First Aid - Burns

Burns can be cause by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minors problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portion of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin riddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. If a second-degree burn is no larger than 2 or 3 inches in diameter, it can be treated at home. If the burns covers the larger area, seek medical attention. You may need a tetanus booster.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles and even bones maybe affected. Areas may be charred is sbstantial, there may be no pain at all.These burns should receive emergency medical attention.

Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home:
1. If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2. Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
3. Take aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve swelling or pain.

Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
1. Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2. If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately.
3. Remove all smoldering clothing to stop further burning.
4. If the person is breathing sufficiently, cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage, clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments or ice on the burned area or break blisters.

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First Aid - Severe Bleeding

Burns can be cause by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minors problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portion of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin riddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. If a second-degree burn is no larger than 2 or 3 inches in diameter, it can be treated at home. If the burns covers the larger area, seek medical attention. You may need a tetanus booster.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles and even bones maybe affected. Areas may be charred is sbstantial, there may be no pain at all.These burns should receive emergency medical attention.

Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home:
1. If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2. Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
3. Take aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve swelling or pain.

Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
1. Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2. If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately.
3. Remove all smoldering clothing to stop further burning.
4. If the person is breathing sufficiently, cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage, clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments or ice on the burned area or break blisters.

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First Aid- Shock

A variety of symptoms appear in a person experiencing shock:

1. The skin may appear pale or gray, and is cool and clammy to the touch.
2. The heartbeat is weak and rapid, breathing is slow and shallow. The blood pressure is reduced.
3. The eyes lack shine and seem to stare. Sometimes the pupils are dilated.
4. The person may be conscious, the person may faint or be very weak or confused. On the other hand, shock sometimes causes a person to become overly excited and anxious.

Even if a person seems normal after an injury, take precautions and treat the person for shock by following these steps:

1. Get the person to lie down on his or her back and elevate the feet higher than the person's head. Keep the person from moving unnecessarily.
2. Keep the person warm and comfortable. Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Do not give the person anything to drink.
3. If the person is vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, place on his or her side to prevent choking.
4. Treat any injuries appropriately (bleeding, broken bones, etc.).
5. Summon emergency medical assistance immediately.

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First Aid- Breathing

Someone who has stopped breathing will die in 4 to 6 minutes. After even 2 or 3 minutes of not breathing he can have serious brain damage.
You never know how long someone has not been breathing.
Start Mouth-To-Mouth Breathing right away. Don't Wait!
Blowing air in is the best way to start breathing again. It gets more air into the lungs than other ways.

Here are the GET READY STEPS for Mouth-to-Mouth Breathing:

Step 1: Turn the head to the side. Clean out the Mouth using two fingers. Take out anything which can keep air going in.
Step 2: Put one hand on his forehead, and the other hand under his neck. Tip his head way back.
Step 3: Pinch his nose shut.

GET READY STEPS:
1. Clean the mouth
2. Tip the head
3. Pinch the nose

Take a deep breath, open your mouth wide, and put it over his mouth. Make a tight seal.

THE GO STEPS:

Step 1: BLOW to fill up his lungs. Watch his chest rise.
STEP 2: LISTEN for air to come out. Watch his chest fall.

Do the two steps over and over, once every 5 seconds. Do the GO STEPS until he starts to breathe for himself.

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First Aid- Seizures

DO:
Look for medical identification.
Protect from nearby hazards.
Loosen tie of shirt collar.
Protect head from injury.
Turn on side to keep airway clear.
Reassure when conciousness returns.
If single seizure lasted less than five minutes, ask if hospital evaluation is wanted.
If multiple seizures, or if one seizure lasts longer than five minutes, call an ambulance. If person is pregnant, injured or diabetic, call for aid at once.

DON'T DO:

Don't put any hard implement in the mouth.
Don't try to hold tongue,It cannot be swallowed.
Don't try to give liquids during or just after the seizure.
Don't restrain.

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First Aid- Eye Injuries

Impaled Objects:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE OBJECT. Stabilize the impaled object by placing bulky dressings on each side of the object and then securing the dressings together, or by placing a paper cup over the object and then securing to the face.

Foreign Bodies

Foreign Bodies such as dirt, sand, wood, or metal chips may cause tearing. Tearing may rid the eye of the foreign body. If the objects remains in the eye, have the victim blink several times. If the objects still remains in the eye, gently flush the eye with water.

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First Aid- Choking

The Heimlich Maneuver is the best known method of removing an object from the airway of a person who is choking. You can it on yourself or someone else. These are the steps:

1. Stand behind the choking person and wrap your arms around his or her waist. Bend the person slighty forward.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place it slightly above the person's navel.
3. Grasp your fist with the other hand and press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust. Repeat this procedure until the object is expelled from the airway.

If you must perform this maneuver on yourself, position your own fist slightly above your navel. Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust upward into your abdomen until the object is expelled.

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First Aid - NoseBleed

A nosebleed is sudden bleeding from one or both nostrils,and may result from a variety of events:a punch in the nose,breathing dry air,allergies,or for no apparent reason.To stop the flow of blood from a common nosebleed,use these steps:

1. Sit or stand upright to slow the flow of blood in the veins of the nose.Do not tip your head back.
2. Pinch your nose with your thumb and forefinger for 10 minutes without relieving pressure. Breathe through your mouth during this time.
3. If the bleeding continues despite these efforts,call immediately the doctor.

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First Aid Supplies

First Aid Supplies
To build your own first aid kit,you will need the following:

Plastic bandages
Adhesive bandages
Sterile pads
Adtiseptic ointment
Instant ice packs
Eye pads
Bandage scissors
Water-tight utility box for contents
Sponges
Transpore tape
Micropore tape
Antiseptic towelettes
Ammonia inhalant
Sterile eye wash
Safety pins
Burn gel to treat burns
Pain reliever
Alcohol preps
Gauze
Elastic bandages
First aid creams
Surgical tape

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First Aid - Cuts and Scrapes

Small cuts and scrapes usually don't demand a visit to the emergency room of your local hospital,but proper care is necessary to keep infections or other complications from occurring.

When dealing with minor wounds, keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. Stop the bleeding by applying pressure using a gauze pad or clean cloth.If the bleeding persist after several minutes of applying pressure, get immediate medical attention.
2. Keep the wound clean by washing the area with mild soap and water and removing any dirt. Dry the area gently with a clean cloth,and cover the wound with a protective bandage.Change the bandage at least once a day.If the wound becomes tender to the touch and red or oozes fluid, see your doctor.
3. If your cut is more serious and the bleeding does not stop on its own or the cut is large,deep or rough on the edges, try to stop the bleeding by applying pressure directly to the injury using a sterilized gauze pad or clean cloth. Maintain pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. Then consult your physician. A tetanus booster may be required if you haven't had one for a while.

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