Asthma Attack

Asthma is an illness in which certain substances or conditions; called “triggers”,

cause inflammation and constriction of the airways, making breathing difficult.

Signs and Symptoms

First Aid Management  Hoarse whistling sound during
exhalation(wheezing)
 Remain calm.
 Trouble breathing or shortness of
 Help the person to sit comfortably. breath
 Loosen any tight clothing around  Rapid, shallow breathing
the neck and abdomen.  Sweating

 Assist the person with his or her Tightness in the chess
 Inability to talk without stopping for
prescribed quick-relief medication breath
under the following conditions: 
 The victim states that
he or she having an asthma attack and has medications (e.g., a
prescribed bronchodilator) or an inhaler.
 The victim identifies the medication and is unable to administer
it without assistance.

Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation occurs when a person’s Signs and Symptoms
breathing faster and more shallow than
People who are hyperventilating feel as
normal. When this happens, the body does if they cannot get enough air. Often they
not take enough oxygen to meet its demands. are afraid and anxious or seem confused.
They may say that they feel dizzy or that
First Aid Management their fingers and toes feel numb or
tingly.
 Help the person rest in a comfortable
position.
 If the person is conscious, check for the other conditions.
 Try to reassure the person to reduce their anxiety.
 If bystanders are present, ask them what they know about person’s
condition.
 Tell the person to relax and breath slowly.
 Seek medical help immediately.
Bleeding and Shock Types of Bleeding
 Arterial Bleeding
Bleeding  Venous Bleeding
 Capillary Bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood escaping from
the circulatory system.
Techniques to Control Bleeding
 Direct pressure
 Pressure bandage

Shock
Shock is a condition in which the circulatory Signs and Symptoms
system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to
 Restlessness or irritability
the body’s tissue and vital organs.  Altered level of consciousness
First Aid Management  Pale, ashen or greyish color ,
moist skin
 Make the person lie down  Rapid breathing
 Control any external bleeding.  Rapid and weak pulse
 Excessive thirst
 Legs may be raised 6 to 12 inches.
 Help the person maintain the normal body
temperature.
 Do not give the person anything to eat or drink.
 Reassure the person every so often.

Open Wound
In an open wound the outer layer of the skin is broken. The break in the skin can be
as minor as a scrape of the surface layers or as a severe as a deep penetration.
First Aid Management
General care for open wounds includes controlling bleeding, preventing infection
and using dressings and bandages correctly.
Minor Open Wounds
 Use a barrier between your hand and the wound.
  Apply direct pressure.
 Wash abrasions and other superficial wounds.
 Apply a Povidone-iodine (PVP-1)antiseptic solution or, if available , a triple
antibiotic ointment cream.
 Cover the wound with the sterile dressing.
 Wash your hands immediately after giving care.
Major Open Wounds
 Call the local emergency number.
 Put on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
 Control bleeding by applying direct pressure or employing a pressure
bandage.
 Monitor airway and breathing.
 In case where the injured party in shock, keep him or her from experiencing
chills or feeling overheated.
 Have the person rest comfortably and provide reassurance.
 Wash your hands immediately after giving care.

Poisoning
Poison is any substance that can cause injury, illness or death when introduced into
the body. Poisons include, liquids, gases, and vapors. A poison can enter, the body
through four ways – ingestion, injection and absorption.

Ingested Poison Poisoning by Ingestion

Poisoning by ingestion is considered any that’s  Food Poisoning

harmful to the body when ingested, whether  Caustics
intentionally or unintentionally.  Hydrocarbons
 Drug overdose

First Aid Management

 If the person is in a toxic area, remove the person from scene.
 Check the person’s level of consciousness and breathing.
 Check for any life-threatening conditions.
  Ask questions to get more information if the person is conscious.
 Look for any containers and take them with you to the telephone area.
 Call the National Poison Management & Control Center (NPMCC) or the
local/regional poison control center and follow the directions of the NPMCC
or local/regional poison control center.
 If unable to contact the NPMCC or local/regional poison center, bring the
patient immediately to the hospital.
 DO NOT give the person anything to eat or drink. Do not induce vomiting
unless instructed by a medical professional.
 Save some samples of the person’s vomit if you do not know how to classify
the poison.
 A person who has swallowed a caustic substance should not be made to
vomit.
 DO NOT dilute acids with water, especially sulfuric acid.
 The Department of Health recommends giving six to eight egg whites to
child and eight to twelve egg whites to an adult who has ingested watusi.

Bones, Joints and Muscle Injuries

Types Signs and Symptoms

 Strain  Pain
 Significant deformity
 Sprain  Inability to use affected body part normally
 Dislocation  Bone fragments sticking out of a wound
 Fracture  Grafting sensations after hearing a bone pop or snap
 Cold, numb and tingly sensations on the injured area
First Aid Management  When the cause of injury suggests that it may be
severe.
 R – Rest.
 I – Immobilize.
 C – Cold.
 E – Elevate.
 Seizure Types & Causes

Seizure is when the normal functions of the  Chronic – this condition

brain are disrupted by injury, disease, fever, occurs suddenly and without
warning.
poisoning or infection, the electrical activity of the
 Febrile – this condition brings
brain becomes irregular. about a rapid increase in
body temperature.

Signs and Symptoms

 Unusual sensations or feelings such as visual hallucination.

 Irregular breathing patterns
 Drooling
 UPWARD ROLLING OF THE EYES
 RIGID BODY
 SUDDEN, UNCONTROLLABLE, RYTHMIC MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS
AND CONVULSIONS
 DECREASED LEVEL OF RESPONSIVENESS
 LOSS OF BLADDER OR BOWEL CONTROL

First Aid Management

 Reassure the victim that you are going to help.
 Remove nearby objects that might cause injury.
 Protect the victim’s head by placing a thinly folded towel or piece of
clothing beneath it.
 Do not hold or restrain the patient when a seizure is in progress.
 Do not place anything between the victim’s teeth or put anything in the
victim’s mouth.
 Loosing clothing and fan the victim if the seizure was caused by a sudden
rise in body temperature.
 Ensure that the victim’s airway is open and check for the breathing and other
injuries once the seizure is over.
 Stay and watch over the victim until the victim is fully conscious.
 Anaphylaxis
An allergy is caused by the over-activity of the immune system against specific
antigens.

Signs and Symptoms

 Skin becomes swollen and turns red.
 Difficulty in breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath
 Tight feeling in the chest and throat
 Swelling of the face, throat or tongue
 Weakness, dizziness or confusion
 Rushes or hives
 Low blood pressure
 Shock
Causes
 Bee or insect venom
 Pollen
 Animal dander
 Latex
 Certain antibiotics and drugs
 Certain foods like nuts, peanuts, shellfish and dairy products.
First Aid and Management
 call the local emergency number
 calm and reassure the person
 help the person rest in the most comfortable positon of
breathing.
 Monitor the person’s. look for any changes in their condition.
 Assist the person with the use of prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, if
available.
 Give care for life-threatening emergencies.
 Document any changes in the person’s condition over time.
Environmental Emergencies
Heat – Related Emergencies
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful involuntary muscle cramps that can occur during and after
exercise or work in a hot environment.
First Aid Management
 Remove the patient from the hot environment.
 Encourage the patient to drink a beverage containing salt.
 If ORS pockets are not available, make an oral rehydration solution.
 Stretch the affected muscle and massage the area once spasm has
passed.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after
exposure to high temperature. This may also be a result of inadequate fluid intake
or the insufficient replacement of fluids.

Signs and Symptoms

 Heavy sweating dizziness
 Paleness Headache
 Muscle cramps Nausea or vomiting
 Tiredness and weakness Fainting
 Cool, moist skin
 Fast, weak pulse rate

First Aid Management

 Remove the patient from the hot environment. Fan the body, place ice bags,
or spray water on the skin.
 Start oral rehydration with beverage containing salt, or make them drink an
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
Heat Stroke Signs and Symptoms

Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia.  Strange behavior, headaches, dizziness,

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures hallucinations, confusion, agitation,
can contribute to failure of the body’s disorientation and coma.
temperature control system.  High body temperature
 Absence of sweating
First Aid Management
 Red, hot, dry and flushed skin.
 Call or have someone call the local 
Rapid pulse and difficulty in breathing.
emergency number. 
Nausea, vomiting, fatigue and weakness.
 Move the person into a cool place,
a shaded area, or an air-
conditioned room.
 Cool the patient with immediately
by immersing him/her in water.
 If water immersion is not possible or is delayed, the following actions can be
performed: douse the patient with copious amounts of cold water, spray the
patient with ice bags.
 Respond to any life-threatening conditions that may come about.

Cold- Related Emergency

Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the general cooling of the entire body. In hypothermia, body
temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius.
Signs and Symptom

First Aid Management  Shivering (may be absent I

later stages of hypothermia)
 Gently move the person to a warm place.  Numbness
 Care for any life-threatening conditions.  Glassy stare or a blank
 Call the local emergency number. expression.

 Remove any wet clothing and dry the  Apathy or decreasing level of
consciousness
person.
 Weakness
 warm the person by wrapping him/her in
 Impaired judgement
blankets or by replacing the person’s
 clothes with dry clothing (passive re-warming)
 if available, apply heat pads or other heat sources to the body.
 Do not warm the person to quickly, such as by immersing him or her in
warm water. Rapid warming may cause dangerous heart rhythms.
 If the person is alert, give warm liquids that do not contain alcohol or
caffeine.