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JL
Australia Wide First Ai r'
MANUAL
Version II, 2016 Garry Draper
National Provider No: 31961
AustraliaWide First Aid Handbook
Second Edition 2016
2016 Australia Wide First Aid ISBN 978-0-646-57775-3
By Garry Draper
All rights reserved. Reproduction of this book, in part or entirely, without the publishers written permission is prohibited.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this manual relates to the current accepted rst aid practices in Australia at the time of publication. It does not
provide information about rst aid practices in any other country other than Australia.
This manual is an information resource only and is not a substitute for undertaking a rst aid course with an approved provider.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of the publication, the authors are not responsible for
the loss, liability, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by any person in connection with the information contained in this book, or
by anyone who receives rst aid treatment from the reader or users of this book.
Published by
AustraliaWide First Aid
Unit 7 20 Archerfield Road QLD Ph +1300 336 613
Email: info@australiawiderstaid.com.au Web: www.australiawiderstaid.com.au
This manual was brought
TABLE OF CONTENTS to you by Australia Wide
First Aid, the best choice
Section 1Perform CPR Section 3Wound management for First Aid.
Legal considerations 2 Shock 19
Since 1975, Australia Wide First
Action plan 2 Burns 19
Aid ( Beginning as Queensland
Danger 3 Head injury 21 First Aid) has been serving
Response 4 Spinal injury 22 individuals and corporations in a
Send for help 5 Crush injury 22 professional, efficient and
Airway 5 Cold-induced injury 23 friendly manner. Whether you or
Breathing 6 Heat-induced injury 23 members of your organisation
Compressions 7 Sprains and strains 24 need to undertake a First Aid
D Dislocations and fractures 25 Course or purchase a First Aid Kit
Eye injury 27 for your home or office, we have
you covered for all your First Aid
Ear injury 27
requirements.
Any attempt at resuscitation is better than no Because you are the first on the scene it is important to have a
attempt.Australian Resuscitation Council plan to help you assess the casualties. This is called your
action plan and is the first vital step in first aid.
Legal considerations
Action plan
Negligence
Rescuers need not fear litigation if they come to the aid of a
Primary survey
fellow human in need. No good samaritan or volunteer in Danger
Australia has ever been successfully sued as a consequence of
rendering assistance to a person in need. A good samaritan is Response
defined in legislation as a person acting without expecting
financial or other reward for providing assistance. Send for help
Consent Airway
Competent adults are legally entitled to refuse any treatment
even if its life-sustaining or their decisions are not for their own Breathing
benefit. Substitute decision-makers, such as parents or
guardians of minors, can likewise refuse treatment, but only if Compressions
in the best interest of their charge.
Defibrillation
Secondary surveyhead to toe
examination Environmental dangers
t this helps you to assess other injuries For example chemicals, dogs, broken glass, wet surfaces,
t if the casualty is conscious always explain what you are machinery and many others are a risk to you (rescuer),
doing and why. bystanders and the casualty. These dangers must be isolated
or removed before you proceed. Rushing into a scene without
Where there is more than one casualty the care of an managing these risks could potentially cause injury to yourself
unconscious casualty has priority. or others.
Cross infection
Danger Take precautions to protect
t Assess the situation quickly
yourself and the casualty. Use
a barrier device if necessary.
NOTE
t Ensure the safety of the rescuer, bystanders and the Ideally gloves are the best If you dont have a barrier
casualty by reducing or minimising the risk barrier but any plastic can be device with you, such as
t Commence appropriate treatment used. First Aiders need to be gloves, you can improvise
mindful to protect not only their with other things.
hands from contamination. For
example wearing gloves does This icon will appear
not protect your knees if you throughout the book to
are kneeling in blood or bodily remind you to consider
fluids. your own safety.
t Assess the scenewhat can you see, hear and smell? t Get help immediately if required
Upon your arrival at an accident scene, unless there are
others present, you will have to rely on your own senses.
For example, if you found a woman lying at the bottom
of the stairs unconscious you wouldnt know if she fell
down the stairs, collapsed walking past the stairs, was
pushed down the stairs or collapsed because of a gas
leak. You would need to determine the reason she fell,
listen for people or other sounds that may indicate danger
and smell for possible fumes or gases in the area before
approaching the casualty. You will be unable to assist the
casualty if you also fall victim to the danger.
Special considerations
Pregnant womenunconscious and breathing. Place her on
her left side (labour left). In an obviously-pregnant woman the
uterus causes pressure on the major abdominal vessels when
she is lying flat, reducing venus return to the heart.
Managing drowning
Follow DRSABCD, place the casualty on their back to check the
airway. If there is an obstruction from fluids or other roll the
person onto the side (the recovery position) to clear the airway.
DRSABCD
Dangerassessing the danger in a drowning
situation is unique. Are you a strong swimmer?
Is there a rip or debris in the water? Is it safe for
you to enter the water?
Response Breathing
Airway Defibrillation
NOTE
As a first
aider you are
not expected
to be an
emergency
expert.
Airway Defibrillation
t If they are conscious provide reassurance, make the
Stroke casualty comfortable and do not give anything to eat
or drink
What is a stroke
t Stay with the casualty until the ambulance arrives
Brain cell function requires a constant delivery of oxygen and
glucose from the bloodstream. A stroke, or cerebrovascular t If the casualty is unconscious assess and reassess
accident (cva), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is breathing. Be prepared to do CPR
blocked by a clot or plaque, or because a vessel ruptures. http://www.strokefoundation.com.au/
Stroke is the second most common cause of death after heart
attack. Every second counts.
Signs
FAST is a simple way for remembering the signs of stroke.
Managing stroke
t Call an ambulance (000/112) and stay with the casualty
Warning signs
Warning signs of heart attack usually last 10 minutes. If the
warning signs are severe, or get worse quickly, do not wait, act
immediately.
Signs Asthma
t Sudden spasm of muscles producing rigidity and the
casualty will fall down Asthma is a disorder of the smaller airways of the lungs. People
t Jerking movements of the head, arms and legs may with asthma have sensitive airways that can narrow when
occur exposed to triggers. This leads to difficulty breathing.
t If they become unconscious they may have noisy There are many things which can trigger an Asthma attack.
breathing, salivation and urinary incontinence Though this is different in each person some triggers are
Managing a seizure t Colds and flu
Manage a seizure-patient as you would any unconscious t Cigarette smoke
causality: t Exercise
t Inhaled pollens, moulds, animal dander, dust mites
t Remove any dangerous objects from around the t Dust, pollution, wood smoke, bush fires
casualty or remove the casualty from danger t Changes in temperature and weather
t Avoid restraining the casualty t Certain medications (eg. asprin)
t Lay the casualty on their side as soon as the seizure t Perfumes and cleaning products
stops t Laughter and stress
t If not breathing or any doubt, commence CPR
Most allergic reactions are mild to moderate, and do not Contact parent/guardian or other emergency
cause major problems. A small number of people may contact
experience a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. It
Further adrenaline doses may be given (when an
is a life threatening condition which requires immediate
medication and treatment. additional adrenaline auto-injector is available), if
there is no response after 5 minutes.
Signs
If in doubt, give the adrenaline auto-injector.
Difficult/noisy breathing
Swelling of tongue Commence CPR at any time if person is unresponsive
Swelling/tightness in throat and not breathing normally.
Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
Wheeze or persistent cough http://www.allergy.org.au/
Persistent dizziness and/or collapse
Pale and floppy (in young children)
Chemical Burns
t Dangeryour initial assessment of the situation is vital
when dealing with chemicals
t Memory impairment
t Agitated or irritable behaviour
t Slurred speech
t Lack of co-ordination
t Headaches, dizziness and nausea
t Seizure
t Bleeding and discharge from ears, nose or mouth
t Pupils change size and shape
t Use a tourniquet
t Cut, suck or wash the bite site
Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License
Management
t Place the affected area in hot water (no hotter than the
casualty can comfortably tolerate)
t If in the uncommon event heat does not relieve the
pain place the affected area in cold water
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