First Aid Merit Badge

Mr. John Czech

MB Councilor

Scoutmaster – Troop 236

The Most Important Merit Badge in Scouting!!!

Requirements

1. Satisfy your counselor that you have current knowledge of all first-aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.
2. Do the following:

a. Explain how you would obtain emergency medical assistance from �Your home, on a wilderness camping trip, and during an activity on open water

b. Define the term triage.

c. Explain the standard precautions as applied to bloodborne pathogens

d. Prepare a first-aid kit for your home. Display and discuss its contents with your counselor.

• Do the following:

a. Explain what action you should take for someone who shows signals of shock, for someone who shows signals of a heart attack, and for someone who shows signals of stroke.�b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Then demonstrate proper technique in performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.

c. Explain the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

d. Show the steps that need to be taken for someone suffering from a severe cut on the leg and on the wrist. Tell the dangers in the use of a tourniquet and the conditions under which its use is justified.

e. Explain when a bee sting could be life threatening and what action should be taken for prevention and for first aid.

f. Explain the symptoms of heatstroke and what action should be taken for first aid and for prevention.

Requirements

4. Do the following:

a. Describe the signals of a broken bone. Show first-aid procedures for handling fractures (broken bones), including open (compound) fractures of the forearm, wrist, upper leg, and lower leg using improvised materials.

b. Describe the symptoms and possible complications and demonstrate proper procedures for treating suspected injuries to the head, neck, and back. Explain what measures should be taken to reduce the possibility of further complicating these injuries.

• Describe the symptoms, proper first-aid procedures, and possible prevention measures for the following conditions:

a. Hypothermia

b. Convulsions/seizures

c. Frostbite

d. Dehydration

e. Bruises, strains, sprains

f. Burns

g. Abdominal pain

h. Broken, chipped, or loosened tooth

i. Knocked out tooth

j. Muscle cramps

Requirements

6. Do TWO of the following:

a. If a sick or an injured person must be moved, tell how you would determine the best method. Demonstrate this method.

b. With helpers under your supervision, improvise a stretcher and move a presumably unconscious person.

c. With your counselor’s approval, arrange a visit with your patrol or troop to an emergency medical facility or through an American Red Cross chapter for a demonstration of how an AED is used.

• Teach another Scout a first-aid skill selected by your counselor.

What is First Aid?

• First Aid is the first, immediate assistance provided for an illness or injury.
• Usually provided by a lay person (non-professional)
• Generally consists of simple techniques with minimal equipment.
• An individual can be trained to provide.

First Aid Merit Badge

• Your Steps in an Emergency

• Decide to be helpful and prepared before an emergency
• Assess the scene – don’t become another victim
• Assess the victim
• Call 911 if required
• Provide Care

Everyone of any age can render assistance/ First Aid

A few minutes can make the difference

First Aid Merit Badge

• Triage

• Decide which injuries are most serious and who to treat first
• Take no more than 20 seconds to make a quick assessment
• Conscious and Breathing?
• Severe Bleeding?
• Other factors?
• ID Bracelet – Diabetes, Heart issues, Allergy

Emergency situations can have more than one victim

First Aid Merit Badge

• Cuts and Scrapes

• Clean with Soap and Water
• Apply antibiotic and cover with bandage

Do not ‘kiss’ the boo-boo!

First Aid Merit Badge

• Blisters

• Clean with Soap and Water
• Apply antibiotic and cover with bandage
• Cushion with Moleskin (cut a hole in it)

Requirement 1 - First-Aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks

• Minor Burns/Scalds

• A First-Degree burn is reddened skin without blisters
• Cool the burned part with cold tap water
• This lessens the depth of burn and
• Relieves the pain

First Aid Merit Badge

• Insect Bites
• Can itch and irritate

• Clean with Soap and Water
• Avoid scratching
• Use “After Sting” if swelling or painful

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• Bee Stings can leave a stinger behind
• Brush it off with hard flat surface object
• Clean with soap and water
• Use ice to help with pain

First Aid Merit Badge

• Bite of Rabid Animal

• Animal needs to be tested for Rabies
• Report to Police or Animal Control
• Clean with Soap and Water – Scrub for 5+ minutes
• Apply antibiotic and cover with bandage
• Seek medical care

First Aid Merit Badge

• Animal Bites

• For Minor Bites – treat as a minor wound (no threat of rabies)
• Clean with Soap and Water (Dawn Dish soap)
• Apply antibiotic
• Cover with a bandage

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• Deep Wounds – puncture, torn skin, bleeding
• Apply pressure
• Get medical attention

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Poisonous Snakes

• Have victim lie down
• Keep bitten area immobile and below heart level
• Clean with Soap and Water
• Apply compression bandage
• Seek medical care – Call 911

• DO NOT:
• Use a tourniquet
• Try to catch snake
• Cut wound and try to suck out the venom

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Nosebleed

• Sit the person down with head held forward
• Do not tip the head back
• Pinch the nose firmly
• After 10 minutes, remove pressure
• If still bleeding, reapply pressure

First Aid Merit Badge

• Frost Bite

• Move to warm environment
• Gently warm – against warm body part or in warm water
• Seek medical attention

First Aid Merit Badge

• Choking

• Look for signs of distress:
• Coughing, wheezing
• Hand signals, pointing to throat
• Unable to talk
• Clutching throat – one or both hands
• Passing out

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Poisonous Plants

• Clean with Soap and Water (Dawn Dish soap)
• If rash breaks out – do not scratch
• Use anti-itch ointment

First Aid Merit Badge

• Splinter

• Wash hands
• Clean tweezers or needle with alcohol
• Tweezers – pull out in the same direction it went into the skin
• Needle – make a small hole above the splinter, use needle to lift the splinter out
• Wash area with soap and water
• Bandage/ antibiotic

First Aid Merit Badge

• Puncture Wounds

• Wash your hands
• Stop the bleeding with gentle pressure
• Clean the wound
• Apply antibiotic
• Cover with bandage
• Check for infection

First Aid Merit Badge

• Fish Hook

• Advance the hook forward and through the skin
• Pull hook through so barb comes out
• Cut off the point with barb
• Pull the rest of the hook back through where it entered the skin
• Clean with soap and water
• Antibiotic/ bandage

First Aid Merit Badge

• Burns and Scalds

• Fun under cool water 10-15 minutes
• Take OTC pain meds (Tylenol/ Advil)
• Apply antibiotic cream to wound
• Seek emergency treatment if burn is
• 3^rd Degree (severe)
• Over a widespread area such as
• Face
• Hands
• Back
• Legs
• Feet

First Aid Merit Badge

• Shock

• Signs of Shock include:
• Pale, cool skin
• Rapid Breathing
• Restlessness, irritability
• Excessive Thirst
• Confusion, can’t focus attention
• Nausea

First Aid Merit Badge

• Dehydration

• Signs:
• Thirst
• Yellow or dark urine
• Dry mouth
• Lightheaded
• Nausea
• Dry skin
• Cease Sweating

• Treatment:
• Drink fluids (water, Gatorade, Powerade)
• Avoid exertion
• Move to cool area (shade, air conditioning)

First Aid Merit Badge

• Heat Emergencies

• Signs of Heat Exhaustion:
• Thirst
• Heavy Sweating
• Cramps
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

• Signs of Heat Stroke:
• Throbbing Headache
• No Sweating
• Red, hot, dry skin
• Rising temperature
• Nausea/ Vomiting

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Heat Emergencies

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Hypothermia

• First Aid:
• Move to a shelter
• Remove wet clothing
• Wrap in warm covers
• Apply warming to neck, chest, abdomen first
• Give warm sweet drinks
• Monitor

Happens when the body cannot make heat as fast as it loses it.

Can occur wherever a person feels cold – even indoors!

First Aid Merit Badge

• Hyperventilation

• First Aid:
• Calm the person
• Have them breathe into a paper or plastic bag – covering both mouth and nose
• This will increase the amount of Carbon dioxide in the blood, slowing breathing
• If treatment doesn’t have an effect after 20 minutes, call 911

Abnormal increase in volume of air breathed in and out of lungs

Occurs during stressful situations such as infection, bleeding, heart attack.

First Aid Merit Badge

• Stroke

• Signs of Stroke include:
• Headache
• Dissiness
• Unusual behavior
• Passes out
• Slurred speech
• Forgetfulness
• Weak on one side
• Face, arms droop

Stroke is a brain injury – blood flow in part of the brain is interrupted

• First Aid:
• Lay down, head and shoulders slightly raised
• Make comfortable
• Call 911
• Monitor

First Aid Merit Badge

• Severe Bleeding

• First Aid:
• Direct Pressure
• Use gauze pads or clean cloth
• If bleeding continues, add more cloth
• Elevate above the heart level
• Do not probe or clean
• Get medical attention

If possible, before treating bleeding on someone else, put on synthetic gloves

First Aid Merit Badge

• Severe Bleeding – Cannot be Stopped

• Life Threatening:
• Pulsatile or Steady Bleeding
• Pumping or gushing
• Bandages are soaked
• Blood pooling on the ground
• Amputation evident

First Aid Merit Badge

• Severe Bleeding – Tourniquets

• Life Threatening:
• Only use a tourniquet for very severe bleeding
• Potential loss of life
• Stops all blood flow to a limb
• If left in place long enough, it will result in loss of limb

First Aid Merit Badge

• Poisoning

• If a person is poisoned, there could be nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, drowsiness, dizziness.
• Calm the person
• Try to determine what was swallowed
• Call 911 or Poison Control 800-222-1222

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• DO NOT induce vomiting!

First Aid Merit Badge

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• First Aid:
• Get victim away from source – outside, fresh air
• Call 911

CO2 is invisible, odorless and tasteless

First Aid Merit Badge – Obtaining Emergency Medical Assistance at Home, at Remote Locations, on Water

• At Home

• Call 911 when appropriate
• Life threatening emergency or illness
• DO NOT transport a critical victim to the emergency room yourself
• Stay on the call with operator until they dismiss you

First Aid Merit Badge – Obtaining Emergency Medical Assistance at Home, at Remote Locations, on Water

• At Remote Location – Camp, Hike

• Check cell coverage as soon as you get to camp
• Plan how to get to the nearest phone
• Be able to describe your location and directions to emergency operator
• Buddy System

First Aid Merit Badge– Obtaining Emergency Medical Assistance at Home, at Remote Locations, on Water

• On Water

• Carry a whistle to attract attention
• Wave to other boats or to people on shore if in trouble
• Bring a bright or noticeable color cloth for this situation
• Cell phones may not work in remote areas or on water – don’t depend on them!

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First Aid Merit Badge - First-Aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks

First Aid Merit Badge

• Wrapping and Bandaging

A neckerchief can be used if you don’t have an Ace bandage

First Aid Merit Badge

• Bandaids

• Pull back outer wrapper
• Pull covers away from pad
• Place pad on cut or scrape
• Wrap ends one at a time

Avoid touching the sterile pad

First Aid Merit Badge

• Muscle Strains and Sprains

• Rest – Stop or minimize using the joint
• Ice – Use ice 20 minutes at a time
• Compression – Ace bandage to reduce swelling
• Elevate – Raise injured area, above heart if possible.

Think RICE

First Aid Merit Badge

• Fractures

• Avoid moving the victim unless in danger
• Best to let medical professionals stabilize and transport the victim
• If you must move them, use a splint

First Aid Merit Badge

• Head, Neck and Back Injuries

• Suspect this type injury when:
• Motor vehicular crash
• Fell from higher than standing height
• Is/was wearing helmet that is now broken
• Complains of back or neck pain
• Tingling or weakness in fingers or toes
• Not fully alert
• Appears confused or drunk
• Appears frail or over 65 years old

• Stabilizing
• Hold or secure the head and neck
• Do not move or let the victim move
• Provide any urgent treatments required

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• Treat for Shock
• DO NOT put a pillow under head

First Aid Merit Badge

• Bandaids

• Pull back outer wrapper
• Pull covers away from pad
• Place pad on cut or scrape
• Wrap ends one at a time

Avoid touching the sterile pad

First Aid Merit Badge

• Neckerchief Bandaging

First Aid Merit Badge

• Moving/ Transporting Injured Person

• Shoulder Drag
• Ankle Drag
• Blanket Drag

Avoid moving unless immediate danger, or cannot be treated in current location

First Aid Merit Badge

• Moving/ Transporting Injured Person

• Pack Carry
• Fireman Carry
• Piggyback Carry

Avoid moving unless immediate danger, or cannot be treated in current location

First Aid Merit Badge

• Moving/ Transporting Injured Person

• 1 Person Walking Assist
• 2 Person Walking Assist
• Seat Carry

Avoid moving unless immediate danger, or cannot be treated in current location

First Aid Merit Badge

• Stretchers

Support the head when moving

First Aid Merit Badge

• Heart Attack

• Sudden reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle due to a blockage of an artery
• Stopped or out of sync heart beating

• Weakness
• Air – breathing
• Sick – Nausea
• Uncomfortable
• Pain - Pressure

First Aid Merit Badge

• CPR - AED

Call 911 – or send someone to call 911

• Lay victim on their back
• Send someone for AED

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First Aid Merit Badge

• CPR - AED

Call 911 – or send someone to call 911

• How long to continue CPR?
• If you can’t remember how – do the best you can!
• It is always better to do something rather than nothing
• Always call 911

First Aid Merit Badge

• Automated External Defibrillator

Know where the AED is at your –

• School
• Place of Worship
• Troop Meeting place

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First Aid Merit Badge

• Airway

Use a barrier when possible

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If you don’t remember or don’t want to do breaths, just do compressions

First Aid Merit Badge

• Utility Hazards

Gas, Electric, Water – Know where the shutoffs are!

• Gas Leaks – hissing sound, smell of rotten eggs
• Leave the area – do not call 911 until outside
• Mark locations of fire extinguisher, First Aid kit
• Plan 3 meeting places for your family
• Directly outside in case of fire
• Within neighborhood in case of gas leak
• Outside neighborhood in case of tornado damage while away

First Aid Merit Badge

• Emergency Action Plan

Evacuation – Know how to get out and where to meet!

• Draw a floor plan of your house
• Plan 2 exits for each room
• Electrical Shorts – Electrocution
• Do not attempt to move wires or victim until power disconnected
• Find breakers for whole building and turn them off
• Turn off water before attempting repairs
• Water leaks can cause rotting wood, sheetrock damage and mold growth

First Aid Merit Badge

• How to Obtain Potable Water

Boiling, Disinfecting, Filter, Distilling

• Boiling kills pathogens
• Boil at least 10 minutes
• Disinfecting tables – can leave a taste
• Filters usually require pumping through a paper or ceramic filter
• Distilling requires boiling and condensing the steam

First Aid Merit Badge

• Dental Injuries

Broken, Chipped, Loose, Knocked out Tooth

• Broken/ Chipped/ Loose Tooth:
• Rinse mouth, place cold cloth in area to reduce swelling; take broken or chipped piece to dentist immediately
• Knocked out Tooth:
• Pick up tooth by crown, rinse off, place into container of milk or cool water.
• Apply pressure with a clean cloth in mouth to control bleeding.
• Transport to Dentist within 30 minutes, if possible