Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [21]
• Is severe and follows a recent sore throat or respiratory infection
• Begins or worsens after a head injury, fall or bump
• Is a new pain, and the victim is older than 50
• Is excruciating and affects just one, reddened eye
• Progressively worsens over the course of a single day, or persists for several days
Head Injury
Most head injuries are minor and don’t require medical attention, however, call 911 if the victim has any of the following symptoms:
• Confusion, slurred speech or loss of balance
• Weakness or an inability to use an arm or leg
• Unequal pupil sizes
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures
• Severe head or facial bleeding
• Bleeding from the nose or ears
• Severe headache
• Change in level of consciousness for more than a few seconds
• Black-and-blue discoloration below the eyes or behind the ears
• Cessation of breathing
Unequal Pupil Sizes
Raccoon Eyes
Bruising Behind Ear
Treatment:
1. Keep the person still and lying down in darkened room, with their head and shoulders slightly elevated. Do not move the person unless necessary, and try to avoid moving their neck.
2. Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. If you suspect a skull fracture do not apply direct pressure.
3. If the victim is not breathing, begin CPR.
Heat and Cold
Contents
Heat and Cold
Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when the skin and underlying tissues freeze when exposed to very cold temperatures. Frostbite usually occurs on the hands, feet, nose and ears, where the skin appears hard, pale and cold. As the area thaws, the flesh becomes red and painful.
Treatment:
1. Get out of the cold, and warm frostbitten hands by tucking them under someone’s arms.
2. Warm noses, ears or the face by covering them with dry, gloved hands.
3. While waiting for emergency medical attention, warm severely frostbitten hands or feet in warm, but not hot, water.
4. Never rub frostbitten skin and never rub snow on frostbitten skin.
5. If there’s any chance of refreezing, don’t thaw affected areas.
6. Seek medical attention if numbness remains during or after warming.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that can occur during heavy exercise in a hot environment. Not drinking a sufficient amount of fluid while exercising can contribute to the formation of heat cramps.
The muscles most often affected are the calves, arms, abdominal wall and back, however heat cramps can occur in any muscle group.
Treatment:
1. Stop exercising, rest and cool down.
2. Drink clear juice or an electrolyte-containing sports drink.
3. Gently stretch and massage the affected muscle group.
4. Seek medical attention if the cramps don’t go away in an hour.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the second heat-related syndrome, more severe than heat cramps, and less severe than heatstroke, which is potentially life-threatening.
Usually brought on by heavy exercise in a hot environment coupled with inadequate fluid intake, symptoms of heat exhaustion resemble those of shock, and include:
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Nausea
• Heavy sweating
• Rapid, weak heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Cool, moist, pale skin
• Low-grade fever
• Heat cramps
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dark-colored urine
Treatment:
1. Get the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.
2. Lay the person down and elevate their legs and feet slightly.
3. Loosen or remove the person’s clothing.
4. Have them drink cool water.
5. Cool the person rapidly by spraying or sponging them with cool water, then fanning them.
6. If symptoms of heatstroke arise: a fever greater than 102 F (38.9 C), fainting, confusion or seizures, call 911 immediately.
Heatstroke
The most serious of the heat-related syndromes, heatstroke can be brought on by exercise or work in a hot environment, coupled with inadequate fluid intake. Young children, older adults, obese people, and people born with