First Aid Kit Tools and Their Uses

PRINCIPLES OF FIRST AID

DATE; 2024

Learning Tasks

• By the end of this session, you are expected to be able to:

Define First Aid

• Define a First Aid Kit
• List items in a First Aid Kit and their uses

Outline the principles of First Aid

Learning Tasks Cont.…

• Outline procedures for providing first aid to burn victim

Prepare a first aid kit

Definition of First Aid

First Aid is defined as the immediate care of a person injured in an incident or suffering from sudden illness.

• Its purpose is to:
• Save life

Prevent further injury

Definition of First Aid Cont.…

Alleviate suffering

Promote recovery until professional medical care becomes available, or the casualty recovers.

First Aid Kit

It is a bag or case containing basic medical supplies that are designed to be used on someone who is injured or suddenly becomes ill

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Items in the First Aid Kit
• The following are some of the basic First Aid kit items
• Bandage tape
• Hot water bottle

Cotton balls

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Protective gears like masks, gloves, etc.
• Disposable facial tissues
• Disposable gloves (non-latex)
• Flashlight

Gauze bandage (1 inch and 2 inch widths)

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Ice bags
• Disposable towels
• Pocket mask/face shield for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Safety pins
• Sanitary, trauma or obstetrics and gynecology (OB) pads

Soap (plain)

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Sterile adhesive compresses (1 inch x 3 inches), individually packaged
• Sterile cotton tipped applicators, individually packaged.
• Sterile gauze squares (2 inches x 2 inches; 3 inches x 3 inches), individually packaged

Tongue blades

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Triangular bandages for slings
• Two crepe rollers
• Scissors
• Cotton wool

Non-alcoholic wound cleaning wipes

First Aid Kit Cont.….

• Adhesive tape
• Notepad, pencil and tags
• Plastic face shield
• For outdoor activities blanket, survival bag, torch and whistle

Thermometer

Principles of First Aid

• A. First Aid priorities
• Assess the Situation
• Observe what has happened quickly and calmly
• Look for danger to yourself and casualty

Never put yourself at risk

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

• B. Make the area safe
• Protect the casualty from danger
• Be aware of your limitation
• Assess all casualties and identify the priority needs of care using a TRIAGE system as

follows:

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

• Red tag
• Need immediate care (life threatening), assist him to get immediate care.
• Yellow tag

Need medical care within thirty minutes.

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

Green tag

No need of treatment. Can be kept under the reassurance of an health care professional to alleviate anxiety and allow them to relax before discharge

Black Tag

Deceased (No sign of Life).

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

C. Primary Survey

Airway

Asses the airway. Can the patient talk and breathe freely? If obstructed, consider the following steps:

Chin lift/Jaw thrust

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

• Suction if available
• Guedel airway/nasopharyngeal airway
• If possible, intubation should be done by an expert medical practitioner.

NB: Keep neck in neutral position if cervical spine injury suspected

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

• Breathing
• Look, listen, and feel for adequacy in breathing. If inadequate consider;

artificial ventilation, decompression and drainage of tension pneumothorax/haemothorax.

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

Circulation

check for pulse, stop haemorrhage, establish 2 large bore intravenous lines (14 or 16 G) if possible and administer fluids if available.

• Disability

Assess level of consciousness using (AVPU)

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

• Awake
• Verbal response
• Painful response

Unresponsive

Principles of First Aid Cont.….

Exposure/Examination

Undress the patient to examine the whole body but maintain body temperature and immobilization of the neck and spine inline to avoid secondary injury.

Get Help

Quickly ensure that any necessary specialist help has been summoned and is on it.

Key Points

First Aid Kit is a bag or case containing basic medical supplies that are designed to be used on someone who is injured or suddenly becomes ill.

Common conditions requiring First Aid at our workplace includes: clothing on fire, hazardous material splashed in eye, minor cuts and puncture wounds, chemical and biological spills on the body

First Aid for Burns

A burn involves the destruction of skin cells, and sometimes the underlying structures of muscle, fascia and bone.

It occurs when these structures absorb more heat than they can dissipate.

Causes of burn

• Causes

A. Burns

• Flames of fire
• Hot metals
• Electricity
• Lighting

Strong acids and alkaline

Causes of burn

• Exposure to sun
• Friction – touching a revolving wheel

Gas

Causes of Burn

B. Scalds

• Boiling water
• Steam
• Tea
• Hot milk

Oil

First Aid for burn victim

Stop the burning process. Remove the source of heat. if clothing catches fire, “stop, drop and roll” to smother the flames.

Remove all burned clothing. Clothing may keep in the heat and cause a deeper injury.

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

Pour cool water over the burned area. Keep pouring the cool water for at least 3-5 minutes. Never put ice or cold water on a burn as it lowers body temperature and can make the burn worse.

Remove all jewelry, belts, tight clothing, metal, etc. Remove from burned areas and around the victim’s neck – swelling of burned areas occurs immediately.

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

Do not apply ointments, creams or salves to wounds. These things may cause infection due to their oil base and can convert wounds to deeper injury; hold in heat and worsen the burn, and have to be washed off by a physician causing the patient additional discomfort.

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

• Cover burns with a soft, clean, dry dressing, bandage or sheet.
• Cover victim to keep him/her warm.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

Special consideration

FOR MINOR BURN INJURY: keep clean, gently wash with a mild soap. Use an antiseptic spray or cream to help relieve pain and prevent infection before covering with a clean dry dressing. If wounds are not healing, appear weepy, or smell bad, seek medical help

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

ELECTRICAL INJURIES: do no touch the person who is in contact with electricity. You will be injured. Disconnect the source of power or call for assistance for the power company, then begin first aid. Primary concerns are clear airways, breathing, circulation and cervical spine immobilization. Then look for other injuries

First Aid for burn victim Cont.….

CHEMICAL INJURIES: Protect yourself from contact with the chemical. Read the container label information or consult with a Poison Control Center before administering first aid for specific chemical reactions. Dry chemicals: brush as much a of the dry chemical off as possible and remove it from the affected area from a minimum of 20-30 minutes or until a medical professional tells you to stop. Remove patient’s clothing, including shoes, before flushing with water. If chemical is near or is in the patient’s eye, check for contact lenses, which should be removed before irrigation of the eye. Don’t flush parts of body that are not contaminated.

Key Points

First Aid is defined as the immediate care of a person injured in an incident or suffering from sudden illness.

Purpose of First Aid is to: save life, prevent further injury, alleviate suffering and promote recovery until professional medical care becomes available, or the casualty recovers.

Evaluation

• What is First Aid?
• What is a First Aid Kit?
• What are the basic items in a First Aid Kit?

What are the principles of First Aid?

References

Adler, R. B., & Rodman, G. R. (2006). Understanding human communication. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

CDC. (2005). Check for safety: A home fall prevention checklist for older adults. Atlanta, GA: CDC.

Handley, A. J., & Evans, T. R. (2004). ABC of resuscitation. (T. R. E. M C). In A. Colquhoun& A. J. Handley, (Eds.). London: BMJ Publishing Group.

Kurtz, S. M., Silverman, D. J., Draper, J., van Dalen, J., & Platt, F. W. (2005). Teaching and learning communication skills in medicine. Oxford: Radcliffe Pub.

Lloyd, M., & Bor, R. (2009). Communication skills for medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. University of Surrey and University of the West of England (2009). Accidents prevention among children and young people a priority review crown. England: Department of Children, Schools and Families.

Van, O., & Marion, B. M. (2005). ABC of conflict and disaster humanitarian assistance standards, skills, training and experience. London: BMJ.