Would You Know What To Do? Page 4/4
Would you Know? The Control decision	• BURNS AND SCALDS: Immerse the affected part immediately in cold water to cool the area and cover with a dry dressing of non-fluffy material - a polythene bag or kitchen cling film would make a good temporary dressing. Give the patient cold drinks and keep reassuring them to alleviate shock. • BROKEN LIMBS: Try to steady and support the injury immediately. Treat and bleeding or wounds then, with great care, place the limb in as natural a position as possible. If it is a severe break, the limb should be immobilised as near as possible to the position in which it was found. Avoid at all costs using any force or jarring to move the injured part. • ELECTRIC SHOCK: Switch off the source or current to prevent injury to yourself or other helpers. Treat any burns as described above and if the patient has lost consciousness, place in the recovery position. If breathing has stopped commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Rescue from a high-voltage electricity supply should be attempted only by an expert. • POISIONING: If the patient is conscious, ask them quickly what happened in case they subsequently lose consciousness. If their lips and mouth show signs of burns, give them milk, water or barley water to dilute the poison. Do not try to induce them to vomit. If they lose consciousness but are breathing easily, place them in the recovery position. If breathing is absent, commence resuscitation immediately. Summon help at once and when it arrives pass on all the information you have as to what the patient may have taken. • DROWNING: Clear any obstructions from the patients mouth and throat to allow them to breathe easily. If unconscious, lay in the recovery position and if necessary, commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Remove wet garments and wrap them in something dry and warm. • SHOCK: The effects of shock can be very damaging to the patient and should be treated promptly. Immediately reassure the victim, look for any injuries and treat the condition which has given rise to the shock. If conscious, make the patient comfortable and loosen any tight clothing to help them breathe easily. If unconscious, check for any injuries and lay them in the recovery position. Cover the patient with a coat or blanket to keep them warm and summon medical help. • ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT: Before doing anything else, make sure that the area is safe. Park your own vehicle well back from the scene of the accident and switch on your hazard warning lights. Organise any bystanders to direct traffic, switch off the ignition of any vehicles involved in the accident, whether their engine is still running or not and check that there is no danger of fire from spilled petrol. Assess the condition of any casualties using the "A-B-C" criteria of "Airway-Breathing-Circulation". Do not move anyone unless immediate danger threatens or you have cause to apply life-saving treatment. Always deal with the most seriously injured first and summon help at the earliest opportunity. Check the area roundabout in case someone has wandered off or been thrown from a vehicle by the impact. Always assume there is a neck injury; support the head and neck with your hands so that they can breathe easily. If a motor cyclist has been involved, do NOT remove their crash helmet unless breathing has stopped. Keep reassuring the patients until the ambulance arrives. Please remember, these brief sentences can only give the most basic guide as what you should do if involved in an emergency situation. It barely scratches the surface of first aid skills which could and should be learned by everyone. A little knowledge can sometimes be a dangerous thing, so why not find out more by enrolling in a recognized course run by the St. John Ambulance or The British Red Cross. You will find their number in the telephone book or yellow pages. BE CAREFUL AND BE SAFE! PREVIOUS