UNINTENTIONAL INJURY PREVENTION, SAFETY AND FIRST AID

Vital sign is the measure of various physiological statistics taken in order to assess the most basic body
functions.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs are details discovered by applying your senses-sight, touch, hearing and smell during the course
of the examination. Example:
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Deformities
Symptoms are sensations that the victims feel or experiences and may be able to describe.
Example:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Heat
• Impaired sensations

STEPS IN ASSESSING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

A. Primary Survey
Primary survey of the victim is used when the victims are unconscious and to find out and immediately treat
life-threatening conditions.
a. Check for Consciousness
1. Check the victim’s response: by asking “Hey, hey, are you okay? While carefully shaking the victims
shoulder then check for any movement.
2. Watch the first call or Treatment standard if you are alone.
3. If unresponsive, immediately activate emergency medical service. Contact the nearest hospital or if not
available, ask/assigned any bystander to contact emergency responders in the area while taking the next
procedure.
b. Check for Circulation
1. Locate pulse using your middle and index finger. Pulse indicates blood circulation, which is essential for
the heart and brain to function.
 Adult and child check carotid pulse (located at the neck area)
2. Poor blood circulation may be reflected on the pale color of the skin. (if the first aider does not feel any
pulse within 10 seconds start chest compressions)
3. To revive circulation, perform CPR immediately. Initiate chest compressions. Apply CAB
(Compressions, Airway, and Breathing)
c. Open the Airway
1. The victim’s unconsciousness maybe due to an obstruction in his/her airway. It may also be caused by a
narrowed airway making breathing impossible
2. Position the victim facing up on a firm surface.
3. Find out if there is loss of muscular control in the throat area which allows the tongue to slip back and
block the throat.
4. Lift the chin and tilt the head of the victim (if the victim is an adult). This way you will be able to lift the
tongue from the back of the throat, leaving the airway clear.
d. Check for Breathing
1. Put your face near the victim’s mouth and look, listen and feel for breathing. It should take no more than
10 seconds. (Chest movement, sound of breathing, or feel of breath on your cheek)
2. If breathless, begin rescue breathing.
• Take a normal breath before each rescue breath. Each rescue breath should last for a second.
Make sure the chest falls between rescue breaths. Give two rescue breaths that will make the chest rise.
B. Secondary Survey
Secondary survey is applicable when the victim is conscious or has revived. It aims to know everything about
the patient’s condition. Important information’s from the victim’s is very essentials to the first aiders and
physicians.
a. History Taking
Personal info
Name, Age, Sex, contact person or number and Address.
b. Checking of vital signs
 Pulse Rate
 Temperature
 Respiration
 Skin Color
 Head to Toe Examination
 Eyes
 DRESSING AND BANDAGES

Bandaging is a method or procedure of supporting or covering of the victim’s injuries

A dressing is a piece of sterile cloth that covers a wound to prevent infection and or to stop bleeding.
A wound is a break in the continuity of a tissue in the body. It may be close which means there is no
break or damage on the skin. It is also called hematoma or contusion. A wound may also be an open
wound which means there is a break on the skin.
Kinds of Open Wounds
1. Puncture is a piercing wound caused by nails, needles and other pointed objects.
2. Abrasion is caused by rubbing or scrapping the skin against a rough surface.
3. Incision is a cut caused by knife, broken glass or any sharp object.
4. Laceration is a blunt breaking or tearing of soft tissues usually a result from mishandling tools and other
accidents.
5. Avulsion is a forcible tearing or partial tearing away of tissues.

How to manage wounds:

a. For management of hematoma, we use the mnemonic RICE:
1. Resting the injured part
2. Ice application
3. Compression
4. Elevation
b. First aid for open wounds with severe bleeding
1. Wear gloves and remove or cut clothing that is necessary to expose the wound.
2. Control bleeding by applying direct pressure.
3. Elevate the injured part above the heart except for the eye injury and wounds with embedded object.
4. Cover wound with sterile dressing and bandage.
5. Consult a physician immediately.

CARRYING AND TRANSPORTING AN INJURED PERSON

1. Fireman’s carry- the easiest way to transport a light and smaller victim.
2. Piggy Back- when the victim is conscious.
3. Pack Strap Carry- when the victim is smaller than the first aider.
4. Shoulder Drag- used when the floor is smooth, short distance transport.
5. Fireman’s Drag or Tied-Hands Crawl- Used when first aider and victim must crawl underneath a
low structure.
6. Blanket Drag- used when the victim is seriously injured and should not be lifted.
7. Hammock Carry- When there are three first aiders.
8. Bearer Alongside Carry- Carriers will stay on the uninjured side of the victim.
9. Six Man Lift and Carry- When there are six first aiders.

FIRST AID FOR COMMON UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES

FRACTURE-a break or crack on the bone. An open fracture pierces the skin surface while in a
closed fracture the skin above is intact.
First Aid:
1. Check vital signs
2. Do not move the injured part.
3. Stop bleeding if there is any.
4. If you have to move the person, immobilize the broken part by splinting.
5. Seek medical help immediately.
SPRAIN – an injury to the ligaments of a bone due to accidental tearing or overstretching.
STRAIN – an injury to the muscles which is a result of improper use of muscle.
First Aid:
1. Rest the injured part.
Apply ice.
3. Compress the injured part.
4. Elevate the injured part.
DISLOCATION – a partial or complete displacement of the bones.
First Aid:
1. Call for help immediately.
2. Splint the affected area.
3. Do not try to move the dislocated part or force it back into place.
4. Apply ice on the injured part to reduce swelling.
BURNS – often due to domestic incidents such as touching boiling water on the skin.
First Aid:
1. For minor burns, flood the injured area with cold water for at least how long to stop burning and
relieve pain.
2. Put on gloves and cover the area with sterile non-adhesive dressing or bandage.
 3. For severe burns, help the person to lie down and prevent the burnt area from coming into contact
with the ground. Douse the burn with plenty of cold water.
4. Seek for medical assistance. Do not delay medical help.
5. Wear disposable gloves and gently remove any rings, watches, belts, shoes, or smouldering
clothing before the tissues begin to swell.
6. Carefully remove any burnt clothing, unless it is sticking to the skin. Cover the burnt area with
non-adhesive dressing or bandage.
7. Continue to monitor vital signs,
8. Reassure casualty and treat for shock.
ELECTRICAL BURNS – occur when electricity passes through the body.
First Aid:
1. Make sure that contact with the electrical source is broken. Flood the sites of injury at the entry
and exit points of the current with plenty of cold water.
3. Wear disposable gloves and place a sterile dressing or a bandage over the burn to protect it from
airborne infection.
4. Call for medical help.
8. Reassure casualty and treat for shock.
HEAT EXHAUSTION - caused by loss salt and water due to excessively high temperature. This may
lead to heatstroke and even death.
First Aid:
1. Transport a victim to a cool place.
2. Give him/her plenty of water.
3. Check for vitals.
4. Seek medical help.
DROWNING – happens when air cannot get into the lungs because of water. It can cause
immediate death when taken for granted.
First Aid:
1. Lay the person down on his/her neck.
2. Check breathing and open airway.
3. Give rescue breaths and chest compression if necessary.
4. If the person is breathing place him/her in the recovery position.
5. Treat for hypothermia by removing wet clothing and covering him/her with a dry blanket.
FOOD POISONING – caused by consuming food or drink that is contaminated with bacteria or
viruses
First Aid:
1. Help the person to lied own and rest.
2. Give him plenty of flavorless fluids to drink and a bowl to use if he vomits.
3. Call for medical help if the condition worsens.
STROKE – a condition in which the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly and seriously
impaired by a blood clot or ruptured blood vessel.
First Aid:
1. If the person is conscious, help him to lie down with his head and shoulders slightly raised and
supported.
2. Incline his head to the affected side and place a towel on his shoulder to absorb any dribbling.
3. Call for help.
4. Loosen any tight clothing.
5. Monitor vital signs and reassure the victim.
6. If the victim is unconscious, give rescue breathing and chest compression.
7. Call for an ambulance or call for help.
HEAT STROKE – caused by a failure of the “thermostat” in the brain to regulate body temperature.
When this happens, the body becomes seriously heated.
First Aid:
1. Move the person immediately to a cool place.
2. Remove as much of his outer clothing as possible.
3. Call for medical help.
4. Wrap the person in a cold, wet sheet and keep the sheet wet until his temperature drops to 38’C
or 37.5’C under the tongue or armpit respectively.
5. If the person has returned to normal temperature, replace the wet sheet with a dry one.
6. Monitor vital signs until help arrives.
7. If the temperature rises, repeat the cooling process.