Page 156 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

154 FIRST AID

First-aid essentials

To give first aid effectively, it is important to be well prepared.
WARNING
The step-by-step plan given below can be applied to any
emergency to help you deal with a victim. Cross-references take If you cannot approach a victim
without putting yourself in danger,
you to the specific first-aid techniques you may need on other
dial 911 or call emergency medical
pages. Access to first-aid materials can make all the difference services (EMS) immediately.
in an emergency, so an essential kit is described here.

Emergency action plan
FIRST-AID KIT
The following plan will help you deal calmly, safely,
and efficiently with a victim in any situation. You can buy a first-aid kit or make up your own
and put it in an airtight box or tin. Store the kit in a cool,
Danger Before you act, see if the person is
1 in danger. Deal with any hazards if you can, but dry place, out of reach of children, but make sure it is
easy to access. Store a washcloth and a blanket with the
do not put yourself in danger to give first aid. kit and keep an extra first-aid kit in the car.
2 Response Find out if the person is conscious
(see p.168). If he or she is conscious, deal with any
injuries. If the person is unconscious, go to the
next step of this emergency plan.
3 Airway Make sure that the victim’s airway is Adhesive dressings this bandage supports to a wound or support
Triangular bandage
Elastic bandages
Used as a sling,
These apply pressure
These are used to
open and not obstructed so that air can enter the
cover small cuts,
lungs freely (see p.168). scrapes, and blisters an injured limb a sprain or strain
4 Breathing Check for breathing. Get someone
to dial 911 or call EMS. If the victim is breathing,
place him or her in the recovery position (see
p.169). If not, begin rescue breathing (see p.170).
Gauze dressing
Wound dressing
5 Circulation After giving rescue breathing, Rolled gauze bandages This is placed directly This is sterile and can
These bandages are
check for signs of circulation (see p.170). If
on a wound and
be used as a dressing
used for holding a
you find no signs of circulation, begin chest dressing in place bandaged in place or bandage
compressions (see p.171). Deal with any injuries
only when breathing and circulation are stable.
Checking a victim
Before you begin to assess
Tubular bandage Cleansing wipes Adhesive tapes
injuries, check a victim’s
and applicator Alcohol-free wipes are Micropore tape or
response, breathing, These are used to used to clean wounds adhesive tape holds
and circulation. dress fingers and toes when there is no water dressings in place
Tweezers and scissors Disposable gloves Cold pack
Tweezers are used for These protect from This helps reduce
splinters; scissors for cross-infection when swelling in sprains
cutting materials touching body fluids and strains