First Aid 101

Wash your hands

2009-02-25T23:34:00.000-08:00

Apparently in handling casualty, personal hygiene plays an important role as well.

Wahs your hand properly before handling any. Remember DO NO HARM.

Muscle Cramps

2009-02-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

Muscle cramps are very common as recognized as involuntary contraction of muscles that doesn't relax. Cramps can involve part of a muscle or all the muscles in a group. The most commonly affected muscle groups are:

Back of lower leg/ calf ( gastrocnemius)
Back of thigh ( hamstrings)
Front of thigh ( quadriceps)
Feet, hands, arms, abdomen

Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight twitch or tic to severe pain. A cramped muscle can feel rock- hard and last a few second to several minutes or longer. It is not uncommon for cramp to ease up and then return several times before they goes entirely.

TREATING MUSCLE CRAMPS
Cramps usually go away on their own without treatment, but these tips will help speed the process.

Stop the activity that cause the cramp.
Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle.
Hold the joint in a stretched position until the cramp stops.

PREVENTING MUSCLE CRAMPS

Improve fitness and avoid muscle fatigue.
Stretch regularly before exercise.
Warm up before exercise.
Stretch the calf muscle: In a standing lunge with both feet pointed forward, straighten the rear leg.
Stretch the hamstring muscle: Sit with one leg folded in and the other straight out, foot upright and toes and ankle relaxed. Lean forward slightly and touch foot of straightened leg. ( Repeat with opposite leg)
Strecth the quadriceps muscle: While standing, hold top of foot with opposite hand and gently pull heel towards buttocks. ( Repeat with opposite leg)

Most muscle cramps are not serious. If you experienced severe, frequent, constant muscle cramps or of concern, consult medical advices.

RICE

2009-02-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

Sprains, strains and deep bruising are all initially treated by following the RICE procedure. After a day or two of RICE, the injuries will begin to heal. Consult medical advice if the pain or swelling does not decrease after 48 hours or when necessary.

R = Rest ( rest is the vital to protect the injured part)
I = Ice ( apply ice or a cold compress to relieve pain and limit swelling by reducing blood flow to the injured part)
C = Compress ( compress the injury to limit swelling and reduce pain)
E = Elevate ( Elevating an injury reduce swelling)

* AIM of Applying RICE Method*
To reduce swelling and pain therefore it is best to consult a doctor if further injury is suspected.

Proper Emergency Call

2009-02-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

During an emergency and you picked up the phone to dial 999 ( or 112 for mobile phone) for help, ever wonder what are the informations you need to provide, or you just tell whatever you wanted to?

One should know how to make a proper, swift, comprehensive call, so as not to delay the arrival of ambulances, as well as interrupting with other genuine incoming emergency calls from somewhere else.

Generically speaking, the components that one should relay to the phone operator can be summed up in the mnemonic ETHANE, although not every component is revelent, depending on the types of medical emergencies.

E = Exact Location ( The precise location of the incident)
T = Type ( The nature of the incident e.g. trauma, non- trauma, heart attack, motor vehicle accident...etc, including the number of vehicles or buildings...etc. are involved)
H = Hazard ( Both present and potential e.g. explosion, chemical, spillage of combustible materials, highly volatile hydrocarbons...etc)
A = Access ( Best route for emergency service to access to the site, or obstruction and bottlenecks to avoid)
N = Numbers ( Number of casualties, Dead, Uninjured on scene)
E = Existing Emergency Services ( which services are already on the scene and which are required - so as not to duplicate services, and for better utilization of services in other concurrently emergency happening)

Life Saving Procedures - Primary Survey

2009-02-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

The priorities when dealing with a casualty are always the same:

Danger
Are you or the casualty exposed to any danger(s)? If so, make the situation safe then assess to the casualty.
Always remember, SAFETY FIRST.

Response
Establish whether the casualty is conscious or not ( even though he/ she appears to be unconscious) with the following ways:

" Sir, can you hear me??"
" Open you eyes"

and gently shaking the casualty's shoulders.

IF there is a response:
1) If there is no further danger, DO NOT move the casualty and summon help if needed.
2) Treat any condition found and monitor vital signs ( e.g. level of response, pulse rate, breathing)
3) Continue monitor the casualty either until help arrives or he/ she recovers.

IF there is no response:
1) Get help and avoid moving the casualty if not necessary.
2) Check for casualty's Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
3) Put the casualty in recovery position and continue monitor the casualty until help arrives.

Airway
Open the airway by placing one hand on the casualty's forehead and gently tilting the head back, then lift the chin using 2 fingers. This will move the casualty's tongue away from the back of the mouth.
Check for any foreign objects in the mouth. If found, remove it.

Breathing
Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds to see if the casualty is breathing normally.
Look to see if the chest is rising and falling. Listen for breathing and feel for breath against your cheek.

IF the casualty is breathing normally, place him/ her in Recovery Position to ensure that the airway will remain clear from obstruction.
* Check for other life threatening condition ( e.g. severe bleeding) and treat as necessary.*

IF the casualty is not breathing normally or breathing is not presence at all.
1) Give 2 rescue breath immediately.
2) Dial 999 ( or 112 for mobile phone) or get help.

Circulation
Check for the casualty's pulse ( carotid) by placing the tip of your first 2 fingers over the carotid artery and press gently.

IF pulse is presence, you should feel intermittent pulsations.

IF not,
1) Dial 999 ( or 112 for mobile phone) or call for help.
2) Start Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation ( CPR).

It is important to remember that in any life threatening situation, the Emergency Services should be called as soon as breathing or absence of breathing has been identified.