First Aid

First Aid

When you are the Good Samaritan : Emergencies require quick action.The worst mistake is to do nothing

Accidents are the leading cause of death among children and young adults in the United States. Heart attacks and strokes claim almost half of all deaths in the country each years, and millions of Americans end up in the hospital with injuries annually. Although the odds of having to cope with a first aid crisis are slim, the consequences of not knowing how to deal with one can be fatal.

One common reaction to happening upon an accident scene is to hold back out of uncertainty over fear of contracting a disease, or even of being sued. The fat that AIDS can be transmitted through infected blood has only added to the reluctance of many to get involved.

The worst mistake is to do nothing, say experts at the American Red Cross. At a minimum, you should call the rescue squad or 911. The risks of catching a disease from helping are also not very great. Usually you will know the accident victims that need your help because they are likely to be family members or friends. That increases the likelihood that you will know their health condition and can take precautions to guard against any special risks of infection. Whether you know the victim or not, it is best to avoid direct contact with blood, which is the most likely transmitter of infectious disease, including the AIDS virus. Wear gloves, if available, when treating a bleeding victim and wash your hands before and after giving first aid, if possible.

A nice park. Photo by Elena

Most states have “Good Samaritan” laws, which protect rescuers who assist accident victims from being sued, provided the Samaritan acts in a reasonable manner. That means moving a victim only if his life is imperiled or if another person’s will be if you don’t move the first. Ask permission of a victim who is conscious before giving first aid, calling the rescue squad or 911 as soon as possible.

To obtain permission to provide assistance, you must tell a conscious victim who you are, what training you have, and what first aid you intend. If permission is refused, stop immediately. If the victim is an infant or child and there is a responsible adult available, ask permission of that adult. If no such adult is present, permission is implied. Permission is also assumed if a victim is unconscious or cannot reply.

For detailed instructions on vital first aid techniques, see the following material from the American Red Cross:

Checking an Unconscious Victim

When a victim does not respond to you, assume he or she is unconscious. Call for an ambulance at once, if possible. The check to see if the victim is breathing, has a pulse or is bleeding severely.

To check for breathing, look, listen and feel for breathing for about five seconds. Watch the chest to see if it rises.

To find out if the heart is beating, check the victim’s pulse. Check the pulse of an adult or a child at the side of the neck. Check the pulse of an infant at the inside of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow.

Check for bleeding by looking over the victim’s body from head to foot. Bleeding is severe when blood spurts out of a wound. Often the situation may look worse than it is.

Abdominal Thrusts for Choking Adults

Chocking is a common breathing emergency. A conscious person who is choking has the airway blocked by a piece of food or another object. The airway may be partly or completely blocked. If a chocking person is coughing forcefully, encourage him or her to cough up the object.

If the person is unable to cough, speak or breathe :

    Step 1. Place thumb side of fist against middle of abdomen just above the navel. Grasp fist with other hand.

    Step 2. Give quick upward thrusts.

Repeat until object is coughed up or person becomes unconscious.

Give chest thrusts when choking person is too big to reach around or is noticeable pregnant.

Give Back blows and Chest Thrusts to Babies Who Are Chocking

Chocking is a leading cause of death and injury in infants, who love to put small objects such as pebbles, coins, beads, and parts of toys, in their mouth.

Babies also chocke often while eating because they have not yet fully mastered chewing and swallowing. Foods like grapes and nuts are particularly risky. Never let an infant eat or drink alone, the American Red Cross advises.

If an Infant is Unable to Cry, Cough or Breathe…

Step 1. With infant facedown on forearm so that the head is lower than the hest, give five back blows with heel of hand between the infant’s shoulder blades.

Step 2. Holding the infant firmly between both forearms, turn the infant to faceup position on forearm.

Step 3. Using two fingers, give five chest thrusts on about the center of the breastbone.

Repeat the sequence of five back blows and five chest thrusts alternately until the object is coughed up, the infant begins to breathe on his own, or the infant beomes unconscious.

Stop as soon as the objet is oughed up or the infant starts to breathe or ough. Watch the infant and make sure that he or she is breathing freely again.

Call the local emergency number if you haven’t already done so. The infant should be taken to the local emergeny department to be checked, even if the infant seems to be breathing well.

Rescue Breathing for Adults and Children

The timing intervals for administrating artificial respiration to adults and children are somewhat different, but the mechanics are the same.

If an adult is unable to breathe…

Step 1. Begin by tilting the head back and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the back of the throat. Pinch the nose shut.

Step 2. Make a tight seal around the victim’s mouth with your mouth. Breathe slowly into the victim until chest gently rises. Give two breaths, each lasting one to two seconds. Pause between breaths to let the air flow out.

Step 3. Check for pulse after the two initial slow breaths.

If pulse is present but person is still not breathing…

Step 4. Give one slow breath about every five seconds. Do this for about one minute (12 breaths).

Step 5. After 10 to 12 breaths, recheck pulse to make sure the heart is still beating. Check the pulse and breathing about avery minute or 10 to 12 breaths.

Continue rescue breathing as long as a pulse is present but the person is not breathing.

If a child is unable to breathe…

Step 1. Begin by tilting the head back and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the back of the throat. Pinh the nose shut.

Step 2. Make a tight seal around the victim’s mouth with your mouth. Breathe slowly into the victim until chest gently rises. Give two breaths, each lasting one to two seconds. Pause between breaths to let the air flow out.

Step 3. Check the pulse after the two initial slow breaths.

If pulse is present but person is still not breathing…

Step 4. Give one slow breath about every three seconds. Do this for about one minute (20 breaths).

Step 5. Recheck pulse and breathing about every minute, or 20 breaths.

Call the local emergency number if you have not already done so. Then, continue rescue breathing as long as a pulse is present but the hild is not breathing.

Rescue Breathing for Infants

Because a baby’s mouth is very small, you need to seal your mouth over both the infant’s mouth and nose

If an infant is not breathing…

Step 1. Begin by tilting the head back and lifting the hin to move the tongue away from the back of the throat.

Step 2. Make a tight seal around the infant’s nose and mouth with your mouth.

Step 3. Breathe slowly into the victim until chest gently rises. Give two breaths, each lasting one to two seconds. Pause between breaths, each lasting one to two seconds. Pause between breaths to let the air flow out.

Step 4. Check for pulse after the two initial slow breaths.

Step 5. Give one slow breath about every three seconds. Do this for about one minute (20 breaths).

Step 6. Recheck pulse and breathing about every minute. Call the local emergeny number if you haven’t already done so. Continue rescue breathing as long as a pulse is present but the child is not breathing.

Clearing an obstruction with abdominal thrusts

When an unconscious person’s airway is obstructed, getting air in is more important than removing the object.

If air does not go in…

Step 1. If you don’t see the chest rise as you give rescue breathing, retilt the person’s head.

Step 2. Give two breaths, each lasting one to two seconds. Pause between breaths to let the air flow out. If air still won’t go in…

Step 3. Straddling the victim’s legs, place the heel of one hand just above the navel. Place your other hand on top of the first. Point the fingers of both hands toward the victim’s head.

Step 4. Give five quick thrusts toward the head and into the abdomen.

Step 5. After giving five thrusts, lift the victim’s lower jaw and tongue with your fingers and thumb. Slide one finger down the inside of the cheek and try to hook the object out.

Step 6. Tilt head back, lift chin, and give two slow breaths again. Repeat breaths, thrusts, and sweeps until breath go in.

Pink plant. Painting by Elena

When it’s an infant with the blokage

The technique for clearing an unconscious baby’s airway is the same as for one who is choking.

If you are unable to breathe into an infant…

Step1. Retilt the infant’s head, lifting the chin.

Step 2. Give two breaths again. If air still won’t go in.

Step 3. Position infant on forearm, then turn him face-down.

Step 4. While holding infant facedown on forearm so that the head is lower than the chest, give five back blows with heel of hand between the infant’s shoulder blades.

Step 5. Holding the infant firmly between both forearms, turn the infant to a faceup position of forearm.

Step 6. Give five chest thrusts on about the center of the breastbone.

Step 7. Lift the infant’s lower jaw and tongue and check for object. Sweep one finger inside the mouth to hook the object out.

Step 8. Tilt head back and give two breaths again. Repeat back blows, chest thrusts, sweeps, and breaths until breaths go in.

Basic CPR for Adults and Children

Give CPR when there is no breathing and no pulse. Without CPR, brain damage can set in within four minutes.

If a Person Is Not Breathing and Has No Pulse

Step 1. Find hand position – the notch where the ribs meet the lower breastbone. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone just above your index finger.

Step 2. Place your other hand on top of the first. Use the heel of your bottom hand to apply pressure on the breastbone. Position your shoulders diretly over your hands with elbows locked. Press the chest down about two inches, and then release. Repeat 15 times keeping a smooth even rhythm.

Step 3. Retilt the head, lift the hin and give two slow breaths.

Step 4. Do three more sets of 15 compressions and 2 breaths. Each cycle takes about 15 seconds.

Step 5. Recheck pulse and breathing for about five seconds. If there is no pulse…

Step 6. Continue sets of 15 compressions and two breaths, pausing to check for pulse every few minutes. If you find a pulse, check breathing and give rescue breathing if necessary.

CPR for infants has important differences

Babies require lighter chest pressure delivered in shorter, more frequent cycles than do older children and adults

If an infant is not breathing and has no pulse…

Step 1. Place the infant on his or her back on a hard surface such as the floor or table. Place two fingers on the breastbone just below an imaginary line between the nipples.

Step 2 Give five compressions, about 3 seconds each. Count to help keep a regular, even rhythm

Step 3. Placing your mouth over the infant’s mouth and nose, give one slow breath, about 1,5 seconds.

Step 4. Begin compressions again. Do 12 cycles of five compressions and one breath, about one minute. Call the local emergency number if you haven’t already, carrying the infant to the phone so you can continue giving CPR. Then…

Step 5. Recheck pulse and breathing for about five seconds. If there is still no pulse…

Step 6. Continue sets of five compresions and one breath. Recheck pulse and breathing every few minutes. Continue CPR until help arrives.