First Aid

First Aid

It is immediate and temporary medical care, provided to an injured or sick person for the purpose of trying to reach the best possible health situation with simple therapeutic tools or skills until the time full medical assistance arrives.
It is usually a set of simple medical steps, but they usually lead to saving the patient's life.

Bone fractures

1. Remove clothes from the broken part.
2. Check the vital signs of the injured (breathing - pulse - heartbeat). If you find a defect in them, immediately perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
3. Stabilize the fracture and do not move the affected area, since moving it can lead to severe complications especially if the fracture is in the neck or spine.
4. Examine the abdominal area and make sure that there is no tumor or change in skin color.
5. Stop bleeding if the fracture has a skin laceration, by pressing on the wound using a sterile bandage or a clean cloth.
6. The affected area should be cooled by placing ice cubes with a clean cloth, and then placing them on the affected area in order to reduce swelling and pain.
7. When the patient feels fainting, or is breathing short and rapid breaths, the patient must be placed in a suitable position, so that his head is slightly lower than the trunk, and if possible, his legs can be raised to overcome the symptoms of shock.
8. Call the ambulance to request assistance, and to transfer the injured to the emergency department to take the necessary measures of examinations and treatment.

Burns

Burns are damage to body tissues due to exposure to scorching heat, prolonged sunlight, chemical, electric current, or other burn causes.

Treatment of skin burns:‍

Small superficial and partial superficial burns can be treated at home. Larger and deeper burns should be evaluated and treated by a health care provider.

Home treatment for skin burns includes cleaning the area, cooling it immediately, preventing infection, and controlling pain, which is done with the following:

Cleaning the area

1. Remove any clothes from the burned area, but if the clothes stick to the skin, you should go to the doctor immediately to remove them.
2. Remove accessories, such as rings, watches, belts, shoes, if any, gently.
3. Wash the burned skin gently with running water from the tap, provided that it is cold. It is not necessary to disinfect the skin with alcohol, iodine, or other disinfectants.

Cooling the affected area

1. After cleaning the skin, you can put a cold compress on it, or soak the area in cold water (not in ice) for a short period of time to relieve pain and reduce the extent of burning.
2. Avoid applying ice directly to the skin as this may lead to further skin damage.

Infection prevention

1. Infection can be prevented in case of partial superficial burns or severe burns by using aloe vera, or applying antibiotic cream to the affected area.
2. Avoid putting other materials, such as mustard, toothpaste, egg whites, lavender oil, butter, mayonnaise.
3. Maintain the cleanliness of the burn site by washing it daily with soap and water.
4. Cover burns that are accompanied by blisters with a clean bandage, preferably of the type that does not stick to the skin (e.g., non-stick bandage, Vaseline gauze). Minor burns can also be covered if desired with a clean bandage.
5. Change the bandage once or twice a day, avoiding opening the blisters with a needle, as this increases the risk of skin infection.

Pain management

1. Raising the burn area in the hand or foot above the level of the heart can help prevent swelling and pain.
2. Take pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen when needed.
3. If the burning is severe, or the pain is not relieved with the above medications, consult a doctor.
4. Local anesthetics should not be used regularly on burns as they cause skin irritation.

When to go to the doctor

1. If the burn involves the face, hands, fingers, genitals, or feet.
2. If the burn is on or near a joint (knee, shoulder, groin).
3. If the burn encircles a part of the body (arm, leg, foot, chest, finger).
4. If the burn is large (more than 7 cm) or deep.
5. If the patient is under 5 years old or over 70 years old.
6. When there are signs of skin infection, such as increased redness, pain, pus-like discharge.
7. Or when the temperature rises to more than 38 °C.

Fainting

It is a person's loss of response, inability to do any activity, or loss of perception without complete loss of consciousness. All these cases need medical emergency intervention to protect the patient from complications.

Causes:

• Injury, misuse of medications, or illness.
• Dehydration, low sugar level, low blood pressure.
• Certain heart disease or nervous system problems.

First aid when fainting occurs:

• Call an ambulance immediately.
• Check the airway and pulse to see if cardiopulmonary resuscitation is needed.
• If unconscious but breathing, place the person on one side, bend the upper leg, and tilt the head back to keep the airway open.
• If breathing or pulse stops, return the patient on the back and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Place the head lower than the body and raise the legs to improve blood flow.
• People with chronic diseases should carry a card describing their health status for paramedics.

Choking

Occurs when a foreign object gets stuck in the throat or trachea, obstructing air passage (often food in adults or small objects in children).

Symptoms:

1. Holding the larynx with the hands.
2. Inability to speak.
3. Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing.
4. A whistling sound when trying to breathe.
5. Weak or strong cough.
6. Skin and lips turn blue.
7. Loss of consciousness.

First aid during choking:

1. If able to breathe heavily, continue coughing.
2. If unable to speak, cry, or laugh strongly, do the following:
   • Stand behind the person.
   • Place one foot slightly in front for balance.
   • Wrap arms around the waist of the affected person.
   • Tilt the affected person forward slightly.
   • Make a fist and place it above the navel.
   • Hold the fist with the other hand and apply strong upward pressure.
   • Make 6 to 10 abdominal compressions until the object is expelled.
   • If the person loses consciousness, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation with chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Nosebleed (Epistaxis)

It is the loss of blood from the tissues lining the nose, often from one nostril, usually due to dryness or injury.

Causes:

• Cold or dry air.
• Allergic rhinitis or cold.
• Facial/nose injury (e.g., fall, bicycle accident).
• Rare: bleeding disorders, blood vessel abnormalities, nasal polyp.
• Medicines: blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin).
• Overuse of nasal sprays.

First aid:

• Sit slightly forward, avoid lying down or tilting head back (prevents swallowing blood).
• Pinch the soft part of the nose on both sides (not the bony part).
• Press for at least 5 min in children, 10–15 min in adults.
• Do not decompress early; wait until the set time is complete.
• Apply cold compress/ice bag on nose to help contract blood vessels.

When to go to the emergency:

• Severe bleeding or difficulty breathing.
• Patient looks pale or feels tired.
• Bleeding does not stop even after first aid.
• Nosebleed occurs after surgery or facial injury.
• Frequent nosebleeds with bruises or bleeding from other sites.
• If patient is on anticoagulants (aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel) and bleeding does not stop.
• Severe bleeding with chest pain or dizziness.