First Aid during various medical emergencies

1. First Aid in case of electric shock,
haemorrhage,burns,asphyxia,
fracture ,loss of consciousness

2. First Aid
• First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person
suffering from either a minor or serious illness or injury, with care
provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to
promote recovery.

3. First aid in electric 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.
• An electrical shock may cause burns, or it may leave no visible mark
on the skin. In either case, an electrical current passing through the
body can cause internal damage, cardiac arrest or other injury. Under
certain circumstances, even a small amount of electricity can be fatal.

4. Caution
• Don't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the
electrical current.
• Unplug an appliance if plug is undamaged or shut off power via circuit
breaker, fuse box, or outside switch
• Stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as dry newspapers,
telephone book, or wooden board.
• Try to separate the person from current using non-conductive object such
as wooden or plastic broom handle, chair, or rubber doormat.
If high voltage lines are involved:
• The local power company must shut them off.

5. When to seek emergency care
• Call 104/108 or your local emergency number if the injured person
experiences:
• Severe burns
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
• Cardiac arrest
• Muscle pain and contractions
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

6. 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, no 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.
•Hydration

7. First aid in hemorrhage:
• An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel is hemorrhage.
• Very minor hemorrhages, such as small, ruptured blood vessels near
the surface of the skin, are common and usually only produce tiny red
specks on the skin or minor bruising.
• But large, uncontrolled hemorrhages are life-threatening and are one
of the leading causes of death worldwide.
• Hemorrhaging is not a condition in itself, meaning it always has an
underlying cause. The most common reason for a hemorrhage is a
traumatic injury.

8. Symptoms of moderate to severe internal bleeding include:
• light-headedness or dizziness
• a headache, often severe
• diarrhea, often a dark, brown or black color
• general weakness
• unexplained exhaustion
• muscle and joint pain, aching, and weakness
• lower blood pressure than normal
• confusion, memory loss, or disorientation
• numbness
• vision problems, often blurred, patchy, or double vision
• abdominal pain, often severe enough to cause nausea and vomiting
• chest pain
• shortness of breath or shallow breathing
• blood in the urine
• bruising, usually around the site of the hemorrhage

9. Signs of very severe hemorrhaging include:
• very low blood pressure
• rapid heart rate
• sweaty, wet skin that often feels cool to the touch
• little or no urine
• vomiting blood
• loss of consciousness
• leakage of blood from the eyes, ears, or nose
• organ failure
• seizure
• coma

10. Potential causes and risk factors
• minor injury
• chronic or long-term high blood pressure
• blood-thinning medications
• genetic clotting conditions
• corticosteroids
• antibiotics
• antidepressants
• diabetes or uncontrolled blood sugar levels
• long-term dehydration
• smoking
• excessive or chronic alcohol use
• use of illegal drugs
• stimulant medications, such as diet pills
• anti-clotting medications
• stroke or heart attack
• liver, kidney, or spleen conditions
• cancer
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• gastrointestinal conditions

11. Types of bleeding :
• Arterial bleeding
• Venous bleeding
• Capillary bleeding
• How to stop bleeding?
• 99% of bleeding cases are stopped by pressing the bleeding site using
absorbent pads.

12. Cont..
• What is an absorbent pad?
• An absorbent pad is a piece of any material put on the wound to stop
bleeding. The ideal absorbent pad is made of medical gauze known
for absorbing liquids and not sticking to wounds.
• Yet, this type of pad is not available all the time at the incident site. If
medical gauze is not available, use any alternate material provided
that it clean and non-sticky.
• As a paramedic, you can use cloth, towels and bed sheets as pads to
bleeding wounds. Paper towels and toilet paper are not a good option
since they crumble when in water. They also stick to wounds, which
may contaminate injuries and result in untold complications later.

13. How to stop bleeding?
• Put on latex gloves if any to prevent bacterial and viral infection.
• Lay the victim down to prevent loss of consciousness.
• Try to an absorbent non-sticky material to pad the bleeding wound.
• If possible, hold the injured part a bit higher than the rest of the body.
• Put a thick cloth on the wound pad and press firmly to stop bleeding, this
usually takes less than (5) minutes.
• If saturated with blood, make sure to press directly on the bleeding wound.
Add more cloth and press harder on the wound.
• When bleeding stops, bandage the pad on the wound using a dressing.
• Apply Tourniquets
• Immobilize the injured body part as much as possible

14. • If bleeding persisted for long period, call the ambulance. The
ambulance team will give oxygen, along with many other things to
stop the bleeding if direct pressing fails to stop it.

15. How to stop Epistaxis (nosebleed)?
• Get the victim sit down and lean his body and head slightly forward.
• Pinch together the outer soft parts of the nose using clean cloth.
• Keep pinching for 3-5 minutes.
• Take the victim immediately to the hospital in the following two cases:
• If epistaxis is not stopped.
• If the victim suffers from hypertension.

16. How to stop Ear Bleeding:
• If due to incident, this type of ear bleeding is very serious as it could
be caused by skull fracture.
• Do not try to stop ear bleeding. Immediately call the ambulance.

17. Seek medical consultation on the following cases:
• If bleeding is not stopped.
• If wound is more than 1 inch long.
• If wound is more than 2cm deep.
• If wound if forked and wide-open.
• If wound is dirty or with a foreign object inside.
• A paramedic can wash the wound with water and soap, then apply a
dressing. Keep the dressing on the wound till it heals completely, as
the dressing helps keep the wound hydrated to expedite its healing.

18. First Aid during Burn:
• A burn is a type of injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat,
cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation. Most burns are due
to heat from hot liquids, solids, or fire. While rates are similar for
males and females the underlying causes often differ.
• First-degree burns are considered mild compared to other burns.
They result in pain and reddening of the epidermis (outer layer of
the skin).
• Second-degree burns (partial thickness burns) affect the epidermis
and the dermis (lower layer of skin). They cause pain, redness,
swelling, and blistering.
• Third-degree burns (full thickness burns) go through the dermis and
affect deeper tissues. They result in white or blackened, charred skin
that may be numb.

19. What Are the Symptoms of Burns
• The symptoms of burns depend on the cause and type of burn. They
can include:
• Blisters
• Pain (The degree of pain is not related to the severity of the burn, as
the most serious burns can be painless.)
• Peeling skin
• Red skin
• Shock (Symptoms of shock may include pale and clammy
skin, weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, and a drop in alertness.)
• Swelling
• White or charred skin

20. • A minor burn that doesn't require emergency care may involve:
• Superficial redness similar to a sunburn
• Pain
• Blisters
• An area no larger than 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) in diameter

21. Treating major burns:
Until emergency help arrives:
• Protect the burned person from further harm.
• Make certain that the person burned is breathing.
• Remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive items
• Cover the area of the burn(Use a cool, moist bandage or a clean
cloth.)
• Don't immerse large severe burns in water
• Elevate the burned area
• Watch for signs of shock

22. Treating minor burns:
• Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water
or apply a cool, wet compress until the pain eases.
• Remove rings or other tight items from the burned area. Try to do this
quickly and gently, before the area swells.
• Don't break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If a
blister breaks, clean the area with water (mild soap is optional). Apply an
antibiotic ointment. But if a rash appears, stop using the ointment.
• Apply lotion. Once a burn is completely cooled, apply a lotion, such as one
that contains aloe vera or a moisturizer. This helps prevent drying and
provides relief.
Bandage the burn. Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage (not fluffy
cotton). Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging
keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil,
Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol,
others).

23. First aid for asphyxia:
• A condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing
unconsciousness or death; suffocation.
• Physical Asphyxia:
a)Choking
b) Aspiration
c)Suffocation (smothering)
d) Strangulation
e)Drug overdose (Narcotic)
• Birth asphyxia(because of a lack of oxygen in the mother's blood, or
problems with the placenta)
• Seizure.

24. • Chemical Asphyxia
a)Carbon monoxide(If you breathe in too much of it, the gas builds up
in your body and replaces the oxygen in your blood.)
b) Cyanide ( You're at risk of cyanide poisoning if you breathe smoke
during a fire, have contact with certain industrial chemicals, or work in
jobs like mining or metalworking.)
c) Hydrogen sulfide.(This gas smells like a rotten egg. It can come from
sewage, liquid manure, sulfur hot springs, and natural gas. If you
breathe in too much, it can prevent oxygen from entering your cells,
much like cyanide does.)

25. Symptoms:
• Blue discoloration of face tongue, and lips
• Gasping
• inability to speak
• unconsciousness.

26. First aid for Suffocation:
• Firstly ensure a patent airway.
• Check for the respiratory rate.
• Check for the level of cyanosis.
• In case of drowning, tilt the client to one side with head down.
• If strangulation is the cause then remove the band that is constricting the
throat.
• Asphyxia caused due to swelling of the throat or asthma make the victim
sit upright and ensure fresh air.
• In case of suffocation by gases remove the victim as soon as possible to
fresh air.
• For all the victims loosen the clothing surrounding the neck.
• If breathing gets restored give sips of cold water.
• If breathing does not restore then start artificial respiration.

27. The artificial respiration followed is mouth-to-
mouth respiration. Follow the procedure given
below:
• Firstly place the victim on his/her back.
• Tilt his head at the back.
• Pinch the nostrils.
• Cover the mouth of the causality.
• Blow into his lungs until his chest expands.
• Repeat it 15-20 times.
• Blowing of air should be done with an open mouth, covering both the
mouth and nose.

28. • On the other hand, ensure medical help.
• If you cannot give two effective breaths, start chest compressions.
• The first-aider should give 15chest compressions, then give 2
inflations to the lungs and then again start 15 chest compressions.
• The cycle should be continued until the patient recovers or till
medical aid is called for.
• If the patient recovers , let the victim rest for sometime and if he does
not recover then call for the medical aid immediately.

29. First Aid for fracture.
• What are the symptoms of a broken bone?
• intense pain in the injured area that gets worse when you move it
• numbness in the injured area
• bluish color, swelling, or visible deformity in the injured area
• bone protruding through the skin
• heavy bleeding at the injury site

30. How can you provide first-aid care for a broken
bone?
• Stop any bleeding: If they’re bleeding, elevate and apply pressure to the
wound using a sterile bandage, a clean cloth, or a clean piece of clothing.
• Immobilize the injured area: If you suspect they’ve broken a bone in their
neck or back, help them stay as still as possible. If you suspect they’ve
broken a bone in one of their limbs, immobilize the area using a splint or
sling.
• Apply cold to the area: Wrap an ice pack or bag of ice cubes in a piece of
cloth and apply it to the injured area for up to 10 minutes at a time.
• Treat them for shock: Help them get into a comfortable position,
encourage them to rest, and reassure them. Cover them with a blanket or
clothing to keep them warm.
• Get professional help: Call or help them get to the emergency department
for professional care.

31. • You should also call helpline if:
• you suspect they’ve broken a bone in their head, neck, or back
• the fractured bone has pushed through their skin
• they’re bleeding heavily

32. Loss of consciousness:
• The person will be unresponsive (does not respond to activity, touch, sound, or
other stimulation).
• The following symptoms may occur after a person has been unconscious:
• Amnesia for (not remembering) events before, during, and even after the period
of unconsciousness
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Inability to speak or move parts of the body (stroke symptoms)
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence)
• Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
• Slow heartbeat
• Stupor (severe confusion and weakness)

33. If the person is unconscious from choking,
symptoms may include:
• Inability to speak
• Difficulty breathing
• Noisy breathing or high-pitched sounds while inhaling
• Weak, ineffective coughing
• Bluish skin color
Being asleep is not the same as being unconscious. A sleeping person
will respond to loud noises or gentle shaking. An unconscious person
will not.

34. First Aid
• If someone is awake but less alert than usual, ask a few simple
questions, such as:
• What is your name?
• What is the date?
• How old are you?
• Wrong answers or not being able to answer the question suggest a
change in mental status.

35. If a person is unconscious or has a change in
mental status, follow these first aid steps:
• Call or tell someone to call helpline.
• Check the person's airway, breathing, and pulse frequently. If necessary,
begin CPR.
• If the person is breathing and lying on their back, and you do not think
there is a spinal injury, carefully roll the person toward you onto their side.
Bend the top leg so both hip and knee are at right angles. Gently tilt their
head back to keep the airway open. If breathing or pulse stops at any time,
roll the person onto their back and begin CPR.
• If you think there is a spinal injury, leave the person where you found them
(as long as breathing continues). If the person vomits, roll the entire body
at one time to their side. Support their neck and back to keep the head and
body in the same position while you roll.

36. • Keep the person warm until medical help arrives.
• If you see a person fainting, try to prevent a fall. Lay the person flat on
the floor and raise their feet about 12 inches (30 centimeters).
• If fainting is likely due to low blood sugar, give the person something
sweet to eat or drink only when they become conscious.

37. • If the person is unconscious from choking:
• Begin CPR. Chest compressions may help dislodge the object.
• If you see something blocking the airway and it is loose, try to remove
it. If the object is lodged in the person's throat, DO NOT try to grasp
it. This can push the object farther into the airway.
• Continue CPR and keep checking to see if the object is dislodged until
medical help arrives.
•

38. • DO NOT
• DO NOT give an unconscious person any food or drink.
• DO NOT leave the person alone.
• DO NOT place a pillow under the head of an unconscious person.
• DO NOT slap an unconscious person's face or splash water on their
face to try to revive them.