Chapter 28 Lesson 3 Responding to Common Emergencies

Chapter 28 Lesson 3 Responding to Common Emergencies

You’ll learn to… • Analyze strategies for responding to muscle, joint, and bone injuries. • Analyze strategies for responding to unconsciousness. • Analyze strategies for responding to animal bites • Analyze strategies for responding to nosebleeds and to foreign objects in the eye.

Injury to Muscles, Bones & Joints • When too much stress is put on an area of the body, an injury may occur. • These injuries vary in severity and can affect the bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

Injuries • Injuries to muscles, bones & joints happen often • Happen to people of all ages • Happen at home, at work, and at play

Muscle Cramps • A muscle cramp is the sudden & painful tightening of a muscle. • Muscle cramps can occur when you’re physically active or at rest. • Some medications can also cause them.

Muscle Cramps continued… • If a muscle cramp occurs: • Stretch out the affected muscle • Massage the cramped muscle • Apply moist heat • Get medical help, if it persists

Strains • Stretching and tearing of muscles & tendons • Usually resulting from overuse, caused by lifting something heavy or working muscle too hard • Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of movement.

Sprain • Usually result from a sudden twisting force. Tearing ligaments at a joint • Mild sprains may swell, but usually heal quickly • Severe sprain can involve a fracture/dislocation • Joints easily injured(ankle, knee, wrist, finger)

Sprains & Strains • General care (R. I. C. E. ) • • Rest Ice- 20 minutes on, 20 off Compression- elastic wrap or bandage Elevate- above the level of the heart • Cold then heat-reduces swelling and pain

Four Basic Types of Injuries • • Fractures Dislocations Strains Sprains

Fractures • Complete break, chip or crack • Closed • Fractures can be life -threatening if they involve breaks in large bones, sever an artery, affects breathing

Fractures • Open (compound)bone breaks through the skin

Dislocations • Is the movement of a bone at a joint from its normal position • Usually more obvious than a fracture • Usually tears ligament away from bone • Forms a bump, ridge or hallow

Splinting • Splint only when victim must be moved • Only if you can do it without causing more pain • Splint the injury in the position you find it • Check circulation

Types of Splints • • Soft splints Anatomic splints Slings Rigid splints

Unconsciousness • Is a condition in which a person is not alert and aware of his or her surroundings. • There are different levels of unconsciousness ranging from drowsiness to coma. • The primary goal when providing first aid to an unconscious victim is to prevent choking. • Place victim in the recovery position until professional medical help arrives.

Recovery Position

Fainting • Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is temporarily inadequate. • Loss of consciousness is usually brief. • Treat fainting as a medical emergency until the symptoms are relieved and the cause is known.

Fainting continued… • If you feel faint, lie/sit down and place your head between your knees. • If someone else faints, position the person on his/her back with legs elevated 8 -12” above the heart, unless you suspect a head, neck or back injury. • If the victim vomits, roll him/her into the recovery position.

Concussion • Is a jarring injury to the brain that affects normal brain function. • If you suspect a person has a concussion: • Have victim lie down • Use first aid for any bleeding • If unconscious and you do not suspect a head, neck or back injury, place him/her into the recovery position and call 911.

Animal Bites • One of the most serious consequences of an animal bite is rabies, a viral disease of the nervous system that causes paralysis and death if not treated. • There is no cure for rabies after symptoms appear.

Animal Bites • Animal bites also carry the risk for infection, including tetanus (often a fatal disease) • Tetanus can be treated, the treatment is long, difficult, and often unsuccessful. • It can be prevented by keeping immunizations up to date.

First Aid for Animal Bites • Wash the bite area with mild soap & warm water for five minutes to remove saliva & any other foreign matter. • Use direct pressure to control bleeding. • If the wound is swollen, apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10 minutes • Cover the wound with a clean dressing or bandage

Nosebleeds • Often occur if the nose is struck or if the mucous membranes dry out • Seek medical attention if they occur often. • Treatment: • Tell person to breath through his/her mouth • Have person sit and lean forward • Do not tilt the head back-this may cause choking if blood runs down the back of the throat. • Use a protective barrier and press on the bleeding nostril

Object in the Eye • Foreign objects (dirt, sand, slivers of wood or metal) that enter the eye are irritating & can cause damage. • Encourage the person not to rub the eye, but to blink several times. • If blinking does not work, try and find it in the eye. • First wash your hands and gently pull the lower eyelid down while the person looks up. • If you do not see anything , hold the upper eyelid & examine while the person looks down.

Object in the Eye continued… • If you see the object on the surface of the eye, lightly touch it with a moist cotton swab. • You can also flush the eye with sterile saline solution or tap water. • Tilt the person’s head to the side so that the affected eye is lower than the unaffected eye. • Hold the eye open and pour a steady stream of cool water into the eye. • Seek professional help if the object is not removed.

Chapter 28 Lesson 3 Review Questions 1. There are four basic types of injuries, name them… 2. What is a fracture? 3. What is an open fracture? 4. What is the primary goal when providing first aid? 5. What are two common causes of nosebleeds?

Chapter 28 Lesson 3 Review Questions continued… 6. What does R. I. C. E stand for? And what is it used for? 7. What is the difference between a sprain and a strain? 8. What are the types of splints, name them? 9. What is the recovery position? 10. What is a concussion and how do you care for it?