College Park Fire Rescue

First aid

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Burns
Dislocations Sprains & Strains

Bites & Stings
First Aid Kits Snake Bites

Bleeding Heat Stroke

Broken Bones
Nosebleeds

Cuts & Abrasions Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac

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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

This is a specialized skill to revive victims of cardiac arrest (no breathing-no pulse) it may be taught to citizens by an instructor currently trained by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

Contact College Park Fire Rescue (404-766-8248 Monday-Friday) to arrange a class.

First Aid Kits

A first-aid kit well stocked with the basic essentials is indispensable. Choose one sturdy and lightweight, yet large enough to hold the contents so that they are readily visible and so that any one item may be taken out without unpacking the whole kit. Keep a list of contents readily available for easy refilling. Keep the kit in a convenient location. Make one person responsible for keeping the kit filled and available when needed. Quantities of suggested items for your first-aid kit depend on the size of your group and local conditions.

Suggested First-Aid Kit Contents

2-inch rolled bandage
1-inch rolled bandage
1-inch adhesive
3-by-3-inch sterile pads
Triangular bandage w/ 2 Safety pins
Assorted gauze pads
Adhesive strips (Band-aids)
Clinical oral thermometer
Scissors
Tweezers
Sunburn lotion
Lip balm
Poison-ivy lotion
Small flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb)
Absorbent cotton
Sterile Water
Needles
Instant ice packs

Because of the possibility of exposure to communicable diseases, first-aid kits should include latex or vinyl gloves, plastic goggles or other eye protection, and antiseptic to be used when giving first aid to bleeding victims, as protection against possible exposure. Mouth barrier devices should be available for use with CPR.

Burns

1. Never put butter or greasy ointments on a burn. They seal heat into the wound and may cause infection.

2. Always Dial 911 if...
   * Victim is a child or elderly
   * Burn covers more than one body part
   * Burn is located on any sensitive area of the body (hands, face, feet, etc.)
   * Burn is Third degree
   * Burn is caused by chemicals

First Degree
Burns damage the outer layer of skin.

CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Redness
2. Mild pain
3. Swelling

TREATMENT:
1. Immediately submerge the affected part in cold water.
2. Hold it under cold running water, or place cold, wet cloths on it until the pain decreases.
3. Cover with a clean, dry gauze dressing for protection.

second Degree
Burns go through to the second layer of skin.

CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Blisters
2. Rough, red skin
3. Swelling
4. Extreme pain

TREATMENT:
1. Immerse in cold water or have cold, wet cloths applied to it immediately.
2. Gently blot area dry. Do not rub. Rubbing may break the blister, opening it to infection.
3. Cover wound with dry, sterile bandage.
4. If burn is located on arm or leg, keep limb elevated as much as possible.

Second degree burns should heal within a few weeks.

third Degree
Burns are less painful than second degree burns because the nerve cells in the affected tissue are actually destroyed, but the damage is greater. The burn goes through to the third layer of skin.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Whitish or charred appearance

TREATMENT:
1. Do not remove any clothing near or at the site of the burn
2. Do not apply cold water or medication to the burn.
3. Place clean, dry cloths (i.e. strips of a clean sheet) over the damaged area.
4. If burns are on arms or legs, keep the limbs elevated above the level of the heart.
5. If victim has burns on face, check frequently to make sure he is not having difficulty breathing.
6. Dial 911 to get victim to a hospital at once!

Chemical Burns

TREATMENT:
1. Remove clothing on or near the burn area. Never pull clothing over the head with a chemical burn. You may need to cut the clothing.
2. Wash the area thoroughly with low pressure water for at least 20 minutes.
3. Apply a clean dressing to the area.
4. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Nosebleeds

CAUSES:
1. Nose injury
2. Strenuous activity
3. High blood pressure
4. Exposure to high altitudes
5. Blowing your nose too hard

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A NOSEBLEED:
1. Sit down
2. Lean slightly forward to prevent blood from running into your throat.
3. Place cold, wet cloths on your nose to constrict the blood vessels in your nose and stop the bleeding.
4. If blood is coming from only one nostril, press firmly at the top of that nostril.
5. If both nostrils are bleeding, pinch your nostrils together for at least 10 minutes.
6. If bleeding continues, apply pressure for another 10 minutes.
7. If the bleeding is the result of direct injury to the nose, only gentle pressure should be applied.
8. If heavy bleeding persists or if nosebleeds recur frequently, consult a physician.
9. If in doubt Dial 911.

Cuts & Abrasions

CUTS:
1. Cleanse area thoroughly with soap and warm water, carefully washing away any dirt.
2. Apply direct pressure to wound until bleeding stops.
3. Put sterile bandage on wound.
4. If cut is deep, get to a doctor as quickly as possible.

ABRASIONS (SCRATCHES):
1. Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.
2. If it bleeds or oozes, bandage it to protect it from infection.

SIGNS OF A INFECTED WOUND:
1. swelling
2. redness
3. pain
4. may cause fever
5. presence of pus

bleeding

 For any Uncontrolled Bleeding or if in Doubt Call 911 Immediately!

EXTERNAL BLEEDING:
1. Apply direct pressure. Place a clean, folded cloth over the injured area and firmly apply pressure.

If blood soaks through, do not remove it. Instead, cover that cloth with another one and continue to apply pressure to the wound for 7-10 minutes. If the bleeding is from the ear, place a clean bandage over the ear, lay the victim on his side, and allow the blood to drain out through the bandage.

2. Elevate the injury. Position the wounded part of the body above the level of the heart if possible while you apply direct pressure.

3. Know the pressure points. If direct pressure and elevation do not sufficiently slow the blood flow, find a pressure point.

Large arteries found close to the skin's surface supply blood to the head and to each arm and leg.
The most common pressure points used during first aid are located in the upper arms and in the creases above the upper legs.
Apply pressure to the closest pressure point to the wound so that the artery is pressed between your fingers and the bone directly behind the artery. If using the pressure point on a leg, you may need to use the heel of your hand instead of your finger.

4. Resort to a tourniquet. On very rare occasions everything listed above may fail. To prevent the victim from dying, you should apply a tourniquet. Once a tourniquet is applied, it should not be loosened or removed until the victim has reached medical help.

Use a tourniquet ONLY if everything listed above has failed. If you use a tourniquet, write down somewhere on the victim the time it was applied, so medical personnel will know how long it has been in place.

INTERNAL BLEEDING

Internal bleeding results when blood vessels rupture, allowing blood to leak into body cavities. It could be a result of a direct blow to the body, a fracture, a sprain, or a bleeding ulcer. If a victim receives an injury to the chest or abdomen, internal bleeding should be suspected. He will probably feel pain and tenderness in the affected area.

Symptoms to watch for:
1. cold, clammy skin
2. pale face and lips
3. weakness or fainting
4. dizziness
5. nausea
6. thirstiness
7. rapid, weak, irregular pulse
8. shortness of breath
9. dilated pupils
10. swelling or bruising at the site of injury
The more symptoms that are experienced, the more extensive the internal bleeding is.

WHAT TO DO FOR THE VICTIM:
1. Check for an open airway and begin CPR if necessary.
2. Call for medical help as soon as possible and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.
3. The victim may rinse his mouth with water, but DO NOT give a victim of internal bleeding anything to drink.

Sprains & Strains

DIFFERENCE IN SPRAINS AND STRAINS:
SPRAIN Involves injury to the ligaments around a joint
STRAIN Involves injury to a muscle or tendon

SIGNS OF A STRAIN:
1. affected joint begins to swell immediately
2. joint may also turn black and blue due to the escaped blood from torn blood vessels
3. victim will experience excruciating, shooting pains at the time of the injury because many nerves are injured in a sprain

TREATMENT:
1. At the time of the injury, begin the RICE treatment.
2. For lower back strain, rest will often bring relief to the strained muscle. If not, alternate cold compresses with moist heat, allowing a time of rest between the treatments
3. Thermotherapy (applying moist heat) promotes healing but should not be applied to a muscle or ligament injury for at least 24 hours because heat will increase the swelling. After the swelling has gone, you should alternate applying cold compresses and moist heat to the injury.
4. To treat the injury with warm, wet packs, place a water-dampened towel in a microwave oven for about 30 seconds. Check to make sure the towel is not too hot before placing it on the skin. If a microwave oven is not available, run a towel under very hot tap water, wring it out, and apply it to the injury.
5. A sprained arm should be placed in a sling.

Most sprains take at least 6-8 weeks to heal.

RICE TREATMENT:

REST
Avoid using the affected part to avoid further discomfort or injury. Gradually rebuild your exercise program once the injury has healed.

ICE
Apply ice (bags with crushed ice, cold packs, etc.) to the injured area for the first 24 to 48 hours to prevent or reduce swelling.

COMPRESSION
Wrap an elastic bandage around the injured area to secure the ice in place. Do not wrap it so tightly that the circulation is cut off. After 10-15 minutes, loosen the bandage and remove the ice. Ice may be reapplied for 15-20 minutes every one or two hours for the first six hours after the injury. As long as the injury is swelling, continue to apply ice 3-4 times a day.

ELEVATION
Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart to slow the blood flow to the injury.