Table of Contents

Burns:

There are 3 different degrees of burns.

• first degree-- This burn is characterized by red skin and sometimes swelling. The pain may be severe the burn will usually heal without scaring.
• second degree-- The skin will appear red, blisters and swelling occur within 48 hours. Pain is generally intense, scaring may occur and the risk of infection is high.
• third degree-- The skin will appear red, usually with charring. Pain is severe unless the nerves have been damaged. In that case, pain is only at the periphery of the burn. This type of burn generally requires skin grafting and will heal with dense scars. Infection is a primary concern.

Wet or smother the burn remove smoldering clothing. Immediately immerse the burn in cold water and keep it immersed until the pain subsides. For electrical burns, remove person from current, do not endanger yourself. An electric shock victim may need CPR. Do not touch the victim if they are still touching the electrical equipment which caused the shock. Shut off the electrical power source if possible, if not possible, separate the victim from the source of the contact by means of a long, dry stick, a dry rope or a long length of dry cloth. Make sure your hands are dry and you are standing on a dry surface. When dealing with chemical burns, rinse or flush the burn with a lot of water for at least 20 minutes.

• Immediately transport the person to a medical facility
• Never put ice on a burn
• Do not put anything but water on a burn
• Carefully remove clothing or jewelry that may constrict during swelling
• Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the burn

Heat related illnesses

Heat cramps

Heat cramps is the least serious of all heat related illnesses. Symptoms include severe cramping or the arms, legs and abdominal area. First aid for heat cramps would include: moving the victim to a cool place, rest the affected muscle groups and give a lot of cold water. Do not massage the cramping area.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a serious medical condition. Symptoms may include: fatigue, irritability, headache, faintness, weak rapid pulse, shallow breathing, cold clammy skin and profuse perspiration. To treat, instruct the victim to lie down in a cool shaded area, or air-conditioned room. Elevate their feet, massage legs toward the heart. Give them cold drinks every 15 minutes until victim recovers. If there is no improvement in the victim's condition in 30 minutes, seek medical attention.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious of the heat related illnesses, it is a life threatening emergency. Symptoms may include: extremely high body temperature (106 degrees F or higher) hot, red, dry skin, absence of sweating, rapid pulse, convulsions, and unconsciousness. Treatment for heat stroke: get medical help immediately, lower body temperature quickly by placing the victim in a partially filled tub of cool, not cold, water. If a tub is not available wrap the victim in cold wet sheets, in a well ventilated room or use fans and air conditioners until body temperature is reduced.

Frostbite

Frostbite initially looks like a reddened first degree burn. To treat frostbite first re-warm the frozen skin by submerging it in warm, not hot, water. Do not rub the frozen skin to warm it with friction. When a reddish color returns to the frostbitten skin, take it out of the warm water and pat it dry gently. Cover the skin with a loose bandage and seek medical help.

Hypothermia

care and prevention

two types of hypothermia

1. exposure gradual

2. immersion acute

Symptoms and Reactions

• Shivering to increase muscle heat production
• Blood shunting to reduce heat loss by diverting blood flow away from the body extremities to the body core.

Mild hypothermia occurs as the body's core temperature drops below it's normal 98.6 degrees F.

Pay close attention to anybody who is confused, abnormally clumsy, paddling off-course or otherwise behaving erratically.

Severe hypothermia results as the body temperature drops below 91.4 degrees F.

• Shunting of blood continues, manifesting as bluish (cyanotic) lips and fingertips from poor oxygenation of the tissues near the body surface.

The pulse and respirations begin to slow as the body core cools to 86 degrees F.

When the core temperature is below 91.4 degrees F, the vital organs begin to get cold. As the brain cools, brain cell metabolism slows, resulting in impaired brain function. Consciousness deteriorates from confusion and despair to disinterest, incoherence and eventual unconsciousness. Below 86 degrees F, signs of life are very difficult to detect and the patient is often mistaken as dead. The pupils of the eyes will be dilated and fixed. The pulse may be undetectable. Occasional gasps of respiration at a rate as low as 4 or 5 per minute may be the only clue that the patient is still alive.

Treatment

mild

• Encourage physical activities to generate muscle heat.
• Get the person out of the water or weather to a dry sheltered area.
• Replace wet clothing with dry layers, covering head and neck.
• Supply hot caffeine and alcohol free beverages.

severe

• Is a medical emergency
• Transport patient to a medical facility
• Wrap the person warmly
• Carry the victim as gently as possible
• Remove wet clothing
• Place in a dry sleeping bag and join them to maximize heat generation. Once shivering has stopped, the patient has lost the ability to generate heat, so simply wrapping them in a cold bag will not help. They need a gentle source of heat, another human body.
• Keep the head covered
• Hot drinks are also dangerous as they draw warm blood away from vital organs

Prevention

• Recognize the environmental conditions leading to hypothermia.
• Physical fitness, continuous exercise, high calorie food and a hot thermos of tea or hot chocolate will prevent the onset of mild hypothermia.
• Learn to recognize the early warning signs of hypothermia.

Shock

Shock generally occurs to some degree after any injury. If shock is severe enough it can cause death. A person in shock may look dazed and confused. They may be pale, or flushed, depending on type of injury, breathing is irregular and may be weak, they may vomit, and in severe cases their is loss of consciousness. There are several types of shock. The two most common types of shock are hypovolemic shock and anaphylactic shock.

Hypovolemic shock results from blood or fluid loss. Symptoms include: pale or bluish skin, nailbed, or lips, cool, clammy skin, rapid breathing and pulse, dilated pupils, thirst, nausea and vomiting and sometimes loss of consciousness.

Anaphylactic shock results from a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include: coughing, sneezing or wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness or swelling in the throat, tightness in the chest, swollen face, tongue, or mouth, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, blueness (cyanosis) around the lips and mouth and unconsciousness.

Immediate medical help is needed for shock victims. Have the person lie down on their back, loosen tight clothing. If the skin is pale and cool cover the person with one or more blankets to provide warmth. If the skin is hot and red apply bath towels soaked in cool water until skin returns to normal temperature and then cover the person with a blanket to keep them warm. Never give a person in severe shock anything to eat or drink.

Fractures and Sprains

There are two types of fractures, simple and compound. With simple fractures the skin has not been broken, whereas, with compound fractures the skin has been broken. Compound fractures are more serious than simple fracture because there is a higher risk of infection. All fractures must receive medical attention. To avoid further injury do not try to move the fractured area. If you suspect injury to the neck or spine do not move the person at all send for medical help.

First Aid for Sprains

Immediately immerse the sprained area in ice water for 20 minutes to control swelling. Repeat using ice water or cold compresses every four hours until swelling has stopped. Once swelling has stopped soak sprained area in contrasting baths (warm/ cold) three times per day for 20 minutes each bath. Limit use of sprained area until it no longer hurts.

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