This document provides guidance on first aid for various injuries and medical emergencies. It discusses how to treat accidental trauma, burns/wounds, poisoning, electric shock, heart attacks, and animal bites. For each, it describes signs and symptoms and steps to take, such as calling for emergency help, monitoring breathing, preventing further harm, and promoting recovery. Procedures for performing CPR and treating shock are also outlined. The aim of first aid is to preserve life, prevent further harm, and promote recovery from illness or injury.

2. FIRST AID
by,
Dr. DHEEN KUMAR,M.PHARM,Ph.D.,
Principal, GP PHARMACY COLLEGE
TIRUPATTUR, TAMILNADU- 635851

3. FIRST AID IS THE PROVISION OF INITIAL
CARE FOR AN ILLNESS OR INJURY.
IT IS USUALLY PERFORMED BY NON-
EXPERT, BUT TRAINED PERSONNEL
LIFE SAVING TECHNIQUES.

4. AIM
PRESERVE LIFE
PREVENT FURTHER HARM
PROMOTE RECOVERY

5. Accidental Trauma
Burns/Wounds
Poisoning
Electric Shock
Heart Attack
Animal Bites

6. ACCIDENTAL TRAUMA
Head trauma is an injury that affects the brain or
skull Injuries range from minor to serious.
Treatment : For mild injury-
Apply ice to injured area to minimize swelling
The size of the bump is not related to the severity
of injury
Observe the patient carefully for signs of bleeding

7. For moderate to severe injury
· Check the patient's breathing pattern
· If necessary do Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR) · In case of bleeding, press area with a clean
cloth
· If the cloth soaks, place a fresh cloth over the first
one
· Do not remove debris from the wound
· If person is vomiting turn on the side and lower the
head
· To minimize spine injury- hold head, neck and body
in one line
· If unconscious, treat it like a spinal injury

8. HEART ATTACK
 Heart Attack – Usually that happens when one of the
coronary arteries is blocked by an obstruction or a
spasm.
… Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
 Pressure in chest, fullness, squeezing, or pain
that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes
away and comes back.
 Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, or arms.
 Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting,
sweating, nausea,
or shortness of breath.

9. HEART ATTACK
 What to Do:
… Call 108 or get to the nearest hospital emergency
department with 24-emergency cardiac care.
… Monitor victim’s condition.
… Help the victim to the least painful position, usually
sitting with legs up and bent at the knees.
 Loosen clothing around the neck and midriff.
… Determine if the victim is known to have coronary
heart disease and is using nitroglycerin.
… If the victim is unresponsive, check ABCs and start
CPR, if needed.

10. ELECTRIC SHOCK
•Do not attempt to move the victim from current source.
•First step is to switch off the current source.
•Otherwise, move the source using a wooden stick Attend
to the victim.
•Check for breathing.
•No breathing, do Cardio pulmonary resuscitation
(CPR)Call emergency medical aid.
•If breathing, do a physical examination Treat for minor
burns.
•Re-establish vital functions.
•Excessive burns may require hospitalization/ surgery.
•Supportive care must be provided.

11. CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
Cardiac Arrest
Often caused by abnormal heart rhythm
This aberrant rhythm is ventricular fibrillation (VF)
During VF heart stops pumping blood
Patient may stop breathing
No pulse may be detected
A shock to the heart, called defibrillation, required
Defibrillation stops VF, restores heart function

12. WHAT IS CPR?
EMERGENCY LIFE-SAVING MEASURE
COMBINATION OF RESCUE BREATHING & CHEST
COMPRESSIONS
DONE ON UNCONSCIOUS/ NON-BREATHING PATIENT
CPR CONDUCTS DEFIBRILLATION
SUPPORTS HEART PUMPING FOR SHORT DURATION
ALLOWS OXYGEN TO REACH BRAIN
MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN DONE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

13. Mouth- to-mouth breathing
Pinch the person's nostril shut
Seal his mouth with your own
Give the first breath, lasting one second
Watch if chest rises
If it rises, give second rescue breath
If it does not rise, give a head tilt- chin lift
Now give second rescue breath

14. POISONING
Try and identify the poison if possible
· Check for signs like burns around mouth, breathing difficulty
or vomiting
· Induce vomiting if poison swallowed
· In case of convulsions, protect the person from self injury
· If the vomit falls on the skin, wash it thoroughly
· Position the victim on the left till medical help arrives
Steps to Avoid :
Avoid giving an unconscious victim anything orally
Do not induce vomiting unless told by a medical personnel
Do not give any medication to the victim unless directed by a
doctor
Do not neutralize the poison with limejuice/honey

15. ANIMAL BITES
o Calm the affected person.
o Wash hands before attending to wound.
o Wash wound with soap & running water.
o Apply antibiotic ointment Dress using sterile bandage.
o After first aid, medical treatment must be sought quickly.
o Suturing may be required.
o Tetanus booster / antibiotics required.
o Treatment depends on type / location of wound.

16. If a snake bites you:
Remain calm
Immobilize the bitten arm or leg and stay as quiet as possible to
keep the poison from spreading through your body
Remove jewelry before you start to swell
Cleanse the wound, but don't flush it with
 water, and cover it with a clean, dry dressing
Apply a splint to reduce movement of the
affected area, but keep it loose enough so as not
to restrict blood flow
Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice
Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom
Don't drink caffeine or alcohol
Don't try to capture the snake, but try to remember its color and
shape so you can describe it, which will help in your treatment
Call 108 or seek immediate medical attention, especially if the area
changes color, begins to swell or is painful.

17. SHOCK
 Shock refers to circulatory system failure that
happens when insufficient amounts of oxygenated
blood is provided for every body part. This can be as
the result of:
… Loss of blood due to uncontrolled bleeding or
other circulatory system problem.
… Loss of fluid due to dehydration or excessive
sweating.
… Trauma (injury)
… Occurrence of an extreme emotional event.

18. SHOCK CONT.
 What to Do
… After first treating life-threatening injuries such as
breathing or bleeding, the following procedures shall
be performed:
 Lay the victim on his or her back
 Raise the victim’s legs 8” – 12” to allow the blood
to drain from the legs back to the heart.
 Prevent body heat loss by putting blankets and
coats under and over the victim

19. Facilities Planning & Management
UW-Eau Claire
BURNS
 Burns have been described as:
… First-degree burns (Superficial)
 Only the skin’s outer layer (epidermis) is
damaged.
… Symptoms include redness, mild
swelling, tenderness, and pain.
… Usually heals without scarring.
 What to Do:
… Immerse in cold water 10 to 45 minutes
or
… use cold, wet cloths.
 Cold stops burn progression
 May use other liquids
… Aloe, moisturizer lotion

20. BURNS CONT.
 Second-degree burns (Partial Thickness)
… Epidermis and upper regions of
dermis are damaged.
 Symptoms include blisters, swelling,
weeping of fluids, and severe pain.
… What to Do:
 Immerse in cold water / wet pack
 Aspirin or ibuprofen
 Do not break blisters
 May seek medical attention

21. BURNS CONT.
 Third-degree burns (Full Thickness)
… Severe burns that penetrate all the skin layers, into the underlying
fat and muscle.
 Symptoms include: the burned area appears gray-white, cherry red,
or black; there is no initial edema or pain (since nerve endings are
destroyed)
… What to Do:
 Usually not necessary to apply cold to areas of third degree
 Do not apply ointments
 Apply sterile, non-stick dressings
(do not use plastic)
 Check ABC’s
 Treat for shock
 Get medical help

22. BURNS CONT.
 Burn injuries can be classified as follow:
… Thermal (heat) burns caused by:
 Flames
 Hot objects
 Flammable vapor that ignites
 Steam or hot liquid
… What to Do:
 Stop the burning
… Remove victim from burn source
… If open flame, smother with blanket, coat or similar item, or have
the victim roll on ground.
 Determine the depth (degree) of the burn

23. CHEMICAL BURNS
 What to Do:
… Remove the chemical by flushing the area with water
 Brush dry powder chemicals from the skin before flushing
 Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to the chemical
… Remove the victim’s contaminated clothing and jewelry while
flushing with water
… Flush for 20 minutes all chemical burns (skin, eyes)
… Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile dressing
… Seek medical attention