|
|
Welcome to the
American EHS Online first aid guide page. We've provided this guide, which is
included in many of our kits, as an online service to help you be prepared
in the event of an injury or emergency. To be prepared for an emergency we
recommend that you prepare your household in two important ways.
First, list key
emergency phone numbers in a conspicuous location for all members of your
household to use in a time of need.
Second, of course you need to have a
comprehensive first aid kit, perhaps in several locations, to help you
treat less serious injuries.
EMERGENCY
PHONE NUMBERS
Be prepared, list the following emergency phone numbers near your phone
so anyone present can seek emergency assistance:
resource |
phone
number |
Medical emergency: |
911 |
Fire department: |
|
Police department: |
|
Local hospital: |
|
Doctor: |
|
Dentist: |
|
Work numbers: |
|
FIRST
AID GUIDE
BLEEDING
|
Before providing
care, put on protective gloves or use a barrier between you and the
victim, to reduce the chance of disease transmission while assisting the
injured person. Cleanse your hands thoroughly with soap and water when
finished.
|
Basic first aid
treatment:
|
-
CALL 911 for
medical assistance.
-
Keep victim
lying down.
-
Apply direct
pressure using a clean cloth or sterile dressing directly on the
wound.
-
DO NOT take out
any object that is lodged in a wound; see a doctor for help in
removal.
-
If there are no
signs of a fracture in the injured area, carefully elevate the wound
above the victim's heart.
-
Once bleeding
is controlled, keep victim warm by covering with a blanket, continuing
to monitor for shock.
|
CLEANING
& BANDAGING WOUNDS |
-
Wash your
hands and cleanse the injured area with clean soap and water,
then blot dry.
-
Apply
antibiotic ointment to minor wound and cover with a sterile
gauze dressing or bandage that is slightly larger than the
actual wound.
|
EYE
INJURIES |
-
If an
object is impaled in the eye, CALL 911 and DO NOT remove the
object.
-
Cover
both eyes with sterile dressings or eye cups to
immobilize.
-
Covering
both eyes will minimize the movement of the injured eye.
-
DO NOT
rub or apply pressure, ice, or raw meat to the injured
eye.
-
If the
injury is a black eye, you may apply ice to cheek and area
around eye, but not directly on the eyeball itself.
|
How to
flush the eyes: If chemical is in only one eye, flush by
positioning the victim's head with the contaminated eye down. . . to
prevent flushing the chemical from one eye to another. Flush with
cool or room temperature water for 15 minutes or more. Remove
contact lenses after flushing.
|
BURNS |
First Degree Burn:
Skin will appear red and may be swollen or painful. Generally does
not require medical attention. |
Second Degree Burn:
Skin will appear red, blistered and swollen. May require medical
attention. |
Third Degree Burn:
Skin will be visibly charred and may be white. Usually very painful.
REQUIRES MEDICAL ATTENTION. |
|
Basic first aid
treatment for 1st degree & some 2nd degree burns: |
Submerge burn area
immediately in cool water until pain stops. If affected area is
large, cover with cool wet cloths. Do not break blisters if they are
present. If pain persists but no medical assistance is needed, apply
medicated first aid cream or gel and cover with sterile dressing. If
medical attention is needed, do not apply any cream. Just cover with
a dry, sterile dressing and seek medical help immediately. basic
first aid treatment for 3rd degree & some 2nd degree burns: CALL
911!! Third degree burns MUST RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!
DO NOT try to remove any clothing stuck to the burned area. Cover
with sterile dressing or clean sheet. DO NOT apply any creams or
gels.
|
CHEMICAL
BURNS |
- Flush the affected area
with cool running water for at least 15 minutes.
- Remove all clothing and
jewelry that has been contaminated.
- Monitor victim for
shock and seek medical assistance.
- If chemical burn is in
the eyes, flush continuously with water and seek medical
attention immediately.
|
SUNBURN |
- Avoid any further
exposure to direct sunlight.
- Drink plenty of water
to prevent dehydration.
- Do not apply cold water
or ice to a severe burn.
- Use over-the-counter
remedies to remove discomfort.
- If burn is severe and
blisters develop, seek medical attention.
|
UNCONSCIOUSNESS |
- Do not leave an
unconscious victim alone except to call 911 for medical help.
- Assess victim’s state
of awareness by asking if they are OK.
- Check the victim’s
Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC’s).
- If the victim’s ABC’s
are not present, perform CPR. IMPORTANT: only a trained &
qualified person
should administer CPR.
- If ABC’s are present
and spinal injury is not suspected, place victim on their side
with their chin toward the ground to allow for secretion
drainage.
- Cover the victim with
blanket to keep warm and prevent shock. If victim communicates
feeling warm, remove blanket.
|
CHOKING |
- Ask the victim,
"Are you OK?"
- do not interfere or
give first aid if the victim can speak, breathe, or cough.
- If the victim cannot
speak, breathe, or cough, ask for someone to call 911 and then
perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust).
- How to perform the
Heimlich maneuver: Position yourself behind the victim with your
arms around victim’s stomach. Place the thumb-side of your
fist above the victim’s navel and below the lower end of the
breastbone. Take hold of your fist with your free hand and pull
fist upward and in, quickly and firmly. Continue with thrusts
until the object is dislodged or airway is clear.
|
INFANT
CHOKING |
- Place infant face down
on your forearm supporting the head and neck with your hand.
Rest your hand on your knee with the infant’s head lower than
it’s body.
- With the heel of your
hand give four blows between the infant’s shoulder blades.
- Turn infant over, place
two fingers on the center of the infant’s chest (just below
the nipples) and perform up to five chest thrusts.
- Repeat until
obstruction is clear.
- seek medical attention
after any choking incident, since complications may arise.
|
POISON |
- Call your local Poison
Control Center or 911 for immediate medical attention.
- Antidotes on labels may
be wrong!! do not follow them unless instructed by a physician.
- never give anything by
mouth (milk, water, Ipecac, etc.) until you have consulted with
a medical professional.
- Keep a one ounce bottle
of Ipecac on hand at all times in case of an emergency, and give
only when instructed by a physician.
- If the poison is on the
skin, flush skin with water for 15 minutes, then wash and rinse
with soap and water.
- If poison is in the
eye, flush with lukewarm water for 15 minutes. Adults can stand
under the shower with eyes open. always consult medical
professionals after any eye injury has occurred.
|
ANIMAL
BITES |
- Control any bleeding by
applying direct pressure or with elevation.To avoid risk of
infection, do not close wound.
- Rinse the bite
thoroughly, holding it under running water. Cleanse with soap
and water and hold under water again for five minutes.
- do not put ointments or
medicines on wound. Cover with dry sterile bandage or gauze.
- seek medical assistance
immediately.
- note: report animal and
human bites to local police and/or health authorities.
|
BEE
STING |
- If possible, remove
stinger by scraping it off with a blunt edge (e.g. credit card).
- Clean wound and apply
cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Remove tight clothing
and jewelry from areas near the bite in case swelling occurs.
- Watch for signs of
shock or allergic reaction. Signs include swelling or itching at
the wound site, dizziness, nausea or difficulty breathing. Seek
medical attention immediately if any of these signs occur.
- Continue monitoring
victim for shock until medical help arrives.
- Check victim’s
Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC’s). If ABC’s are
impaired then call 911 and begin CPR. IMPORTANT: only a trained
& qualified person should administer CPR.
|
|