Immediate Health Care

70% Alcohol First Aid Treatment

2011-04-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

If your child accidentally ingest this type of chemical try not to panic and act accordingly . This are the things you need to do;

1. Wash affected area with free flowing tap water

2. Go Out in well ventilated room(open area)

3. Flush eyes with free lowing tap water

4. Drink large amount of water

5. Call Poison control center: 524-1078 (Philippines) for more help or go to the nearest hospital near you.

R.I.C.E Treatment for Strains, sprains and contusions

2010-04-20T18:19:00.001-07:00

Rest , Ice, Compression, Elevation

First aid for strains, sprains, contusions, dislocations or uncomplicated fractures

Rest
- stop using injured part
-use crutches to avoid bearing weight on injuries of the leg, knee, ankle or foot
- use splints for injuries of the arm, elbow, wrist or hand

Ice
-Hastens healing time by reducing swelling around injury
-Keep damp or dry cloth between skin and ice pack
- Do not apply ice for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time

Compression
- Hastens healing time by reducing swelling around injury
- Use elasticized bandage, compression sleeve, or cloth

Elevation
-Elevate injured part above level of heart(it decreases swelling and pain and you can use pillows or rolled towel )

The 7D's of Stroke Care

2010-04-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

Use the 7 D's mnemonic to remember key points in the management of the stroke patient:

1. Detection
2. Dispatch
3. Delivery
4. Door
5. Data
6. Decision
7. Drug

Delay may occur at any of these points of management, so at each point, response to and management of the stroke victim may be skilled and efficient.

The first 3D's are the responsibility of the community, including the lay public, first responders and EMS responders.

Detection- detection occurs when a patient, family member, or bystander recognizes the signs and symptoms of a stroke or TIA and phones the emergency response number 911

Dispatch - EMS dispatchers must then prioritize the call for a suspected stroke patient as they would a victim of heart attack or serious trauma and dispatch the appropriate EMS team with high response priority.

Delivery - EMS providers must respond quickly, use a rapid prehospital stroke screening toll to identify the signs and symptoms of a suspected stroke, provide prearrival notification to the receiving hospital and transport the patient to a hospital capable of caring for patients with acute stroke. EMS providers should consider transporting the victim's relative or family member to confirm the time of symptom onset. The receiving hospital will rapidly evaluate the patients with acute stroke. EMS providers should consider transporting the victim's relative or family member to confirm the time of symptom onset. The receiving hospital will rapidly evaluate the patient, determine eligibility for fibrinolytics and provide fibrinolytic therapy within 3 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms

The last 4 D's are initiated in the hospital

Door - Initial emergency department triage and evaluation

Data - Acquiring a CT scan to diagnose the absence of hemorrhage in the brain

Decision - Identifying candidates eligible for fibrinolytic theraphy

Drug - Treating with fibrinolytic thera

Publish Post

How can you help in Traffic accidents and Multiple Casualties

2009-12-31T06:42:00.000-08:00

In situations such as major traffic incidents, you may find yourself having to deal with several casualties at the same time. You may be on your own, working with other first aiders, or assisting professionals. Whatever the situation, a systematic approach is crucial in the initial chaos. Identify and attend to all unconscious casualties first, and conduct a primary survey to find and treat any life-threatening injuries.

How can you help?

Identify the serious casualties and mark them for immediate treatment. Move all casualties with minor injuries quickly from the site to allow access to serious cases; minor injuries can be treated when time allows. This process is called Triage.

- Leave any casualties who are obviously dead so that you can give effective help to those who need it .

- Label all casualties , and write down their names and the details about their condition, to provide accurate records for medical personnel.

- Alert workers or residents near the site of a disaster to any further hazards

Then take these general precautions:
* Send bystanders to warm other drivers to slow down
* Set up warning triangles or lights at least 45m(49yds) from site in each direction.
* Switch off the ignition of any damaged vehicle and ,if you can , disconnect the battery. Switch off the fuel supply on diesel vehicles and motorcycles if possible.
* Stabilize vehicles . if a vehicle is upright, apply the handbrake and put it in gear, or place blocks just in front of the wheels. If a vehicle is on its side , do not attempt to right i, but try to prevent it from rolling over. So look out for physical dangers. Make sure that no one smokes. Alert the emergency services to damaged power lines , spilt fuel., or any vehicles with Hazchem symbols.

First Aid Kit on the Road

2009-12-13T23:03:00.000-08:00

If you're preparing a kit for your car, you also want to include the following items. While not first aid items per se, they come in handy when you're on the road

1.Flashlight
2. Flares
3. Nonprerishable foods and water
4. Electrical tape
5. Fire Extinguisher
6. Ice scraper
7. Road atlas
8. Rope(about 15 feet)
9. Shovel
10. Jumper cables
11. Tool Kit
12. Spare Tire and Jack
13. Waterproof matches

Creating a First Aid Kit

2009-12-13T04:34:00.000-08:00

The following are suggested things to put in your First Aid Kit. It is also possible to tailor your own first aid kit depending upon the need you have such as your client or depending on the place you are to go or depending on the occasion such as if the First Aid kit is for the house only or for traveling.

The following are the suggested contents for a First Aid Kit at Home

1. First Aid book
2. Pencil and paper
3. Change(for a phone call)
4. Matches and candle
5. Blanket(foil space -blankets work well and don't take up too much room)
6. Tissues
7. Soap
8. Paper cups
9. Flashlight
10. Medical records
11. Emergency Phone numbers
12. A checklist of the kit's contents
13. Latex gloves
14. Scissors
15. Tweezers
16. Syringe(to squirt water and rinse out wounds)
17. Cotton balls
18. Antiseptic wipes
19. Instant cold pack
20. Eye cup (to flush the eye)
21. Adhesive bandages (assorted shapes and sizes)
22. Butterfly bandages
23. First Aid tape
24. Elastic roller bandage(1"wide for fingers; 2" wide for wrist, hands and feet; 3: for the ankles ,elbows and arms ; and 4" wide for knees and legs
25. Gauze pads (3" by 3" or 4" by 4')
26. Eye pads
27. Non-stick pads (3" by 3" or 4" by 4')
28. Triangular bandages (55" across the base and 36" to 40" along side
29. Antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin)
30. Antibiotic Spray
31. Aloe Vera gel
32. Ibuprofen ,acetaminophen and aspirin
33. Topical antihistamine(benadryl or calamine lotion)
34. Epi-pen(an already prepared syringe of epinephrine ,available by prescription only)
35. Antacid
36. Activated Charcoal(to be used only under the direction of the poison control center)
37. Syrup of Ipecac(to be used only under the direction of the poison control center )
38. Sterile eye wash
39. Alcohol

Prevention of Pressure Sores

2009-12-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

To prevent pressure sores there are some very straightforward 'Dos' and 'Donts' to follow

1.) Regularly move the person at risk and put them in different positions, thus altering the areas under pressure.

For people sitting in chairs

Lift them clear of the chair for a few minutes every two hours; if they can stand with support during this time and carry out some gentle movement, so much the better . Reposition them slightly differently if possible. (e.g facing the opposite direction supported by pillows or cushions)

People in Bed

They should be turned and repositioned every two hours during the day and ideally at night too. They can be moved from their right side to their left, then on to their right again for these two-hours periods. Many older people find it difficult to stay on their side, rolling back into their buttocks, a pillow behind their back to support them often helps.

2. Lift and move the older person carefully so that the skin is not dragged on sheets or other surfaces. Keep the surface beneath them wrinkle and crumb free.

3. Give a good mixed diet and good fluid intake to help to keep the skin healthy.

4. Deal with loss of bladder and bowel control promptly and thouroughly. Ensure that the skin is washed and dried and barrier cream gently applied if available.

5. Do not treat anemia promptly.

6. Place sheepskin or other soft pelts if these are available under the areas at risk. The wool contains lanolin, which lubricates the skin and reduces friction because it does not wrinkle. They are no substitute for regular turning and changing position however. Problems of washing and disinfecting are avoided if small pieces are used and thrown away when they are no longer needed.

Don't

1. Wash the skin excessively except following loss of bladder or bowel control . Washing removes the skin's natural oils and dries it out making pressure sores more likely.

2. Massage the skin; it is used to be thought that vigorous rubbing promoted the circulation but it is noew realized that the friction this causes damages the skin even more and encourage the development of pressure sores.

Ten Ways to Prepare for an Emergency

2009-12-12T03:06:00.000-08:00

1. Plan your plan
2. Settle your supplies
3. Allow for communication
4. Help out your home
5. Care for your car
6. Think About others
7. Prepare your pets
8. Do the right thing
9.Consider special needs
10. Review your plan

Do's and Dont's of Dressing

2009-12-12T03:01:00.000-08:00

Applying a dressing or bandage is straightforward enough, but a few points should be kept in mind to avoid making matters worse.

- Use sterile dressings whenever possible
- Apply dressings carefully so that they remain sterile
- Use the rigth size dressing
- Don't use loose, fluffy cotton(such as cotton balls) on an open wound
- Dont remove a dressing if it gets soaked through with blood
- Don't pull off a dressing that stuck to a wound

When to Call EMS?

2009-12-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

When you call EMS, the dispatcher will often ask for following information. Speak slowly and clearly when you provide this information.

- Your name and the phone number you are calling from. This prevents false calls and allows a dispatch center to call back if disconnected or for additional information if needed.

- The victim's location . Give address, names of intersecting roads, and other landmarks, if possible. Also , tell the specific location of the victim

- What happened . State the nature of the emergency

- Number of persons needing help and any special conditions

- Victim's condition and any first aid you have provided . Do not hang up the phone unless the dispatcher instructs you to do so

The following are situations that would recommend you to call for EMS
1. Difficulty or shortness of breath
2. Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
3. Fainting
4. Weakness or change of vision
5. Sudden, severe pain
6. Bleeding that will not stop
7. Severe or persistent vomiting
8. Coughing or vomiting of blood
9. Feeling or wanting to hurt himself or others

First Aid Management of Heart Attack

2009-12-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

1. Recognize the signals of heart attack and take immediate action
2. Have patient stop what he or she is doing and have him/her sit or lie down in comfortable position.
3. Have someone call the physician or ambulance for help
4. If patient is under medical care, assist him/her in taking his/her prescribed medicine.
5. If patient becomes unconscious check ABC and perform CPR if necessary.
6. Transport patient to medical facility for further management