First Aid Kit | Reactions | Animal Bites | bEE sTINGS| Snake Bites | Burns | Chemical Burns | Cuts |Abrasions | Dislocations | Fainting | Fractures | Splint | Nosebleeds | Poisoning | Strains & Sprains | Asphyxiation | CONCUSS | Convulsion | Electric Shock | hEATSTROKE |

Preventable Diseases
bullet MMR
bullet HIB
bullet DPT
bullet Typhoid
bullet Hepatitis A
bullet Hepatitis B
bullet 
Chicken Pox
Others
bullet AIDS
bullet Obesity
bullet First Aid
bullet 
Postural Training
bullet Stress Management

THE KIT

THE ESSENTIALS

First Aid Manual
Basic Bandages (assorted adhesive bandages, athletic tape, moleskin)
Basic Drugs/Lotions (aspirin, antiseptic, antacid tablets)
Basic First Aid Tools (tweezers, small mirror, razor blade)
CPR Shield

THE EXTRAS (FOR LONG TRIPS)

Additional Bandages (gauze pads, ace bandages, butterfly bandages)
Additional Drugs/Lotions (burn ointment, skin lotion, Caladryl)
Additional First Aid Tools (sling, basic splint, instant ice pack)

REACTIONS

KEEP CALM
Remaining calm while helping the victim will help he/she to keep calm and cooperate. If the victim becomes anxious or excited the extent of the damage from the injury could be increased.

PLAN QUICKLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Learn basic procedures, or have your first aid manual available, so you can take care of the victim.

SEND FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP
Reaching help quickly could save a life. Know your local emergency telephone numbers.

BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE INJURED PERSON
Let the victim know that help is on the way and try to make them as comfortable as possible. Showing care and concern for the victim can give them hope during their circumstances.

TOP

ANIMAL BITE

MINOR BITES

1. Wash it carefully with soap and water
2. Apply an antiseptic (i.e. hydrogen peroxide)
3. Apply and antibiotic cream

PUNCTURE WOUND OR LARGE GASH

1. Clean the bite to rid it of infection
2. Victim should be treated by a doctor

Whether the bite is large or small, a doctor should be contacted if swelling, increasing redness, or drainage occurs, or if there are flu-like symptoms, fever, or swollen glands.

TOP

BEE STINGS

1. Remove the stinger by scraping with your fingernail or the blade of a knife
2. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water
3. Apply ice, calamine lotion, or baking soda-and-water mixture to relieve the swelling and pain.

A stinger that is not removed continues to release venom into the body for as long as 20 minutes. Do not remove a stinger with tweezers. Squeezing releases more of the poison into your body. The swelling should be gone within 24 hours.

SIGNS OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION:

1. Difficulty breathing
2. Begin to cough
3. Complain of headache
4. Possibly become unconscious

Immediate medical attention is needed if an allergic reaction develops.

TOP

SNAKE BITES

1. Get the victim away from the snake.
2. Check the snakebite for puncture wounds. If one or two fang markings are visible, the bite is from a poisonous pit viper.
3. Remember what the snake looks like. The doctor will need to know this to provide the proper treatment.
4. Keep the victim calm, lying down, and with the bitten arm or leg below the level of his heart to slow the blood flowing from the wound to the heart. The more the victim moves, the faster the venom spreads through the body.
5. Clean the wound. Be sure to wipe away from the bite. This keeps any venom on the unbroken skin around the bite from being wiped into the wound.
6. Watch for general symptom (i.e. sharp pain, bruising, swelling around the bite, weakness, shortness of breath, blurred vision, drowsiness, or vomiting.
7. Get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.

If any of the above mentioned symptoms occur within 30 minutes from the time of the bite, and you are over two hours away from medical help, tie a constricting band (3/4 to 1 & 1/2 inches wide) two inches above the bite or above the swelling. The band needs to be loose enough to slip a finger underneath it. The band slows blood flow away from the bite, keeping the venom from reaching the heart. The band must be applied within 30 minutes after the time of the bite to be effective. If the swelling spreads, move the band so that it is two inches above the swelling.

TOP

BURNS

1. Never put butter or greasy ointments on a burn. They seal heat into the wound and may cause infection.
2. Always seek medical attention if...

* Victim is a child or elderly
* Burn covers more than one body part
* Burn is located on any sensitive area of the body (hands, face, feet, etc.)
* Burn is third degree
* Burn is caused by chemicals

THIRD DEGREE BURNS

Third degree burns are less painful than second degree burns because the nerve cells in the affected tissue are actually destroyed, but the damage is greater. The burn goes through to the third layer of skin.

CHARACTERISTICS:

1. whitish or charred appearance

TREATMENT:

1. Do not remove any clothing near or at the site of the burn
2. Do not apply cold water or medication to the burn
3. Place clean, dry cloth (i.e. strips of a clean sheet) over the damaged area
4. If burns are on arms or legs, keep the limbs elevated above the level of the heart
5. If victim has burns on face, check frequently to make sure he is not having difficulty breathing
6. Get victim to a hospital at once.

TOP

CHEMICAL BURNS

1. Remove clothing on or near the burn area. Never pull clothing over the head with a chemical burn. You may need to cut the clothing.
2. Wash the area thoroughly with low pressure water for at least 20 minutes.
3. Apply a clean dressing to the area.
4. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

CUTS

1. Cleanse area thoroughly with soap and warm water, carefully washing away any dirt.
2. Apply direct pressure to wound until bleeding stops.
3. Put sterile bandage on wound.
4. If cut is deep, get to a doctor as quickly as possible.

TOP

ABRASIONS (SCRATCHES)

1. Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.
2. If it bleeds or oozes, bandage it to protect it from infection.

SIGNS OF A INFECTED WOUND:

1. swelling
2. redness
3. pain
4. may cause fever
5. presence of pus

TOP

DISLOCATIONS

The most common dislocations occur in the shoulder, elbow, finger, or thumb.

LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS:

1. swelling
2. deformed look
3. pain and tenderness
4. possible discoloration of the affected area

IF A DISLOCATION IS SUSPECTED

1. Apply a splint to the joint to keep it from moving.
2. Try to keep joint elevated to slow blood flow to the area
3. A doctor should be contacted to have the bone set back into its socket.

TOP

FAINTING

Before losing consciousness, the victim may complain of :

1. lightheadedness
2. weakness
3. nausea
4. skin may be pale and clammy

If a person begins to feel faint, he should :

1. lean forward
2. lower head toward knees
As the head is lowered below the heart, blood will flow to the brain.
What to do if someone becomes unconscious:

THE RECOVERY POSITION

1. keep the victim lying down with head lowered and legs elevated
2. loosen any tight clothing
3. apply cool, damp cloths to face and neck In most cases, the victim will regain consciousness shortly after being placed in this position. After the victim regains consciousness, do not let him get up until you have questioned him about himself to be sure he has completely recovered.

TOP

FRACTURES

A SIMPLE FRACTURE does not pierce through the skin. If it is not cared for properly, it could become a compound fracture. If a fracture is suspected...

1. check for swelling around the affected area
2. there may be discoloration of the skin
If the victim complains of tenderness and pain in the area or says that he felt or heard a bone snap, see a doctor immediately.

A COMPOUND FRACTURE pierces through the skin. Serious bleeding may occur with this kind of wound. Do not apply pressure to a compound fracture to stop the bleeding. What to do for a compound fracture:

1. Cover the injured part with a sterile pad
2. Apply a splint to keep the bone from causing further injury to the surrounding tissues
3. Wait for medical help
4. Avoid moving the victim, but keep him warm, comfortable, and reassured.

TOP

SPLINT

A splint can be corrugated cardboard, folded newspapers, boards, straight sticks, or a rolled-up blanket. A splint helps protect the injury until help arrives. The splint should be long enough to extend beyond the joints on both sides of the fracture.

How to apply the splint:

1. Use strips of cloth, handkerchiefs, ties, or belts to hold the splint in place. Be sure not to secure the splint so tightly that it causes poor circulation below the wound.

FOR ARM FRACTURES:

1. Apply a splint
2. Use a large, triangular bandage to make a sling to prevent the arm from moving. Once a splint has been applied to a fracture, carefully elevate the wounded area to slow blood flow to the wound.

For a compound fracture, control bleeding by holding a clean cloth on the wound before applying a splint. Pressure should be avoided to prevent the bone from splintering and causing more damage to surrounding tissues.

TOP

NOSEBLEEDS

CAUSES:

1. nose injury
2. strenuous activity
3. high blood pressure
4. exposure to high altitudes
5. blowing your nose too hard

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A NOSEBLEED:

1. sit down
2. Lean slightly forward to prevent blood from running into your throat.
3. Place cold, wet cloths on your nose to constrict the blood vessels in your nose and stop the bleeding.
4. If blood is coming from only one nostril, press firmly at the top of that nostril.
5. If both nostrils are bleeding, pinch your nostrils together for at least 10 minutes.
6. If bleeding continues, apply pressure for another 10 minutes.
7. If the bleeding is the result of direct injury to the nose, only gentle pressure should be applied.
8. If heavy bleeding persists or if nosebleeds recur frequently, consult a physician.

TOP

POISONING

SIGNS:

1. rash
2. blistering
3. swelling
4. burning
5. itching

TREATMENT:

1. Remove any contaminated clothing.
2. Wash the affected area of skin thoroughly with soap and cool water to remove any poisonous residue. Be sure the water used to clean the area does not spread poison by running over other parts of your body. Using a washcloth could also spread the poison.
3. Rinse the area with rubbing alcohol.
4. Apply calamine lotion to the area to relieve itching and burning.
5. If the victim develops a fever for several days or experiences an excessive amount of inflammation, irritation, oozing, or itching, he/she should be treated by a doctor.

TOP

STRAIN & SPRAIN

DIFFERENCE IN SPRAINS AND STRAINS:

SPRAIN--involves injury to the ligaments around a joint

STRAIN--involves injury to a muscle or tendon

SPRAINS

SIGNS OF A SPRAIN:

1. affected joint begins to swell immediately
2. joint may also turn black and blue due to the escaped blood from torn blood vessels
3. victim will experience excruciating, shooting pains at the time of the injury because many nerves are injured in a sprain

TREATMENT:

1. REST--Avoid using the affected part to avoid further discomfort or injury. Gradually rebuild your exercise program once the injury has healed.
2. ICE--Apply ice (bags with crushed ice, cold packs, etc.) to the injured area for the first 24 to 48 hours to prevent or reduce swelling.
3. COMPRESSION--Wrap an elastic bandage around the injured area to secure the ice in place. Do not wrap it so tightly that the circulation is cut off. After 10-15 minutes, loosen the bandage and remove the ice. Ice may be reapplied for 15-20 minutes every one or two hours for the first six hours after the injury. As long as the injury is swelling, continue to apply ice 3-4 times a day.
4. ELEVATION--Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart to slow the blood flow to the injury.
5. Thermo-therapy (applying moist heat) promotes healing but should not be applied to a muscle or ligament injury for at least 24 hours because heat will increase the swelling. After the swelling has gone, you should alternate applying cold compresses and moist heat to the injury.
6. To treat the injury with warm, wet packs, place a water-dampened towel in a microwave oven for about 30 seconds. Check to make sure the towel is not too hot before placing it on the skin. If a microwave oven is not available, run a towel under very hot tap water, wring it out, and apply it to the injury.
7. A sprained arm should be placed in a sling. Most sprains take at least 6-8 weeks to heal.

TREATMENT FOR STRAIN:

1. At the time of the injury, repeat steps 1-4 of sprains

2. For lower back strain, rest will often bring relief to the strained muscle. If not, alternate cold compresses with moist heat, allowing a time of rest between the treatments.

TOP

ASPHYXIATION

Asphyxiation is a loss of consciousness due to the presence of too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood. The victim may stop breathing for a number of reasons (i.e. drowning, electric shock, heart failure, poisoning, or suffocation). The flow of oxygen throughout the body stops within a matter of minutes if a person's respiratory system fails. Heart failure, brain damage, and eventual death will result if the victim's breathing cannot be restarted.

RESCUE BREATHING

RESPIRATORY RESTORATION A person suffering from asphyxiation should be given rescue breathing. Before you begin rescue breathing, be certain that the victim has actually stopped breathing. 1. Kneel beside the victim, place your ear near his nose and mouth, and watch his chest carefully. You should feel and hear the breaths and see his chest rise and fall if he is breathing.

IF HE IS NOT BREATHING :

1. Provide an open airway. Carefully place the victim on his back and open his mouth. If any material is blocking the airway, it must be cleared out.
2. Tilt the victim's head back by placing the heel of one hand on his forehead and the other hand under the bony part of his chin to lift it slightly.
3. Straddle his thighs, placing one palm slightly above the navel but well below the breastbone. Cover this hand with the other and interlace the fingers.
4. Without bending your elbows, press sharply on the victim's abdomen 6-10 times.
5. Turn the victim's head to one side and sweep out any contents in his mouth with your fingers.
6. If the victim's breathing is not restored after removing the object, reposition his head in the head-tilt/chin-lift position and continue breathing for him as long as is necessary or until help arrives.
7. If there are no signs of breathing , pinch the victim's nostrils closed. Seal your mouth over the victim's mouth and blow two full breaths. A rising chest indicates that air is reaching the lungs. If the stomach is expanding instead, the victim's neck and jaw are positioned improperly. Gently push on the victim's abdomen with the palm of your hand until the air is expelled, because the extra air in the stomach may cause vomiting.
8. Look, listen, and feel again for signs of breathing. If the victim is still not breathing on his own, continue blowing into his mouth one breath every five seconds until help arrives.

INFANTS: If you are working with infants or a small child, position your mouth so that you can blow through the child's nose and mouth at the same time. Give two puffs, using your mouth and cheeks for breathing air into the infant's lungs (to keep from over-inflating the lungs). Administer one breath every 3-4 seconds. CHOKING If a person is choking, you should not interfere as long as he is coughing. If coughing does not dislodge the object from the trachea and the victim is breathing with extreme difficulty, or if he turns a bluish color and appears to be choking but is unable to cough or speak, quickly ask, "Are you choking?" A choking victim can nod his head "yes," but will be unable to talk. It is important to ask this question because a person suffering from a heart attack will have similar symptoms, but he will be able to talk.

THE ABDOMINAL THRUST:

If the victim is choking :

1. Stand behind him with your arms around his waist.
2. Place one fist, with the knuckle of the thumb against the victim's midsection, slightly above the navel but well below the breastbone.
3. Hold your fist firmly with the other hand and pull both hands sharply toward you with an upward-and-inward jab.
4. This procedure should be administered continually until either the object is forced out or the victim becomes unconscious.

DUE TO THE FORCE WITH WHICH THE ABDOMINAL THRUST IS GIVEN, IT SHOULD BE USED ONLY IN AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY.

TOP

CONCUSS

A sharp blow to the head could result in a concussion, a jostling of the brain inside its protective, bony covering. A more serious head injury may result in contusions, or bruises to the brain. A period of unconsciousness may indicate brain damage and accompanies many head injuries.

OTHER SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR IF YOU SUSPECT A VICTIM MAY HAVE A BRAIN INJURY:

1. clear or reddish fluid draining from the ears, nose, or mouth
2. difficulty in speaking
3. headache
4. unequal size of pupils
5. pale skin
6. paralysis of an arm or leg (opposite side of the injury) or face (same side of the injury)

PROPER CARE:

1. While waiting on help to arrive, keep the victim lying down in the recovery position
2. Control any bleeding, and be sure that he is breathing properly.
3. Do not give the victim any liquids to drink.
4. If the victim becomes unconscious for any amount of time, keep track of this information so that you can report it when medical help arrives.

TOP

CONVULSION

A convulsion (violent, involuntary contraction or muscle spasm) can be caused by epilepsy or sudden illness. Convulsion, or seizures, are not likely to cause death unless the victim stops breathing. The victim should be check by medical personnel.

SYMPTOMS:

1. victim's muscles become stiff and hard, followed by jerking movements
2. he may bite his tongue or stop breathing
3. face and lips may turn a bluish color
4. may drool excessively or foam at the mouth

WHAT TO DO:

1. Clear all objects away from the victim and place something soft under his head
2. Do not place anything between his teeth or in his mouth
3. Do not give the victim any liquids
4. If the victim stops breathing, check to see that the airway is open and begin rescue breathing
5. Stay calm and keep the victim comfortable until help arrives.
Most convulsions are followed by a period of unconsciousness or another convulsion.

TOP

ELECTRIC SHOCK

1. Remove the victim from the source of electricity before you touch him. Either turn off the master switch to disconnect the power, or use a nonmetal, dry object such as a stick to pull the wire or electrical source away from the victim's body.
2. If he is not breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately; a victim whose heart has stopped breathing needs CPR.
3. If the person is unconscious, but is breathing and has a heartbeat, you should place him in the recovery position and monitor his breathing and heart rate until medical help arrives.

TOP

HEATSTROKE

1. Cool the body of a heatstroke victim immediately.
2. If possible, put him in cool water; wrap him in cool wet clothes; or sponge his skin with cool water, rubbing alcohol, ice, or cold packs.
3. Once the victim's temperature drops to about 101 F, you may lay him in the recovery position in a cool room.
4. If the temperature begins to rise again, you will need to repeat the cooling process.
5. If he/she is able to drink, you may give him some water.
6. DO NOT GIVE A HEATSTROKE VICTIM ANY KIND OF MEDICATION.
7. You should watch for signs of shock while waiting for medical attention.

TOP

Say no to plastics, Save Earth
Kalyan Medicare Logo
© Copyright 2001-2007, Kalyan Medicare India Pvt. Ltd.
All rights reserved. Disclaimer Terms Of Use
www.kalyancare.com
Site Developed by Arete Consultants Pvt. Ltd.