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Basic First Aid for �Medical Emergencies

Slide Show Notes

When a serious injury occurs, you have to think and act quickly. Medical assistance may be only minutes away, but sometimes seconds count. What you do in those first few seconds and minutes can make the difference between life and death. Quick, calm, and correct action can make all the difference.

“First aid” is emergency care given to the sick or injured before medical personnel arrive. That’s why a knowledge of first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is so important. And that’s why you’re participating in this session today.

The purpose of this session is to provide you with a basic overview of first-aid techniques and priorities. It is not the same as a first-aid and CPR certification course. A certification course is much more detailed and offers you the opportunity to practice first-aid and CPR skills as well as to provide you with hours of classroom training.

We urge you to take a course and get certified. Taking a certification course will give you the full knowledge and confidence you need to use first-aid skills on the job, at home, and elsewhere in your community.

In the meantime, the information in this session can help you better handle medical emergencies when you are the first or only person on the scene.

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Session Objectives

Recognize the benefits of obtaining �first-aid and CPR certification

Identify proper procedures for a variety �of medical emergencies

Assist in administering first aid when a �co-worker is injured

Do no further harm

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After an accident, immediately move the �victim to a comfortable position.

If a person is bleeding, use a tourniquet.

Signs of a heart attack include shortness �of breath, anxiety, and perspiration.

All burns can be treated with first aid �alone; no emergency medical attention �is necessary.

Prequiz: �True or False?

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Help! Emergency!

Minutes could �make a difference

Slide Show Notes

Just imagine:

A co-worker is hurt in an accident and blood is gushing from the wound.

One of your friends chokes on a piece of food and can’t breathe.

Someone goes into cardiac arrest right at his workstation.

Any one of these things is possible, and it could happen any time. If it did, you’d have to act fast. A few critical minutes one way or the other could make the difference between life and death. Would you be ready to act with speed and competence in a workplace medical emergency?

There are medical emergencies in workplaces across the country every day. Situations calling for first aid range from burns to cuts and amputations, eye injuries, chemical overexposures, and much more.

Do you know how to report a workplace medical emergency? Besides calling 911, you also need to notify a supervisor or manager and provide as much information as you can about the accident.

Describe the procedure for reporting workplace accidents and the information trainees should be prepared to provide about the incident.

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Four Basic Rules

1. Call for help immediately

2. Bring help to the victim

4. Do no further harm

3. Check the ABCs

Slide Show Notes

Every medical emergency is different, of course, but there are four basic rules that apply to all medical emergencies.

One, call for medical help immediately. An employee on the scene should call 911 while another certified in first aid and CPR tends to the victim. If you make the call, explain the kind of injury and where the victim is located.

Two, bring help to the victim, don’t bring the victim to help. �In other words, victims should not be moved unless they are in imminent danger where they are.

Three, check the ABCs. “A” stands for airway. “B” stands for breathing. And “C” stands for circulation. That means check to make sure the throat is clear, the victim is breathing, and the victim has a pulse. A first-aid certified employee may be called upon to perform rescue breathing or CPR to keep the victim alive until EMS (emergency medical services) personnel arrive.

And four, do no further harm. Be careful not to cause additional injuries in your attempt to help a victim.

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Assess the Scene

Evaluate the scene

Assess safety

Prioritize care

Check for medical alert tags

Do head-to-toe check

Move only if necessary

Evaluate the scene

Assess safety

Prioritize care

Check for medical alert tags

Do head-to-toe check

Move only if necessary

Slide Show Notes

When it is clear that a victim’s condition is immediately life threatening, such as choking or not breathing, perform first aid immediately.

When the situation is not life threatening, there are multiple injuries, or when there are multiple victims, take a few moments to assess the scene to make sure it is safe for you and other helpers and to be certain you know what type of first aid is required:

Evaluate the scene for number of injured and nature of the event.

Assess the safety of the scene, including the potential for toxic vapors or gases in the air, and other risks such as electrical or fire hazards.

Prioritize care when there are several injured.

Check victims for medical alert tags.

Perform a logical head-to-toe check for injuries.

Move the victim only if absolutely necessary to prevent further injury from a hazard at the scene.

Do you know which of your co-workers is certified in first aid and CPR? You should call a trained person to the scene whenever there’s �a situation you can’t handle yourself.

Identify employees who are certified in first aid and CPR and/or those who have been designated as emergency first responders.

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No Breathing

Administer CPR:

Lay the person on his or her back
Give chest compressions
Tilt head slightly
Breathe into the person’s mouth
Continue until EMS personnel arrive

Slide Show Notes

Now let’s look at some specific medical emergencies. We’ll begin with no breathing. When a person is unconscious and not breathing, irreversible brain damage occurs within 3 minutes. You have to act very fast.

Someone trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, should lay the person on his or her back while someone else calls 911. Loosen the clothes around the neck and make sure nothing is blocking the mouth or throat.

First, give 30 chest compressions by placing both hands in the center of the victim’s chest with one hand on top of the other and pressing down with the heel of your hand 1½ to 2 inches. Press quickly at a rate of about 100 compressions a minute.

Next, open the airway by tilting the head slightly and lifting under the chin. Do not move the victim’s head back if you suspect a neck injury.

Form a seal around the mouth and pinch the nose. Use a pocket mask if you are trained in its proper use. Breathe two slow breaths into the person’s mouth—enough to make the chest rise and fall. Then, continue chest compressions.

Once you begin CPR, continue until EMS personnel arrive.

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Bleeding

Stop the flow of blood
Wear gloves
Cover the wound
Apply pressure
If a body part has �been amputated, �put it on ice

Slide Show Notes

Heavy bleeding is another serious medical emergency. If a co-worker is bleeding heavily, you have to stop the flow of blood while you wait for EMS personnel to arrive.

Because of the risk of bloodborne diseases, you must wear gloves (from the first-aid kit, if possible) when administering first aid for bleeding.

Next, cover the wound with a clean bandage from the first-aid kit.

Then apply pressure with your hand directly over the wound.

Do the same thing if a finger, hand, or other body part has been amputated. While you are applying pressure to the wound, have someone else place the amputated part in a plastic bag with ice. Make sure to wrap the severed part so that it doesn’t directly touch the ice. Give the package to EMS personnel or rush it to the hospital. In many cases, severed limbs can be reattached.

Do you know where the nearest first-aid kit is located in your work area? You should. You should also know what materials the kit contains.

Tell trainees where to find first-aid kits in their work areas. Show them a kit so that they become familiar with first-aid materials in the kit.

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Shock

Lay the victim down
Cover
Raise feet

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Anaphylactic Shock

Give the victim medication
Call for help ASAP
Start CPR if necessary

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Heart Attack

Call 911
Make victim comfortable
Loosen tight clothing
Check for medication
Keep victim still
Don’t give stimulants

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Choking

Ask a person to speak �or cough
Deliver 5 back blows
Perform abdominal thrusts
Repeat sequence of back blows and abdominal thrusts

Slide Show Notes

A person can choke to death in a couple of minutes.

The fastest way to find out if someone is choking is to ask, “Are you choking?” If the person can cough or talk, he or she is not choking.

But if the person can’t talk or cough, first deliver 5 back blows between the person’s shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

If the back blows don’t clear the object from the throat, perform abdominal thrusts:

Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around the waist.

Make a fist with one hand. Place your fist, thumb-side in, against the victim’s stomach—above the navel but below the ribs. Grab your fist with your other hand.

Pull in and up sharply and repeat if necessary to dislodge whatever is stuck in the throat.

Repeat the sequence of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is cleared.

Do you know how to perform abdominal thrusts? Everybody should. It’s simple, and it can save a life.

Demonstrate abdominal thrusts without using force on a volunteer from the group, and then give trainees the chance to practice it on one another.

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If Abdominal �Thrusts Don’t Work

Call 911
Finger sweep
Abdominal thrusts
Check ABCs
Perform CPR if �not breathing

Slide Show Notes

If the sequence of back blows and abdominal thrusts does not clear the object, and the victim becomes unconscious:

Call 911 and follow their instructions. If you can’t speak with anyone, further quick action is needed.

Try a “finger sweep” if the object in the throat is clearly visible and accessible with your fingers. Use gloves if possible. Use your index and middle finger to grasp the object. Don’t try the finger sweep if there’s a chance you’ll push the object further down the throat.

Lay the person down on his or her back, and perform 5 abdominal thrusts by placing your hands one on top of the other and push the heel of your hand in and up sharply on the abdomen just below the rib cage.

Once the object is cleared, check the “ABCs” (airway, breathing, and circulation).

If the person is not breathing, perform CPR until medical help arrives.

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Electrical Shock

Don’t touch!

Turn power off

Call 911

Remove person �from live wire

Check for breathing

Slide Show Notes

The first rule of dealing with electrical shock is not to touch a person who is in contact with a live electrical current. If you do, the current can pass right through the person to you and cause the same injury.

So the first thing you should do is to turn off the power to the electrical equipment involved.

Then call 911. Electrical shocks can be life threatening. You want to get EMS personnel on the scene quickly in case the victim has stopped breathing.

If you have to remove a person from a live wire, be very careful so you don’t get a shock, too. Stand on something that’s an insulator, like a rubber mat; wear rubber gloves; and use a dry stick, wooden broom handle, or board to push the person away from the wire. Don’t use anything metal, wet, or damp.

Once the victim is safe, check for breathing. Begin CPR if the person is not breathing.

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CPR

Match the problem with the correct first-aid procedure.

Bleeding

Choking

No breathing

Heart attack

Shock

Sweeten deal

Keep victim still

Direct pressure

Abdominal thrusts

Elevate feet

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Review

Do you understand first-aid procedures for:

No breathing?
Bleeding?
Shock?
Heart attack?
Choking?
Electrical shock?

Do you understand first-aid procedures for:

No breathing?
Bleeding?
Shock?
Heart attack?
Choking?
Electrical shock?

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Eye Injuries

Splashes
Particles in eye
Blow to eye
Cuts near eye
Penetrating objects

Slide Show Notes

Eye injuries are a common workplace medical emergency. Eye protection can prevent most injuries. But just in case, you should be familiar with first aid for different kinds of eye injuries.

For chemical splashes, flush eyes for at least 15 minutes with water, and then close the eyes and cover them with a clean cloth. Get immediate medical attention.

For solids (particles, dust, powders, etc.) in the eye, flush with water until particle comes out. If it won’t come out, cover the eye and seek medical attention. Don’t let the victim rub the eye.

For a blow to the eye, apply cold compresses for 15 minutes to reduce pain and swelling. Get medical attention.

For cuts near the eye, bandage loosely and get medical attention. Don’t let the victim rub the eye.

For objects that penetrate the eye, don’t try to remove, move, or put any pressure on the object. Immobilize it by placing a paper cup or soft, bulky dressing around it, secured with tape. Bandage the other eye so that the victim will keep the injured eye still. Get immediate medical attention.

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Burns

First-degree burns—Reddened, painful skin
Second-degree burns—Blistering
Third-degree burns—Charring, deep tissue damage

Slide Show Notes

Burns are another common workplace hazard. You can be burned by hot surfaces, hot materials, or by the properties of certain materials. First aid for burns depends on the degree of the burn.

First-degree burns are the least severe. They just involve the top layer of skin, which becomes reddened and painful.

Second-degree burns are more serious and include blistering in addition to reddened skin and pain. First- and second-degree burns may be treated with cold, running water for relief of pain. Then cover the burned area with a moist, sterile dressing. Don’t break blisters on second-degree burns.

Third-degree burns are the most serious and can even be life threatening. With third-degree burns the skin is destroyed, you see charring and deep tissue damage. You may even see exposed bones. For third-degree burns, call 911 immediately, and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.

Always get immediate medical attention for all burns, especially those that are severe and those that cover large areas of the body.

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Exposure to �Hazardous Materials

Eyes
Skin
Inhalation
Ingestion

Eyes
Skin
Inhalation
Ingestion

Slide Show Notes

Unprotected exposure to hazardous materials can sicken or even kill a person. These are the basic first-aid procedures for these exposures.

For exposures to the eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes and get medical attention.

For exposures to the skin, flush with water for 15 minutes and get medical attention for burns and other damage.

For inhalation of vapors or gases, move the victim to fresh air immediately. Administer CPR, if necessary.

For ingestion, have a co-worker call 911. Another employee can also call your local poison center for more first-aid information, if necessary. Then follow the first-aid instructions in the material safety data sheet, or MSDS.

The MSDS is an excellent source of first-aid information. Be sure you know where MSDSs are located and how to find the necessary first-aid information.

Tell trainees where to find MSDSs. Then, using sample MSDSs for materials in your workplace, show trainees how to find relevant first-aid information.

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Broken Bones

Look
Ask
Treat for shock

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Heat Exhaustion

Move to cool place
Lay victim down
Elevate feet
Loosen clothing
Give fluids
Apply cool compresses

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Heatstroke

Immediately call 911
Cool the person down
Monitor

Slide Show Notes

If a person suffering from heat exhaustion is not treated promptly, it can turn into heatstroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition in which the body gets so hot that it can’t cool down. Signs of heatstroke include very hot and dry skin, extreme tiredness, and confusion.

You have to act fast in cases of heatstroke. Immediately call 911.

While you’re waiting for help to arrive, cool the person down by hosing his or her body with cool water or by fanning the body.

Monitor the victim to make sure the airway remains open, the person is breathing, and the person has a pulse.

If you work in a hot environment or if you exercise or work outdoors on hot days, you should recognize the symptoms of heatstroke and take precautions to prevent overheating.

Describe precautions for preventing heatstroke, such as drinking lots of fluids, pacing yourself while you work, taking rest breaks in a cool place, and so on.

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Fainting

Check for breathing
Administer CPR if necessary
Call 911 if more than �a few minutes
If conscious, lay the victim down with feet elevated

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Epileptic Seizures

Remove victim from hazards
Check for breathing
Nothing in the mouth
Keep comfortable
Call 911 if medical assistance is needed

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Which is the worst �kind of burn?

For a particle in �the eye:

For inhalation of �vapors or gases:

For heatstroke:

Multiple choice

a. First degree

a. Flush with water

a. Induce vomiting

a. Call 911

b. Third degree

b. Rub eye

b. Move to fresh air

b. Don’t call 911

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Review

Do you understand first-aid procedures for:

Eye injuries?
Burns?
Exposure to hazardous materials?
Broken bones?
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Fainting?
Epileptic seizures?

Do you understand first-aid procedures for:

Eye injuries?
Burns?
Exposure to hazardous materials?
Broken bones?
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Fainting?
Epileptic seizures?

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Key Points to Remember

Medical emergencies can happen anytime.

Act quickly, calmly, and correctly.

Consider being certified in first aid �and CPR.