Wounds, Burns And Poisoning

is an immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill. It includes self-help and home care if medical assistance is delayed.

Wound: – An abnormal break in the tissues of the skin or in the underlying surfaces.

Classifications of Wound: • Open Wound – allows blood and other fluids to be lost from the body and germs to enter.

Cont: Classifications of Wound…. 2. Closed Wound – bleeding is purely internal. This is easily recognized by bruising, which indicates damage to blood vessels just beneath the skin.

FIRST AID MANAGEMENT FOR CLOSED WOUND: ICES I – ice application C – compression E – elevation S – splinting

Types of Open Wound Puncture wound - a wound with small entry site, but a deep track of internal damage.

Cont: Types of Open Wound…. Abrasion (graze) - a superficial wound in which the top layers of the skin are scraped off; leaving a raw, tender area.

Cont: Types of Open Wound…. Laceration – a crushing or ripping forces result in rough tears or lacerations.

Cont: Types of Open Wound…. Avulsion - a forceful tearing away or separation of tissues from the casualty’s body.

Cont. types of Open Wound: Incision – a clean cut from a sharp edge, such as broken glass, that causes an incision.

FIRST AID MANAGEMENT FOR OPEN WOUNDS A. Wounds with severe bleeding: 4Cs 1. Control bleeding by direct pressure. 2. Cover wound with dressing and bandage. 3. Care for shock. 4. Consult or refer to physician.

B. Wounds with bleeding not severe (home care) 1. Clean the wound with soap and water. 2. Apply antiseptic solution like Betadine. 3. May or may not cover the wound with dressing.

Burns

injury involving the skin, including muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels. This results from heat, chemical or radiation.

Types of burn injuries: Thermal burns – caused by contact with flame, hot liquids or steam Chemical burns – caused by a wide range of chemical agents that is capable of causing tissue damage and death on contact with skin. It can be caused by an acid, alkali or organic compounds. Electrical burns

Depth Superficial (first degree burns) – least severe and it involves only the top layer of the skin. Partial thickness (second degree burn) – involves the epidermis and some portion of the dermis. Full thickness (third degree burn) – extends through all layers and may involve subcutaneous layers, muscle, bone, or internal organs.

Care for thermal burns Superficial and partial thickness burns – immediately immerse the burned area in cool water then cover with dry, non-sticking sterile dressing. Full thickness burns – cover the area with dry, non-sticking sterile dressing or clean cloth then treat victim for shock.

Chemical burns Management: Immediately remove the chemical by flushing with water. Remove the victim’s contaminated clothing. Cover burned area with a dry dressing. If chemical is in the eyes, flush with water for 20 minutes with low pressure. Seek medical help.

Electrical burns Management:

Make sure the area is safe. Unplug, disconnect or turn off the power. Check victim’s ABCs then provide AR or CPR if necessary. If victim fell, check for spinal injury. Care for shock. Seek medical help.

Poison – any substance that can cause severe distress or death if ingested, breathed in, or absorbed through the skin. Different persons have different reactions to poison. Causes: Common in suicide attempts Occasional accidental poisoning

First Aid for ingested poisoning: Try to identify the poison – seek information from the victim or bystanders and look for cues. Call the Poison Control Center (PCC) or nearest physician for advise. Do not cause the person to vomit until you have check with the PCC. Do not use any universal antidote. If patient vomits, save any vomitus. Do not give unconscious victim anything by mouth. Position patient on left side and maintain open airway. If you suspect poisoning emergency, do not wait for signs and symptoms to develop, bring to the nearest hospital.

Preventive measures of poisoning: Keep all drugs and harmful chemicals locked-up away from children’s reach. Never take medicine in the dark. When taking medicine, read the label three times. Dispose expired and other unused medications.