This This textbook textbook provides provides the the reader reader with with the the underpinning underpinning knowledge knowledge of of first Ûrst aid aid and and casualty casualty management management procedures. procedures. This This textbook textbook is is an an excellent excellent first Ûrst aid aid reference reference book book for for every every household, household, workplace, workplace, vehicle vehicle and and first Ûrst aid aid kit. kit. First Aid TAFE NSW offers offers a a range range of of First First Aid Aid courses courses that that meet meet the the requirements requirements of of the the national national Health Health Training Training Package Package first Ûrst aid aid units units of of competency. competency. 4th Edition ITSA Bookshop Ordercall: further of this textbook Free 1800copies 882 931 from http://www.vetres.net.au or Email: itsashop@bigpond.com from your www.itsa.org.au college bookshop Web: First Aid Textbook To order copies of this textbook contact: SA M Information Centre 131 601 www.tafensw.edu.au www.tafensw.edu.au Textbook 4th Edition PL Learn Learn how how to to save save a a life. life. Enrol Enrol in in a a TAFE NSW First First Aid Aid course course now. now. E For For more more information information about about TAFE NSW First First Aid Aid courses, courses, contact contact the the Course Course Information Information Officer OfÛcer at at a a local local TAFE TAFE campus campus or or call call the the TAFE NSW Information Information Centre. Centre.
Local hospital Local doctor Dentist Community pharmacy After hours pharmacy 13 11 26 Any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt at all. Enquiries about this and other publications and use of copyright material can be made to: Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank Locked Bag No. 6 MEADOWBANK NSW 2114 Telephone: (02) 9942 3200 Facsimile: (02) 9942 3257 Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank would like to acknowledge the support and assistance of the following people in the production of this textbook. Writer: Anthony Rogers Editor: Angie De Falco Reviewers: Margaret Beck, Karin Canty, Neil Harper, Thérèse Murphy Project manager: Di Dawbin Illustrations: Julie Hulsman, creative hitch Desktop Publishing: Julie Hulsman, creative hitch and Anthony Rogers Photographs: See photograph credits page 94 Printing: Ligare Pty. Ltd. The Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank would also like to acknowledge the support offered by teachers and students across NSW who were involved in the validation of this product or in the development of previous editions of this textbook. Cataloguing-in-Publication (CiP) entry is available from the National Library of Australia. This textbook has been designed to assist learners who are studying first aid through. This textbook is an information resource only and should be studied in conjunction with, or in preparation for attendance at practical teaching and learning sessions. This book does not replace valuable learning that takes place within a classroom setting where you will be given the opportunity to practise the skills of Basic Life Support and first aid management of injuries and illnesses. The information contained within this textbook relates to the current accepted first aid practices in Australia at the time of publication. follows the guidelines and recommendations of the Australian Resuscitation Council, WorkCover NSW and the Health Training Package when designing course materials to support first aid training and assessment. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, is not responsible for any loss, liability, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by any person in connection with the information contained in this textbook. Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank, 2011. Reproduction or transmittal in whole or in part, other than for the purposes of private study or research and subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, is prohibited without the written authority of Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank. Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank acknowledges the copyright of Health Training Package and material AQTF included. material included. ISBN No. 978-1-74236-235-9 To Reprinted order copies October of this 2011 textbook contact: ITSA Bookshop Free call: 1800 882 931 Email: itsashop@bigpond.com Web: www.itsa.org.au Image European Resuscitation Council www.erc.edu 2011/044
Basic Life Support D R S A B C D DRS ABCD action plan Check for Danger Make sure it is safe for you, the casualty and bystanders. Check for a Response Use a talk and touch technique to check for a response. Talk: Can you hear me?, Open your eyes. Touch: squeeze shoulders firmly Call 000 Send for help Shout for help or send someone to call Triple Zero (000). If required, send for help at the earliest possible stage. Open the Airway Use the head tilt and chin lift technique to open the airway. If blocked, turn the casualty onto their side and clear their airway. Check for Breathing Look, listen and feel for normal breathing. If not breathing or not breathing normally, commence CPR. 30:2 Commence CPR Give 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. If unable or unwilling to give rescue breaths, give compression only CPR. Attach a Defibrillator (AED*) Attach an AED* as soon as available and follow the prompts. *AED: Automated External Defibrillator Continue CPR until the casualty responds or normal breathing returns. Images European Resuscitation Council www.erc.edu 2011/044
Table of Contents Page Introduction to First Aid 5 Aims of first aid Roles and responsibilities Legal issues and duty of care Taking care of yourself and others Standard precautions Moving the casualty Casualty management overview Sending for help First aid kits Self assessment activity 21 Basic Life Support 23 Chain of survival Basic Life Support DRS ABCD action plan CPR Using an AED Choking Drowning Recovery position Self assessment activity 39 Manage Injury 41 Anaphylaxis Bites and stings Burns Crush injury Chest injuries Fractures and soft tissue injuries Head, neck and spinal injuries Heat and cold injuries Poisoning Shock Wounds and blood loss Self assessment activity 73 Manage Illness 75 Asthma Assisting with medication Chest pain Diabetes Epilepsy Febrile convulsions Fainting Hyperventilation Stroke Mental health crisis Substance misuse Self assessment activity 87 Further Information 89 Activity answers 90 Further reading 90 Glossary 91 Index 92 3
Introduction Sta ndard Precautions Standard precautions are a set of guidelines that aim to protect people from accidental exposure to blood or other body substances. Standard precautions include wearing gloves when in contact with blood or other body substances, and washing your hands before and after treating a casualty. General principles When appropriate and wherever possible: Wear gloves Use other personal protective equipment such as face shields, masks or goggles Encourage the casualty to treat themselves, for example, apply pressure to their own bleeding wound Dispose of waste materials and sharps in the correct container Avoid injuries to yourself, for example: cuts from broken glass Wash your hands with soap and water or waterless hand wash. Exposure to blood and other body substances Care of the person exposed to blood or other body substances: Wash affected skin surfaces with soap and water (do not use soap or waterless solution to wash eyes or mouth) If eyes are contaminated, rinse thoroughly with water or saline, making sure the eyes are kept open during the rinsing If blood or other body substances get in the mouth, spit them out and rinse the mouth with water several times If clothing is contaminated, remove clothing and shower Follow any other workplace policies, seek medical advice, and attend any follow up treatment or monitoring. NSW Needlestick Injury Hotline Follow the instructions above and call 1800 804 823 10
Introduction 3. Sending for help calling Triple Zero (000) If required, shout for help or send someone to call Triple Zero (000) at the earliest possible stage. Triple Zero (000) is Australia s primary emergency services number. It should only be used in life-threatening and emergency situations to access emergency services (Ambulance, Police and Fire Department) from fixed, mobile or pay phones. Once connected you will be asked which service you require. Police, Fire or Ambulance? When calling Triple Zero (000) make sure that you: Stay calm, do not shout, speak slowly and clearly Answer the operator s questions Give details of where you are, including street number and name Give distances from known landmarks when in rural areas Stay focused, stay relevant Follow any instructions. Do not hang up the phone until directed to do so. Children and Triple Zero (000) Triple Zero example questions What is the exact address? What is your phone number? What is the problem? Tell me what happened. How old is the person? Is the person breathing normally? Is the person conscious? Every year many children call Triple Zero (000). Teaching children how to call Triple Zero (000) can often save a life. For more information visit the Triple Zero website at www.triplezero.gov.au 14
First Aid Kits It might be your responsibility to maintain a first aid kit in your workplace. Providing and maintaining an appropriate first aid kit is an important safety requirement for all workplaces. It is essential that the contents of the first aid kit meet the special needs of the work environment. WorkCover NSW provides clear guidelines on the recommended first aid supplies required for various types of workplaces. First aid kits come in a large range of sizes and the contents may differ but the basic items are all that you need for home and car use. Basic items include: Basic first aid kit items Adhesive tapes (non allergenic) Adhesive strips Cleaning agent (antiseptic) Crepe bandages Current first aid textbook Disposable splinter remover Face shield or face mask Gloves Plastic bags Safety pins Scissors Space blanket Sterile eye pad Sterile water or saline Triangular bandages Tweezers Wound dressing materials Introduction Take a look in your first aid kit and medication cupboard. Make sure the contents are in good working order and that you have what you would need in an emergency. Remove or replace any expired stock. 19
Self Assessment Activity Complete the following multiple choice questions by circling the correct answer. 1. Which of the following is an aim of first aid? a. Prevent life b. Preserve life c. Promote injury d. Prevent recovery 2. What does the abbreviation BLS stand for? a. Basic Life Support b. Begin Life Saving c. Blood Loss & Shock d. Bandage Left Side 3. What is the term used to describe the characteristics of an injury that you can see, feel or hear? a. Symptoms b. Complaints c. Disorders d. Signs 4. What would you use to wash your hands after contact with blood or other body substances? a. Bleach b. Vinegar c. Soap and water d. Alcohol 5. Why should any unnecessary movement of the casualty be avoided? a. It wastes time b. To prevent injury c. To prevent pain d. To avoid a law suit 6. Who is the best person to remove a motorbike helmet? a. The motorbike rider b. The casualty c. The first aider d. A paramedic 7. What does the first D in the DRS ABCD action plan stand for? a. Defibrillation b. Dial Triple Zero (000) c. Check for Danger d. Do CPR 8. What does the S in the DRS ABCD action plan stand for? a. Start CPR b. Stop compressions c. Start compressions d. Send for help 9. What phone number should you call for Australia s Emergency Services? a. Triple Zero (000) b. Triple Nine (999) c. Triple One (111) d. Nine-One-One (911) 10. What is the most important information to give to the Emergency Services phone operator? a. How the accident occurred b. The name of any witnesses c. The exact address/ location d. The time of the accident 11. What process should you use when conducting a secondary assessment of the casualty? a. Front-to-back b. Back-to-front c. Heels-to-head d. Head-to-toe 12. What is the purpose of a secondary assessment of the casualty? a. To look for signs of injury b. To reassure the casualty c. To provide a diagnosis d. To determine the priorities Introduction 13. How could you protect yourself when managing a casualty with a bleeding wound? a. Wash their hands b. Wear gloves c. Refuse to help d. Call Triple Zero (000) 14. You find a casualty who is injured and there is no further danger. What would you do next? a. Clear the airway b. Start compressions c. Check for a response d. Call for an AED 15. What could some people need after witnessing an accident scene? a. An alcoholic drink b. Counselling c. Treatment for shock d. A medical checkup You can check your answers in the back of this textbook. Your score /15 21
Basic Life Support Chain of survival Basic Life Support DRS ABCD CPR Using an AED Choking Drowning Recovery position Early recognition and early management of emergency situations should be the priority of any first aider. Basic Life Support (BLS) is the care given to casualties with life-threatening injuries or illnesses and can be given in the community setting without the need for medical equipment. Basic Life Support includes the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to temporarily maintain blood circulation and breathing to preserve brain function and life. Key topics In this chapter you will have the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills related to managing emergencies and life-threatening situations. This will include; the chain of survival, Basic Life Support, the DRS ABCD action plan, CPR, use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), managing choking, drowning and the recovery position. Basic Life Support 23
Chain of Survival The concept of the Chain of survival and the 4 links in this chain summarise the vital steps needed for successful resuscitation in the event of a cardiac arrest. Basic Life Support In most communities it can take several minutes for an ambulance to arrive after the initial Triple Zero (000) call. During this time the survival of the casualty is dependent on bystanders who commence Basic Life Support (BLS) and, where available, use an AED for defibrillation. Early recognition of a lifethreatening situation, early CPR, early defibrillation and access to good post resuscitation care are the critical links to increasing the chances of survival. Early recognition Recognise signs of cardiac arrest or chest pain as the origin of cardiac problems and call Triple Zero (000). Early CPR Immediate bystander CPR can increase the chances of survival. Early defibrillation Early defibrillation (within minutes after collapse) can increase chances of survival. Early ALS Early Advanced Life Support and hospital care is critical to survival. People who experience a cardiac arrest need immediate CPR. Every minute of delay in CPR and defibrillation decreases survival rates. Remember: any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt at all. 24 Image European Resuscitation Council www.erc.edu 2011/044