First
Aid Information
Remember to ALWAYS put on gloves before giving care
and remove gloves and wash hands after giving care!
Soft Tissue Injuries
Ø=
Closed Wounds – Bruise
(Contusion) – the skin is not broken but there is bleeding under the skin
caused by damage to soft tissue and blood vessels; the area may change from=
red
to dark red or purple
o
§=
=
Apply direct pressure
§=
=
Elevate the injured part (if it does not cause more pa=
in)
§=
=
Apply ice or cold pack (no more than 20 min.)
o
o
If the person complains of severe pain or cannot move a
body part without pain, call 911, the parent and the School Nurse
§=
=
Signs of Internal Bleeding:
· =
Tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas of the body suc=
h as
the abdomen
· =
Vomiting or coughing up blood
· =
Rapid, weak pulse
· =
Skin that is cool, moist and pale
· =
Becoming confused, faint, drowsy or unconscious
Ø=
Open Wounds – the skin=
’s
surface is broken and blood may come through the tear in the skin
o
§=
=
Abrasions – the skin has been rubbed or scraped away
§=
=
Lacerations – cuts through the skin that can bleed fre=
ely
§=
=
Avulsions – a cut in which a piece of soft tissue or p=
art
of the body is torn loose or torn off completely
§=
=
Puncture – the skin and soft tissue are pierced; altho=
ugh
the entrance wound can be small, injuries can go deep and cause more severe
damage
o
§=
=
Apply direct pressure to control bleeding if necessary=
§=
=
Wash the wound with soap and water
§=
=
Apply a bandage
§=
=
Call the School Nurse if there is a suspected need for
sutures
o
§= = Cover the wound with gauze and apply direct pressure <= o:p>
§=
=
Elevate the injured part UNLESS it causes more pain or
involves a broken bone
§=
=
Apply a bandage snuggly over the dressing and give car=
e to
minimize shock
§=
=
Call 911, the parent and the School Nurse
Ø=
Burns – special =
types
of soft tissue injuries that can involve one or more layers of skin, possib=
ly
even the layers of fat, muscle and bone beneath
o
§=
=
Heat
§=
=
Chemical
§=
=
Electrical
§=
=
Radiation
o
§=
=
Superficial (First Degree)
§=
=
Partial Thickness (Second Degree)
§=
=
Full Thickness (Third Degree)
o
§=
=
Burns that cause trouble breathing
§=
=
Burns covering more than one body part or a large surf=
ace
area
§=
=
Burns to the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals
§=
=
Burns to the airway (around the mouth and nose)
§=
=
Burns resulting from chemicals explosions or electrici=
ty
o
§=
=
Remove from the source of the burn
§=
=
Check for life threatening conditions
§=
=
Cool the burn under cool, running water
§=
=
Cover loosely with a sterile dressing
§=
=
Contact the School Nurse
o
§=
=
Remove from the source of the burn
§=
=
Check for life threatening conditions
§=
=
Cover the burned area with a clean covering and give c=
are
to minimize shock
§=
=
Call 911, the parent and the School Nurse (or have som=
eone
else call while you give care)
Injuries to Muscles, Bones and
Joints
Ø=
Types of injuries
o
§=
=
A complete break, chip or crack in the bone
§=
=
Caused by fall, blow or twisting movement
§=
=
Open (skin broken) or closed (skin not broken)
§=
=
Can be life threatening if it involves a large bone,
severs an artery or affects breathing
o
§=
=
Movement of a bone at a joint away from the normal
position
§=
=
More obvious that a fracture
§=
=
Often forms a bump, ridge or hollow
o
§=
=
Tearing of ligaments at a joint
§=
=
May swell and can involve fractures or dislocations
§=
=
Most often occurs in the ankle, knee, wrist or finger
joint
o
§=
=
Stretching and tearing of muscle or tendons
§=
=
Often caused by lifting or overwork
§=
=
Usually involves muscles in the neck, back, thigh,
shoulder or lower leg
Ø=
Signs and Symptoms
o
Significant deformity
o
Bruising and swelling
o
Inability to use the affected part normally
o
Bone fragments sticking out of a wound
o
Person feels bones grating; or heard a snap or pop at =
the
time of the injury
o
The injured area is cold and numb
o
Cause of the injury suggests that the injury may be se=
vere
Ø=
General Care – R.I.C.E.
o
o
o
o
Ø=
When to call for help
o
Contact the School Nurse for anything other than very
minor injuries.
o
For severe or life threatening injuries, call 911 firs=
t
Ø=
Fainting
o
Lower the person to the ground
o
If possible, raise their legs 8-12 inches
o
Loosen any tight clothing
o
Place cool cloth on forehead
o
Check for any life threatening conditions
o
Call the School Nurse
o
Call 911 if they do not recover quickly
Ø=
Seizures
o
Stay with the person during the episode, note the dura=
tion
and type of body movement
o
Clear the area around the person to prevent injury
o
o
Monitor for life threatening conditions and start resc=
ue
breathing if breathing does not resume spontaneously
o
Administer any ordered meds (Diastat)
o
When the seizure is over, allow the person to rest and
always notify the parent and the School Nurse
o
Call 911 if –
§=
=
The person has no history of a seizure disorder
§=
=
The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
§=
=
The person has one seizure right after another without
waking
§=
=
There are signs of injury or respiratory distress
Ø=
Diabetic Emergencies
<=
span
style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>o&nb=
sp;
§
Symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent urination, dry skin,
hunger, blurred vision, or drowsin=
ess
§
Notify
the parent and the School Nurse
o
§
Symptoms:
trembling , clamm=
iness
, rapid pulse, anxiety, sweating, hunger, difficulty thinking, confusion,
headache
§
Treatment
· =
· =
Once the blood sugar has returned to a safe level, have
the person eat a protein-rich smack such as peanut butter crackers
· =
· =
Notify the parent and the School Nurse
Ø=
Asthma Episodes
o Airway inflammation, constriction and spasm can be triggered by exercise, allergies, weather, foods, strong odors and anxiety<= o:p>
o
§=
=
Use emergency inhaler
§=
=
Assist to belly breath (place hand on stomach and make
sure their hand rises with each breath
§=
=
§=
=
Encourage slow and steady breaths
§=
=
Allow to sip water
o
§=
=
Coughing constantly
§=
=
No improvement 15-20 minutes after initial treatment
§=
=
Trouble walking or talking
§=
=
Lips or fingernails are gray or blue
§=
=
Hard time breathing with
· =
Chest and neck pulled in with breathing
· =
Stooped posture
· =
Struggling or gasping
Ø=
Allergic Reaction – from bee
stings, food allergies, etc.
o
§=
=
Difficulty breathing
§=
=
Wheezing respirations
§=
=
§=
=
Dizziness
§=
=
Anxiety/apprehension
§=
=
Cool/clammy skin
§=
=
Flushed skin
§=
=
Fainting
§=
=
Decreased blood pressure
§=
=
Seizures
§=
=
Abdominal cramps
§=
=
Incontinence, vomiting and diarrhea
o
§=
=
Administer emergency medication – EPIPEN
§=
=
Call 911, parent and School Nurse
§=
=
Keep the person quiet and comfortable in upright posit=
ion
until help arrives
Ø=
Eye Injury o
§=
=
Tell the person to blink several times to try to remove
the object
§=
=
Gently flush the eye with water
§=
=
Call the School Nurse if the situation is not relieved=
o
§=
=
DO NOT attempt to remove the object
§=
=
Place a sterile dressing around the object in the eye;
stabilizing the object, such as with a paper cup for support
§=
=
Bandage loosely and do not put pressure on the eyeball=
§=
=
Call 911 and the School Nurse (or have someone else ca=
ll
while you give care)
Ø=
Embedded objects in the skin
o
Do not remove the object
o
Place bulky dressings around the object to keep it from
moving
o
Bandage the dressing in place and give care to minimize
shock
o
Call 911, the parent and the School Nurse
Ø=
Severed body parts
o
Apply a bandage and pressure to control bleeding
o
Give care to minimize shock
o
Wrap the severed body part in sterile gauze or a clean
cloth and place it in a plastic bag
o
o
Call 911, the parent and the School Nurse
Ø=
Nosebleeds o
Have the person sit and lean slightly forward <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Cambria'>
o
Pinch the nostrils together for about 10 minutes
o Apply pressure on the upper lip just beneath the nose<= o:p>
o
Apply ice pac=
k to
the bridge of the nose if bleeding does not stop
o
If bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes, contact the
School Nurse
o
After the bleeding stops – avoid rubbing, blowing or
picking the nose
Ø=
Mouth and Teeth Injuries
o
Rinse out the mouth with cold tap water
o
Try to prevent the person from swallowing the blood
o
Apply a gauze dressing
o
If a tooth is knocked out –
§=
=
§=
=
If it was a permanent tooth – take the following steps=
· =
Carefully pick the tooth up by the crown and rinse with
tap water
· =
Place the tooth in milk, if possible, or water; keep it
with the person
· =
Call the School Nurse
Ø=
Insect stings
o
Remove the stinger
o
Wash the site with soap and water
o
Cover the site to keep it clean
o
Apply a cold pack to reduce pain and swelling
o
Watch for signs of allergic reaction and respond as ne=
eded
Ø=
Tick Bites o
Remove the tick with tweezers (put in zip top bag and =
keep
for examination) o
Wash the bite area with soap and water o
Notify the School Nurse Life
Threatening Conditions (always call 911 first)
v=
Unconscious=
ness
v=
Trouble bre=
athing
or breathing in a strange way
v= Chest pain<= o:p>
v=
Severe blee=
ding
v=
Severe burn=
v=
Continuous =
pain
and pressure in the abdomen
v=
Vomiting or
passing blood
v=
Seizure *
v=
Sudden, sev=
ere
headache or slurred speech
v=
Apparent
poisoning
v=
Traumatic
injuries to head, neck or back
v=
Possible br=
oken
bones
v=
Severe diab=
etic
emergency*
*see earlier
explanation
Reference: =
Based
on a collection of information. American Heart Association HeartSaver First=
Aid