First Aid Facts

Here are some First Aid Facts about some common ailments that may help until you can find professional help. Click Ailment for Symptom & Treatment
Appendicitis \| Burns & Scalds \| Convulsions \| Croup \| Cuts & Bruises \| Dog Bite \| Drowning \| Earache \| Electric Shock Fainting \| Fever \| Fractures & Dislocations \| Frostbite \| Gas Poisoning \| Heart Attack \| Heat Stroke/Exhaustion Insect Bites & Stings \| Nosebleeds \| Poisoning \| Shock \| Stroke \| Sunburn \| Swallowing Foreign Objects \| Toothache

Airway Obstruction	Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation		Helpful Treatment Hints

*Fractures & Dislocations*
Symptoms		Treatment
Severe pain, deformity, and loss of motion. Possible protruding broken bones.		Call doctor. Do not move injured part until splinted. II legs, back, neck are injured, keep person lying flat and call ambulance. Cover open wounds with available clean fabric. Keep patient warm Give nothing to eat or drink.
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*Fever*
Symptoms		Treatment
Body temperature over 98.6 F (37 C.) Hot forehead.		Increase fluid intake. Do not cover excessively. Cooling sponges with water only. Call your doctor, if fever is over 102 F or persists.
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*Fainting*
Symptoms		Treatment
Pale, clammy skin, dizziness, shallow breathing, sweating, and temporary unconsciousness.		Place in supine position with legs raised higher than body. Loosen clothing. Apply cold cloths to face. Call your doctor if fainting reoccurs.
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*Electric Shock*
Symptoms		Treatment
Unconsciousness. Pale, Bluish skin that is clammy and mottled In appearance.		Turn off current, break contact w/dry wood or dry cloth. If no breath, give mouth-to-mouth. If no pulse, give CPR (see illus) if trained. Keep him warm. Call ambulance or Rescue Squad.
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*Earache*
Symptoms		Treatment
Pain. Possible dizziness or discharge from ear. Possible fever.		Call your doctor. Relieve pain by applying cool or warm compresses to ear, whichever gives relief.
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*Drowning*
Symptoms		Treatment
Unconscious, not breathing. Heart may have stopped.		If victim has pulse but no breath give mouth-to-mouth breathing. If heart stopped, give CPR if trained. DO NOT move head, neck or back unnecessarily. Call ambulance.
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*Dog Bite*
Symptoms		Treatment
Skin may be punctured or torn. May show teeth/fang marks.		Wash w/soap & water cover w/sterile dressing & bandage. Capture animal to observe rabies. (If must kill, preserve head for rabies tests.) Report to Dr. or Hospital.
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*Cuts & Bruises*
Symptoms		Treatment
Cuts bleed and hurt. Bruises get red, swollen, and hurt.		Elevate the extremity. Clean cuts with soap and water. Stop bleeding by applying pressure. Apply cold cloths or Ice packs to bruises to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Call your doctor if cuts do not close.
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*Croup*
Symptoms		Treatment
Noisy, difficult breathing. Hoarse, barking cough.		Call your doctor. Expose immediately to moist air: use a humidifier in a small room or put patient in the bathroom and turn on the shower (keep door and windows closed).
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*Convulsions*
Symptoms		Treatment
Strong, jerking movements; stiff body. Difficulty breathing. Bluish face. Eyes rolled back, gritting of teeth, frothy mouth.		Call doctor. Prevent patient from hurting himself. Keep him lying down, do not restrain. Loosen collar, and cover him.
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Burns & Scalds
Symptoms		Treatment
Redness& pain. Moderate burn will blister. Severe burn shows tissue destruction.		Ice for small burn. Cool (not ice) water to big burn. Wash w/cool water & soap. Sterile dressing, NO ointment. Do not remove clothing stuck to burn. Call Dr. if extensive, blistered, or white, dry, painless.
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*Appendicitis*
Symptoms		Treatment
Pain in right lower abdomen. Nausea, possible vomiting & fever.		Call your doctor. Never give anything by mouth. Ice bag may reduce discomfort.
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*Toothache*
Symptoms		Treatment
Pain. Tooth is sensitive to hot and cold food and fluids.		Give aspirin. Apply cold compresses until you get to the dentist.
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*Swallowing Foreign Objects*
Symptoms		Treatment
Dangerous when in air passages. Violent coughing and choking. Bluish facial discoloration. Breathing may stop.		If victim cannot dislodge object, administer Airways Obstruction procedure. Hold children upside down, hit on back.
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*Sunburn*
Symptoms		Treatment
Redness. mild swelling, and pain. Possible blisters.		Apply burn cream cold towels. Fever, chills, and sickness may accompany a severe burn and your doctor should be called Protect redness from further sun.
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*Stroke*
Symptoms		Treatment
Unconscious. Heavy breathing. Apparent weakness In face or limbs on one side of body. In- ability to speak.		Cover patient with a light blanket. Turn head of vomiting patient to side. Give no stimulants and nothing to eat or drink. Call an ambulance.
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*Shock*
Symptoms		Treatment
Victim pale and weak. Clammy skin, perspiration on upper lip and forehead. Pulse rate and breathing rate are increased.		Keep lightly covered and lying down: feet raised higher than body. Give no fluid if unconscious or complaining of abdominal pain. Call an ambulance.
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*Poisoning*
Symptoms		Treatment
Symptoms vary. Throat or stomach pains. Mouth burns. Vomiting. Drowsiness.		Call Poison Center or doctor. If directed give syrup of ipecac. Give water to dilute poison.
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*Nosebleeds*
Symptoms		Treatment
Continued Bleeding form the Nose		Seat patient, tip head back, and squeeze nostrils firmly together for ten minutes. Apply ice packs to back of neck. Cold compresses to nose may help.
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*Insect Bites & Stings*
Symptoms		Treatment
Pain and redness at the site of the sting or bite. Possible allergic reactions such as shock or difficulty breathing.		Apply cold compresses to bites and stings. Calamine lotion may be soothing also. Call an ambulance w go to the hospital when signs of allergic reactions are present, such as rash, wheezing or trouble breathing
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*Heat Stroke/Exhaustion*
Symptoms		Treatment
High temperature. Pale and clammy skin, or hot and flushed skin. Headache and weakness. Possible nausea.		Apply cold cloths to skin. Give balanced salt solution. Call your doctor it patient is confused.
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*Heart Attack*
Symptoms		Treatment
Persistent chest pain, often radiating to left shoulder and arm. Difficulty breathing. Lips. skin, and fingernails turn blue.		Call an ambulance place victim in a comfortable position, sitting up. Use pillows for support. keep warm and loosen collar. If trained. administer CPR. otherwise give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if breathing has stooped. Give nothing by mouth.
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*Gas Poisoning*
Symptoms		Treatment
Headache. Dizziness. Pale. Unconscious.		Call an ambulance. Open or break windows. Shut off gas or stop motor. Remove victim to fresh air. It trained, administer CPR, otherwise give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If breathing has stopped, keep patient warm.
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*Frostbite*
Symptoms		Treatment
Skin flushed, then changing to white or grayish yellow. Blister may appear. Cold and numb. Pain.		Do not rub the area. Quickly warm by immersing in tepid water (102 F-105 F if available).
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Helpful Hints

1. Act promptly, but not hastily. Examine the injured person carefully and quickly from head to toe. Look for breathing obstructions, bleeding, and broken bones. Call doctor or ambulance immediately or have someone else do it if you are busy with the victim.

2 Start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if breathing has stopped. Learn this method now-before an emergency arises. Take a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course from your American Heart Association. Be prepared!

3. Stop the bleeding. A snug bandage or a pressure dressing will usually check bleeding. If not, press firmly at the point that cuts off blood flow to the injured area of the body. Use direct pressure--not a tourniquet.

4. Look for shock--face drained of color, skin cold and moist, rapid, weak pulse, and fainting. Wrap victim in blankets or clothing, make him lie down, unless doing so will make other injuries worse, and try to calm him. Call an ambulance.

5. Give aid at once in poisonings Get medical help, but do not wait to start first aid! If the poison container is nearby, follow directions on label. Otherwise, give victim egg white beaten in water, milk, or plain water to dilute poison. If poison was not a corrosive or a petroleum product like kerosene, give syrup of ipecac to make victim vomit.

6. Handle with care A person with suspected neck or back injuries should not be moved until an ambulance, rescue personnel, or experienced person is on the you must scene. It move the victim, use a stretcher or make one with blankets, a board, or a ladder padded with clothing. Usually, it is best to wait for the ambulance.

7. Splint broken bones. A splint can be made with almost any firm object--an umbrella, a broomstick, even a tightly-rolled newspaper. Splints should be long enough to reach well beyond the joints above and below the suspected break.

8. Burns result from heat (thermal) or chemicals. For small thermal burns, if skin is unbroken, place burned area in cool water. Cover large burns with plain, clean cloth. For chemical burns, flush with water. All except minor burns should be seen by a doctor to prevent shock or infection.

9. Bandage wounds to help protect against infection, reduce bleeding, and lessen pain. The wound should be covered with a sterile dressing before the bandage is applied.