First Aid Kit

Accidents and emergencies really do happen - to friends, family and maybe even you! Here are some tips, information and links to online resources that you will find helpful.

Bleeding

What is bleeding?
The escape of blood from blood vessels is considered bleeding. Blood escapes from either the arteries, veins, or capillaries. Injury or tissue damage resulting from cancer, and ulcer, or infections causes a break in a blood vessel.

First Aid for Controlling Bleeding
You should analyze the situation quickly and decide whether you can help the victim. Bleeding can be usually be controlled by applying pressure to the wound. Without controlling the bleeding the wound could bleed out of control and the wound could get much worse than it already is. Apply pressure using a sterile gauge band aid held firmly on the wound. Press on the artery above the bleeding point if the direct pressure fails to stop the bleeding.

Effects of Bleeding
Small cuts or bruises don’t cause much of a problem. Anemia can develop when a loss of blood occurs. Anemia is a weakened condition. A loss of brain function begins with a bleeding in the skull which produces pressure on the brain that can injure brain tissue. Organ damage or failure results from bleeding into other internal organs. When bleeding from capillaries blood leaks out.

Kinds of Bleeding
Blood leaks out steadily from a vein. Blood spurts out when leaking out from a artery. Bleeding can occur internally or externally. A laceration occurs when the skin breaks and bleeds. Internal bleeding is caused by disease or injury. It can occur slowly or rapidly. Hemorrhage occurs when there is severe bleeding.

Dislocations

Dislocations occur when any part of the body moves out from its normal position. Sometimes the bone comes out of the joint and sometimes you’re born with dislocations.

Burns

There is nothing more important than your health and safety. One of the most dangerous things that can take your health are fire burns.

There are different classifications of burns. There is the first-degree burn, the second-degree burn, and third-degree burn. The first degree burns are the most light and minor type of burns, but when it comes to third degree burns, it starts to get serious. You get burns on all parts of your skin and it takes quite an amount of time to heal. There are certain symptoms for each burn. First-degree burns cause redness, mild swelling, and pain on the skin. Second-degree burns cause blisters, wetness, and bright red on the skin. Finally, the third-degree burns symptoms are white, black, and leathery skin. You must always use proper tools and rules to heal faster.

Fractures

Fractures are broken bones. There are different kinds of fractures: some are simple, compound, and others are open. There are many ways that you can tell it’s broken. Some fractures have: a lot of pain/soreness/tenderness.

Poisons

Types of Poisons

Snakes, Bugs/Animals, Swallowed, In Eyes, Inhaled and Skin

Causes and Effects

Snakes
- Cause – Being bitten by a snake
- Effect – The saliva goes into your body and poisons you
Bugs/Animals
- Cause - You get stung or bitten by a sick insect or animal
- Effect – The disease is transferred from the animal to you
Swallowed
- Cause – You ingest a substance
- Effect – It may be poisonous
In eyes
- Cause – You are exposed to a chemical or substance
- Effect – Your eyes get damaged
Inhaled
- Cause – If you sniff something or inhale
- Effect – It may be poisonous and effect your breathing or lungs
Skin
- Cause – You touch a chemical or substance
- Effect – It gets on your skin and it may irritate or damage it

What To Do

Swallowed
- Call Poison Control Center
On skin
- Remove contaminated clothing
- Wash affected parts with water and soap
- Call Poison Control Center
In eye
- Remove foreign materials from eye
- Wash eyes out for 15 minutes
- Call Poison Control Center
Inhaled Poisons
- Drag to fresh air, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitations if necessary
- Evacuate area
- Call Poison Control Center or physician

Sprains

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. It may stretch or tear ligaments. Sprains may cause swelling. Doctors may prescribe rest, elevation of the injured part, or the application of cold compresses or elastic bandages to reduce swelling

Care and Transport for Patient

Sprain Treatment
	R – rest I – ice C - compression E – elevation

Moving a seriously injured victim to a medical facility is crucial but requires great care. Tell someone to call for help and a doctor. Always treat the victim before summoning help or aid. If you delay by a few minutes the situation may become fatal. You must give great care when transporting a victim. Try to prevent the victim from being injured even more.

Remember in all emergency situations - Call 911