Disaster First Aid

1
Disaster First Aid

• 1. Identify the killers.
• 2. Apply techniques for opening airways,
  controlling bleeding, and treating for shock.
• 3. Fractures/ Splinting
• 4. Burns
• 5. Head-to-Toe Assessments

2
Public Health Considerations

• The primary public health measures include
• Maintaining proper hygiene wearing protective
  gloves
• Maintaining proper sanitation
• Purifying water if necessary

3
Disaster First Aid

• There are 3 phases of death from trauma
• Phase 1 Death within minutes
• Phase 2 Death within several hours
• Phase 3 death in several days or weeks
• Phases 1 2 should be identified immediately

4
Treatment of Life-Threatening Conditions

• The Killers
• Airway obstruction
• Excessive bleeding
• Shock

5
Opening the Airway

• Check for unresponsiveness
• Place palm of one hand on forehead
• Place two fingers of other hand under the chin
  tilt chin upward while tilting head back slightly
• Place ear over victims mouth, looking toward
  victims feet
• Look, Listen Feel for breathing

6
Controlling Bleeding

• Place direct pressure over the wound by putting a
  clean dressing over the wound and pressing firmly
• Maintain pressure on the dressing over the wound
  by wrapping firmly with a pressure bandage
• If needed, elevate wound above the level of the
  heart
• Pressure Points are last resort

7
Treating Impaled Objects

• Impaled Objects
• Immobilize.
• Dont move or remove.
• Control bleeding.
• Clean and dress wound.
• Wrap.

8
Treating Amputations

• Control bleeding
• Treat for shock
• Save tissue parts, wrapped in clean cloth
• Keep tissue cool
• Keep tissue with the victim

9
Wound Care

• Control bleeding
• Prevent secondary infection
• Clean wounddont scrub
• Apply dressing and bandage

10
Signs of Shock

• Signs Include
• Rapid Shallow Breathing
• Capillary Refill of greater than 2 seconds
• Failure to follow simple commands
• Changes in skin color

11
Treatment Prevention of Shock

• Lay victim on back
• Elevate feet 10-12 inches above level of heart
• Maintain open airway
• Control obvious bleeding
• Maintain body temperature

12
Indicators of Injury

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Severe pain
• Disfigurement
• Provide immediate treatment for life-threatening
  injuries!

13
Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains, and
Strains

• Objective Immobilize the injury and joints
  above and below the injury.
• If questionable, treat as a fracture.

14
Treating an Open Fracture

• Do not draw exposed bones back into tissue.
• Do not irrigate wound.

15
Treating an Open Fracture

• DO
• Cover wound.
• Splint fracture without disturbing wound.
• Place a moist 4" x 4" dressing over bone end to
  prevent drying.

16
Guidelines for Splinting

• Support the injured area.
• Splint injury in the position that you find it.
• Dont try to realign bones.
• Check for color, warmth, and sensation.
• Immobilize above and below the injury.

17
Classification of Burns

• First degree
• Second degree
• Third degree

18
Treating Burns

• Cool the burned area.
• Cover to reduce infection.

19
Head-to-Toe Assessment

• Head
• Neck
• Shoulders
• Chest
• Arms
• Abdomen
• Pelvis
• Legs
• Back

20
Triage

• Do the most good for the most people in the
  shortest amount of time
• Sort people into triage categories
• Immediate
• Delayed
• Minor
• Dead

21
Triage Assessment

• Compound Fracture, Left femur
• Respirations over 30/min
• Radial pulse present
• Awake

IMMEDIATE
22
Triage Assessment

• 90 Second Degree burns
• Respirations none (Repositioned airway twice)
• Radial pulse present
• Unconscious

DECEASED
23
Triage Assessment

• Impaled stick in arm
• Respirations under 30/min
• Capillary refill under 2 sec.
• Awake
• Walked to you

MINOR
24
Triage Assessment

• Unable to move legs
• Respirations under 30/min
• Radial pulse present
• Awake and Alert

DELAYED
25
Triage Assessment

• Amputated left arm, bleeding controlled
• Respirations under 30/min
• Capillary refill under 2 seconds
• Awake

DELAYED
26
Triage Assessment

• Bruise on forehead, blood in ears and nose
• Respirations under 30/min
• Radial pulse present
• Awake and but unable to focus their attention.

IMMEDIATE