First Aid

1. THE WHY AND HOW OF FIRST AID
Everyone should be able to perform first aid because we will eventually find
ourselves in a situation requiring it - either for another person or for
ourselves. First aid is the immediate care rendered to the injured or
suddenly ill person. It consists of giving temporary assistance until
medical care is obtained. Most illnesses and injuries require only first aid
care.

2. ACTION AT AN EMERGENCY/FINDING OUT WHAT'S WRONG
During emergency situations, when panic tends to set in, knowing what to do
and what not to do can be vital. You can't help if you don't know what's
wrong. The methods presented here can be recalled easily during those
emergency situations when you are wondering what to do first.
Checking someone who is injured or ill has two parts:
. Primary survey for life threatening conditions.
. Secondary survey for non-emergency conditions.

The Primary survey consists of "ABCH".
A - stands for "Airway." If the person is talking or conscious, the airway
is open. If not, use the "head-tilt-chin-left" method (CPR method).
B - stands for "Breathing." If a conscious person is breathing, note any
difficulties. If a person is unconscious, open the airway and look for the
chest to rise and fall.
C - stands for "Circulation." Check circulation by feeling for a pulse (a
heartbeat) at the side of the neck (the carotid artery).
H - stands for "Hemorrhage." Look for severe bleeding which requires the
application of direct pressure.
When an Emergency occurs, stay calm.

3. Shock
Shock refers to circulatory system failure, which happens when oxygenated
blood isn't provided in sufficient amounts for every body part.
A. What to look for:
. Restlessness.
. Rapid breathing and pulse.
. Pale or blush colored skin, nail beds or lips.
. Moist clammy skin.
. Thirst.
. Nausea/vomiting.
. Unconsciousness (severe shock).
B. What to do:
. Check the ABCH's.
. Lay the person down on their back.
. Raise the legs 8 - 12 inches.
. Prevent body heat loss by wrapping in blankets.
. Seek medical attention.
C. Fainting
If a person appears to be about to faint:
. Prevent the person from falling.
. Lay the person down and raise the legs 8 - 12 inches.
. Loosen tight clothing, especially around the neck.
. Place a cool, wet cloth on forehead.
D. If fainting has occurred:
. Check the ABCH's.
. Lay the person down and raise the legs 8 - 12 inches.
. Loosen tight clothing and belts.
. If the person has fallen, check for injuries.
. Place a cool, wet cloth on forehead.
. Seek medical attention if the victim does not wake up in 4 - 5
minutes, loses consciousness, or faints without apparent reason.
E. Severe Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe in nature. Reactions can
occur from an insect sting, a particular food or food additive, or a
particular drug.
Campers, who are aware of their allergy to bee stings, etc., will
bring epinephrine kits to camp. The camp also should keep several kits on
hand.
Epinephrine kits will travel with the first aid kit on all trips out of
camp. Campers who have severe sensitivity to bee stings can carry kits for
the younger campers.

4. BLEEDING AND WOUNDS/DRESSINGS AND BANDAGES
First and foremost, protect yourself against disease by wearing disposable
gloves. If these are unavailable, use several layers of gauze pads, plastic
wrap, or plastic bags.
Cleanse the area with soap and water, betadine, saline, or peroxide
solution. Apply antibiotic ointment, the apply bandage.
If bleeding is excessive, apply direct pressure to the wound.

A. Blisters.
It is best to leave blisters unbroken. If pain is unbearable, break the
blister as follows:
. Wash the area with soap and water.
. Make a small hole at the blister's base with sterile needle.
. Drain fluid.
. Apply clean dressing.
. Leave the "roof" on the blister.
. Watch for signs of infection.
If the breaks open and does not have a "roof" or a cover on it, clean it
with soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.
B. Closed Wounds.
Bruises or contusions result when a blunt object strikes the body. Look for
discoloration, swelling, pain and loss of use.
. Apply an ice pack for twenty minutes.
. If needed, apply an elastic bandage.
. Check for a possible fracture.
. Elevate affected area to reduce swelling.

5. INJURIES TO BONES, JOINTS, AND MUSCLES
Immobilize and determine the extent of the injury. The patient may need to
get an x-ray. Wrap the affected area with an elastic bandage as needed.
Limit activity. Apply ice for the first twenty-four hours, the apply heat.

6. BITES AND STINGS
If the wound isn't bleeding heavily, wash with soap and water. If possible,
rinse the wound with running water. Use betadine or peroxide to clean the
wound. Control bleeding (if any) and cover with a dressing.
A. Bee Sting
Look at the sting site for a stinger imbedded in the skin. In order to
remove an embedded stinger, scrape it and the venom sac away with a long
fingernail, credit card, scissors edge, or knife blade. Wash the sting with
soap and water. Apply an ice pack for fifteen to twenty minutes. To relieve
pain, try Tylenol.
B. Jellyfish
Remove immediately any tentacles remaining on the skin by using a credit
card, stick, comb, knife, or blade. Apply rubbing alcohol or vinegar for
thirty minutes, or until pain is relieved. If vinegar isn't available, use
household ammonia. Apply shaving cream or baking soda paste and shave the
area. Reapply the alcohol or vinegar soak for fifteen minutes. Apply
hydrocortisone cream (1%) two times a day.

7. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF:
A. Sunburn
Encourage all campers to wear sunscreen. There can be significant second
degree burns with tissue debridement. Please insist that they wear sunscreen
if they appear to be turning red. The camper will miss out on a lot more
than a suntan if they burn. Cold compresses or immersions in water are the
beat things for sunburn. If first degree burns are apparent, apply
bacitracin ointment. If second degree burns are evident, determine the
extent of the burn and give fluids. If the burn is third degree, place cold
compresses on affected areas and seek medical attention.USE COMMON SENSE!!!
B. Heat Exhaustion
A person with heat exhaustion will have skin that is cold and clammy and
their temperature will be normal or slightly elevated, and perspiration will
be heavy. Occasionally, the patient will lose consciousness. Move the
individual to a cool place and elevate legs. To cool the patient, give them
mildly salted cold water. If there isn't improvement in thirty minutes, seek
medical attention.
C. Heat Stroke
A person who has suffered a heat stroke may have skin that is hot, dry, or
wet. Their temperature will probably be higher than 105 degrees F.
Typically, there is no perspiration, but it is sometimes possible. Move the
patient to a cool place, elevate their head and shoulders, and cool them as
soon as possible.
D. Altitude Sickness
When camp is conducted at a high altitude, it is important to drink plenty
of fluids (one gallon per day). At high altitudes, the climate is usually
dry and the heat does not seem as bad as it really is.

8. COMMON EMERGENCIES
A. Seizures
Seizures can be convulsive or non-convulsive, depending upon where in the
brain the malfunction has taken place as well as how much of the total brain
area is involved.
1. Convulsive seizures are the ones that most people think of when they
hear the word "epilepsy" or "seizure." In this type of seizure, the person
undergoes convulsions lasting anywhere from two to five minutes, with muscle
spasms, and complete loss of consciousness.
2. Non-convulsive seizures may take the form of a blank stare lasting
only a few seconds, an involuntary movement of an arm or leg, or a period of
automatic movement in which awareness of one's surroundings is blurred or
completely absent.
3. Actions to take:
. Cushion the person's head with something soft (coat, blanket).
. Loosen any tight neckwear.
. Turn the person on their side.
. As the seizure ends, offer assistance. Most seizures for epileptics
are not medical emergencies. They end after a minute or two without harm and
don't require medical attention.
. Don't give anything to eat or drink.
. Don't hold the person down.
. Don't put anything between the victim's teeth during the seizure.
. Don't throw any liquid on the victim's face or into his/her mouth.
B. Asthma
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent
breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes (some people say
" attack" or "flare") when the air passages in their lungs get narrower and
breathing becomes more difficult.
1. What to look for:
. Coughing.
. Blue skin.
. Inability to speak in complete sentences without pausing for air.
. Nostrils flaring with each breath.
. Wheezing - high pitched, whistling sounds during breathing.
2. What to do:
The person should rest and take whatever medication has been prescribed by
their physician, usually an inhaler. Help the person..