Watc! for signals of breat!ing #roblems% Hee# t!e #erson lying do+n and continue to cool t!e body any +ay you can% &f t!e ictim refuses +ater, is omiting, or t!ere are c!anges in t!e le el of consciousness, do not gi e anyt!ing to eat or drin)%