KEEP THIS BOOKLET IN YOUR FIRST AID KIT
KEEP THIS BOOKLET IN YOUR FIRST AID KIT
To prevent infection and carer contamination, disposable latex gloves should be worn whenever contact with open wounds or bodily fluids is possible.
1. CARE OF INSTUMENTS OF FIST AID KIT
If the scissors or tweezers have been used, they should be cared for as follows:
·clean thoroughly using soap, cold water and a small brush, then rinse in cold water
·allow to dry, and disinfect with 70% alcohol swabs (ethanol or methanol)
·allow to dry again before storing for future use
·throw waste into garbage bin, recycle or deal with them environmentally.
2. WOUNDS
• wash the wound in clean running water
• clean the wound with disposable cleaning swabs
• carefully dry the wound and the surrounding skin using sterile gauze pieces
• Povidone-iodine solution or other suitable antiseptic may be used on and around the wound
• cover the wound with an appropriate sized sterile dressing
• use a conforming cotton bandage, fastened with adhesive tape or a safety pin, to hold the dressing in place.
Deep wounds, larger lacerations and wounds that become red and throb should be covered with sterile dressings and promptly referred to either a health professional or hospital emergency department.
Do not touch the wound or any part of the sterile dressing that will be in contact with the wound.
3. SEVERE BLEEDING
• apply and maintain pressure to hold the wound using a sterile dressing or clean cloth pad
• raise the injured body part (if it is not fractured) and place the injured person at rest in the position of greatest comfort
• if the bleeding continues through the first pad, do not remove it, but
put another dressing or pad over it and maintain the firm pressure by
hand or with a bandage, if bleeding continues through the second pad, remove both and start again with a new pad
• when the bleeding stops, leave the pad in place
• arrange medical aid as a matter of urgency and stay with the person,
watching for signs of shock.
SEVERE
4. TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION
•do not wash the severed body part, apply and maintain pressure to the injured area using a sterile dressing
• place the severed body part in a sealable plastic bag filled with
some air to cushion the part from further injury
• keep the bag in ice-cooled water, but do not pack the severed body part in ice, as this will damage tissues
• arrange medical aid as a matter of urgency, and stay with the
person watching for signs of shock.
5. BURNS
• take the injured person to a safe place if possible, give priority care to the injured person’s airway, breathing and circulation
• cool, running water applied quickly is the best remedy of all –cool the affected area with cold, running water for at least 20 minutes, irrigation should continue if the patient continues to complain of burning, do not apply any lotion, ointment, gel, cream or powder – unless access to 20 minutes of clean, running water is not available.
• remove any jewellery and clothing from the affected area, but do not
peel off any substances that are stuck to the skin
• cover the burnt area loosely with either a light, non-adherent, sterile
dressing, or a clean polythene burns sheet, or clean cling film
• elevate burnt limbs where possible, do not break blisters
1) Inhalation (airway) burns
Due to inhaling hot gases or fumes, provide
oxygen administration if available.
2) Burns from scalding
Applying cool, running water for at least 20
minutes, or continue if the patient continues to complain of burning. Keep
unburned areas warm and remove all hot and wet clothing.
3) Electrical burns
• check the airway, breathing and circulation of the injured person
• start CPR on the injured person if there are no ‘signs of life’
• flood the burnt area with water for up to 20 minutes
4) Lightning burns
• check the airway, breathing and circulation of the injured person
• start CPR on the injured person if there are no ‘signs of life’
5) Hazardous Substance burns
Immediate treatment is vital in cases of hazardous substance burns.
6. EYE INJURIES
• flush the eye immediately with clean running water for at least
20 minutes
• contact lenses should not be removed, as they may be protecting the
eye from damage
•In cases of eyelid bruises apply a cold pack for up to 10 minutes – do
not use ice
•Eyelid cuts, apply a small non-adherent sterile dressing to the injured
eyelid
•Eyeball injuries, assist the injured person to lie on their back and lightly cover the injured eye with a sterile pad
•Burns to the eye, flush the eye immediately with clean running water for
at least 20 minutes. It is important to flush under the eyelids and it
may be necessary to hold the eyelids apart to overcome any spasm.
7. SNAKE BITE
• keep the injured person calm and lying down at total rest, ensuring they avoid all movement of the bitten part
• do not wash the bite site, because a sample of the venom will be taken later to identify the snake
• apply a firm bandage over the bite site, and then continue to bandage the whole limb
• if possible, immobilise the affected limb using a padded splint between the legs for a lower limb and/or a splint and sling for an upper limb
• check the airway, breathing and circulation of the injured person at frequent intervals
• start CPR on the injured person if there are no ‘signs of life’
8. INSECT STINGS
• apply an ice pack to relieve pain
• apply sting relief cream, gel or spray to the sting area. Bee stings should be scraped off with a fingernail or sharp edge as soon as possible to stop the injection of any more venom.
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