FIRST AID ASSIGNMENT.

Discuss first aid in.

i. Shock

The danger from an electrical shock depends on the type of current, how high the voltage is, how
the current traveled through the body, the person's overall health and how quickly the person is
treated. Before giving the first aid there are cautions need to be observed as stated below.

Don't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or
lightning. Don't get near high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Overhead power lines
usually aren't insulated. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away farther if wires are jumping
and sparking.

Don't move a person with an electrical injury unless he or she is in immediate danger.

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the
person, using a dry, non-conducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.

Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or
movement.

Try to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.

Apply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean
cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns.
 ii. Difficulty in breathing

If someone is having breathing difficulty, call 911 or your local emergency number right away,
then:

Check the person's airway, breathing, and pulse. If necessary, begin CPR.

Loosen any tight clothing.

Help the person use any prescribed medicine (an asthma inhaler or home oxygen).

Continue to monitor the person's breathing and pulse until medical help arrives. DO NOT
assume that the person's condition is improving if you can no longer hear abnormal breath
sounds, such as wheezing.

If there are open wounds in the neck or chest, they must be closed immediately, especially if air
bubbles appear in the wound. Bandage such wounds at once.

A "sucking" chest wound allows air to enter the person's chest cavity with each breath. This can
cause a collapsed lung. Bandage the wound with plastic wrap, a plastic bag, or gauze pads
covered with petroleum jelly, sealing it except for one corner. This allows trapped air to escape
from the chest, but it prevents air from entering the chest through the wound.

iii. Infected wound

Stop Bleeding

Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until
bleeding stops.

If blood soaks through the material, don’t remove it. Put more cloth or gauze on top of it and
continue to apply pressure.

If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart, if possible, to help slow bleeding.
Wash your hands again after giving first aid and before cleaning and dressing the wound.

Do not apply a tourniquet unless the bleeding is severe and not stopped with direct pressure.

Clean Cut or Wound

Gently clean with soap and warm water. Try to rinse soap out of wound to prevent irritation.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can damage tissue.

Protect the Wound

Apply antibiotic cream to reduce risk of infection and cover with a sterile bandage.

Change the bandage daily to keep the wound clean and dry.

Call a Doctor if;

The wound is deep or the edges are jagged or gaping open.

The wound is on the person’s face.

The wound has dirt or debris that won’t come out.

The wound shows signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or a thick discharge, or if the
person runs a fever.

The area around the wound feels numb.

Red streaks form around the wound.

The wound is a result of an animal or human bite.

 iv. Burns

How you can help

Remove the heat source from the patient, or the patient from the heat source, whichever is
easiest and safest.

Cool the injured area

Immediately cool the affected area for up to 20minutes using cool running water from a tap or
shower. In the absence of water any cool clean fluid (beer, soft drink, etc.) can be used.

A first aid burn gel may be used in place of water, provided there is enough to cover the burn.

If any clothing is wet with hot liquid or affected by a chemical splash, remove it quickly and
carefully.

Remove any tight clothing, watches, rings or jewellery from the injured area, if possible, because
of the risk of swelling.

Position patient

If the patient is feeling faint lay them down.

The injured part (depending on the location of the burn) can be placed in a bowl or bucket of
cold water if this is easier than pouring water over the burn.

Apply a sterile dressing

After cooling the injured area for up to 20 minutes, apply a sterile dressing.

Use a non-adherent dressing or a piece of clean plastic kitchen wrap.

DO NOT break blisters or remove peeled skin.DO NOT try to remove any fabric that is stuck to
a burn. DO NOT apply creams, ointments, lotions or butter to any burn injury because infection
may occur and complicate the injury. DO NOT place small children or babies in a cold bath or
shower for a full 20 minutes, as this can cause hypothermia.

Remember that any substance applied to a burn injury may have to be removed later in hospital
and may also delay the healing process.
Avoid using adhesive tape on the skin around the burn because this may cause further tissue
damage.

v. Broken bones

A fracture is a broken bone. It requires medical attention. If the broken bone is the result of
major trauma or injury, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Also call for emergency help if:

The person is unresponsive, isn't breathing or isn't moving. Begin CPR if there's no breathing or
heartbeat.
There is heavy bleeding.
Even gentle pressure or movement causes pain.
The limb or joint appears deformed.
The bone has pierced the skin.
The extremity of the injured arm or leg, such as a toe or finger, is numb or bluish at the tip.
You suspect a bone is broken in the neck, head or back.

Don't move the person except if necessary to avoid further injury.

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

Stop any bleeding. Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean
piece of clothing.
Immobilize the injured area. Don't try to realign the bone or push a bone that's sticking out
back in. If you've been trained in how to splint and professional help isn't readily available, apply
a splint to the area above and below the fracture sites. Padding the splints can help reduce
discomfort.
Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain. Don't apply ice directly to the skin.
Wrap the ice in a towel, piece of cloth or some other material.
Treat for shock. If the person feels faint or is breathing in short, rapid breaths, lay the person
down with the head slightly lower than the trunk and, if possible, elevate the legs
 vi. Food poisoning

Control Nausea and Vomiting

Avoid solid foods until vomiting ends. Then eat light, bland foods, such as saltine crackers,
bananas, rice, or bread.
Sipping liquids may help avoid vomiting.
Don’t eat fried, greasy, spicy, or sweet foods.
Don’t take anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medication without asking your doctor. They have side
effects and may make some kinds of diarrhea worse. Your doctor may give you anti-nausea
medication if you are at risk of being dehydrated.

Make sure you have prevented Prevent Dehydration

Drink clear fluids, starting with small sips and gradually drinking more.
If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, drink an oral rehydration solution.

Call a Doctor When;

Symptoms last more than 3 days or you have:

Severe belly pain.
Fever
Bloody diarrhea or dark stools
Vomiting that is prolonged or bloody
Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, fatigue, or increased
heart rate or breathing rate
 vii. Constipation

Constipation is a common problem in which a child may have fewer bowel movements (BMs or
poops) than usual. It usually isn't a cause for too much concern. Constipation can often be
remedied and prevented with the three Fs: fluids, fiber, and fitness.

What to Do

Give plenty of water or juice. Also ask the doctor about adding prune, apple, or pear juice to
the daily diet.

Increase the fiber in your diet. Try apples, pears, oranges, beans, popcorn, oatmeal, and
whole-grain breakfast cereals or breads.

Encourage daily exercise to encourage bowel movements.

Talk to your doctor before giving your child any medicine for constipation.

viii. Intestinal gas

Gastric Problems may be described as the pain, discomfort, and uneasiness in the stomach,
caused by stomach acids, experienced in the esophagus (food-pipe). These are generally more
common in individuals with diabetes and pregnant women

Also, individuals with disorders affecting the internal organs, such as the liver and pancreas, gall
bladder, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract, are higher prone to gastric discomfort and pain

How is First Aid administered for Gastric Problems.

Replenish body fluids

Do NOT take anti-diarrheal drugs or laxatives or pain medication, unless specified by a medical
professional

Taking antacids may help, per recommendation of a healthcare professional

If prone to frequent heartburns, seek medical help

Taking meals that are not spicy regularly, can relieve ulcer pains

Call 911 (or your local emergency number), if there is blood in stool, urine, or vomit

ix. Appendicitis

The appendix is a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the large intestine, also
called the colon. The appendix is located in the lower right portion of the abdomen. It has no
known function. Removal of the appendix appears to cause no change in digestive function.

First Aid Management of Appendicitis

After diagnosis, it is essential to take antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix, also called
appendectomy. However, when one begins to feel abdominal pain, it may not necessarily be a
medical emergency and can be treated at home. At the onset of abdominal pain, a number of
things should be done and observed before seeking emergency medical services.

If possible, try to identify the cause of pain. Find the location of the pain and record the duration.
Keep a diary.

Ask the person to rest and lie down to see if the pain disappears. A painkiller may be given.

If any of the symptoms mentioned above were observed, seek emergency medical attention
immediately.

Do not give milk and caffeinated drinks.

 x. Diarrhea.

Loose bowel movement makes up most for discomfort but is not usually harmful, unless it
persists for a longer period of time. Severe or heavy diarrhea can actually be a cause of death.
Prolonged diarrhea can also mean the presence of bacteria, viruses or parasites, and can
sometimes be caused not only by these microorganisms but also by food intolerance and
diseases.

Vomiting and diarrhea are usually caused by irritation of the digestive system and can occur
together or separately. Both can be caused by parasites, viruses or bacteria and it causes the body
to lose essential salts and fluids risking dehydration.

What to do

Reassure the casualty - if the casualty is vomiting, give them a warm damp cloth to wipe their
face and keep reassuring them.

Get them to sit down – Make sure they are comfortable. When the casualty has stopped
vomiting give them a glass of water to sip on or unsweetened fruit juice. Encourage them to take
frequent small sips to help replace the fluid they have lost.

When the casualty is feeling hungry again, advise them to eat foods that are easily digested,
such as bread, pasta or potatoes for the first 24 hours.
References.

WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth

Reviewed by Ann Edmundson, MD on May 24, 2006
Last updated: May 24, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.© 2006 WebMD Inc. All rights
reserved.