EMERGENCY FIRST AID TIPS           

Every year thousands of people die or are seriously injured in incidents. Many deaths could be prevented if first aid was given before emergency services arrive. “Medihelp” App is the platform to get GPS based emergency medical help in the fastest possible way.

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What to do in following situations :

 

Unconscious Person 
Recovery position 
CPR
First aid dressing 
Anaphylaxis - severe allergy 
Bleeding heavily 
Burns and scalds
Choking 
Drowning 
Electric Shock 
Fractures 
Heart Attack 
Poisoning 
Shock
Stroke 

 

UNCONCIOUS Person -  What to do?

Do Primary Survey-  Follow Dr’s ABC  

The ‘Dr’s ABC’ is a handy acronym to help you remember what to do in this situation. 

First steps is primary survey you should do when faced with someone who seems to be unconscious.  Here are the six stages of the Dr’s ABC:

 

D – Danger. Your priority when you are trying to help someone in this situation should always be to remain safe and avoid causing any injury to yourself or others. Look and listen for signs of potential risks before you start to treat the unconscious person. If the area isn’t safe, move away from the danger and call 112.

 

 

R – Response. You now need to assess how responsive the casualty is and if they are conscious. The first step in this stage is to, loudly ask a simple question, such as “Hello, can you hear me?” If they answer clearly, then they are alert and you can move straight on to the last stage of the survey (Circulation).

 

If they don’t respond verbally, try asking another question in a loud voice close to their ear, such as “Can you open your eyes?” If there isn’t any movement of the eyelids, then give them a firm pinch on both shoulders. If the casualty isn’t alert, this is generally indicates that the person needs immediate medical attention, so an ambulance should be called.

If the casualty is unresponsive to your voice, or a firm pat or a pinch on the shoulder, then they are unconscious and you need to…

S – Shout for help. If there are other people present, tell one of them to ring for an ambulance. If there isn’t anyone to help you, shout for assistance as loud as you can! If possible, you should also send someone to get an automated external defibrillator (AED), so that you can use it if necessary.

 

A – Airway. In order for the casualty to breathe, they need to have a clear airway. If they are unconscious, the tongue can become floppy and fall to the back of the throat, blocking the airway. The airway can be opened by placing two fingers under their chin and your other hand on their forehead. You then gently tilt the head back and lift the chin. While the casualty’s head is in this tilted position, their tongue will be away from the back of their throat. The head will need to be held in this position, so keep your hands on the forehead and the chin, or enlist a bystander to help.

B- Breathing. Once the airway is clear you need to establish if your casualty is breathing normally. The easiest way to check this is to lower your head to the level of their face and look down their body, from their head to their feet. In this position you will be able to see if their chest is rising and falling, while listening for breathing and seeing if you can feel the movement of their breath on your cheek. You should hold this position for no more than ten seconds.

If your casualty is unconscious, but breathing normally, you can move on to the final step of the survey – circulation.  If the casualty is unconscious and not breathing you should immediately start CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It’s important to only move on to the next stage when you are sure that the casualty is breathing normally. No time should be wasted in starting CPR.

 

C- Circulation. Once you have checked that the casualty’s airway is clear and they are breathing normally you need to look for signs of major blood loss. If there is any external bleeding, apply pressure to the area and if the bleeding is from a limb, raise the affected arm or leg above the level of the heart.

Injuries or conditions that result in severe bleeding, internally or externally, can be life threatening because of the risk of shock. It’s possible that the casualty may have internal bleeding, so

If the unconscious person is breathing normally and is showing no signs of severe bleeding or shock, then all you need to do is keep their airway open by placing them in the Recovery position.

The Recovery Position

If you are giving first aid to a person who is unconscious, but breathing normally, then putting them in the recovery position will enable their airway to remain open and reduce their risk of choking on fluids, for example if the person vomits.

A person should not be moved into the recovery position if a spinal injury is suspected, or if they have any life-threatening conditions.

How to move a person into the recovery position:

• Kneel down beside the person
• Move the arm closest to you into a right angled position in relation to their body with their elbow bent and their hand at the level of their head
• Gently take hold of their other hand (palm to palm). Now lift this hand across the person’s body and position the back of their hand against their opposite cheek (for example, the back of their right hand should be touching their left cheek). Continue to hold your hand in theirs in this position to guide and support their head as you roll them
• With your free hand reach down to the person’s knee that is furthest from you. Lift this knee up so that the leg is bent with the foot resting flat on the floor
• Pull the bent knee towards you so that the person rolls onto their side facing you. The leg you have just pulled over should be left in a bent position to keep the person balanced on their side.
• The person’s airway can now be opened by gently lifting their chin to tilt their head back slightly. Check the person’s airway to ensure that there are no obstructions which could block the airway, such as food in their mouth. Remove any obstructions if you can do so safely.
• Don’t leave the person alone while they are in the recovery position. You will need to continue to monitor their breathing until medical help arrives.

 

CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

If someone is unconscious and NOT breathing,

If an adult is not  breathing normally,

(1)  call 112 and (2) start CPR straight away. 

(2)  Use hands-only CPR if you aren't trained to perform rescue breaths.

Early Response is important for saving life.

First Aid Dressings

Cover wounds with dressings to help prevent infection and to protect the wound from further damage. Dressings can also be used to exert pressure on the wound to promote blood clotting. Whenever possible, a sterile dressing should be used. If a sterile dressing isn’t available you can use a clean piece of non-fluffy material as an improvised dressing, secured in place with a strip of cloth.

There are three main types of dressing you are likely to use in basic first aid; normal sterile wound dressings, low adherent dressing pads and adhesive dressings.

General Advice for Using Dressings

• Wear disposable gloves (they don’t need to be sterile) whenever possible when treating a wound and handling a dressing. This will protect you and the casualty from cross infection.
• Take care not to touch the surface of the dressing that will come into contact with the wound. When handling the dressing pad only hold the edges.
• Place the dressing directly onto the wound, do not slide it into position and do not move if once it is in place. Moving the dressing when it is in contact with the wound may cause further damage and bleeding.
• Use a dressing that is large enough to cover the wound completely.
• Replace the dressing if it moves out of position, don’t remove and re-use the existing dressing.
• If blood soaks through the first dressing, cover it with another dressing, do not replace it.
• If blood soaks through the second dressing, then remove both dressings and apply pressure to the wound with a new dressing.
• If you have bandaged the dressing, check the circulation in the end of the limb, and continue to re-check frequently. Loosen the bandage if it’s restricting circulation.
• Put all used supplies in a plastic bag, preferably a clinical waste bag. Keep your gloves on until you are ready to seal the bag, they should be the last item you dispose of.
• Sterile dressings have expiry dates, so it’s a good idea to check the dates of your first aid supplies regularly.
• Once the sterile dressing is opened, it ceases to be sterile, so don’t used dressings that have previously been opened or have damaged packaging.

Adhesive Dressing

Bandage wound dressings

Anaphylaxis – Severe Allergy

Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that can occur after a bee sting or eating certain foods. 

The adverse reaction can be very fast, occurring within seconds or minutes of coming into contact with the substance the person is allergic to (allergen). It starts with itching, rashes, hot flushes and later lead to anaphylactic shock.

During anaphylactic shock, it may be difficult for the person to breathe, as their tongue and throat may swell, obstructing their airway.

Call 112 immediately if you think someone is experiencing anaphylactic shock.

Check if the person is carrying any medication. Some people who know they have severe allergies may carry an adrenaline self-injector, which is a type of pre-loaded syringe. 

You can either help the person administer their medication or, if you're trained to do so, give it to them yourself. After the injection, continue to look after the person until medical help arrives. All casualties who have had an intramuscular or subcutaneous (under the skin) injection of adrenaline must be seen and medically checked by a healthcare professional as soon as possible after the injection has been given.

Make sure they're comfortable and can breathe as best they can while waiting for medical help to arrive. 

If they're conscious, sitting upright is normally the best position for them. 

Bleeding heavily

If someone is bleeding heavily, the main aim is to prevent further blood loss and minimise the effects of shock.

First, dial 112 or call nearest hospital to ask for an ambulance as soon as possible.

If you have disposable gloves, use them to reduce the risk of any infection being passed on. Check that there's nothing embedded in the wound. If there is, take care not to press down on the object. Instead, press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself. 

If nothing is embedded:

·         Apply and maintain pressure to the wound with your gloved hand, using a clean pad or dressing if possible. Continue to apply pressure until the bleeding stops.

·         Use a clean dressing to bandage the wound firmly.

·         If bleeding continues through the pad, apply pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops, and then apply another pad over the top and bandage it in place. Do not remove the original pad or dressing, but continue to check that the bleeding has stopped. 

 

If a body part, such as a finger, has been severed, place it in a plastic bag or wrap it in cling film. Do not wash the severed limb. Wrap the package in soft fabric and place in a container of crushed ice. Do not let the limb touch the ice. Make sure the severed limb goes with the patient to hospital. Always seek medical help for bleeding, unless it's minor.

 

Continue pressure 3-5 minutes.

Burns and scalds

If someone has a burn or scald:

• Cool the burn as quickly as possible with cool running water for at least 20 minutes, or until the pain is relieved.
• Call 112 or seek medical help, if needed.
• While cooling the burn, carefully remove any clothing or jewellery, unless it's attached to the skin.
• If you're cooling a large burnt area, particularly in babies, children and elderly people, be aware that it may cause hypothermia (it may be necessary to stop cooling the burn to avoid hypothermia).
• Cover the burn loosely with cling film. If cling film isn't available, use a clean, dry dressing or non-fluffy material. Do not wrap the burn tightly as swelling may lead to further injury.
• Do not apply creams, lotions or sprays to the burn.

 

 

For chemical burns, wear protective gloves, remove any affected clothing, and rinse the burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes to remove the chemical. 

If possible, determine the cause of the injury.

In certain situations where a chemical is regularly handled, a specific chemical antidote may be available to use.

Be careful not to contaminate and injure yourself with the chemical, and wear protective clothing if necessary.

Call 112 or nearest hospital for immediate medical help.

 

Choking

The following information is for choking in adults and children over 1 year old. 

Mild choking

If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. 

In situations like this, a person will usually be able to clear the blockage themselves.

If choking is mild:

• Encourage the person to cough to try to clear the blockage.
• Ask them to try to spit out the object if it's in their mouth.
• Do not put your fingers in their mouth if you can't see the object, as you risk pushing it further down their mouth.

If coughing doesn't work, start back blows.

Severe choking 

If choking is severe, the person won't be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and without help they'll eventually become unconscious.

To help an adult or child over 1 year old:

• Stand behind the person and slightly to one side. Support their chest with 1 hand. Lean the person forward so the object blocking their airway will come out of their mouth, rather than moving further down. 
• Give up to 5 sharp blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (the heel is between the palm of your hand and your wrist). 
• Check if the blockage has cleared. 
• If not, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. 

Do not give abdominal thrusts to babies under 1 year old or to pregnant women.

To perform abdominal thrusts on a person who is severely choking and isn't in one of the above groups:

• Stand behind the person who is choking. 
• Place your arms around their waist and bend them well forward. 
• Clench 1 fist and place it just above the person's belly button. 
• Place your other hand on top of your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards. 
• Repeat this up to 5 times. 

The aim is to get the obstruction out with each chest thrust, rather than necessarily doing all

If the person's airway is still blocked after trying back blows and abdominal thrusts:

• Call 112 or nearest hospital & ask for an ambulance.
• Continue with the cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until help arrives.

The person choking should always be seen by a healthcare professional afterwards to check for any injuries or small pieces of the obstruction that remain.

Drowning

Shout for help.

No matter your experience or training, having others assist you is a good idea. Yell to others that someone is drowning. Call 112, emergency services immediately, especially if the person is floating face-down

 

 

Reach

This is quite risky and a lot of care should be taken. You should ensure that you are in a safe position and cannot be pulled in by the victim; lying flat on the floor and stretch your hand towards the victim.

If you cannot reach the victim, use a tree branch or a towel and taking care not to hit him or her, throw it towards him and after he grasps it, you can pool it to a safe position.

Another way to reach the victim is to get into the water and with one hand holding the edge of the pool or grass, stretch the other hand towards the victim and after he grasps you can slowly pull him towards safety.

Throw

Most of the swimming areas have safety rings that are attached to a long rope. They usually float and they can be used to save a drowning victim. Throw the ring towards the victim and ask him/her to grab it then pull it towards the shore.

Row

This applies where the victim is too far and can neither use reach or throw methods. Take a boat and go close to the victim taking care not to hit him. You can throw a safety ring to the victim to help him stabilize before you get there. Ask the victim to hold on to the boat when you get there or you can apply reach to help him get to safety.

Go

Swimming to rescue someone drowning should be the last resort, it require swimming skills and a lot of training before doing it. This is because a drowning person is violent and may pose danger to the rescuer. They may try to climb on the rescuer to be able to breath, which may cause him to drown too. However, if you have to swim out to rescue a drowning person, carry a towel with you or any object that the victim can hold on to as you tow him to safety ensuring that you are at a safe distance from him.

After the rescue

Give first aid to the victim immediately after rescuing him or her. Feel for the pulse on the neck side or the wrist, if he is still breathing feel for the air coming through the nose and ensure it is open.

If the victim is not breathing, perform a CPR to increase his chances of surviving. A Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to deliver oxygen and artificial blood circulation to the victim. When you perform a CPR, blood is circulated to the body providing oxygen to the brain and other body parts. A CPR should be performed immediately to a person with breathing difficulty as starvation of oxygen in the brain may cause death.

Electric shock (domestic)

First Aid for Electric Shock Victims

1. Don’t touch them!
2. Unplug the appliance or turn off the power at the control panel.
3. If you can’t turn off the power, use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, dry rope or dry clothing, to separate the victim from the power source.
4. Do not try to move a victim touching a high voltage wire. Call for emergency help.
5. Keep the victim lying down. Unconscious victims should be placed on their side to allow drainage of fluids. Do not move the victim if there is a suspicion of neck or spine injuries unless absolutely necessary.
6. If the victim is not breathing, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim has no pulse, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Then cover the victim with a blanket to maintain body heat, keep the victim’s head low and get medical attention.

First Aid for Electrical Burn Victims

Electrical burns vary in severity depending upon: (1) how long the body is in contact with the electric current; (2) the strength of the current; (3) the type of current; and (4) the direction the current takes through the body. Often these burns are deep. There may be more than one area burned. One area may be where the current entered the body and another may be where it left. Electrical burn wounds may look minor on the outside, but could be severe on the inside.

If a person has received an electrical burn, check for shock and follow the steps outlined above. If the person is conscious and there are no signs of shock (such as being cold, clammy, pale and having a rapid pulse), begin treating the burned area. Do not apply grease or oil to the burn. Cover the burn with a dry, sterile dressing, but do not cool the burn. Keep the victim from getting chilled. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

 

Fractures

It can be difficult to tell if a person has a broken bone or a joint, as opposed to a simple muscular injury. If you're in any doubt, treat the injury as a broken bone.

If the person is unconscious or is bleeding heavily, these must be dealt with first by controlling the bleeding with direct pressure and performing CPR. See the section on bleeding on this page.

If the person is conscious, prevent any further pain or damage by keeping the fracture as still as possible until you get them safely to hospital.

Once you have done this, decide whether the best way to get them to hospital is by ambulance or car. 

If the pain isn't too severe, you could transport them to hospital by car. Get someone else to drive if possible so you can care for the casualty during the trip.

But call 112 OR Ambulance if:

• they're in a lot of pain and in need of strong painkilling medication – call an ambulance and do not move them 
• it's obvious they have a broken leg – do not move them, but keep them in the position you found them in and call an ambulance 
• you suspect they have injured or broken their back – call an ambulance and do not move them 

Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink as they may need an anaesthetic (numbing medication) when they reach hospital.

Splinting - link

Heart attack

A  HEART ATTACK is one of the most common life-threatening heart conditions in the India.

If you think someone is having or has had a heart attack, call 112 and then move them into a comfortable sitting position.

 Symptoms of a Heart Attack include:

• chest pain – the pain is usually located in the centre or left side of the chest and can feel like a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing 
• pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is travelling from the chest down 1 or both arms, or into the jaw, neck, back or abdomen (tummy)  

Sit the person down and make them comfortable.

If they're conscious, reassure them and ask them to take a 300mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly (unless you know they shouldn't take aspirin – for example, if they're under 16 or allergic to it).

If the person has any medication for angina such as a spray or tablets, help them to take it. Monitor their vital signs, such as breathing, until help arrives.

If the person deteriorates and becomes unconscious, open their airway check their breathing and, if necessary, start CPR.

Call 112 or Ambulance to tell them the patient is now in cardiac arrest.

Poisoning

Poisoning  is potentially life threatening. 

Most cases of poisoning in the India happen when a person has swallowed a toxic substance, such as bleach, taken an overdose of a prescription medication, or eaten wild plants and fungi. 

Alcohol poisoning can cause similar symptoms.

If you think someone has swallowed a poisonous substance, call 112 to get immediate medical help and advice.

The effects of poisoning depend on the substance swallowed, but can include vomiting, loss of consciousness, pain or a burning sensation. 

The following advice is important:

• Find out what's been swallowed so you can tell the paramedic or doctor. 
• Do not give the person anything to eat or drink unless a healthcare professional advises you to. 
• Do not try to cause vomiting. 
• Stay with the person, as their condition may get worse and they could become unconscious. 

If the person becomes unconscious while you're waiting for help to arrive, check for breathing and, if necessary, perform CPR. 

Do not perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the casualty's mouth or airway is contaminated with the poison.

Do not leave them if they're unconscious: they could vomit. The vomit could then enter their lungs and make them choke.

If they do vomit naturally, try to collect some of it for the ambulance crew – this may help identify the cause of the poisoning.

If the patient is conscious and breathing normally, put them into the recovery position  and keep checking they're breathing normally.

Shock

In the case of a serious injury or illness, it's important to look out for signs of shock or low blood pressure.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the circulatory system fails to provide enough oxygenated blood to the body and, as a result, deprives the vital organs of oxygen.

This is usually the result of severe blood loss, but it can also occur after severe burns, severe vomiting, a heart attack, a bacterial infection, or a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

The type of shock described here isn't the same as the emotional response of feeling shocked, which can also occur after an accident. 

Signs of shock include: 

• pale, cold, clammy skin 
• sweating 
• rapid, shallow breathing 
• weakness and dizziness 
• feeling sick and possibly vomiting 
• thirst 
• yawning 
• sighing 

Seek medical help immediately if you notice that someone has any of the above signs of shock. If they do, you should:

• call 112 as soon as possible and ask for an ambulance. treat any obvious injuries 
• lie the person down if their injuries allow you to and, if possible, raise and support their legs 
• use a coat or blanket to keep them warm. do not give them anything to eat or drink 
• give them lots of comfort and reassurance 
• monitor the person – if they stop breathing, start CPR and call 112. 

 

Stroke

The FAST guide is the most important thing to remember when dealing with people who have had a stroke.

The earlier they receive treatment, the better. Call for emergency medical help straight away. 

If you think a person has had a stroke, use the FAST guide:

• Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.
• Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
• Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake.
• Time – it's time to dial 112 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms. 
•  

Getting help in an emergency

In the India 112 has been the emergency services number & 102 is Ambulance number.

When you call 112, you'll be asked what service you need, as well as: 

• your telephone number 
• the address you're calling from  
• a brief description of what's wrong with the casualty and whether they're bleeding, unconscious or not breathing 

The call handler may advise you on how to assist the casualty until help arrives.