FIRST AID BIOLOGY FORM ONE NOTES.

 FIRST AID

First Aid is an immediate help which is given to a sick or injured person before sending him/her to the hospital for further treatment.

IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID

Saves life

Reduces fear of death

Brings hope and encouragement to the patient

Relieves the victim’s pain

Prevents the illness or injury from becoming worse

Helps a person to recover from shock

It shows spirit of helping each other.

FIRST AID KIT.

First Aid kit is a small box which is used to keep instruments and chemicals for First Aid. The first Aid kit should be placed in a safe and accessible place.

COMPONENTS OF THE FIRST AID KIT

A pair of scissors

Gauze

Assorted bandages

Adhesive plasters

Cotton wool

New razor blade

Gentian violet (GV)

Petroleum jelly or Vaseline

Safety pins

Iodine tincture or spirit

Soap

Anti-pain (pain killers) e.g. Panadol

Sterilized forceps and pins

Liniment

A pair of tongs

Antibiotic solution

USES OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND CHEMICALS IN THE FIRST AID KIT

A pair of scissors

is used for cutting dressing materials such as gauze, bandages·

Gauze

is used to cover the wound to prevent dirt and micro-organisms from entering.

Assorted bandages

are used for securing an injured part in order to protect and support it.

Adhesive plaster

are used for covering minor wounds/cuts and grazes·

Cotton wool

is used for cleaning and drying wounds and applying medicine·

New razor blade

used for cutting any flaps of skin when cleaning the wound.

Gentian Violet (GV)

is used as an antiseptic to clean wounds.

Petroleum jelly or Vaseline

used for treatment of burns

Safety pins

used for holding/securing bandages.

Iodine tincture or spirit

used for cleaning wounds to reduce bleeding.

Soap

is used for washing wounds, hands and medical facilities.

Anti-pain (pain killers)

used to reduce pain.

Sterilized forceps and pins

are used for removing splinters and grit from wounds.

Liniment

used to reduce muscle pains.

A pair of tongs

used for holding pieces of bandages when cleaning the wounds.

Antibiotic solution

is used for applying in the wounds for killing micro-organisms.

FIRST AIDER

The First Aider is a specialist who gives first aid.

QUALITIES OF THE FIRST AIDER

She/he should have ability to assess the problem and give immediate and appropriate help.
She/he must be able to act quickly, quietly, calmly
She/he should be sympathetic to the victim
She/he should be able to recognize dangerous signs and give immediate help for
example detecting immediately if -breathing has stopped or is failing -there is severe bleeding-poisoning-fractures
She/he should be able to help the injured person without unnecessary movement
Precautions to be observed by the First Aider
The First Aider should keep himself/herself safe to avoid dangers from the patient.
Some of the dangers that s/he may face include infection by pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.So they should:
Wear protective gloves to avoid contact with blood
Wear eye protection
Wear masks and gowns.

First Aid can be rendered to the victims of

Drowning

Muscle cramps

Bleeding

Poisoning

Hiccups

Suffocation

Bruises Fainting Burns Sprain Bone fracture Snake bite

PROCEDURES OF GIVING FIRST AID TO VARIOUS VICTIMS
SNAKE BITES
A poisonous snake has two fangs one on each side of the upper jaw. The fangs are as sharp as needles. At the root of the fang there is a poison gland. When the snake strikes, it jabs downwards hitting the skin with its fangs and releases a few drops of venom.
Venom is the poison of the snake The action of striking forces the poison out and
injects into the victim’s skin.

Sign and symptoms

Immediate pain and swelling after the bite

The skin becomes purple One or two punctured points may be seen where the fangs

passed through the skin

SCORPION BITE
Scorpions are armed with a single curved stinger in the tail. Through this, they inject powerful venom that may produce convulsions and temporary paralysis.

The affected area feels as though is had been burned with a hot spark

HOW TO GIVE FIRST AID TO A VICTIM OF SCORPION BITE
Apply tourniquet
Put ice on the injured area to relieve pain and prevent spread of the poison
Treat for shock
Rush the person to the hospital

DOG BITE
When someone is bitten by a dog, keep the dog under observation to see whether it has rabies. Rabies is one of the worst diseases known. It is caused by a virus which is present in the saliva of the infected animal. If the animal has rabies, it will become restless, excitable, refuse to eat and barking tone will change. Later the dog then starts barking excessively.

HOW TO HELP A VICTIM OF DOG BITE
Wash your hands well with soap and water

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water to remove the animal’s saliva using running water.

Cover the wound with clean gauze.

Bandage it carefully

Take the victim to the hospital.

INSECT BITES
Spider bites : Some spiders have a harmless venom to man. But the black spiders can be dangerous to man. The injured person becomes weak and dizzy, feels nauseated and the muscles of the stomach may become hard especially in children.

Black and fire ants, bees : When a person has been stung by e.g. bees, severe pains are felt immediately. The person may be shocked, itching and swelling may follow.
A victim of spider bite can be helped by sending him/her to the hospital.

HOW TO HELP
Remove the insect’s sting

Apply household ammonia and ice cubes

Treat for shock

CHOCKING
Choking is caused when food or a foreign object becomes lodged in the windpipe.

Have you ever been with a person who is chocking? Did you know what to do?

When you are with a person that is chocking, first notice if person can talk, breath or cough. If so stay with that person until the air way is cleared by coughing.

Caution: Do not try to slap the person on the back. The slapping may cause the food to become more deeply ledged in the wind pipe.
If a person cannot talk or cough and appears to have a difficult in breathing, apply quick abdominal thrusts i.e. Heimlich maneuver as follows;
First stand behind the chocking victim
Put your arms around the person, placing your firsts just below the breast bone as
shown above.
Give a series of quick, sharp upward and inward thrusts, these thrusts push in on the diaphragm and the thoracic cavity suddenly decreasing its volume.
Air pressure is exerted below the obstruction which projects it forcefully from the
windpipe.

POISONING
A poison is any substance which can loss of one’s life or seriously endanger health
when taken into the body. In every household there are different kinds of things which are poisonous. Some are deadly even on a very small dose. Others may be more or less harmless when taken in small quantities.
Examples of poisonous substances at home are kerosene, disinfectants, paints,
medicines, artificial fertilizers, etc.

FIRST AID TO POISONING

Look for the poison

Identify the poison

Neutralize the poison by giving the victim plenty of milk to drink or egg white or water.

Induce vomiting if the poison is not strong acid or alkali as these are corrosive substance.

If the problem is severe, rush him or her to the hospital.

BONE FRACTURE
A person with a bone fracture experience the following;

Severe pain around the injured part

Lack of movement

Swelling

Fainting or shock

How to help
Treat for a shock
Keep the patient absolutely quite

Prevent further damage to injured part by using a splint.

BONE DISLOCATIONS

These are bones which have come out of place at a joint.

How to help
Bring the bone back into fixed position
Bandage it firmly in place so that it does not slip out again

SHOCK
Shock is a sudden violent disturbance of the mind or emotion
Causes of shock
Bad news
Severe illness
Heavy bleeding
Dehydration
Severe burns
Accident

WAYS OF PREVENTING SHOCK
Lie down the person with his feet higher than his head
Loosen the belt and shoes
If the person is conscious give him some tea or any soft drink.
Treat his/her wounds if any
Stop any bleeding Keep the person warm if he/she feels cold

ELECTRIC SHOCK
How to help
Switch off the electricity immediately
If not possible to switch off the electricity, take the victim away from the source of
electricity using a dry wooden material or rope.
Loosen any tight clothes
If the person is unconscious, apply mouth to mouth respiration
Treat for shock
Take the person to the hospital immediately

BRUISES
A bruise is an injury beneath the skin. Bruises can be identified by pain, swelling or a mark under the skin.

HOW TO TREAT BRUISES
Wash your hands using water and soap
Wash the bruised part
Apply cold clothes or ice immediately to reduce pain and swelling
If swelling continues take the victim to the hospital

VOMITING
Vomiting is an involuntary ejection of substance from the stomach through the mouth.
Possible causes of vomiting
Allergic reactions
Diseases e.g. malaria
Physiological condition e.g. pregnancy
Food poisoning
Unpleasant smell or taste
Drinking a lot of water when thirsty.
HOW TO HELP
Give the person a rehydration drink or oral rehydration salts solution.
Allow the person to have a complete rest
If vomiting continues, take the patient to the hospital.

MUSCLE CRAMPS
Muscle cramps occur as a result of uncontrolled muscle spasms and contraction.

HOW TO HELP
Lay the victim down
Massage the cramped area gently
Apply some anti-cramp ointment to the affected area
If the problem persists seek for a medical help
Muscle cramp can cause;
Severe pain
Loss of movement

DROWNING
Drowning is a situation where someone has stopped breathing due excessive drinking of water following sinking into water.

Offering first aid to a drowned victim
Lay the person on his back and tilt his head backwards so that his mouth falls forward
Pull the tongue forward.Use a dry cloth to hold the tongue.
Hold his nose close with your fingers
Carry out mouth to mouth breathing by blowing gently into the person’s mouth about 30 times a minute but do not blow too hard. This process is called artificial respiration.
Keep the person warm.

FAINTING
Fainting is caused by a temporary fall in the blood supply to the brain, sometimes
brought on by emotional shock or prolonged standing.

How to help
Keep the victim lying down with his/her legs raised in order to maintain blood pressure in the brain.
Do not try to warm the victim.
Loosen any tight clothing around the neck, chest and waist.
Supply the patient with plenty of fresh air by fanning or mouth to mouth respiration.
If there is no improvement rush the victim to the hospital.

BLEEDING
How to help the victim
(a) Severe cuts
Severe bleeding with blood flowing out rapidly must be stopped at once by pressing
with fingers directly on the wound or pressing the edges of the wound together.
Lay the victim down.
If the wound is in a limb raise it provided it is not fractured.
When the bleeding has slowed down press a pad of material over the wound and tie it rapidly in place.
If blood oozes through, apply more material on top of the original pad.
(b) Simple cuts
Wash your hands well by using soap and water
Wash the wound
Cover the wound with clean dressing dipped in iodine solution and bandage the wound
(c) Nose bleeding Bleeding usually occurs near the tip of the nose. The bleeding may be a result of diseases such as high blood pressure Rheumatic fever OrInjury
Nose bleeding is also likely to occur at high altitude as a result of cold.

A NOSE BLEEDING VICTIM
How to help
Let the victim sit quiet. This makes the heart beat to slow down and hence reduces
bleeding.
Let the victim lean the head slightly backward or make him/ her lie down on his/ her back.
Press on the side of the nose where the blood is flowing for about 1 0 minutes.
Allow the victim to breath through the mouth
Apply cold, wet compression over the nose and face. If this does not work take the victim to the hospital
The right position to offer first aid to a nose bleeding victim

BURNS AND SCALDS
A burn is caused by dry heat e.g. flame of hot object. A scald is caused by a steam or boiling water. The treatment is the same for both burns and scalds except that in scalds any wet clothing should be carefully removed while in burns clothing should be left in place. If clothes are burning cover the victim with a heavy blanket to cut off the air supply.
Dip the burning limb into clean cold water or press the affected area gently with an ice block. Do not break the blisters. Cover the injured area with clean dry cloth to keep away bacteria entering the damaged tissue. If the situation is serious take the victim to the hospital immediately.

CHEMICAL BURNS (ACIDS AND ALKALIS)
How to help
Strip off all clothing which has been contaminated by the chemical.
Wash the affected area with plenty of water.
Apply moist packs soaked in a weak solution of baking soda.
Vinegar can be used for alkaline burns.

HICCUPS
Hiccups is due to involuntary contraction of the respiratory muscle, giving a
characteristic sound
How to help
Pulling out the tongue
The victim may swallow finely crushed ice
Holding a breath for a long time may also help
Children can be given a teaspoonful of a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate or lemon juice.

SAFETY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT
What is an accident?
An accident is something unexpected that may cause injury and sometimes lead to
death. Accidents may be difficult to predict and prevent.
Below is a list of some common accidents at home and school:
Bites e.g. snake bite, insect bite, scorpion bite and dog bite.
Burns caused by hot liquids, cooking pot, lamps, hot food, steam, burning wood, charcoals and those caused by corrosive chemicals such as concentrated acids and
strong alkalis.
Falls, e.g. wall falls, tree falls, bed falling, etc.
Cuts and scratches caused by knives, hoes, razor blades and other sharp objects.
Choking caused by drinks, food or objects
Electric shock due to unguarded electric outlets and lightning.
Poisoning caused by taking chemicals and excessive intake of medicines.
Foreign bodies in the eye, ear and nose
Drowning which may occur in very small amount of water such as baths, ponds, pit
latrines, wells and water tanks.
Nose bleeding, bruises, suffocation, fainting etc.

WAYS OF PREVENTING ACCIDENTS AT HOME AND SCHOOL
Ways of preventing accidents at home and school include the following:
Medicines and potential poisonous chemicals should be kept out of reach of children.
Children should be monitored closely when playing.
Sharp objects like broken bottles, razor blades and laboratory equipments should be
well disposed of.
Laboratory chemicals should be labelled and if possible appropriate warning signs
should be indicated.
One should not take medicine unless prescribed by the doctor.
Bushes and tall grasses around the house should be cut to avoid harbouring snakes,
bees and other dangerous animals.
Students should observe and adhere to laboratory rules.
Walls and trees that are at a risk of falling should be dismantled or cut down
respectively.
Flammable substances should be properly kept.
Pits dug around the house should be buried. Pools should be drained if possible and all water storage containers should be properly covered.
Avoid using charcoal to warm oneself during night when sleeping as continued
inhalation of carbon monoxide from the charcoal may lead to death
Burning candles should be put off when sleeping.
Players should adhere to game rules.
Laboratory doors should open outwards for easy exit in case of fire. Emergence door is also necessary for this case.
Equipment like hoes, axes and knives should be properly kept
Turn off all the gas taps after experiment.

WAYS OF MAINTAINING PEACE AND SAFETY AT HOME AND SCHOOL
Avoid risk behaviours such as playing near deep ponds, playing with knives, alcoholism etc.
Dangerous things such as drugs should be kept away from children’s reach
Report any dangerous event that someone engages in.
Be positive and supportive to each other.
Social problems occurring at home or school should be solved keenly.
One should be good to him/herself.
Parents should give their children education on how to live and interact with others.