Lecture 1 Introduction FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE .pptx

An introduction to first aid and emergency medicine course contents for medical students and other trainees.

1. FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE INTRODUCTION

2. Definition of first aid First aid is the first skilled assistance given to a victim(sick or injured) on the occurrence of an accident or sudden illness in order to preserve life, prevent further injury and relieve pain. First aid is simple medical treatment given the earliest possible to a person who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill. First aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to a casualty for any injury or sudden illness before the arrival of an ambulance, doctor or other qualified person. First aid is the initial assistance or treatment given to someone who is injured or suddenly taken ill First aid is not an end by itself, it indicates that the person is in need of a secondary aid

3. Definition of first aider The person who is trained to render emergency services on the spot until the medical aid is obtained is called a first aider

4. Qualities of a first aider Calm Confident Willing to offer assistance whenever necessary

5. Aims of first aid / Principles of first aid 3Ps Preserve life - This doesn’t just refer to the injured party, but yourself and anyone helping you. Far too often, a helper will inadvertently put themselves in danger and subsequently be another casualty for the emergency services to deal with. Please take a moment to assess the situation, and make sure there are no threats to you before you step in . Prevent further injuries / conditions from worsening (prevent deterioration)- If you are in no danger yourself, try to stop the situation from becoming worse by removing any obvious dangers (such as stopping traffic, clearing people away from the casualty, opening a window to clear any fumes, etc.). Also, act as quickly as you can to stop the casualty’s condition from worsening. Promote recovery - Your role as a first aider is, after ensuring that the situation can not get worse, helping the casualty to recover from their injury or illness, or stop their condition from getting worse. If the injury is severe, then the best you can do is try to keep them alive until the emergency services arrive. Help ensure safe transportation to the nearest healthcare facility

6. DO’S AND DON’T DO – PPE DON’T – prescribe medicine and declare death 5R in medicine- the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time

7. Scope of first aid The scope of first aid includes Diagnosis Treatment Disposal of the case

8. diagnosis Know the possible cause of accident or sudden injury Gather information from casualty and bystanders Watch for symptoms like faintness, bleeding, thirst, pain or shivering Watch for abnormal signs

9. Treatment Remove the causative agent from the casuality eg. Falling machinery, fire, electrical wire, poison etc

10. Disposal Arrange for the safe transportation of the casualty to the care of a doctor or hospital as soon as possible. Inform the family or relatives at once

11. Important points to remember First aiders must always remain calm and asses the situation first before rushing to help the victim. first aiders must ensure to remove any dangers from the casualty, or remove the casualty from dangers and prevent the crowding of casualties by bystanders. It is important that the first aiders call for appropriate help as per the assessment of the situation As most first aid treatment does involve touching the victim it is very important that the first aider gains their permission , so as to avoid causing offence or distress It is important to understand that first aid has its limitations and does not take the place of professional medical treatment. First aiders should also take care to listen to any remarks or requests a casualty makes. The first aider’s responsibility ends when the casualty is handed over to the care of a competent health provider.

12. Golden rules of first aid Do first things first, quickly- quietly without fuss of panic Reassure the casualty through encouraging words Check ABC rule Open the airway by tilting the head Give artificial respiration if breathing has stopped Perform chest compression f the pulse is not present Stop bleeding, if any, by direct pressure Treat for shock Do not allow people to crowd around Don’t remove clothes unnecessarily Arrange for transportation of the casualty Casualty should be sent to a hospital or doctor by quickest means of transport. Always inform police about serious accidents and relatives.

13. Advantages of first aid training First aid training saves lives Reduces repeat accidents Increases confidence and safety People know how to use a first aid kit properly Keeps employees safe outside of work It’s great for company morale and team building It’s cost effective

14. First aid Equipment- First aid kit Articles and quantity Silver sulfadiazine ointment 1 tube Band aid 10 strips Roller bandages – 5 by 5 cm – 1 Sterilised cotton wool (absorbent) 15 gms 1 pkt Scissors s/s 7 cm (sharp/blunt) 1 Sterilised dressings (assorted size) 2 Paracetamol/ asprin tabs 10 by 1 – 1 strip Mouth to mouth resuscitator (plastic) - 1 Easily identifiable watertight box 20 adhesive dressings (plasters) in assorted sizes Six medium sterile dressings Two large sterile dressings One sterile eye pad Six triangular bandages Six safety pins Disposable gloves Two roller bandages Scissors Tweezers Alcohol-free wound cleansing wipes Adhesive tape Plastic face shield or pocket mask Notepad and pencil Alcohol gel Other useful items: Blanket, survival bag, torch, whistle Warning triangle and high visibility jacket to keep in the car

15. List of life threatening emergencies Breathing problems, cardiac arrest, chocking, allergic reactions Chest pain and abdominal pain Burn, scald, bleeding Head and spinal injuries Lower and upper extremities injuries Insect bites and stings + snake bite Electric injuries Heat cramps

16. Triage Triage is to judge the severity of the victims condition, prioritize and decide on best possible approach beneficial to the individual within constrains of time and professional attention at that place

17. International guidelines for triage RED – Immediate care: most urgent and high survival if attended immediate YELLOW PRIME- Beyond care: regardless of urgency has poor survival rate YELLOW – Urgent – not immediate care: can wait 45 to 60 minutes after stabilization GREEN – Minor care: can wait until others have been attended BLACK - Dead

18. AMEGA principle AMEGA stands for: Assess Make Safe Emergency Aid Get help Aftercare

19. Assess After coming across a victim, ask them for their consent to help them if they are responsive and breathing. Let them explain their symptoms so you can determine the reason for their condition. Assessment  of their condition also involves looking for any piece of  medical jewelry  that could inform you if they have diabetes, allergies, epilepsy, or bleeding disorders. Look for any open injuries, tenderness, and swelling. Identify how they got injured in the first place so you can understand the severity of the matter.

20. Make Safe While you assess the condition of the patient, ensure that the area is safe for both you and the victim. Take the necessary precautions so that the victim isn’t prone to developing  infections . Put on gloves and any other personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep the ambiance safe and sanitary.

21. Emergency Aid Emergency aid needs to be provided to victims before an  EMT  reaches the location. This could mean providing  CPR , controlling the bleeding, or using an  AED  on the patient.

22. Get Help After the area around the victim has been made safe, make sure to call the emergency medical services so that they can reach the spot and take the patient to the hospital to give them the required medical treatment.

23. Aftercare The aftercare involves staying with the patient till the arrival of medical help or remaining with them even at the hospital before you can track down their family members or friends who can stay by their side as they recover. Keeping the patient calm and trying to reassure them that things will be fine becomes essential in such cases, which is why it’s crucial to pacify them.

24. Conclusion Whenever you come across a victim who requires your help, it’s important to remain calm so that you can give them the immediate aid they need before the emergency services arrive. Make sure to cover them with a blanket and be as sympathetic as possible. You might have to use the items around you to cover wounds or even make arm slings. As long as you assess the situation well and call for help immediately, you will be able to save a person’s life on time.