Learn First Aid

• Section One: Introduction

  • Unit 1: What is First Aid?
  • Unit 2: Universal precautions and personal safety
  • Unit 3: How the body works

• Section Two: Basic Emergency Care

  • Unit 4: Emergency Scene Management
  • Unit 5: Casualty management and primary survey
  • Unit 6: The casualty who is not breathing normally
  • Unit 7: Choking
  • Unit 8: Wounds and bleeding
  • Unit 9: Shock
  • Unit 10: The recovery position
  • Unit 11: Head to Toe (secondary) survey
  • Unit 12: Ongoing casualty care
  • Unit 13: Moving the casualty

• Section Three: Accident Care

  • Unit 14: Near drowning
  • Unit 15: Burns and scalds
  • Unit 16: Soft tissue injuries: strains and sprains
  • Unit 17: Fractures and dislocations
  • Unit 18: Head and spinal injuries
  • Unit 19: Eye injuries
  • Unit 20: Poisoning
  • Unit 21: Bites and stings

• Section Four: Medical Emergency Care

  • Unit 22: Heart attack and angina
  • Unit 23: Stroke
  • Unit24: Fainting
  • Unit 25: Epileptic seizures
  • Unit26: Fever
  • Unit 27: Effects of heat and cold
  • Unit 28: Dehydration
  • Unit 29: Massive allergic reaction
  • Unit30: Asthma
  • Unit 31: Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
  • Unit 32: Emergency Childbirth
  • Unit 33: Common Infectious Diseases
  • Unit 34: HIV Aids

Electrical Burns

VIDEO 23- WHEN SOMEONE IS BEING ELECTROCUTED DO NOT TOUCH!!!

 Your aims:

Treat the burns.
Treat shock, if necessary.
Try to get urgent medical help.

Your actions:

You will need to do different things, depending on where the electricity is coming from. If it comes from a plug (in a house or at work, for example) it is a low voltage current. If it comes from a power line, it is a high voltage current.

 

Low voltage:
CAUTION – MAKE SURE THE CURRENT IS OFF BEFORE APPROACHING THE CASUALTY!

Most electrical burns occur at work or in the home as the result of low voltage current. You must never approach the casualty until you are sure the current is broken:
Immediately turn off the main/meter switch of the electricity (NOT the switch at the plughole). Stand on a pile of newspaper or a wooden box and use a wooden stick or a broom to turn off the switch.

Do not touch the person. Use a broom or a piece of wood to move the person away from the thing that shocked them, or the source away from the casualty.

As always, assess D R A B, respond as needed, and treat any more urgent injuries.

Cool the burnt area with water.

Put on disposable gloves if available – if not, make sure your hands are clean. Cover the area with a sterile dressing to protect it from infection. If a sterile dressing is not available, use a folded triangular bandage, part of a sheet or other clean cloth (not fluffy).

Call for help

Reassure the casualty

Treat for shock if necessary.

Remember to keep checking the casualty’s vital signs and writing down (or remembering) what you found and what you did, so that you can report this to any health worker who takes over from you.

 

High voltage:

CAUTION – MAKE SURE THE CURRENT IS OFF BEFORE APPROACHING THE CASUALTY!

High voltage current, such as that in power lines, will nearly always kill. High voltage current can jump up to 18 metres, so no one should go near the casualty (including you) until you are sure that the power has been turned off. You will not be able to do this yourself. Wait until you are told by someone you trust that the power has been turned off.

As always, assess D R A B

Resuscitate if necessary.

Try to get urgent medical assistance.

If the casualty is breathing, place him or her in the recovery position.

Remember to keep checking the casualty’s vital signs and writing down (or remembering) what you found and what you did, so that you can report this to any health worker who takes over from you.