First Aid Guide--Swallowed Poisons

Recognition

• Vomiting with or without blood.
• Impaired consciousness.
• Pain or burning sensation in the throat.
• Empty of ingestion/exposure

Priorities

• Maintain the airway, breathing and circulation.
• Remove any contaminated clothing.
• Identify the poison.
• Urgent transfer to hospital

Steps in administering aid

• Put on gloves.
• If the casualty is conscious, ask him what he has swallowed and try to reassure him/her.
• Call for an ambulance.
• Give as much information as possible about the swallowed poison.
• This information will assist doctors to give appropriate treatment once the casualty reaches hospital.
• If the casualty’s lips are burned by corrosive substances, give him/her frequent sips of cold water or milk while waiting for medical help to arrive.
• Do not make the casualty vomit in such cases because further damage will occur as the substance returns from the stomach.
• Do not give salt water or other home remedies to cause vomiting because serious complications may occur.
• If the casualty is UNCONSCIOUS and not breathing start CPR, if conscious, place him/her on the recovery position.
• Never give fluids, or attempt to make the casualty vomit.
• Send any remains of the poison to hospital with the casualty.

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First Aid Guide--Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses the activity of the central nervous system, in particular, the brain. Prolonged or excessive intake can severely impair all physical and mental functions and the person may become unconscious. An unconscious casualty risks inhaling and choking on vomit. Alcohol widens the blood vessels and the body loses heat and hypothermia may develop. A casualty who smells alcohol may be misdiagnosed and not receive appropriate treatment for an underlying cause of unconsciousness such as head injury stroke or heart attack.

Alcohol Poisoning: Recognition

• A strong smell of alcohol
• Empty alcohol bottles or cans.
• Impaired consciousness, the casualty may respond if roused, but will quickly lapse back.
• Deep, noisy breathing.
• Dry bloated appearance to the face.
• Shallow breathing.
• Weak, rapid pulse.
• Dilated pupils that react poorly to light.
• Unconsciousness.

Alcohol Poisoning: Priorities

• Maintain an open airway.
• Assess for other conditions.
• Seek medical help.

Alcohol Poisoning: Steps in administering aid

• Put on gloves.
• Cover the casualty with a coat or blanket to protect him from the cold.
• Assess the casualty for injuries, especially head injuries or other medical conditions.
• Monitor and record vital signs until casualty recovers or is placed in the care of a responsible person.

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First Aid Guide--Food Poisoning

This is caused by consuming foods or drinks contaminated with fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Food Poisoning: Recognition

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Cramping abdominal pains.
• Diarrhea (possibly blood stained).
• Headache or fever.
• Features of shock.
• Impaired consciousness.

Food Poisoning: Priorities

• Encourage the casualty to rest.
• Give casualty plenty of plain fluids to drink.
• Transfer to hospital

Food Poisoning: Steps in administering aid

• Put on gloves.
• Advice the casualty to lie down and rest.
• Give the casualty plenty of fluids to drink.
• Provide a bowl in-case he vomits.
• Transfer to hospital.

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First Aid Guide--Electrical Injuries, Lightening and Electric Shock

Electrical Injuries

When a person is electrocuted, the passage of electrical current through the body may stun him, causing his breathing and even his heart beat to stop. The electrical current may cause burns to the body both where it enters and where it leaves the body. In some cases the current also causes muscular spasm that may prevent the casualty from breaking contact with the electric source, so the person may still be electrically charged (live) when you come to the scene. Electrical injuries usually occur in the home or workplace, due to contact with sources of low voltage current. They may also result from contact with sources of high voltage current such as fallen power line. People who have been electrocuted by high voltage current rarely survive. Electrical burns are often deep and the casualty will have both an entrance and exit wound. Although these wounds may look superficial, the tissues below may be severely damaged.

Lightening

Natural blast of electricity discharged from the atmosphere, lightening forms an intense trail of light and heat. The lightening seeks contact with the ground through the nearest tall feature in the landscape and possibly through anyone standing nearby. A lightening strike may set clothing on fire, knock the casualty down or even cause sudden death. Clear everyone from the site of the strike as soon as  possible.

Electric Shock

Electricity can be very dangerous unless used with care. When an accident occurs with electricity, the first aider must remember that it is not safe to touch the casualty until the power has been turned off.

Priorities.

• Look for the source of the electricity and turn off at the power point or at switch. It is also wise to remove the plug to make it double safe.
• Check that the casualty has a clear airway and is breathing.
• If not, start resuscitation.
• If the casualty is breathing, check for any burns; flush entry and exit wounds with cool water and cover these with clean wet dressing.
• Seek medical advice for electrical burns because they can lead to serious complications.

Prevention

Many electrical accidents in the home could be prevented by;

• Keeping children away from electricity.
• Safety First, remember don’t become the next casualty, check for danger .
• Stop the current!
• Do not approach the casualty of electrical burns unless you are sure the power is turned off.

If you cannot disconnect the power, remove the source from the person.

• Stand on a piece of wood or folded paper and wear rubber shoes.
• Using a piece of dry wood (for example a broom) or rolled up papers, knock the electrical source away from the person.
• With high voltage electricity wires, you should stay away from them unless the authorities have disconnected the power. Electricity in these wires can spark and electrocute a person that gets close enough.
• Do not spray water near the electricity source; remember electricity can travel through the water to you.

Occasionally power cables are knocked down in a car accident. Never attempt to help a person when power lines are down; always wait until officials have turned off the electricity supply. Keep well clear of fallen cable because ‘arcing’ of electricity can occur through a distance of up to 6 meters.

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First Aid Guide--Water Rescue

Incidents around water may involve people of any age. Young children are at risk even with very shallow water. However most cases of drowning, involve people who have been swimming in strong currents or very cold water, or who have been swimming or boating after drinking alcohol.

First aid - What you can do?

Your first priority is to get the casualty on to dry land with minimum danger to yourself. The safety way to rescue a casualty is to stay on land and pull him from the water with your hands, a stick, a branch, or a rope; alternatively, throw him a floating device. If you are a life saver or if the casualty is unconscious you may have to wade or swim to the casualty and tow him to dry land. It is safer to wade than to swim. Once the casualty is out of the water shield him from the wind, if possible prevent his body from being chilled any further, then treat him for drowning

Arrange to take casualty to hospital even if the victim seems to have recovered.

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