Providing First Aid – Flashcards
Flashcard maker : Patrick Turner
Define first aid
immediate care that is given to the victim of an accident or illness
using the correct first aid methods can mean the difference between?
Life and death or recovery and permanent disability
The type of first aid treatment you provide will vary depending on several factors. List three factors that may affect any action taken.
type of injury or illness, environment, equipment or supplies available
Identify three senses that can alert you to an emergency.
Listen for unusual sounds, look for unusual sights, not any odors.
What action should you take if you notice that it is not safe to approach the scene of an accident?
Call for medical help and allow medical professions to take over
What is the first thing you should determine when you get to the victim?
whether victim is conscious
Why is it important to avoid moving a victim whenever possible?
victim can be injured more severely by improper movement
What kind of information should be reported when calling emergency medical services?
situation, actions taken, exact location
What should you do if a person refuses to give consent for care?
do not proceed with care, if possible, have someone witness refusal of care
What is triage?
method of prioritizing treatment
Identify 3 life-threatening emergencies that must be cared for first.
no breathing, difficult in breathing, no pulse
List 3 sources of information you can use to find out the details regarding an accident, injury or illness.
victim, others present, items noted at scene
How can you reassure the victim?
present a confident , calm attitude.
Why shouldn’t you discuss the victim’s condition with observers at the scene?
to maintain confidentiality and protect victims right to privacy
While providing first aid to the victim, make every attempt to avoid further________provide only the treatment you are__________to provide.
Injury, qualified
What is the difference between a closed wound and an open wound?
open wound has a break in skin and a closed wound does not.
First aid care for wounds must be directed at controlling____and preventing__________.
bleeding, infection
Scrape on the skin
abrasion
Cut or injury by sharp object
Incision
Jagged irregular injury with tearing
laceration
Wound caused by sharp pointed object
puncture
Tissue torn or separated from body
avulsion
Body part cut off
amputation
Arterial blood
spurts from wound, heavy blood loss, bright red in color
Venous blood
slower, steadier, dark red or maroon, constant but easier to control
Capillary blood
oozes from wound , less red than arterial, clots easily
List the 4 methods for controlling bleeding in the order in which should be used.
Direct pressure, elevation, pressure bandages, pressure on pressure points
Name 2 item that can be used to form a protective barrier while controlling bleeding.
gloves, plastic wrap
The main pressure point for the arm is the _______. The main pressure point in the leg is the __________.
brachial artery, femoral artery
List 2 ways to prevent infection while caring for minor wounds without severe bleeding.
wash hands, wear gloves
5 signs of infection
swelling, heat, redness, pain, fever.
If a tetanus infection is a possibility, what first aid is necessary?
Obtain medical advice regarding protection with tetanus shot.
How should objects embedded deep in the tissue be removed?
by a physician
2 signs and symptoms of a closed wound
pain, tenderness
2 first aid treatments for a victim of a closed wound
get medical help, check breathing
What other condition must you be prepared to treat while caring for wounds?
shock
At all times, remain_____while providing first aid. Obtain_____care as soon as possible.
calm, medical
Define shock
a clinical set of signs and various symptoms that are associated with an inadequate supply of blood to body organs
name the two main body organs affected by an inadequate supply of blood.
brain, heart
Shock caused by an acute infection
septic
Heart cannot pump effectively because heat muscle is damaged.
cardiogenic
Severe bleeding leads to a decrease in blood volume
hemorrhagic
Hypersensitive or allergic reaction causes body to release histamine
anaphylactic
Emotional distress causes sudden dilation of blood vessels
psychogenic
Loss of body fluid causes disruption in normal acid-base balance of body
metabolic
Two signs or symptoms of shock
pale skin or cyanotic, skin cool.
Treatment for shock is directed at eliminating the ____, improving___, providing___, and maintaining____.
cause of shock, circulation, adequate oxygen, body temperature.
Victim with neck or spine injuries.
do not move the victim
Victim vomiting or bleeding from the mouth
turn the victim on side
Victim with respiratory distress
raise victims head and shoulders
Position if none of the previous conditions is present
lying flat with feet raised approximately 12 inches
A shock victim at an accident scene has been covered with blanket. You notice the victim is perspiring. What should you do?
remove some blankets to avoid overheating the victim
List 2 ways that poisoning can be caused
ingestion, inhalation
Treatment for poisoning will vary depending on the ____of poison, the ____involved, and the method of.
type, injury, contact
How should you position an unconscious poisoning victim who is breathing?
on the side
What is the first thing to do when a victim swallows a poison?
call poison control center
List three types of information that should be given to a poison control center or physician
name of poison, how much was taken, when poisoning occurred.
What should you do if a conscious poison victim vomits?
save a sample of the vomited material
List 2 ways to induce vomiting
tickle the back of the victims throat, give warm salt water
Why is activated charcoal used after a poisoning victim vomits?
to bind the poison so it is not absorbed into the body
Two types of poison victims in whom vomiting should not be induced.
unconscious and victim who swallowed an acid or alkali
What is the first step of treatment for a victim who has been poison by inhaling gas?
remove the victim from the area
How do you treat victims poisoned by chemicals splashing on the skin?
use large amounts of water to dilute the substance and remove it from the skin
Two signs of an allergic reaction to an injected poison
redness, swelling at site
Define burn
injury caused by fire, heat, chemical agent, radiation or electricity.
A superficial burn
red, mild swelling, pain
A partial-thickness burn
blister, skin red or mottled, surface appears wet, swelling painful.
A full-thickness burn
white or charred appearance, severe pain or painless
Fist aid treatment for burns is directed at removing____, cooling____covering____, relieving___, observing and treating______ and preventing______.
source of heat, skin area, burn pain, shock, infection
Identify 2 times when medical care should be obtained for burn victims.
burns on more than 15% of surface of adult (10% in a child), victim having difficulty breathing.
What is the main treatment for superficial and mild partial-thickness burns?
flushing area with large amounts of water
Why is sterile dressing applied to a burn?
prevent infection
If blisters appear on a burn, how should you treat these?
do not break or open them
How should severe partial-thickness or full-thickness burns should be treated?
call medical help immediately and cover with thick sterile dressings
If chemicals or irritating gasses burn the eyes, how should the eye be treated?
flush with large amounts of water for 15-30 minutes until medical help arrives
Why is shock frequently noted in victims with severe burns?
loss of body fluids (dehydration) occurs quickly
Two factors that affect the degree of injury caused by exposure to the cold.
wind velocity, amount of humidity
Two symptoms that can result form prolonged exposure to the cold.
shivering, numbness
Two first aid treatment for hypothermia
move to warm area, remove wet clothing
What is a frostbite?
freezing of the tissue fluids with damage to the skin and underlying tissues.
Two symptoms of frostbite?
black burnt skin, whit or red color
Name 4 common sites for frostbite
fingers, toes, ears, nose, cheeks
What temperature water should be used to warm a body part injured by frostbite?
100-104 F or 37.8-40 C
Why is it important not to rub or massage a body part affected by frostbite?
rubbing may cause gangrene
How should you treat blisters that form on frost-damaged skin?
avoid opening or breaking blisters.
Why do you place sterile gauze between fingers or toes that have been injured by frostbite?
prevent them from rubbing and causing further injury
Two sources of information you can use to help determine what illness a victim has.
information from the victim , medical alert bracelets or necklaces
Two signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
painful pressure under sternum, pain radiating to shoulders, arms, neck and jaw, intense shortness of breath.
Two first aid treatments for a heart attack victim
encourage victim to relax, obtain medical help
Two signs and symptoms of a stroke
numbness, paralysis
Two first aid treatments for a stroke
maintain respiration, lie victim flat or on side
If early symptoms of fainting are noted ,how should you position the victim?
lying down or sitting in a chair with head at level of knees
Two points of first aid care for a victim who has fainted.
maintain open air way, check for injures
What is a convulsion?
violent involuntary contraction of muscles.
First aid care for the victim with a convulsion is directed at preventing_____.
self-injury
Should padded tongue blade or soft object be placed between the victims teeth during a convulsion?
No
Why is it important not to use force or restrain the muscle movement during a convulsion?
force causes the contractions to become severe
In a victim with diabetes, an increase in the level of glucose or sugar in the blood can lead to a condition called_____and an excess amount of insulin can lead to a condition called______
diabetic coma, insulin shock
Two signs and symptoms of diabetic coma.
confusion, weakness
What is the main treatment for diabetic coma?
obtain medical assistance as soon as possible
Two signs and symptoms of insulin shock
muscle weakness, mental confusion
What is the main treatment for insulin shock?
give victim some form of sugar
