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GENERAL FIRST AID

Introduction
For any injuries other than very minor ones, you should call
for expert medical attention, but first aid can help and
comfort the patient until the doctor or ambulance arrives.
First aid can save lives and there are many organisations
worldwide that run short courses to train qualified first-aiders.
A short first-aid course will help to ensure that you are
properly trained and able to help if an accident occurs. This
handout lists some of the basic points of first aid that anyone
working in the machine, welding and fabrication industries
should be aware of. The methods described have been used
many times to comfort, ease pain and save lives.

Burns and scalds

Figure 1
Immerse a small burn or scald in cold
water or under cold running water for at
least 10 minutes.

Burns are damage cause to body tissue by heat, chemicals or

radiation. Bums caused by steam or hot liquids are called
scalds. With welding processes, bums are the most common
injury and are usually not serious. Welders' gloves and other protective equipment give protection most of the
time, but minor bums can be caused by sparks and spatter or by accidentally touching hot metal.

If possible, immerse the bum or scald in cold water or under cold running water for at least 10 minutes, until the
pain reduces as shown in Figure 1. Then cover the bum with dry gauze or clean fabric and a bandage. Do not
remove clothing or apply ointments. Do not break blisters. If the bum is more than 3 cm in diameter, seek
medical advice.

Arc burn: similar to severe sunburn

If skin is exposed to the rays from an electric arc, it can become tender and swollen, and may possibly blister.
The affected skin will also feel hot. This is why you should ensure that all skin is covered with suitable
protective clothing when electric arc welding, in addition to the protection provided from sparks and hot metal.

Treatment
Cool the skin gently by sponging it with cold water. If the skin is not broken, apply sunburn cream. Do not
break blisters. If there is extensive blistering, seek qualified medical aid.

Arc eye or welder's flash

The front of the eye, called the cornea, can be injured if it is
exposed to the ultraviolet light produced by the electric
welding arc. This can sometimes happen when you walk past
welding operations that are not screened off properly, or if
your welding helmet is not positioned correctly or has a
cracked filter lens. The symptoms usually appear up to 6
hours after exposure to the welding arc. They consist of
intense pain in the affected eye(s) and a feeling as if they are
full of sand. Eyes affected will be sensitive to light, will be
red in colour, and may water in severe cases.
Figure 2
Bathe eyes with clean, cold water.

Treatment
Bathe the eye(s) with cold water and then apply pads of clean,
non-fluffy material as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Arc eye can
last for up to 48 hours. In severe cases, seek medical attention;
special welder's eye drops are available from a doctor or
hospital which will help to ease the pain. Wearing dark glasses
can help to ease discomfort in the later stages of arc eye.
Figure 3
Apply clean pads.

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Electrical injuries
If an electric current passes through the body it can cause severe and sometimes fatal injuries. It can affect the
heart muscles, causing the heart to stop beating and the breathing to stop.
Never touch the casualty with bare hands until you are 'sure that the current has been turned off or the casualty
is no longer in contact with the electrical source.
With high-voltage electricity, such as electrical transmission lines, do not approach the accident area until the
police or authority in charge say that it is safe to do so. High-voltage electricity can 'arc' over considerable
distances and insulating materials will not provide any protection if this happens.

Treatment
If the injured person's breathing and heart have stopped, start resuscitation by using mouth-to-mouth ventilation
and applying external chest compression as shown in Figures 4 and 5. If the injured person is breathing
normally but is unconscious, place them in the recovery position on their side, unless you suspect a fracture of
the spine.
Tend to any obvious injuries and treat the casualty for shock while you are waiting for medical assistance to
arrive. Tell medical authorities how long the casualty was in contact with the electrical source.

Figure 4
Mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

Mouth-to-mouth ventilation
Remove any obvious obstructions from the casualty's face
and loosen their collar. Open the airway by placing one hand
under the casualty's neck, the other hand on the forehead,
and tilt their head backwards.
Transfer your hand from the neck and push the casualty's
chin upwards. This will lift their tongue forwards, clearing
the airway. Remove any debris that might be in the mouth or
throat.
Figure 5
External chest compression.
Open your mouth wide and take in a deep breath. Pinch the casualty's
nostrils together with your fingers. Sealing your lips around the mouth,
blow into the casualty's lungs until you can see the chest rise. Then
remove your mouth well away from the casualty's and breathe out any
excess air. Watch the chest fall, then take a fresh breath and repeat the
procedure. Check the casualty's pulse to ensure that the heart is beating.
Figure 6 shows the position of the pulse on the carotid artery.
Figure 6
Position of the carotid pulse.

If the heart is not beating you must carry out external chest
compression straight away.

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External chest compression
Lay the casualty on their back and kneel alongside. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the lower region
of the breastbone, keeping your fingers off the ribs. Cover this hand with your other hand and lock fingers
together shown in Figure 5.
Keeping your arms straight, move forwards until your arms are vertical. Press down on the lower part of the
breastbone about 4 to 5 cm (11/2 to 2 inches) for an average adult. Then move backwards, releasing the
pressure. Perform 15 compressions at the rate of about 80
per minute. (To judge the approximate timing count one and
two and three, and repeat.) Then move back to the casualty's
head, re-opening the airway and giving two mouth-to-mouth
ventilations.
Continue giving 15 compressions followed by two
ventilations, checking for heartbeat after one minute.
Continue, checking the heartbeat every three minutes. As
soon as the heartbeat returns, stop compression immediately
and continue mouth-to-mouth ventilation until natural
breathing returns. Place the casualty in the recovery position
shown in Figure 7. When resuscitation is successful, the
carotid pulse will return.

Figure 7
The recovery position. Carefully move
the arm from under the casualty and
place it parallel, to prevent them from
rolling on to their back.

Shock
If a person has been injured they often become quite weak because they are in a state of shock. You should
immediately reassure and comfort the casualty, loosen any tight clothing and keep the casualty warm with extra
clothing or a blanket. If the casualty is thirsty, moisten their lips with water but do not give them anything to
drink.

Bleeding and wounds

Get the casualty to sit or lie down and elevate the bleeding limb if no fracture is suspected. Apply a clean pad
and bandage. If blood seeps through, apply a further pad and apply pressure. Continue applying pressure with
the second pad until bleeding stops or medical help arrives.

Treatment of a fracture
The main first-aid treatment is to prevent
movement in the area of the fracture until
qualified medical attention arrives. If you
must move a casualty, then support the part
with padding or by hand. For a short journey
to hospital, you may be able to immobilise
the injured part by securing it to a sound
part of the body using padding and
bandages. Bandages must be firm, but
Figure 8
not so tight that they affect the blood
One method of supporting an
circulation. For a long journey over
injured arm in a padded sling.
rough ground, you may need extra
bandages and splints. You can use virtually any suitable strong stick or
Figure 9
piece of metal as a splint - even rolled-up newspaper. Keep checking to
Securing an injured arm if the
ensure that the bandages are not too tight. See Figures 8-10.
elbow cannot be moved.
Remember: if you suspect a fracture of the neck or spine, do
not move the patient unless it is absolutely necessary because
their life is in danger from some other cause. It is always best
to comfort the patient and carefully tend to obvious injuries,
restricting movement until qualified medical help arrives.
Moving a patient with a fracture of the spine can cause
permanent injury - even paralysis - if done incorrectly.
Figure 10
Supporting a fractured leg if a splint is available. Pad
the splint, and bandage avoiding the site of fracture.

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
For any injuries other than very minor ones, always seek expert medical attention.
For burns of less than 3 cm diameter, immerse the area under cold water or cold running water for at
least 10 minutes.
If skin is exposed to the rays of an electric arc, the area can become tender and swollen. This condition
is known as 'arc burn'. It should be treated by gently sponging with cold water. If the skin is not broken,
you can apply sunburn cream.
The condition called 'arc eye' or welder's flash is fairly common. Eyes can be affected either by direct or
by reflected exposure to the ultraviolet light produced by the electric welding arc. The symptoms - pain
and a 'sand in the eye' feeling can last up to 48 hours. Bathe the eyes with cold water and cover with
pads of clean, non-fluffy material. Special welder's eye drops are available from a doctor or hospital,
which can help to ease the pain.
If someone has received an electric shock, never touch them until you are sure that the current has been
turned off.
If breathing and heart have stopped, carry out mouth-to-mouth ventilation and apply external chest
compression.
If a person has been injured they often become quite weak because they are in a state of shock. Reassure
and comfort them, loosen any tight clothing, but keep the casualty warm with extra clothing or a blanket.
If the casualty is thirsty, moisten their lips with water but do not give them anything to drink.
If a casualty is bleeding, get them to sit or lie down, elevate the bleeding limb if possible, and apply a
clean pad and bandage.
If you suspect a fracture, prevent movement in the area of the fracture until qualified medical attention
arrives.
When bandages are applied, keep checking to ensure that they are not too tight.

REVISION EXERCISES AND QUESTIONS

1. Describe the recommended treatment for a minor burn.
2. What is the first thing you should do if some one has received an electric shock?
3. How can you try, and start someone breathing again?
4. If a person has been injured, they can some times suffer from shock. What is the first-aid treatment for
shock?
5. Why must bandages not be tied too tightly?