First Aid

The Ribs and Breast Bone (Sternum)

2006-05-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

There are twelve pairs of ribs which are attached to the corresponding vertebrae at the back. The first seven pairs of these ribs are attached to the breastbone in front, eighth, ninth and tenth ribs are attached to the rib above, and last two pairs of ribs, i.e. eleventh and twelveth, have no attachment in front and are known as “floating ribs”. The ribs and breast bone are liable to be fractured in accidents due to either direct or indirect causes. An injury of the rib should be taken seriously and requires urgent hospitalisation.

The Upper Limbs and Shoulder

The bones are (a) the collar bone (clavicle) one on each side between upper part of the breast bone on the front and shoulder blade and (b) the shoulder blade (scapula). The clavicle is a very brittle bone and is the common site of fracture. Its function is to keep away the upper limbs from the chest.

Shoulder Blade (Scapula)

One on either side in the upper and outer part on the back of the chest.

The bones of the upper limbs are:

a) Upper arm bone (humerous)
b) Forearm bones. There are two bones.

i) Radius (Outer side of forearm)
ii) Ulna (Inner side of forearm)

(The joint between upper-arm and forearm is called elbow joint)

There are 8 carpal bones at the wrist and five metacarpal bones in the palm of the hand. There are 3 small bones in each finger called phalange and 2 bones for each thumb.

The Backbone or Spine (Vertebral Column)

2006-05-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

It consists of thirty three small rounded pieces of bones, each called a vertebra, placed one above the other:

7 in the Neck Region (Cervical)
12 in the Back Region (Throcic or Dorsal)
5 in the Waist Region (Lumbar)
5 in the Hip Region (Sacral)
4 in the Tail Region (Coccygial)

In between each pair of vertebrae there is a thick piece of Cartilage, called “Disc” which allows movement as well as acts as a shock absorber. There is a central canal through which the spinal cord passes and carrier nerve impulses to and from the brain.

If there is any injury, one vertebra may be displaced over an other, thus the spinal cord is pressed or cut causing paralysis, due to interruption in the pathway of nerves.

This damage may occur immediately at the time of injury or may be caused by careless handling after the accident. It is, therefore, extremely important to handle with care all persons who have suffered severe injury to their back or neck.

Structure and Functions of the Human Body

2006-05-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

Structure

The skeleton forms the supporting framework of the body and consists of separate bones joined together by means of Cartilage, Ligaments and Muscles.

The parts of the skeleton are:

The skull
The Back bone or sine
The Ribs and breast bone
The Upper Limbs
The Pelvis
The Lower Limbs bones

The Skull

The skull is the skeleton of the head and is made up of the following bones:

One on the top call the Dome
One in the front corresponding to the face called Frontal.
two – one on either side called the Parietals.
two – one on either side below the Parietals – called the Temporals.
one behind corresponding to the back of the head called the Occipital.
two forming the roof of the mouth or the Upper Jaw.

All these bones are joined together and form the skull. The skull contains the brain, and has bony providing for formation of eyes, ears and nose. It is rounded in shape and has an opening at the bottom through which the spinal cord enters the vertebral column. Its lower portion also forms the upper jaw. The lower jaw is a separate single bone which is attached to the skull and consists of one horizontal portion in the centre, and two vertical portions at the sides. The junction of the vertical and the horizontal portions is commonly referred to as the angle to the jaw.

One has to be familiar with the position to the angle of the jaw because this has to be pressed forward in case of an unconscious victim to prevent the fall-back of the tongue which impedes the airway.

When a blow on the head causes bleeding from torn vessels inside the closed box of brain, the blood is unable to escape and gets collected and presses the brain tissue. This leads to headache, irritability, unconsciousness and may cause death. This dangerous development makes it important to place all persons of head injury under care of medical supervision.

Disposal & Rules of First Aid

2006-05-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

Disposal

The earlier the doctor takes charge the greater the chances of recover. First, take the casualty to the nearest shelter. The best, of course, is the hospital. Or it can be his house or the nearest clinic. The quickest means of transport should be made use of. A carefully worded message to the relatives, as to his condition and also to what place he is being taken, must be sent. Some one in the crowd will generally help in this. It is of course the duty of police and they are most reliable.

Rules of First Aid

The best advice to the First Adier is : "Make haste slowly"

Reach the accident spot quickly. This will help to save life.

Be calm, methodical and quick. By doing so you can lessen the pain and the effects of the injuries which may save life. Handling the casualty clumsily will only make the final recovery difficult.

Look for the following:
Is there failure of breathing?
Is there severe bleeding?
Is the shock light or severe?

Attend to these and then treat easily observable injuries.

Start artificial respiration, if the casualty is not breathing, it must begin at once as every second gained is helpful.

Stop bleeding by pressing on the pressure point and press firmly on the bleeding area with a pad, and keep up pressing on the bleeding area for at least a few minutes (minimum 3 minutes) by watch. Take help, if needed.

Treat for shock.

Avoid handling the casualty unnecessarily.

Use the First Aid Equipment, if available:

All passenger trains, some Railway Stations, lorries and buses keep them. Make use of the material so obtained. On most occasions standard First Aid Kit will not be available. You will have to depend on the material at hand and improvise them for your requirements.

Inspect the area. Take the casualty away from live wires, fallen walls beams, fire, broken gas chambers, moving machinery etc., to a safer place.

Clear the crowd with nice words. Do not allow people to crowd around the casualty. The casualty needs fresh air. If a doctor is present, he will guide you. Any other First Aider must be asked to help. If otherwise take the assistance of bystanders giving them correct instructions.

Note the weather, if it is fine i.e., without rain or heat or a cold breeze, treat in the open. Otherwise move the casualty into an airy room. If no suitable house or a doctor's clinic is nearby, it is best to protect the casualty with an umbrella or a sheet of cloth or even a newspaper.

Reassure the casualty. Soft words and encouraging talk will make the casualty take things easy and lie quietly. These will help recovery.

Arrange for despatch to the care of a doctor, or to the hospital. At the same time intimate the relatives where the casualty is being taken to.

Do not attempt too much: You are only a First Aider: give minimum assistance so that the condition does not become worse : and life can be saved.

Diagnosis & Treatment

2006-05-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

Diagnosis of a case is based on its history, signs on symptoms.

History of the case is the story of the accident namely how the accident actually occurred. The casualty will give the History. If he is unconscious, someone who saw the accident will help. The surroundings will add to the information, like an abandoned scooter or a broken pillar near the place and its condition.
Symptoms are what the casualty tells the First Aider like pain, shivering, faintness etc. Pain described by the casualty will lead the First Aider to the region of injury without waste of time.
Signs are what the First Aider feels and finds out for himself-like paleness, swelling of parts injured, bleeding, deformity of the limbs etc. The training the First Aider has undergone will help him make these observation correctly.

Treatment

It is in treating the casualty that the First Aider's training will come into use. The First Aider should read his book again and again lest he forgets the principles of treatment. The main ideas are:

If the cause of the accident is still there, remove it, e.g., a live electric wire, pillars or logs on body etc. Or, remove the casualty from the danger, e.g., a burning house, a room with poisonous gases etc.
See that the casualty is comfortable, promote recovery and see that the condition does not become worse.
The following conditions require the First Aider's prompt attention: failure of breathing, stoppage of heart, severe bleeding and shock, poisoning, major buns, head injuries and fractures.
Continue treatment until the doctor takes charge.

The Scope of First Aid

2006-05-23T03:06:00.000-07:00

The First Adier should exmine the casualy to know the details of injuries and their nature. This is known as Diagnosis.

The Diagnosis will give him an idea of the Treatment to be given until the doctor takes charge.

The next step is to send the casualty to his house or to a hospital, as the case my be, in a suitable manner. This is known as Disposal.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a case is based on its history, signs an symptoms.

History of the case is the story of the accident namely how the accident actually occurred. The casualty will give the History. If he is unconsious, someone who saw the accident will help. The surroundings will addd to the information, like an abandoned scooter or a broken pillar near the place and its condition.
Symptoms are what the causalty tells the First Aider like pain, shivering, faintness etc. Pain described by the casualty will lead the First Aider to the region of injry without waste of time.
Signs are what the First Aider and finds out for himself like paleness, swelling of parts injured, bleeding, deformity of the limbs etc. The training the First Aider has undergone will help him make these observations correctly.

The Aims of First Aid

2006-05-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

First Aid has three main aims:

To preserve life
To promote recovery
To prevent worsening of the casualty's condition.

Arrange transportation to hospital, (if necessary) First Aid is based on scientific medicine and Surgery, it is skilled assistance. But the First Aider is not a doctor. After the doctor takes charge the First Aider's responsibility ends. He can than stand by to help the doctor.

The First Aider should observe carefully, think clearly, and act quickly. He should be calm, cool and confident. He should not get excited. He should ask someone to call a doctor or inform hospital immediately giving some details of cases involved. While waiting for the doctor, he should give First Aid methodically.

First Aid - Introduction

2006-05-23T02:27:00.000-07:00

Learning First-Aid is a civic responsibility for each and every citizen. As knowledge has grown, methods of First- Aid have changed and now there is universal understanding on giving first-aid to people suffering from various kinds of injuries or illness. Obviously the implements to give First-Aid have to be simple and available almost everywhere without notice. This also requires of the first-aider lot of innovations and versatility to use the resources available to him.

The First-aider must not mistake and over play his duty of doing what is not in his domain. His job is to save and sustain life and limb till a doctor arrives or the patient is transferred to medical care. It is also true that the methods of giving First-Aid may not be generally known even to the most brilliant medicla man unless he learns these. To that extent the Medical Officers may as well familiarise themselves with the methods of First-Aid as without this knowledge they may find themselves helpness in dealing with a sick or an injured person outside the hospital without his usual paraphernalia.

Besides learning First-Aid, it is the sacred duty of each First-aider to pulicise this movements till every citizen of the country learns the methods of First-Aid. This, he may do in his own interest because no one knows when one will be injured or suddenly taken ill and the other unkown man present nearby could be expected to give First-Aid. Imagine the amount of security that the citizen of a country would enjoy if everyone in his country learnt First-Aid.