Transcript Minor cuts, scratches and grazes

First Aid For Scouts
Content
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Minor Cuts, Scratches and Grazes
Blisters
Nosebleeds
Foreign Objects in the Eye
Bleeding
Burns
Fractures
Hypothermia
First Aid Kits
The Basic Principles of First Aid
• Preserve life - your own, other people and your
casualty.
• Prevent deterioration - stop your casualty getting
worse.
• Promote recovery - make them better.
Minor Cuts, Scratches and Grazes
Minor Cuts, Scratches and Grazes
Treatment
• Wash and dry your own hands.
• Cover any cuts on your own hands or put on disposable gloves.
• Clean the cut, if dirty, under running water. Pat dry with a sterile
dressing or clean lint-free material. If possible, raise affected area above
the heart.
• Cover the cut temporarily while you clean the surrounding skin with
soap and water and pat the surrounding skin dry. Cover the cut
completely with a sterile dressing or plaster (be allergy aware)
Blisters
Blisters
Blisters occur when the skin is repeatedly rubbed against another surface or
when exposed to heat.
The damaged area of skin leaks tissue fluid that collects under the top layer of
skin – forming a blister.
Treatment
• Wash the affected area with clean water and rinse
• Gently pat the area and surrounding skin dry with a sterile gauze pad
• If not possible to wash the area, keep it as clear as possible
• Cover the blister with an adhesive dressing – ensuring pad of the plaster is
larger than the blister.
• Ideally, use a blister plaster as this has a cushioned pad that provides
extra protection and comfort
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds
Treatment
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Ask the casualty to sit down.
Advise them to tilt their head forwards to allow the blood to drain from the nostrils.
Ask the casualty to breathe through their mouth (this will also have a calming effect) and to
pinch the soft part of the nose.
Reassure and help if necessary.
Advise them not to speak, swallow, cough, spit or sniff because this may disturb blood clots
that may have formed in the nose.
After 10 minutes, tell the casualty to release the pressure. If the bleeding has not stopped,
tell them to reapply the pressure for two further periods of 10 minutes.
Once the bleeding has stopped and with the casualty still leaning forwards, clean around
their nose with lukewarm water.
Advise the casualty to rest quietly for a few hours. Tell them to avoid exertion and in
particular, not to blow their nose, because these actions will disturb any clots.
Caution
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Do not let the head tip back; blood may run down the throat inducing vomiting.
If bleeding stops and then restarts, tell the casualty to reapply pressure.
If the nosebleed is severe, or if it lasts longer than 30 minutes in total, take or send the
casualty to hospital in the treatment position.
Foreign Objects in the Eye
Foreign Object in the Eye
Introduction
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A speck of dust, a loose eyelash, or even a contact lens can float on the white of the eye.
Treatment
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Your aim is to prevent injury to the eye.
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Sit the casualty down facing the light.
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Stand behind the casualty and gently separate the eyelids with your finger and thumb.
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Ensure you examine every part of the eye, ask the casualty to look up, down, left and right.
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If you can see an object on the white of the eye:
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Wash it out with clean water poured from a glass or a sterile eye-wash bath.
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Incline the casualty’s head towards the injured side and place a towel or pad on the shoulder.
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Pour the water from the bridge of the nose allowing it to run through and flush the eye out.
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If this is unsuccessful then lift the object off the white of the eye with a moist swab, the damp corner of a
tissue or a clean hanky for example.
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If this is still unsuccessful then seek medical help.
Objects under the upper eyelid:
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Ask the casualty to pull the upper lid down over the lower lid.
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The lower lashes may brush the object clear.
Caution:
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Do not touch anything that is sticking to or embedded in the eyeball or the iris ( the coloured part of the
eye)
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Place an eye pad over the eye.
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Take or send the casualty to hospital.
Bleeding
Severe Bleeding
Treatment
• Put on disposable gloves.
• Apply direct pressure to the wound with a pad (e.g. a clean cloth) or
fingers until a sterile dressing is available.
• Raise and support the injured limb. Take particular care if you suspect
a bone has been broken.
Severe Bleeding
Treatment
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Lay the casualty down to treat for shock.
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Bandage the pad or dressing firmly to control bleeding, but not so tightly that it
stops the circulation to fingers or toes. If bleeding seeps through first bandage,
cover with a second bandage. If bleeding continues to seep through bandage,
remove it and reapply.
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Dial 999 for an ambulance.
Objects in Wounds
Treatment
• Where possible, swab or wash small objects out of the wound with clean
water.
If there is a large object embedded:
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Leave it in place.
Apply firm pressure on either side of the object.
Raise and support the wounded limb or part.
Lay the casualty down to treat for shock.
Gently cover the wound and object with a sterile dressing.
Build up padding around the object until the padding is higher than the
object, then bandage over the object without pressing on it.
• Depending on the severity of the bleeding, dial 999 for an ambulance or
take the casualty to hospital.
Burns
Minor Burns
Treatment
For minor burns, hold the affected area under cold water for at least 10
minutes or until the pain subsides.
• Remove jewellery etc.
• Cover burn with sterile dressing and loose bandage
If a minor burn is larger than a postage stamp it requires medical attention.
All deep burns of any size require urgent hospital treatment.
Severe Burns
Treatment
• Start cooling the burn immediately under running water for at least
10 minutes
• Dial 999 for an ambulance.
• Make the casualty as comfortable as possible, lie them down.
• Continue to pour copious amounts of cold water over the burn for
at least ten minutes or until the pain is relieved.
• Whilst wearing disposable gloves, remove jewellery, watch or
clothing from the affected area - unless it is sticking to the skin.
• Cover the burn with clean, non-fluffy material to protect from
infection. Cloth, a clean plastic bag or kitchen film all make good
dressings (Apply lengthways to allow swelling)
Clothing On Fire
• Stop the casualty panicking or running – any
movement or breeze will fan the flames.
• Drop the casualty to the ground.
• If possible, wrap the casualty tightly in a coat, curtain
or blanket (not the nylon or cellular type), rug or
other heavy-duty fabric. The best fabric is wool.
• Roll the casualty along the ground until the flames
have been smothered.
Burns
On all burns:
• Do not use lotions, ointments and creams.
• Do not use adhesive dressings.
• Do not break blisters
Fractures
Fractures
Introduction
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Complete or incomplete break or a crack in a bone due to an excessive amount of force.
Recognition and treatment
Step 1 of 3: Look for
• Swelling
• Unnatural range of movement
• Immobility
• Grating noise or feeling
• Deformity
• Loss of strength
• Shock
• Twisting
• Shortening or bending of a limb.
Step 2 of 3: Support and immobilise
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Support the injured limb
Immobilise the affected part.
Fractures
Step 3 of 3: Call for help
• Take to hospital or dial 999 for an ambulance
• Treat for shock
• A fracture may cause other internal injuries.
• In addition to the treatment above, if the fractured bone ruptures the
skin, treat for an object in wound.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when the body temperature falls below 35°C (95°F). The effects vary depending on the speed of the onset
and the level to which the body temperature falls. Moderate hypothermia can usually be completely reversed.
Severe hypothermia – when the core body temperature falls below 30°C (86°F) – is often, but not always fatal. However, no
matter how low the body temperature is, it is always worth persisting with life-saving procedures until a doctor arrives to assess
the casualty.
Recognition features
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There may be:
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Shivering and pale, cold, dry skin.
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Disorientation, apathy or irrational behaviour; occasionally belligerence.
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Impaired consciousness or lethargy.
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Slow and shallow breathing.
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Slow and weakening pulse.
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In extreme cases the heart may stop.
Treatment
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For a casualty who has been brought in from outside, immediately replace wet clothing with warm, dry garments.
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If outside, seek shelter and do above.
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The casualty should be slowly rewarmed
Put the casualty in a bed and ensure that they are well covered. Give them warm drinks or high energy foods such
as chocolate to help rewarm them.
First Aid Kits
First Aid Kit
A basic first aid kit should ideally be in a waterproof container and include:
Item
Quantity
• Pair nitrile powder-free disposable gloves
1
• Adhesive dressings (plasters)
20
• Cleansing wipes
10
• Medium first aid dressings
1
• Large first aid dressings
1
• Face shield
1
• Triangular bandage
1
• Safety pins
6
• Conforming bandage (7.5cm x 4.5m)
1