Adventist Youth

Honors Answer
Book/Health and
Science/First Aid,
Basic
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 First Aid, Basic
Health and Skill Level 1
Science
General Year of Introduction:

Conference 1951

The First Aid, Basic Honor is a component

of the Health Master Award .

Contents

Note: The red oval on the patch

designates “basic” level.
If residing in the United States or another
country where Red Cross instruction is
given, satisfactorily pass the Red Cross
Examination in Basic First Aid and receive
your certificate. In British countries pass
the examination in St. John Ambulance
and receive certificate for the same. Or
complete the following requirements:

1. Know the causes of shock

and demonstrate its proper
treatment.
Shock is a medical condition where the
delivery of oxygen and nutrients is
insufficient to meet the body's needs. The
main carrier of oxygen and nutrients in the
body is the blood, so anytime there is a
loss of blood, there is a risk of shock.
Shock is a life-threatening emergency.

Recovery position

First aid treatment of shock includes:

Immediate reassurance and comforting

the victim if conscious.
If alone, go for help. If not, send
someone to go for help and someone
stay with the victim.
Ensure that the airway is clear and
check for breathing. Place the victim in
the recovery position if possible.
Attempt to stop any obvious bleeding.
Cover the victim with a blanket or jacket,
but not too thick or it may cause a
dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Do not give a drink. Moisten lips if
requested.
Prepare for cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
Give as much information as possible
when the ambulance arrives.
2. Know the proper steps for
rescue breathing.
Note: The editors of this answer book
feel that there is an error in the official
version of this requirement.
More Information

The current requirements for resuscitation by lay rescuers does not include rescue breathing. Instead of rescue
breathing, lay rescuers should perform CPR. As such, this requirement calls for a depreciated technique.

Proposed correction:
The requirement should be updated to refer to "resuscitation" rather than "rescue breathing" so that the
requirement needn't be revised whenever the standards for resuscitation are updated.
Learn more

Rescue Breathing. The head of the

patient is tilted backward. The rescuer
closes the nose with one hand, while
pushing the chin downward with the
other hand to keep the patient's
mouth open.
If the patient is breathing, do not
administer rescue breathing. Rescue
breathing is an emergency treatment
that may help the victim regain the
ability to breathe on his own.
Tilt the victim's head back, and lift their
chin (head-tilt chin-lift). The head will
not remain in this position by itself, you
must maintain the head-tilt chin-lift
throughout.
In certain cases, you may not be able
to give rescue breaths through the
mouth - blow into the nose and seal
the mouth instead.
Pinch the victim's nose
 Put your mouth on the mouth of the
victim, maintaining a good seal, and
blow into the mouth. These breaths
should be gentle and last no longer than
2 seconds to prevent air from entering
the stomach.

When you have given two rescue breaths,

begin chest compressions if you are
trained to do so. Otherwise, continue with
rescue breathing: 2 breaths every 5
seconds.

If the victim has recovered spontaneous

respiration, put him in the recovery
position, cover him, and monitor his
breathing on a regular basis until an
ambulance arrives.

The following is in addition to the

information above for review purposes.
This teaches students how to handle live
situations they may come upon.

In the next revision of the first aid honors

the first aider needs to know what to do
when they come across an accident of any
type. They will need to know the correct
procedures in their correct order. This is
not currently addressed anywhere in any
of the Basic, Standard, Advanced First Aid
Honors.
It is important to check for a pulse before
anyone attempts to carry out CPR. If the
heart is beating you do not perform CPR.
CPR is to maintain the blood flow in place
of the beating heart in order to carry the air
you are breathing into the victim to the
victim's brain. Usually if the heart is not
beating there is no breathing, but it is
possible for breathing to stop while the
heart is still beating.

Whenever an accident or emergency

occurs and you are the first person to
arrive at the scene, there is one important
technique to follow first: Check Call Care
(see below). Then use DRABC to care for
the victim.

Oh No! There's been an accident! What do I

do first?

Check Call Care

Check
To Check for danger, you must first
survey the scene to ensure your own
safety; then, do a primary survey.
Call
After checking the victim, call an
ambulance, giving them a description of
the emergency situation as well as the
location of the scene.
 Care
After calling the ambulance, provide
appropriate care based on your primary
survey of the victim until an ambulance
or other advance medical personnel
arrives and takes over.

DRABC

Danger

Before you try to help the victim, you must

determine if the scene is safe. If anything
dangerous is present, such as a live wire, a
vicious animal, deep water, or fire, you
cannot endanger your own life to try to
help the victim. Summon trained medical
personnel immediately, and they will
handle the situation. If you get hurt at the
scene, you end up as just another victim
for the ambulance to treat. Once you have
called for help, you have done all you can
in such a situation.

If the scene is safe, try to determine what

may have happened or what caused the
accident. Never move the victim to give
treatment unless immediate life-
threatening danger exists, such as a fire or
an unstable structure ready to collapse.

Response
After determining that the scene is safe,
you must check for a response in the
victim. You will look, listen and feel to
determine if the victim:

1. Is conscious
2. Has an open, unobstructed airway
3. Is breathing
4. Has a heartbeat
5. Is not bleeding severely

To check for consciousness, gently tap the

victim and ask, "Are you okay?" If the
victim can speak or cry, he or she is
conscious, breathing, and has a pulse. If
the victim is unresponsive, he or she may
be unconscious, indicating a possibly life-
threatening condition. An unconscious
person's tongue relaxes and may fall back
to block the airway, stopping breathing and
eventually the heartbeat.

Next, if the victim is unconscious, kneel

next to the victim's head and check for the
ABC's: Airway, Breathing and Circulation.

Airway

To open the airway of an unconscious

victim, tilt the head back and lift the chin.

Breathing
To check for breathing, you must look,
listen and feel. Place your face above the
victim's mouth and nose, so that you can
listen and feel for air being exhaled while
watching the victim's chest for a gentle
rise and fall that occurs when breathing. If
the victim is not breathing, you must give 2
slow breaths. This is called rescue
breathing. If the breaths do not go in, retilt
the head and try again. If the breaths still
do not go in, the victim has an obstructed
airway, and you may try to clear the airway
with a blow between the shoulder blades
in the back, or with abdominal thrusts. If
the breaths do go in, then continue with
your DRABC.
 Circulation

To check for circulation, you must check

the victim's pulse at one of the carotid
arteries, located in the neck on either side
of the Adam's apple. Using your index and
middle finger (Never use your thumb—it
has its own pulse and you may mistake it
for that of the victim!) find the Adam's
apple and then slide your fingers toward
the side of the neck facing you into the
groove in the side of the neck. Take at
least 5 to 10 seconds to feel for the pulse.
If the victim is an infant, locate the pulse in
the brachial artery, on the inside of the
upper arm in between the elbow and the
shoulder. If the victim has a pulse but is
not breathing, you must go immediately do
Rescue Breathing. If the victim is not
breathing and does not have a pulse, go
immediately to CPR (if you have been
trained). Check the body for signs of any
severe external bleeding (bleeding is
severe when blood spurts from a wound,
and it is life-threatening).
3. Know the proper
procedures to assist a
choking victim.

A diagram of the Heimlich

Maneuver

Coughing is the body's natural defense

against choking, and it is generally very
effective. If the victim is coughing, do not
interfere. If the victim stops coughing (or
was never coughing in the first place), ask
her "are you choking?" If the victim
indicates that she is choking, tell her you
are going to help her. To do this, you will
need to perform the Heimlich Maneuver.

Briefly, a person performing the Heimlich

Maneuver uses their hands to exert
pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm.
This compresses the lungs and exerts
pressure on any object lodged in the
trachea, hopefully expelling it. This
amounts to an artificial cough. (The victim
of an obstructed airway, having lost the
ability to draw air into the lungs, has lost
the ability to cough on their own.)
Even when performed correctly, the
Heimlich Maneuver can injure the person it
is performed on. The Heimlich Maneuver
should never be performed on someone
who can still cough, breathe, or speak. It
should not be demonstrated or practiced
on a healthy, non-choking person.

4. Know the proper

procedures to assist a
bleeding victim.
If you see a person who is bleeding
heavily, you can do the following:

1. Press hard onto the wound to stop

the bleeding.
2. If an arm or leg is cut, elevate the
limb.
3. Cover with a clean pad and apply a
bandage.
4. Check that the bleeding has stopped.
If it has not, add another pad, and
bandage, do not remove previous
bandage.
5. If you have bandaged a limb, check
frequently that the fingers and toes
remain warm. If fingers and toes are
getting cold, loosen the bandage to
let the blood circulate.
6. For severe bleeding (5 cups of blood
or more), get the person to a hospital
 for stitches (and possibly
immunization against Tetanus)
keeping the limb raised.

5. Know the pressure points

and how to correctly apply
pressure at these points.
The usual way to control bleeding is to put
pressure directly onto the wound, either
with the hand directly or with a dressing of
some sort (bandage, handkerchief, tea
towel etc.). Do not forget that any wound
which is not controlled within a minute or
two is a medical emergency; and any deep
or large wound must receive medical
attention as soon as possible.
 Pressure Points

It is sometimes not possible to press

directly on a wound: for example, there
may be a foreign object inside the wound,
or a broken bone protruding outside, or the
wound may be too large or be inaccessible
(e.g. if the limb is trapped by some
immovable object). In this case, the only
way to control the bleeding is to compress
blood vessels over particular pressure
points (usually where arteries cross over
bones near to the surface of the skin). This
technique can be used to control external
bleeding from arm wounds and leg
wounds.

The correct point is determined by finding

a pulse on a victim similar to that felt in
the wrist when taking one's own pulse.
This point could be located in the wrist, the
arm (on the soft underside of the elbow),
the groin, or behind the knee. This is the
position where a rhythmical pulsation can
be felt. Pressure can then be applied over
this point—the artery—to control bleeding.

Once an artery is compressed over a

pressure point, it must not be compressed
for more than 10 minutes: any longer in
one go can cause irreversible damage to
the limb. Typically pressure would be
applied for 10 minutes, then released for a
couple, then reapplied and so on.

6. Know the proper

procedure to assist a victim
of poisoning.
With poison container in hand, call the
local poison control center and do NOT try
to make the patient vomit. Only induce
vomiting if a poison center worker or a
doctor advises you to do so. If the poison
is on the skin or clothes, remove the
clothing and wash with a large amount of
water. If poison gets in the eyes, flush the
eyes with clean water for 10 minutes.

Get the victim to a hospital as soon as

possible, and if possible, bring the poison
container with you.
7. Demonstrate the proper
procedure in splinting
various broken bones in the
body.
Splints An essential part of the first-aid
treatment is immobilizing the injured part
with splints so that the sharp ends of
broken bones won’t move around and
cause further damage to nerves, blood
vessels, or vital organs. Splints are also
used to immobilize severely injured joints
or muscles and to prevent the enlargement
of extensive wounds.
Before you can use a splint, you need to
have a general understanding of the use of
splints. In an emergency, almost any firm
object or material can be used as a splint.
Such things as umbrellas, canes, tent
pegs, sticks, oars, paddles, spars, wire,
leather, boards, pillows, heavy clothing,
corrugated cardboard, and folded
newspapers can be used as splints. A
fractured leg may sometimes be splinted
by fastening it securely to the uninjured
leg. Splints, whether ready-made or
improvised, must meet the following
requirements:
Be light in weight, but still be strong and
fairly rigid.
Be long enough to reach the joints
above and below the fracture.
Be wide enough so the bandages used
to hold them in place won’t pinch the
injured part.
Be well padded on the sides that touch
the body. If they’re not properly padded,
they won’t fit well and won’t adequately
immobilize the injured part.
To improvise the padding for a splint,
use articles of clothing, bandages,
cotton, blankets, or any other soft
material.
 If the victim is wearing heavy clothes,
apply the splint on the outside, allowing
the clothing to serve as at least part of
the required padding.

Although splints should be applied snugly,

never apply them tight enough to interfere
with the circulation of the blood. When
applying splints to an arm or a leg, try to
leave the fingers or toes exposed. If the
tips of the fingers or toes become blue or
cold, you will know that the splints or
bandages are too tight. You should
examine a splinted part approximately
every half-hour, and loosen the fastenings
if circulation appears to be cut off.
Remember that any injured part is likely to
swell, and splints or bandages that are all
right when applied may be too tight later.

To secure the limb to the splint, belts,

neckerchiefs, rope, or any suitable material
may be used. If possible, tie the limb at
two places above and two places below
the break. Leave the treatment of other
types of fractures, such as jaw, ribs, and
spine, to medical personnel. Never try to
move a person who might have a
fractured spine or neck. Moving such a
person could cause permanent paralysis.
Don’t attempt to reset bones.
Forearm

There are two long bones in the forearm,

the radius and the ulna. When both are
broken, the arm usually appears to be
deformed. When only one is broken, the
other acts as a splint and the arm retains a
more or less natural appearance. Any
fracture of the forearm is likely to result in
pain, tenderness, inability to use the
forearm, and a kind of wobbly motion at
the point of injury. If the fracture is open, a
bone will show through. If the fracture is
open, stop the bleeding and treat the
wound. Apply a sterile dressing over the
wound. Carefully straighten the forearm.
(Remember that rough handling of a
closed fracture may turn it into an open
fracture.) Apply two well-padded splints to
the forearm, one on the top and one on the
bottom. Be sure that the splints are long
enough to extend from the elbow to the
wrist. Use bandages to hold the splints in
place. Put the forearm across the chest.
The palm of the hand should be turned in,
with the thumb pointing upward. Support
the forearm in this position by means of a
wide sling and a cravat bandage (see
illustration). The hand should be raised
about 4 inches above the level of the
elbow. Treat the victim for shock and
evacuate as soon as possible.

Upper Arm
The signs of fracture of the upper arm
include pain, tenderness, swelling, and a
wobbly motion at the point of fracture. If
the fracture is near the elbow, the arm is
likely to be straight with no bend at the
elbow. If the fracture is open, stop the
bleeding and treat the wound before
attempting to treat the fracture.

NOTE
Treatment of the fracture depends partly
upon the location of the break.

If the fracture is in the upper part of the

arm near the shoulder, place a pad or
folded towel in the armpit, bandage the
arm securely to the body, and support the
forearm in a narrow sling.

If the fracture is in the middle of the upper

arm, you can use one well-padded splint
on the outside of the arm. The splint
should extend from the shoulder to the
elbow. Fasten the splinted arm firmly to
the body and support the forearm in a
narrow sling, as illustrated.

Another way of treating a fracture in the

middle of the upper arm is to fasten two
wide splints (or four narrow ones) about
the arm and then support the forearm in a
narrow sling. If you use a splint between
the arm and the body, be very careful that
it does not extend too far up into the
armpit; a splint in this position can cause a
dangerous compression of the blood
vessels and nerves and may be extremely
painful to the victim. If the fracture is at or
near the elbow, the arm may be either bent
or straight. No matter in what position you
find the arm, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
STRAIGHTEN IT OR MOVE IT IN ANY WAY.
Splint the arm as carefully as possible in
the position in which you find it. This will
prevent further nerve and blood vessel
damage. The only exception to this is if
there is no pulse on the other side of the
fracture (relative to the heart), in which
case gentle traction is applied and then
the arm is splinted. Treat the victim for
shock and get him under the care of a
medical professional as soon as possible.

Kneecap

Carefully straighten the injured limb.

Immobilize the fracture by placing a
padded board under the injured limb. The
board should be at least 4 inches wide and
should reach from the but- tock to the
heel. Place extra padding under the knee
and just above the heel, as shown in the
illustration. Use strips of bandage to
fasten the leg to the board in four places:
(1) just below the knee; (2) just above the
knee; (3) at the ankle; and (4) at the thigh.
DO NOT COVER THE KNEE ITSELF.
Swelling is likely to occur very rapidly, and
any bandage or tie fastened over the knee
would quickly become too tight. Treat the
victim for shock and evacuate as soon as
possible.

Ankle
The figure-eight bandage is used for
dressings of the ankle, as well as for
supporting a sprain. While keeping the foot
at a right angle, start a 3-inch bandage
around the instep for several turns to
anchor it. Carry the bandage upward over
the instep and around behind the ankle,
forward, and again across the instep and
down under the arch, thus completing one
figure-eight. Continue the figure-eight
turns, overlapping one-third to one-half the
width of the bandage and with an
occasional turn around the ankle, until the
compress is secured or until adequate
support is obtained.

8. Know the proper

procedure to assist the burn
victim.
Burns should be immediately immersed in
cold running water, or shower for large
area. Do not wait to remove clothes. This
should be maintained for at least 10–15
minutes.

Continue for at least 1 hour with cold pack,

partially insulated with clean fabric
(cotton, thin toweling), or further
immersion in iced water. Blistered or open
burn wounds should be cleaned and
covered with non-adhesive gauze
(preferably bactericidal) and cotton
dressing. DO NOT use butter, oils or any
similar treatment which can trap heat and
increase risk of infection. Also do not use
antiseptics that may aggravate sensitive
skin.

Consult a medical physician immediately

for any large, deep, infected or otherwise
serious burn.
Aloe vera extract, silverdene (Silver
Sulfazdiazine), topical analgaesics and
NSAID are commonly used medications.
Consult a doctor before use.

Burns are sustained by electricity, heat ,

chemical or radiation (sunburn). There are
three levels of burns, including first degree
burns (Superficial burn), second degree
burns (Partial thickness burn) and third
degree burns (Full thickness burn). The
first degree burn is typical sunburn with
symptoms such as redness of the skin and
pain. Second degree often has blisters and
severe pain. Third degree can be caused
by fires and caustic chemicals. Often the
victim will feel no pain because the nerves
have been destroyed, even though the skin
is deeply charred.

Burns that cover more than ten percent of

the body, or are larger than the casualty's
palm, are medical emergencies and need
to be treated as such. Also ANY burns to
the face, hands or groin should be
considered critical and require an
examination by a physician.
9. Know the proper
procedure to assist a victim
of a chemical burn.
1. For wet chemicals, immediately flush
the area with large amounts of water,
using a shower or hose, if available. Do not
apply water too forcefully. Continue to
flood the area while the clothing, including
shoes and socks, is being removed.
Continue to flush with running water for at
least 20 minutes.

For dry chemicals, brush off the

chemical, then flush with water as
above.
 For acid burns caused by phenol
(carbolic acid), wash the affected area
with alcohol because phenol is not
water soluble; then wash with water. If
alcohol is not available, flushing with
water is better than no treatment at
all.

2. Call an ambulance
10. Know what situations are
likely to cause carbon
monoxide poisoning and the
rescue and treatment
techniques for such
poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust
gases of internal combustion engines as
well as in sewer gas, lanterns, charcoal
grills, and in manufactured gas used for
heating and cooking. It gives no warning
of its presence since it is completely
odorless and tasteless. The victim may
lose consciousness and suffer respiratory
distress with no warning other than slight
dizziness, weakness, and headache. The
lips and skin of a victim of carbon
monoxide poisoning are characteristically
cherry red. Death may occur within a few
minutes.

The first stage of treatment for an

inhalation poisoning is to remove the
victim from the toxic atmosphere
immediately. WARNING: Never try to
remove a victim from the toxic
environment if you do not have the proper
protective mask or breathing apparatus or
if you are not trained in its use. Too often,
well intentioned rescuers become victims.
When in doubt, call for trained personnel. If
help is not immediately available, and if
you know you can reach and rescue the
victim, take a deep breath, hold it, enter the
area, and pull the victim out. If the victim is
not breathing, begin CPR. Get the victim to
a hospital as soon as possible.

11. Know the proper

procedure for giving
assistance to the victim of a
head injury.
Head wounds must be treated with
particular care, since there is always the
possibility of brain damage. The general
treatment for head wounds is the same as
that for other fresh wounds. However,
certain special precautions must be
observed if you are giving first aid to a
person who has suffered a head wound.

1. NEVER GIVE ANY MEDICINE.

2. Keep the victim lying flat, with the
head at the level of the body. Do not
raise the feet if the face is flushed. If
the victim is having trouble breathing,
you may raise the head slightly.
3. If the wound is at the back of the
head, turn the victim on his or her
side.
 4. Watch closely for vomiting and
position the head to avoid getting
vomit or saliva into the lungs.
5. Do not use direct pressure to control
bleeding if the skull is depressed or
obviously fractured.

12. Know the proper

procedure for giving aid to a
victim of internal injuries.
Internal soft-tissue injuries may result
from deep wounds, blunt trauma, blast
exposure, crushing accidents, bone
fracture, poison, or sickness. They may
range in seriousness from a simple bruise
to life-threatening hemorrhage and shock.

Visible indications of internal soft-tissue

injury include the following:

Vomiting or coughing up bright red

blood.
Excretion of tarry black stools.
Excretion of bright red blood from the
rectum.
Passing of blood in the urine.
Nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding.
Nosebleed.
 Pooling of the blood near the skin
surface.

More often than not, however, there will be

no visible signs of injury, and you will have
to infer the probability of internal soft-
tissue injury from other symptoms such as
the following:

Pale, moist, clammy skin.

Subnormal temperature.
Rapid, feeble pulse.
Falling blood pressure.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Fainting.
Dehydration and thirst.
 Yawning and air hunger.

First aid’s goal must be to obtain the

greatest benefit from the victim’s
remaining blood supply. The following
steps should be taken:

1. Treat for shock.

2. Keep the victim warm and at rest.
3. DO NOT give the victim anything to
drink
4. Splint injured extremities.
5. Apply cold compresses (ice packs) to
identifiable injured areas.
6. Transport the victim to a medical
treatment facility as soon as
 possible.

13. Know the difference

between a heart attack,
stroke, epilepsy, and simple
fainting, and the treatment
for each.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is when blood supply to part

of the heart is interrupted causing heart
tissue to die. Symptoms of a heart attack
include severe chest pain, looking pale,
sweating, and feeling sick. A heart attack
is a medical emergency, and it is a leading
cause of death for both men and women.
First aid includes the following:

Seek emergency medical assistance

immediately.
Help the patient to rest in a position
which minimizes breathing difficulties. A
half-sitting position with knees bent is
often recommended.
Give access to more oxygen, e.g. by
opening the window and widening the
collar for easier breathing; but keep the
patient warm, e.g. by a blanket or a
jacket
Give aspirin, if the patient is not allergic
to aspirin. Aspirin inhibits formation of
further blood clots.
Non-coated or soluble preparations
are preferred. These should be
chewed or dissolved, respectively,
to facilitate quicker absorption. If
the patient cannot swallow, the
aspirin can be placed under the
tongue.
U.S. guidelines recommend a dose
of 160 – 325 mg.
Australian guidelines recommend a
dose of 150 – 300 mg.
If it has been prescribed for the patient,
give nitroglycerin tablets under the
tongue.
 Monitor pulse, breathing, level of
consciousness and, if possible, the
blood pressure of the patient
continually.
Administer CPR if the victim is
unconscious and non-breathing.

Stroke

A stroke is caused by an interruption of the

arterial blood supply to a portion of the
brain. This interruption may be caused by
hardening of the arteries or by a clot
forming in the brain. Tissue damage and
loss of function result. Onset of a stroke is
sudden, with little or no warning. The first
signs include weakness or paralysis,
especially on one side of the body.
Muscles of the face may be particularly
affected. The victim’s level of
consciousness varies from alert to
unresponsive. Difficulty speaking or
understanding language; dizziness;
sudden, severe headache; distorted, dim or
patchy vision are all symptoms of stroke.

If the victim has sudden onset of any 2 or

more of these signs and symptoms, call
an ambulance immediately. First aid for a
stroke is mainly supportive. Special
attention must be paid to the victim’s
airway, since he may not be able to keep it
clear.
Call an ambulance
Place the victim in on their side, with the
affected side down
Act in a calm, reassuring manner, and
keep any onlookers quiet since the
victim may be able to hear what is going
on.
Carefully monitor the victim’s vital signs
and keep a log. Pay special attention to
respirations, and pulse strength and rate
(take the pulse in the neck).
Epilepsy

Epilepsy, also known as seizures or fits, is

a condition characterized by an abnormal
focus of activity in the brain that produces
severe motor responses or changes in
consciousness. Fortunately, epilepsy can
often be controlled by medications. Grand
mal (tonic-clonic) seizure is the more
serious type of seizure. Grand mal
seizures may be - but are not always -
preceded by an aura. The victim soon
comes to recognize these auras, which
allows him time to lie down and prepare
for the seizure’s onset. A burst of nerve
impulses from the brain causes
unconsciousness and generalized
muscular contractions, often with loss of
bladder and bowel control. The primary
dangers in a grand mal seizure are injuries
resulting from falls and the convulsions as
well as a cessation of breathing. A period
of unconsciousness or mental confusion
follows this type of seizure. When full
consciousness returns, the victim will have
little or no recollection of the seizure.

First aid is aimed at preventing the patient

from injuring himself or herself. Nothing
should be placed between the patient’s
teeth for any reason. Never try to restrain a
victim during convulsions; however, do not
leave them alone.

Fainting

Fainting is a self-correcting, temporary

form of shock. It often is the result of a
temporary gravitational pooling of the
blood as a person stands up. As the
person falls, blood again rushes to the
head, and the problem is solved. Usually,
the serious problems related to fainting
are injuries that occur when falling down
from the temporary loss of
consciousness. Fainting may be caused by
stressful situations.
If a person faints (is feels he is about to
faint) do the following:

Lay victim down

Elevate feet
Loosen tight clothing
Maintain an open airway

14. Know how to prevent

infection.
Although infection may occur in any
wound, it is a particular danger in wounds
that do not bleed freely; in wounds in
which torn tissue or skin falls back into
place and prevents the entrance of air; and
in wounds that involve the crushing of
tissues. Incisions, in which there is a free
flow of blood and relatively little crushing
of tissues, are the least likely to become
infected.

There are two types of bacteria commonly

causing infection in wounds—aerobic and
anaerobic. The former bacterial live and
multiply in the presence of air or free
oxygen, while the latter are bacterial that
live and multiply only in the absence of air.

The principal aerobic bacteria that cause

infection, inflammation, and blood
poisoning are streptococci and
staphylococci, some varieties of which
destroy red blood cells. The staphylococci
and streptococci may be introduced at the
time of infliction, or they may be
introduced to the wound later, at the time
of first aid treatment or in the hospital if
nonsterile instruments or dressings are
employed.

Wash minor wounds immediately with

soap and clean water; then dry and paint
them with a mild, nonirritating antiseptic.
Apply a dressing if necessary. In the first
aid environment, do not attempt to wash
or clean a large wound, and do not apply
an antiseptic to it since it must be cleaned
thoroughly at a medical treatment facility.
Simply protect it with a large compress or
dressing and transport the victim to a
medical treatment facility. After an initial
soap and water cleanup, puncture wounds
must also be directed to a medical
treatment facility for evaluation.

15. What is the proper

treatment for a snake bite?

First aid
Call emergency services as fast as you
can .But keep patient calm. Snakebite first
aid recommendations vary, in part
because different snakes have different
types of venom. Some have little local
effect, but life-threatening systemic
effects, in which case containing the
venom in the region of the bite by pressure
immobilization is highly desirable. Other
venoms instigate localized tissue damage
around the bitten area, and immobilization
may increase the severity of the damage in
this area, but also reduce the total area
affected; whether this trade-off is
desirable remains a point of controversy.

Because snakes vary from one country to

another, first aid methods also vary. As
always, this article is not a legitimate
substitute for professional medical advice.
Readers are strongly advised to obtain
guidelines from a reputable first aid
organization in their own region, and to be
wary of homegrown or anecdotal
remedies.

However, most first aid guidelines agree

on the following:

1. Protect the patient (and others,

including yourself) from further bites.
While identifying the species is
desirable in certain regions, do not
risk further bites or delay proper
medical treatment by attempting to
capture or kill the snake. If the snake
has not already fled, carefully remove
 the victim from the immediate area. If
possible, take a photograph of the
snake (many cell phones are
equipped with cameras). If you do not
know what type of snake it is,
someone else might be able to
identify it from the photo. A poor
photo is better than no photo.
2. Keep the victim calm. Acute stress
reaction increases blood flow and
endangers the patient. Keep people
near the patient calm. Panic is
infectious and compromises
judgment.
3. Call for help to arrange for transport
to the nearest hospital emergency
room, where antivenin for snakes
common to the area will often be
available.
4. Elevate the affected limb at a 45°
angle to the body to help minimize
swelling.
5. Do not give the patient anything to
eat or drink. This is especially
important with consumable alcohol, a
known vasodilator which will speed
up the absorption of venom. Do not
administer stimulants or pain
medications to the victim, unless
 specifically directed to do so by a
physician.
6. Remove any items or clothing which
may constrict the bitten limb if it
swells (rings, bracelets, watches,
footwear, etc.)
7. Keep the victim as still as possible.
8. Do not incise the bitten site.

Many organizations, including the

American Medical Association and
American Red Cross, recommend washing
the bite with soap and water. However, do
not attempt to clean the area with any type
of chemical. Australian recommendations
for snake bite treatment strongly
recommend against cleaning the wound.
Traces of venom left on the skin/bandages
from the strike can be used in combination
with a snake bite identification kit to
identify the species of snake. This speeds
determination of which antivenin to
administer in the emergency room.[1]

References
1. Chris Thompson. "Treatment of Australian
Snake Bites" (http://www.usyd.edu.au/anae
s/venom/snakebite.html) . Australian
anaesthetists' website.

Seek medical attention as quickly as

possible. Apply first aid treatment:
Remove any jewelry or watches, as these
could cut into the skin if swelling occurs.
Keep the area of the bite below the level of
the heart in order to slow the spread of
venom through the bloodstream. Remain
still and calm. Moving around will make
venom spread faster through the body.
Cover the bite with a clean, loose-fitting,
dry bandage. The main goal is to
administer the correct antivenom as soon
as possible. Knowing the size, color and
shape of the snake can help determine the
best treatment for a particular bite.
Antivenoms are made by immunizing a
horse or sheep with the venom of a
particular snake, then processing the
animal's blood serum (the watery part of
the blood), which will contain antibodies
capable of neutralizing the effects of
venom.

Monospecific antivenoms treat the bite of

a specific type of snake, while polyspecific
antivenoms can treat bites from a number
of snakes found in a particular geographic
region.

The following is a list of DO NOTs:

Do not pick up the snake or try to wrap it

up or kill it, as this will increase the chance
of getting another bite. Even a dead snake
is able to bite. Do not apply a tourniquet.
Do not cut across the site of the bite
marks. Do not try to suck out the venom.
Do not apply ice. Do not immerse the
wounded area in water. Do not drink
alcohol. Do not drink beverages with
caffeine.

16. What is the proper

treatment for animal bites?
A special kind of infection that must be
guarded against in case of animal bites is
rabies (sometimes called “hydrophobia”).
This disease is caused by a virus that is
present in the saliva of infected animals.
The disease occurs most commonly in
wild animals, but it has been found in
domestic animals and household pets. In
fact, it is probable that all mammals are
susceptible to it. The virus that causes
rabies is ordinarily transmitted by a bite,
but it can be transmitted by the saliva of
an infected animal coming in contact with
a fresh wound or with the thin mucous
membrane of the lips or nose. The virus
does not penetrate normal unbroken skin.
If the skin is broken, DO NOT attempt
wound closure.

If rabies develops in man, it is usually fatal.

A preventive treatment is available and it is
very effective, but only if it is started
shortly after the bite. Since the vaccine
can be obtained only at a medical
treatment facility, any person bitten by an
animal must be transferred quickly to the
nearest treatment facility for evaluation,
along with a complete report of the
circumstances surrounding the incident.
Remember, prevention is of utmost
importance. Immediate local treatment of
the wound should be given. Wash the
wound and the surrounding area carefully,
using sterile gauze, soap, and sterile water.
Use sterile gauze to dry the wound, and
then cover the wound with a sterile
dressing. DO NOT use any chemical
disinfectant. All of the animal’s saliva must
be removed from the victim’s skin to
prevent further contamination of the
wound. CAUTION: DO NOT allow the
animal’s saliva to come in contact with
open sores or cuts on your hands. When a
person has been bitten by an animal, every
effort must be made to catch the animal
and to keep it confined for a minimum of 8
to 10 days. DO NOT kill it if there is any
possible chance of catching it alive. The
symptoms of rabies are not always
present in the animal at the time the bite
occurs, but the saliva may nevertheless
contain the rabies virus. It is essential,
therefore, that the animal is kept under
observation until a diagnosis can be made.
The rabies treatment is given if the animal
develops any definite symptoms, if it dies
during the observation period, or if for any
reason the animal cannot be kept under
observation. Remember that any animal
bite is dangerous and MUST be evaluated
at a treatment facility.

17. What is the proper

treatment for insect and
spider bites?
Insect Bites

Though ticks and leeches are not

technically insects, we will deal with them
here as if they are. Most of the time insect
bites and stings will not require first aid.
However, you should be aware that there
are many insect-borne diseases including
Lyme's disease, Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, malaria, yellow fever, bubonic
plague, etc. Be on the alert for any
sickness following an insect bite, and
contact a doctor if you suspect
transmission of an insect-borne disease.

First aid is aimed at reducing the

discomfort caused by an insect bite or
sting and preventing infection:

Get away from the insects to avoid

additional bites or stings.
For stings, scrape the stinger away - do
not use tweezers or otherwise pinch a
stinger, as this will cause more venom to
be injected into the wound.
Place an ice pack over the affected area
to reduce pain and swelling.
Apply hydrocortizone, calamine lotion, or
make a paste from three parts baking
soda and one part water and apply that
to the affected area.
Give the patient an antihistamine such
as Benadryl.
Remove ticks by pulling them straight
out with a pair of tweezers. Be careful
not to break a tick's mouth parts off
beneath the skin. Contact the child's
doctor who may ask you to save the tick
 and bring it in for testing. Do not try to
remove a tick by touching it with a hot
match head or by covering it with
petroleum jelly.
Do not scratch
Wash the affected area with soap and
water.

Spider Bites

Spiders in the United States are generally

harmless, with several exceptions. The
most notable are the black widow and
brown recluse spiders. Their bites are
serious but rarely fatal.
Bites by non-poisonous spiders should be
treated the same as insect bites. Bites by
poisonous spiders should be treated as
follows:

1. Place ice over the bite to reduce pain.

2. Hospitalize victims who are under 16
or over 65 for observation.
3. Be prepared to give antivenin in
severe cases.
18. What is the difference
between heat exhaustion and
heat stroke, and what is the
treatment for each?

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is a less common but far more

serious condition than heat exhaustion,
since it carries a 20 percent fatality rate.
The main feature of heatstroke is the
extremely high body temperature, 105 °F
(41 °C) or higher, that accompanies it. In
heatstroke, the victim has a breakdown of
the sweating mechanism and is unable to
eliminate excessive body heat built up
while exercising. If the body temperature
rises too high, the brain, kidneys, and liver
may be permanently damaged.

Sometimes the victim may have

preliminary symptoms, such as headache,
nausea, dizziness, or weakness. Breathing
will be deep and rapid at first, later shallow
and almost absent. Usually the victim will
be flushed, very dry, and very hot. The
pupils will be constricted (pinpoint) and
the pulse fast and strong.

When you provide first aid for heatstroke,

remember that this is a true life-and-death
emergency. The longer the victim remains
overheated, the higher the chances of
irreversible body damage or even death
occurring. First aid treatment for
heatstroke is designed to reduce body
heat. Reduce body heat immediately by
dousing the body with cold water, or
applying wet, cold towels to the whole
body. Move the victim to the coolest
possible place and remove as much
clothing as possible. Maintain an open
airway. Place the victim on his/her back,
with the head and shoulders slightly
raised. If cold packs are available, place
them under the arms, around the neck, at
the ankles, and in the groin. Expose the
victim to a fan or air-conditioner since
drafts will promote cooling. Immersing the
victim in a cold water bath is also
effective. Give the victim (if conscious)
cool water to drink. Do not give any hot
drinks or stimulants. Get the victim to a
medical facility as soon as possible.
Cooling measures must be continued
while the victim is being transported.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the most common

condition caused by working or exercising
in hot spaces. Heat exhaustion produces a
serious disruption of blood flow to the
brain, heart, and lungs. This causes the
victim to experience weakness, dizziness,
headache, loss of appetite, and nausea.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion

are similar to those of shock: the victim
will appear ashen gray; the skin will be
cold, moist, and clammy; and the pupils of
the eyes may be dilated (enlarged). The
vital (blood pressure, temperature, pulse,
and respiration) signs usually are normal;
however, the victim may have a weak pulse
together with rapid and shallow breathing.

Body temperature may be below normal.

You should treat heat exhaustion victims
as if they were in shock. Loosen the
clothing, apply cool wet cloths, move the
victim to either a cool or an air-conditioned
area, and fan the victim. Do not allow the
person to become chilled. If the victim is
conscious, administer a solution of 1
teaspoon of salt dissolved in a quart of
cool water. If the victim vomits, do not give
any more fluids. Transport the victim to a
medical facility as soon as possible.

19. What should you do if

your clothes catch fire?
Get the person to the ground and roll him
over and over on the ground. Another
option is to wrap the victim with a blanket,
coat, or jacket if one is handy. If your own
clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll -
do the same thing to yourself as you
would to someone else.

20. What are the basic fire

prevention principles for the
home?
If your home lacks smoke detectors,
install them
Replace the batteries and test your
smoke detectors on a regular basis
(when adjusting your clocks for daylight
savings time, for example).
Do not smoke or allow anyone else to
smoke in your home.
Never overload circuits or extension
cords. Do not place cords and wires
under rugs, over nails or in high traffic
areas. Immediately shut off and unplug
appliances that sputter, spark or emit an
unusual smell. Have them professionally
repaired or replaced.
When using appliances follow the
manufacturer's safety precautions.
Overheating, unusual smells, shorts and
sparks are all warning signs that
appliances need to be shut off, then
replaced or repaired. Unplug appliances
when not in use. Use safety caps to
cover all unused outlets, especially if
there are small children in the home.
Portable heaters need their space. Keep
anything combustible at least three feet
away.
Keep fire in the fireplace. Use fire
screens and have your chimney cleaned
annually. The creosote buildup can
ignite a chimney fire that could easily
spread.
Kerosene heaters should be used only
where approved by authorities. Never
use gasoline or camp-stove fuel. Refuel
outside and only after the heater has
cooled.
 Practice an escape plan from every
room in the house. Caution everyone to
stay low to the floor when escaping
from fire and never to open doors that
are hot. Select a location where
everyone can meet after escaping the
house. Get out then call for help.

21. What are the basic water

safety principles?
Learn to swim.
Swim in areas where a lifeguard is on
duty
Young children and weak swimmers
should wear a personal floatation device
(PFD) when they are around water.
Set limits for inexperienced swimmers,
such as not allowing them to enter
water that is more than chest-deep.
Inspect swimming areas for hazards
such as underwater trees, holes, and
swift currents.
Swim parallel to the shore if caught in a
rip tide.
Get out of the water if there is a risk of a
lightning strike.
22. What are the ways to save
a drowning victim without
swimming?
Unless you have been trained to properly
do so, avoid swimming to the assistance
of a person who is drowning. A drowning
non-swimmer is typically in a panic, and
may grab onto anyone or anything he can
reach in an effort to support their airway
above the surface of the water. If the
victim submerges the rescuer, the
rescuer's life is endangered and the
original victim has nobody to assist them.
Instead of entering the water, do one of the
following:

Talk the victim in; coach them to kick

their legs
Throw life ring, life jacket, or some other
flotation device to the victim
Reach an item such as a rope, pole, oar,
or paddle to the victim, and once the
victim grabs it, pull them in
Wade into shallow water attempt the
above
Row out to the victim in a boat, or use
powered craft if possible; try the above
from in the boat
23. What are the basic
electrical safety principles?
Do not overload circuits or extension
cords.
Only use an extension cord that is rated
to handle the current an appliance will
use. An appliance's amperage is listed
on the outside of the appliance.
Shut off the power before working on a
circuit.
Unplug an appliance before servicing it.
Water and electricity do not mix. Do not
use an electric appliance when standing
in a puddle of water or while in a bathtub
or shower.
Do not use a land-line telephone or
touch any "wired" appliance during an
electrical storm.
Do not insert anything into an electrical
socket other than an electrical plug
which is in good condition or an outlet
safety cover.
Replace broken or frayed electrical
cords.
24. How can you prevent food
poisoning?
Food poisoning is causes by eating food
which is contaminated with any infectious
or toxic agent such as bacteria or
parasites. The two main ways food
becomes contaminated is by improper
storage, or by coming into contact with
contaminated food (cross-contamination).

Food Storage

The basic rule for storing food is to pay

attention to the temperature. Keep hot
foods hot, and keep cold foods cold. Most
bacteria will not grow in food that is hotter
than 140 °F (60 °C), and bacterial growth is
greatly slowed at temperatures below
40 °F (4 °C). It is unsafe to store foods
susceptible to bacteria growth between
these temperatures.

Food poisoning is often caused by eating

left-overs that were not promptly
refrigerated. As soon as the food
temperature falls below 140 °F (60 °C), it
should be refrigerated. The longer food is
left in the "danger zone", the more bacteria
will multiply in it. If it contains enough
bacteria, it will overwhelm the body's
immune system and sickness will result.
Be careful about refrigerating large
quantities of hot food. For instance, the
potato salad in the center of a two-gallon
container can remain warm for hours after
refrigeration - providing ample time for
bacteria to multiply. Divide large quantities
of food into smaller containers prior to
refrigeration so that the food can cool
throughout.

Cross Contamination

Cross contamination usually happens

during food preparation. Raw meat and
raw eggs should always be treated as if
they were contaminated. Cooking them
kills the bacteria and makes them safe to
eat. Do not allow other food to come into
contact with raw meat or eggs, or that
food will become contaminated. Do not
use the same utensils to handle raw meat
and food that is ready to eat.

Wash your hands before you eat or cook,

and always wash your hands after
handling raw meat or eggs - before
handling any other food.

Do not allow pets to walk on food

preparation surfaces (i.e., don't let the cat
walk on the counter top or dining table).
Animals pick up many types of bacteria on
their feet, and this is easily transferred to
food. If you do catch your pet walking on
the countertop, be sure to disinfect it
before using it as a food preparation
surface.

References
Wikipedia references:

Abdominal Thrusts

Some material for this chapter was copied

directly from the following public domain
resources:

U.S. Navy Training Manual, HOSPITAL

CORPSMAN 3 & 2 (http://www.tpub.co
 m/content/medical/10669-c/)
U.S. Navy Training Manual, Hospital
Corpsman Revised Edition (http://www.t
pub.com/content/medical/14295/index.
htm)
Department of Homeland Security, Fire
Safety Tips (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/sa
fety/tips/)

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