College Park Fire Rescue

First aid PAGE 2

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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

Poisoning

POISON IVY, POISON OAK, AND POISON SUMAC

SIGNS:
1. rash
2. blistering
3. swelling
4. burning
5. itching

TREATMENT:
1. Remove any contaminated clothing.
2. Wash the affected area of skin thoroughly with soap and cool water to remove any poisonous residue. Be sure the water used to clean the area does not spread poison by running over other parts of your body. Using a washcloth could also spread the poison.
3. Rinse the area with rubbing alcohol.
4. Apply calamine lotion to the area to relieve itching and burning.
5. If the victim develops a fever for several days or experiences an excessive amount of inflammation, irritation, oozing, or itching, he/she should be treated by a doctor.

Bites & Stings

BLACK WIDOW - Call 911 IMMEDIATELY !!!
1. has appearance of a small pinprick
2. dull, numbing pain
3. headache
4. shortness of breath
5. tight feeling in chest

BROWN RECLUSE - Call 911 IMMEDIATELY !!!
1. immediate stinging sensation
2. forms an ulcer encircled by a red ring (looks like bull's eye on a target) after a few hours
3. weakness
4. fever
5. joint pain
6. nausea
7. shock

A bite by either of these spiders needs to be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.

Snake Bites

Call 911 IMMEDIATELY !!!

1. Get the victim away from the snake.
2. Check the snakebite for puncture wounds. If one or two fang markings are visible, the bite is from a poisonous pit viper.
3. Remember what the snake looks like. The doctor will need to know this to provide the proper treatment.
4. Keep the victim calm, lying down, and with the bitten arm or leg below the level of his heart to slow the blood flowing from the wound to the heart. The more the victim moves, the faster the venom spreads through the body.
5. Clean the wound. Be sure to wipe away from the bite. This keeps any venom on the unbroken skin aroung the bite from being wiped into the wound.
6. Watch for general symptom (i.e. sharp pain, bruising, swelling around the bite, weakness, shortness of breath, blurred vision, drowsiness, or vomiting.

If any of the above mentioned symptoms occur within 30 minutes from the time of the bite, and you are over two hours away from medical help, tie a constricting band (3/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide) two inches above the bite or above the swelling.
The band needs to be loose enough to slip a finger underneath it. The band slows blood flow away from the bite, keeping the venom from reaching the heart. The band must be applied within 30 minutes after the time of the bite to be effective.
If the swelling spreads, move the band so that it is two inches above the swelling.

Dislocations

The most common dislocations occur in the shoulder, elbow, finger, or thumb.

LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:
1. swelling
2. deformed look
3. pain and tenderness
4. possible discoloration of the affected area

IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED:
1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from moving.
2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow blood flow to the area
3. Call 911, a doctor should be contacted to have the bone set back into its socket.

Broken Bones (Fractures)

SIMPLE FRACTURE

Does not pierce through the skin. If it is not cared for properly, it could become a compound fracture.

If a fracture is suspected:
1. check for swelling around the affected area
2. there may be discoloration of the skin
If the victim complains of tenderness and pain in the area or says that he felt or heard a bone snap, see a doctor immediately.

COMPOUND FRACTURE

Bone pierces through the skin. Serious bleeding may occur with this kind of wound. Do not apply pressure to a compound fracture to stop the bleeding.

What to do for a compound fracture:
1. Cover the injured part with a sterile pad
2. Apply a splint to keep the bone from causing further injury to the surrounding tissues
3. Call 911
4. Avoid moving the victim, but keep him warm, comfortable, and reassured.

heatstroke

1. Call 911 immediately!
2. If possible, put him in cool (Not cold) water; wrap him in cool wet clothes; or sponge his skin with cool water, rubbing alcohol, ice, or cold packs.
3. Once the victim's temperature drops to about 101 F, you may lay him in the recovery position in a cool room.
4. If the temperature begins to rise again, you will need to repeat the cooling process.
5. If he/she is able to drink, you may give him some water.
6. DO NOT GIVE A HEATSTROKE VICTIM ANY KIND OF MEDICATION.
7. You should watch for signs of shock while waiting for medical attention.