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FIRST AID | |
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Do not panic! Take a deep breath followed by 3 to 4 normal breaths and calmly assess the situation before you take any action. If a life-threatening situation is present, such as a fire, protect yourself and the injured person. Begin by assessing the injuries. Establish priorities, identify those injuries which are most life-threatening first. Carefully and quickly try to observe all of the existing conditions such as spinal injury, bleeding, shock, breathing, and pulse. Remember the ABCs: Airway, Breathing and Circulation. The best way to deal with emergencies or sudden problems is to BE PREPARED, both with knowledge and with an available first aid kit, before they happen. |
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The Heimlich ManeuverFood-Choking |
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| What to look for:
Victim cannot speak or breathe; turns blue; collapses. To perform the Heimlich Maneuver when the victim is standing or sitting: 1. Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around his waist. 2. Place the thumb side of your fist against the victim's abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the rib cage. 3. Grasp your fist with the other hand and press your fist into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat as often as necessary. 4. If the victim is sitting, stand behind the victim's chair and perform the maneuver in the same manner. 5. After the food is dislodged, have the victim seen by a doctor or contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice. When the victim has collapsed and cannot be lifted: 1. Lay the victim on his back. 2. Face the victim and kneel astride his hips. 3. With one hand on top of the other, place the heel of your bottom hand on the abdomen slightly above the navel and below the rib cage. 4. Press into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat as often as necessary. 5. Should the victim vomit, quickly place him on his side and wipe out his mouth to prevent aspiration (drawing of vomit into the throat). 6. After the food is dislodged, have the victim seen by a doctor or contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice. NOTE: If you start to choke when alone and help is not available, an attempt should be made to self-administer this maneuver. |
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Burns |
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 First Degree: Signs/Symptoms -
reddened skin.Treatment--Immerse quickly in cold water or apply ice until pain stops. Second Degree: Signs/Symptoms - reddened
skin, blisters.Treatment-- (1) Cut away loose clothing. (2) Cover with several layers of cold moist dressings or, if limb is involved, immerse in cold water for relief of pain. (3) Treat for shock. Third Degree:
Signs/Symptoms - skin
destroyed, tissues damaged, charring. Treatment -- (1) Cut away loose clothing (do not remove clothing adhered to skin). (2) Cover with several layers of sterile, cold, moist dressings for relief of pain and to stop burning action. (3) Treat for shock. |
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Poisons |
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| Treatment -- (1) Dilute by drinking
large quantities of water. (2) Induce vomiting except when poison is corrosive or a petroleum product. (3) Contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice. |
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Shock |
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| Shock may accompany any serious injury: blood loss,
breathing impairment, heart failure, burns. Shock can kill -- treat as soon as possible and continue until medical aid is available. Signs/Symptoms - (1) Shallow breathing. (2) rapid and weak pulse. (3) Nausea, collapse. vomiting. (4) Shivering. (5) Pale, moist skin. (6) Mental confusion. (7) Drooping eyelids, dilated pupils. Treatment -- (1) Establish and maintain as open airway. (2) Control bleeding. (3) Keep victim lying down. Exception: Head and chest injuries, heart attack, stroke, sun stroke. If no spine injury, victim be more comfortable and breathe better in a semi-reclining position. If in doubt, keep the victim flat. Elevate the feet unless injury would be aggravated. Maintain normal body temperature. Place blankets under and over victim. |
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Frostbite |
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 Most frequently frostbitten: toes, fingers. nose, and
ears. It is caused by exposure to cold.Signs/Symptoms - (1) Skin becomes pale or a grayish-yellow color. (2) Parts feel cold and numb. (3) Frozen parts feel doughy. Treatment -- (l) Until victim can be brought inside, he should he wrapped in woolen cloth and kept dry. (2) Do not rub, chafe, or manipulate frostbitten parts. (3) Bring victim indoors. (4) Place in warm water (102°F to 105°F) and make sure it remains warm. Test water by pouring on inner surface of your forearm. Never thaw if the victim has to go back out into the cold which may cause the affected area to be refrozen. (5) Do not use hot water bottles or a heat lamp, and do not place victim near a hot stove. (6) Do not allow victim to walk in feet are affected. (7) Once thawed, have victim gently exercise parts. (8) For serious frostbite, seek medical aid for thawing because pain will be intense and tissue damage extensive. Contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice. |
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Heat Cramps |
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| Affects people who work or do strenous exercises in a
hot environment. To prevent it, such people should drink
large amounts of cool water and add a pinch of salt to
each glass of water. Signs/Symptoms - (1) Painful muscle cramps in legs and abdomen. (2) Faintness. (3) Profuse perspiration Treatment -- (1) Move victim to a cool place. (2) Give him sips of salted drinking water (one teaspoon of salt to one quart of water). (3) Apply manual pressure to the cramped muscle. |
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Heat Exhaustion |
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| Signs/Symptoms - (1) Pale and clammy
skin. (2) Profuse perspiration. (3) Rapid and shallow breathing. (4) Weakness, dizziness, and headache. Treatment -- (1) Care for victim as if he were in shock. (2) Remove victim to a cool area, do not allow chilling. (3) If body gets too cold, cover victim. |
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Heat Stroke |
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| Signs/Symptoms - (1) Face is red and
flushed. (2) Victim becomes rapidly unconscious. (3) Skin is hot and dry with no perspiration. Treatment -- (1) Lay victim down with head and shoulders raised. (2) Reduce the high body temperature as quickly as possible. (3) Apply cold applications to the body and head. (4) Use ice and fan if available. (5) Watch for signs of shock and treat accordingly. (6) Contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice as soon as possible. |
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Artificial Respiration |
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| (Mouth-to-Mouth Breathing - In Cases Like
Drowning, Electric shock or Smoke Inhalation.) There is need for help in breathing when breathing movements stop or lips, tongue, and fingernails become blue. When in doubt, apply artificial respiration until you get medical help. No harm can result from its use and delay may cost the patient his life. Start immediately. Seconds count. Clear mouth and throat of any obstructions with your fingers. For Adults: Place patient on back with face up. Lift the chin and tilt the head back. If air passage is still closed pull chin up by placing fingers behind the angles of the lower jaw and pushing forward. Take deep breath, place your mouth over patient's mouth, making leak-proof seal. Pinch patient's nostrils closed. Blow into patient's mouth until see his chest rise. -OR- Take deep breath, place your mouth over patient's nose, making leak-proof seal. Seal patient's mouth with your hand. Blow into patient's nose until you see his chest rise. Remove your mouth and let patient exhale. Repeat about 12 times a minute. (If the patient's stomach rises markedly, exert moderate hand pressure on the stomach just below the rib cage to keep it from inflating.) For Infants and Small Children: Place your mouth over patient's mouth and nose. Blow into mouth and nose until you see patient's chest rise normally. Repeat 20 to 30 times per minute. (Don't exaggerate the tilted position of an infant's head.) NOTE: For emergency treatment of heart attack, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is recommended. Contact the Coast Station for Medical Advice. |
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