• FEATURED,  First Aid

    FIRST AID – THE UNCONSCIOUS CASUALTY

    To stay alive we need an adequate supply of oxygen to enter the lungs and be transferred to all cells in the body by the circulating blood. If a person is deprived of oxygen for any length of time, the brain will begin to fail. As a result, the casualty will eventually lose consciousness, breathing will cease. the heart will stop and death results. The airway must be kept open so that breathing can occur, allowing oxygen to enter the lungs and be circulated in the body. Therefore, the priority of a first aider when treating any collapsed casualty is to establish an open airway and maintain breathing and circulation.…

  • FEATURED,  First Aid

    FIRST AID – How to check casualty when treating

    How to check casualty when treating. MONITORING VITAL SIGNS When treating a casualty, you may need to assess and monitor his level of response. breathing, and pulse, This information can help you to identify problems and indicate changes in a casualty’s condition. Monitoring should be repeated regularly, and your findings recorded and handed over to the medical assistance taking over In addition, if a casualty has a condition that affects his body temperature. such as fever, heatstroke, or hypothermia, you Will also need to monitor his temperature, LEVEL OF RESPONSE You need to monitor a casualty’s level of response to assess her level of consciousness and any change in her…

  • FEATURED,  First Aid

    FIRST AID – Assessing the Casualty

    SECONDARY SURVEYS LOOK FOR EXTERNAL CLUES FOR CASUALTY As part of your Assessing the Casualty, “How to check casualty for injury?” look for external clues to a casualty’s condition. If you suspect drug abuse, take care as he may be carrying needles and syringes. You may find an appointment card for a hospital or clinic or a card indicating a history of allergy, diabetes, or epilepsy horse-riders or cyclists may carry such a card inside their riding hat or helmet. Food or medication may also give valuable clues about the casualty’s condition; for example, people with diabetes may carry sugar lumps or glucose gel. A person with a known disorder…

  • FEATURED,  First Aid

    INTRODUCTION SECONDARY SURVEY OF THREATENING

    SECONDARY SURVEY Once you have completed the primary survey and dealt with any life-threatening conditions, start the SECONDARY SURVEY for the methodical process of checking for other injuries or illnesses by performing a head-to-toe examination. This is called the secondary survey. Question the casualty and the people around him. Makea note of your findings if you can, and pass all the details to the emergency services or hospital, or whoever takes responsibility for the casualty. Ideally, the casualty should remain in the position found, at least until you are satisfied that it is safe to move him into a more comfortable position appropriate for his injury or illness. This survey…

  • First Aid

    FIRST AID | INTRODUCTION OF PRIMARY SURVEY

    FIRST AID – PRIMARY SURVEY The primary survey is a quick, systematic assessment of a person to establish if any conditions or injuries sustained are life-threatening. By following a methodical sequence using established techniques, each life-threatening condition can be identified in priority order and dealt with on a “find and treat” basis. The sequence should be applied to every casualty you attend. You should not allow yourself to be distracted from it by other more superficial events. The chart opposite guides you through this sequence. Depending on your findings you may not move on to the next stage of the assessment. If any life-threatening conditions are successfully managed, or there…

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    FIRST AID – MECHANISMS OF INJURY PART 02

    MECHANISMS OF INJURY – FORCES EXERTED ON THE BODY The energy forces exerted during an impact are another important indicator of the type or severity of any injury. For example. if a man falls from a height of 1m (3ft 3in) or less onto the hard ground, he will probably suffer bruising but no serious injury. A fall from a height of more than 2m (6ft 6in), however, is likely to produce more serious injuries, such as a pelvic fracture and internal bleeding. An apparently less serious fall can mask a more dangerous injury. If a person falls down the stairs, for example, she may tell you that she injured…

  • FEATURED,  First Aid

    MECHANISMS OF INJURY PART 01

    So MECHANISMS OF INJURY, The type of injury that a person sustains is directly related to how the injury is caused. In addition. whether a casualty sustains single or multiple injuries are also determined by the mechanisms that caused it. This is the reason why the history of the incident is important. In many situations, this vital information can only be obtained by those people who deal with the casualty at the scene – often first aiders. Look, too, at the circumstances in which an injury was sustained and the forces involved The information is useful since it also helps the emergency services and medical team predict the type and…