Basic First Aid & Life Saving

[Nathan_Alexandrov]

During my short time in the State of Argonath I have noticed that most government employees and civilians alike have little or no medical training. However I have decided to make this topic with a few basic tips on how to prolong or save a life.

NOTES:
Dont moan if I have missed a detail, this is a basic guide not a paramedic course
I will be adding situation specific solutions in the future.

What to do?

First check that you and the casualty are not in any danger. If you are, make the situation safe.
When it's safe to do so, dial 911 for an ambulance, if necessary.
Carry out basic first aid.


Assessing a casualty

The priorities when dealing with a casualty can be remembered as ABC:

    Airway
    Breathing
    Circulation

Airway

If the casualty appears unresponsive, ask them loudly if they are OK and if they can open their eyes. If they respond, you can leave the casualty in the position they are in until help arrives. While you wait, keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response:

Are they alert?
Do they respond to your voice?
Do they respond to pain?
Is there no response to any stimulus (they're unconscious)?

If there is no response, leave the casualty in the position they are in and open their airway. If this is not possible in the position they are in, gently lay them on their back and open the airway.

You open the airway by placing one hand on the casualty’s forehead and gently tilting the head back, then lifting the chin using two fingers. This is to move the tongue away from the back of the mouth.

If you think they may have a spinal injury, place your hands on either side of their face and use your fingertips to gently lift the jaw to open the airway. Take care not to move the casualty’s neck. This is known as the jaw thrust technique.

Breathing

To check if a person is still breathing, look to see if their chest is rising and falling, listen for breathing and check if you can feel their breath against your cheek for 10 seconds.

If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position so the airway remains clear of obstructions.
If the casualty is not breathing, call 911 for an ambulance, then begin CPR.

Circulation

If the heart stops beating, you can help maintain their circulation by performing a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths (CPR). If you are not trained or feel unable to give rescue breaths, you can perform compression-only CPR.

Agonal breathing is common in the first few minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating). Agonal breathing is sudden, irregular gasps of breath. This should not be mistaken for normal breathing and CPR should be given straight away.


If someone is unconscious and breathing
If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position.

If someone is unconscious and not breathing
If a person is not breathing normally after an accident, call for an ambulance and then, if you can, start CPR straight away.


Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) is a severe allergic reaction that can occur after an insect sting or after a person eats certain foods, for example. The reaction can be very fast, happening within seconds or minutes of contact with the thing a person is allergic to.

During anaphylactic shock, a person may find it difficult to breathe and their tongue and throat may also swell, obstructing their airway.

If you suspect a person is experiencing anaphylactic shock, call 911 straight away.

Check if the person is carrying any medication. Some people who know they have severe allergies may carry epinephrine on them. This is a kind of adrenaline and usually comes in a pre-loaded syringe. You can either help the person administer their medication or, if you're trained to do so, give it to them yourself.

Make sure they are comfortable and can breathe as best they can while waiting for medical help to arrive. If they are conscious, sitting upright is normally the best position for them.


Burns and scalds

In the event of a burn or scald:

Cool the burn as quickly as possible with cold (but not ice-cold) running water until the pain is relieved.
Call 911 or seek medical help if necessary.
While cooling the burn, carefully remove any clothing or jewellery, unless it is attached to the skin.
Keep the person warm using a blanket or layers of clothing (avoiding the injured area) to prevent hypothermia. This is a risk if you are cooling a large burnt area, particularly in elderly people.

For chemical burns, wear protective gloves, remove any clothing affected, brush the chemical off the skin if it is a powder and rinse the burn with cold running water. If possible, determine what has caused the injury.

Be careful not to injure yourself, and wear protective clothing if necessary. Call 911 and arrange immediate medical attention.


Bleeding

If someone has severe bleeding, the main aim is to prevent further loss of blood and minimise the effects of shock (see below).

First, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance as soon as possible.

If you have disposable gloves, then use them to reduce the risk of any infection being passed on.

Check that there is nothing embedded in the wound. If there is, take care not to press down on the object. Instead, press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself. If there is nothing embedded:

Apply and maintain pressure to the wound with your hand, using a clean pad if possible.
Use a clean dressing to bandage the wound firmly.
If the wound is on a limb and there are no fractures, raise the limb to decrease the flow of blood.

If a body part has been severed, such as a finger, do not put it in direct contact with ice. Wrap it in a plastic bag or cling film, then wrap it in a soft material and keep it cool. Once it is wrapped, if possible, place the severed body part in crushed ice.


Fractures

It can be difficult to tell if a person has a broken bone, or a joint or muscle injury. If you're in any doubt, treat the injury as a broken bone.

If the person is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or is bleeding severely, these should be dealt with first.

If the person is conscious, prevent any further injury by keeping them still until you get them safely to hospital. Assess the injury and decide the best way to get them to hospital. If they have a broken finger or arm, you may be able to drive them yourself without causing more harm. If they have a broken spine or leg, call for an ambulance.

Support the limb. Do not move the person but keep them in the position you found them in. Support the injured part with anything you have handy, for example rolled up blankets or clothes.
Get them to hospital, either by driving them yourself (if they have a minor fracture) or call for an ambulance.
Look out for signs of shock. If the person is pale, cold and clammy, has a weak pulse and rapid shallow breathing, they are probably in shock (see below).

If you think that the person may have shock, lie them down and loosen any tight clothing. Do not raise an injured leg. Otherwise, if their injuries allow, raise their legs above the level of their heart by placing something suitable under their feet such as blankets or cushions.

Do not give the person anything to eat or drink as they may need a general anaesthetic when they reach hospital.

[Biggo2]

Awesome, this will do for medic RP

[drahon45]

Good work Sheep. Glad to see you're passing on your knowledge :P

[Nathan_Alexandrov]

Always, by the end of this topic I hope to have covered most if not all possible situations and solutions. Heads up for those who are waiting for the next addition it will cover the following

Heart Attacks
Shock
Poisoning

[zater112]

This is Really Good, But By the Time if it isn't getting Sticked i'll think its waste of time in the end, But eyy What do i know,
-Looks Good,

[McGarrett]

Maybe you should add something about internal bleeding too? Great work though Respect +++

[Danny_Leo]

Nice one comrade.

[Nathan_Alexandrov]

Heart attacks

If you think a person is having or has had a heart attack, make them as comfortable as possible and call 911 for an ambulance. Symptoms of a heart attack include:

chest pain – the pain is usually located in the centre of the chest and can feel like a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing
pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is travelling from the chest to one or both arms, jaw, neck, back or abdomen

Sit the person down, if possible in the "W" position (sitting up with the knees bent).

If they are conscious, reassure them and give them a 300mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly (unless there is any reason not to give them aspirin, for example if they are under 16 or allergic to it). If the person has any medication for angina, such as a spray or tablets, help them to take it. Monitor their vital signs, such as breathing, until help arrives.

If the person becomes unconscious, open their airway, check their breathing and, if necessary, start CPR.

Poisoning

Being poisoned is potentially life threatening. Most cases of poisoning occur when a person has swallowed a toxic substance such as bleach, prescription drugs or wild plants and fungi.

If you think someone has swallowed a poisonous substance, call 911 to get immediate medical help.

The effects of poisoning depend on the substance swallowed but can include vomiting, loss of consciousness, pain or a burning sensation:

Find out what has been swallowed so you can tell the paramedic or doctor.
Do not give the person anything to eat or drink unless a health professional advises you to.
Never try to induce vomiting.

If the person is unconscious, while you wait for help:

Make sure the airway is open and they are breathing. You open the airway by gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the back of the mouth.
If they are breathing, put them in the recovery position, preferably with their head down so any vomit can escape without being swallowed or inhaled.
If they are not breathing, perform CPR until they start breathing or medical help arrives.
If there are any chemicals on their mouth, use a face shield or pocket mask to protect yourself if you give rescue breaths.

Shock

In the case of a serious injury or illness, it is important to watch for signs of shock.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the circulatory system fails and, as a result, deprives the vital organs of oxygen. This is usually due to severe blood loss, but it can also happen after severe burns, severe vomiting, a heart attack, bacterial infection or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

The type of shock described here is not the same thing as the emotional response of feeling shocked, which can also occur after an accident.

Signs of shock include:

pale, cold, clammy skin
sweating
rapid, shallow breathing
weakness and dizziness
feeling sick and possibly vomiting
thirst
yawning
sighing

If you notice any signs of shock in a casualty, seek medical help immediately:

Dial 911 as soon as possible and ask for an ambulance.
Treat any obvious injuries.
Lay the person down if their injuries allow you to, and raise and support their legs.
Use a coat or blanket to keep them warm, but not smothered.
Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
Give lots of comfort and reassurance.
Monitor the person. If they stop breathing, start CPR.

NOTE: Next addition will cover some environmental situations such as Heatstroke, TrenchFoot etc.

[Radagast]

Veeeeeeery nice comrade.

[Hybird]

Very nice 

[Aksel]

Very good!

[Goodandy.]

I wish to see another version!

[Pandalink]

Does it describe anywhere what the recovery position actually is? I can't seem to find it in the posts, and it's quite an important (and fairly simple) thing to know.

[Nathan_Alexandrov]

Just noticed that, sincerest apologies. I will add it in the next addition.

[HennessyXO]

 :bow:

good shit, this might even save a couple real life lives if enough people read this.