First Aid Essentials: Emergency Care for Injuries and Shock

First Aid: Basic Emergency Care

Primary emergency assistance is essential while waiting for professional medical help. Immediate care can limit the injured person's suffering and prevent further harm. Always check that the scene is safe before approaching the injured person.

Assess the injured person's responsiveness and breathing. Call emergency services as soon as possible. If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. Do not move the injured person unless they are in immediate danger, since movement can worsen spinal injuries. Keep the head and spine aligned, and do not remove the cause of the accident until the area is safe.

Reassure the injured person and keep them calm to avoid sudden shock. Check their cardiovascular and respiratory function. If the person is not breathing, begin artificial respiration and chest compressions as trained. Never give alcoholic beverages or food. If the person vomits, turn their head to the side to prevent aspiration.

Wounds

A wound is any break in the skin that allows bacteria to enter the body and cause infection. The severity of bleeding depends on the depth and location of the wound.

First Aid for Wounds

• Elevate the injured limb if possible to reduce bleeding.
• Gently wash the area with soap and clean water, or use sterile saline solution, to remove dirt and debris.
• Apply an antiseptic to the surrounding skin, but avoid putting it directly into deep wounds.
• Leave the wound uncovered only if it is minor and the air can help it heal faster.
• Apply firm pressure with sterile dressings, gauze, a clean cloth or a handkerchief. If blood soaks through, add new dressings on top of the old ones rather than removing them.
• Use a bandage to hold the dressing in place, keeping it firm but not too tight.

Tourniquets

A tourniquet should only be used in extreme cases where bleeding cannot be controlled with dressings and compression. A tourniquet is a strip of cloth, tape or elastic band tied firmly around a limb, above the wound, to stop blood flow. Because it can cause serious tissue damage, it should be loosened gradually every hour if the injured person cannot be transferred to a hospital immediately, allowing circulation to return. If the tourniquet is loosened, the bleeding may resume, so it must be reapplied at a different point if necessary.

Contusions (Bruises)

A contusion occurs when a blow or impact damages blood vessels beneath the skin without breaking it. It causes localized pain, swelling and a hematoma, which is a collection of blood under the skin. Severe contusions may be accompanied by fractures, internal bleeding or shock.

Treatment for Contusions

• Rest the affected area and keep it elevated.
• Apply cold compresses or ice wrapped in cloth for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
• Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
• Never apply heat during the first 48 hours.
• Do not give anti-inflammatory medication unless it has been recommended by a health professional.

Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries range from mild to severe:

• Muscle strain: Overstretching or overuse that damages muscle fibers.
• Partial tear: Damage to some of the muscle fibers.
• Complete rupture: A total break of the muscle, which is less common.

First Aid for Muscle Injuries

Rest the injured muscle and apply cold packs along with a compression bandage. Elevate the area when possible. Anti-inflammatory medication may be administered as directed. Never apply heat or massage the injured area during the initial phase.

Ligament Injuries

• Sprain: Stretching of a ligament without tearing its fibers.
• Partial tear: Damage to some ligament fibers.
• Complete rupture: A total tear of the ligament.

First Aid for Ligament Injuries

Keep the joint immobilized in a comfortable position. Apply cold packs and a compression bandage. Do not apply heat or massage the joint, and do not give anti-inflammatory medication unless advised by a professional.

Dislocations and Fractures

A dislocation occurs when the bones of a joint are partially or completely displaced from their normal position. A fracture is a break in a bone, which may be partial or complete. A fracture that breaks through the skin is called an open fracture.

First Aid for Dislocations and Fractures

Immobilize the injured area in the position in which it was found, and do not attempt to realign the bone. Use a splint or a sling to support the limb, and transfer the person immediately to a hospital.

Fainting

Fainting is a partial or brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. Predisposing factors include fatigue, emotional stress, prolonged standing, heat, dehydration and certain medical conditions. Before fainting, the person may feel dizzy, weak, sweaty and pale, with cold skin.

First Aid for Fainting

Lay the person down on their back, preferably in a shaded place, and raise their legs to help blood return to the heart. Loosen tight clothing. Fan the person and apply a cool, wet cloth to the forehead. Do not give food or drink until the person is fully alert.

Shock

Shock is a serious condition in which the body does not receive enough blood flow, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure. Symptoms include cold, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse, generalized muscle weakness, rapid heartbeat, loss of consciousness, convulsions and, in severe cases, cardiac and respiratory arrest.

First Aid for Shock

Lay the person on their back with their legs raised about 45 centimeters. Keep them warm and protected from the cold. If the person stops breathing, begin artificial respiration and chest compressions. Transfer the person to a hospital as soon as possible.