First Aid Tips and Hints - Fractures, Dislocations & Poisoning
Accidents and emergencies do happen and when faced with one, the action you take can make all the difference.
First of all try to keep calm. Assess the situation and make sure that there is no further danger to the casualty, your self or anyone else.
Use bystanders to fetch help and where necessary, get them to call the local emergency services, making sure that they know where you are, can describe what has happened and any injuries that can immediately be identified without moving the patient.
The following advice is of course no substitute for proper medical training and you must always seek professional medical help, but the more you know about first aid, the better you'll be able to manage when faced with a real emergency.
Fractures
A fracture is a broken or cracked bone. It may be diagnosed by being felt or heard, by pain, difficulty in moving, tenderness, swelling, bruising, deformity or symptoms of shock.
The keynote of first aid treatment is to prevent movement.
- Difficulty in breathing, severe bleeding and unconsciousness must be dealt with before broken bones.
- Treat all fractures in position found if possible. If removal to hospital is imminent, gently support the injured part by hand, place the casualty in a comfortable position, and support with rolled up blankets.
- If transportation is delayed, immobilise the injured part by securing it to a sound part of the body with padding and bandages, arm to body, leg to leg.
- Treat for Shock.
Dislocations
A dislocation is a displacement of one or more bones at a joint and most frequently happens at the shoulder, elbow, thumb, finger or jaw. It can be suspected with pain, inability to move the joint, swelling, bruising. If in doubt, treat as a fracture.
- Make the casualty as comfortable as possible.
- Seek medical aid.
- Support the injured part in the most comfortable position with pillows or cushions. Immobilise with bandages or slings if available.
- Treat as for shock.
- Do not attempt to place bones in proper positions.
Poisoning
A poison is any substance, which causes damage if taken into the body. Poisons can be swallowed, inhaled, injected or absorbed through the skin.
The aim of treatment is to get an open airway, and bring medical help to the casualty as soon as possible, whilst minimising danger to yourself.
- FOR SWALLOWED POISONS: do not attempt to induce vomiting, as this may harm the casualty further.
- FOR INHALED POISONS: remove the casualty from danger and into fresh air.
- FOR ABSORBED POISONS: flush away any residual chemicals on the skin.
- If breathing and/or the heartbeat stops. Begin the resuscitation immediately.
- TAKE CARE NOT to contaminate yourself with poison that may be around the casualties mouth. You may close the mouth and breath via the nose.
- If the casualty is unconscious but breathing normally, place him in the recovery position.
- If the casualty is conscious, ask quickly what has happened, remembering that he may lose consciousness at any moment.
- If the casualty is conscious and lips or mouth show signs of burning, cool them by giving sips of milk or water to drink.
- Send the patient to hospital immediately.
- Remember to send any samples of vomit, pillboxes or bottles found near to the patient to the hospital with the patient.
If you are in any doubt or have any concerns about any injury or illness always seek professional medical advice.
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