What are the signs and symptoms of internal bleeding and how would you treat it?
1-broken bones, briusing, pain/tenderness/swelling at site of suspected injury
2-monitor ABC’s and shock
-administer O2 (face mask 2-4L/min)
-seek immediate medical assistance
What are the signs and treatment for external bleeding?
1-visible bleeding from cuts and grazes
2-apply direct pressure onto site of bleeding
-if wound on arm or leg, elevate while applying pressure
-if high blood loss, administer O2 at 8L/min
-monitor ABC, shock and seek medical assistance if it cannot be completely treated on site (eg more than a plaster)
What is shock?
The inadequate circulation of oxygenated blood to the body, especially to the vital organs such as the brain, lungs and heart
What are some causes of shock?
- severe allergic reactions
- severe trauma
- loss of blood
- heart attack
- sever burns
- poisons
What do the causes lead to that creates shock?
- failure of the heart to pump sufficient blood (cardiac arrest)
- severe blood loss results in insufficient blood to pump O2
- enlargement of blood vessels so blood pressure becomes too low
- breathing problems resulting in insufficient O2 in the body
What are the signs and symptoms of shock?
- weakness and anxiety
- cold, clammy and pale skin
- weak rapid pulse
- rapid breathing
- feeling faint/sick
- become unconscious
How do you treat shock?
- Monitor ABC’s
- administer O2 (non-rebreather, 8-10min)
- if patient is uninjured and able to, place them on their back with their legs elevated, otherwise make them as comfortable as possible
- loosen restrictive clothing
- protect from heat loss
- DO NOT give fluids or food to victim
- reassure patient
- seek immediate medical assistance
What are the signs or choking and how should you treat it?
1-victim will become distressed, may be grasping at their throat, maybe coughing, spluttering and wheezing, face may turn purple
2-perform back blows (5 big blows between shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, checking if object has become expelled between each blow)
-if unsuccessful perform Heimlich manoeuvre (quickly thrust fist inward and upward into victims abdomen until object removed or patient become unconscious)
-if patient become unconscious place victim on ground and remove any visible obstruction then start CPR then contact emergency services
How would you deal with an infant choking?
- cradle infant on one forearm supported on your thigh face down supporting their head
- with the heel of your hand give 5 firm blows between infant’s shoulder blades checking if object has been expelled between each blow
- if this doesn’t work then place them on their back still supported by forearm/thigh and give 5 compressions on their chest just below nipple line in middle of chest
- repeat this cycle until object removed or they become unconscious
- if they become unconscious then begin CPR and contact emergency services
How would you treat a partial amputation (still attached to surrounding skin)?
- replace it back in its natural position
- apply sterile dressing and compression bandage
- monitor ABC’s and shock
- seek immediate medical assitance
How would you treat a complete amputation (completely detached from body)?
- Stop the bleeding by applying (lots of) bandages
- monitor ABC’s and shock
- locate amputated part (if possible) and warp it in a dry, clean/sterile dressing and place it in a dry plastic bag and seal it and place in ice and water ~ DO NOT LET AMPUTATED PART GET WET OR FREEZE
- seek immediate medical assistance and make sure amputated part goes with them
How would you treat an impaled object?
- DO NOT REMOVE IMPALEMENT unless it is OBSTRUCTING the airway
- place a ‘donut’ bandage around object if possible and firmly bandage it applying indirect pressure around the site (don’t touch the object)
- keep patient and object immobilised
- monitor ABC’s, shock and for internal bleeding
- seek immediate medical assitance
What are the 3 causes of burns and how are they classified in seriousness? explain the classification
- thermal (hot and cold), chemical and electrical
- first degree: skin surface is reddened and skin is not broken
- second degree: blistering of the skin
- most of the skin is lost, muscle, ligament and tendons are damaged
How would you treat a patient with burns?
- BBBCCC
- do not pop blisters and where possible elevate affected limb
What should you do to specifically for chemical burns?
-brush off any dry powder before running affected skin under water
What should you do especially for electrical burns?
- check for dangers making sure that the source of electricity is turned off before making contact with patient
- check patient for entry and exit burns created by current
What kind of burn is sunburn and how should you prevent it?
- it is a thermal burn
- wear wide brimmed hat and protective clothing
- apply sunscreen frequently
- avoid exposure to the sun between 11am-4pm
How should you treat a bluebottle sting?
- remove any remaining tentacles from skin and rinse sting area with seawater to remove any remaining sting cells
- do not let patient rub the area keeping them at rest and under observation
- place the sting area in hot water (no hotter than what can be tolerated)
- if it is not relieving pain/hot water not avaliable, apply cold packs to sting area
- if pain is not relieved, develops, area is large or patient has allergic reaction seek immediate medical assistance
How would you treat other jelly fish stings?
- remove any remaining tentacles from skin and rinse sting area with seawater to remove any remaining sting cells
- do not let patient rub the area keeping them at rest and under observation
- DON’T run sting under fresh water, apply cold packs to the area
- if it is not relieving pain/hot water not avaliable, apply cold packs to sting area
- if pain is not relieved, develops, area is large or patient has allergic reaction seek immediate medical assistance
How should you treat a bee sting?
- remove the sting using tweezers making sure not to squeeze the venom sac or scrape the stinger
- monitor patient for allergic reaction, if they develop seek medical assistance
How would you treat a spider bite?
- wast the bite area and apply cold pack wrapped in cloth (no directly on skin)
- cover the bite lightly and elevate the limb if possible
- seek medical assistance if an anit-venom treatment is required
How can poisons get into the body?
Swallowing, breathing or injecting
What are some signs and symptoms of poisoning?
- change in responsiveness/mood/personality
- headache
- breathing problems
- nausea and vomiting
- seizures
- burns around mouth and/or hands
- chemical smell on patient
How do you treat a patient for poisoning?
- reassure the patient
- obtain details on the poison from patient and/or bystanders (when did it occur, how much was swallowed/absorbed/inhaled, what was it etc.) and write it down
- Make the patient rest while you contact 0800 POISON for further treatment options
- remove any contaminated clothing/wash skin off from the poison
- monitor ABC’s and shock
