Very good for students

1. First Aid & Measures
Prepared By
Dr. Zuhair Rushdi Mustafa
Lecturer at University of Duhok/ College of
Nursing

2.  DEFINITION OF FIRST AID
First Aid is the initial assistance or treatment
given to a victim for any injury or sudden
illness to stabilize and keep him / her safe before the
arrival of an ambulance, doctor, or first aid team.

3. AIMS OF FIRST AID
 Preserve life
 Prevent the casualty’s condition from
becoming worse
 Promote recovery

4. A. Preserve life:
B. Prevent deterioration:
C. Promote recovery:
 Airway
 Breathing
 Stop bleeding
 Treat shock
 Treat other injuries
 Reassure
 Relieve pain
 Protect from harm
 Circulation
Principles of first aid

5. Securing the scene
1. Electrical hazards
2. Chemical hazards
3. harmful & Toxic gases
4. Ground hazards
5. Fire
6. Unstable equipment
Before performing any First Aid, Check for:

6. Chain of Survival
 In order for a person to survive
Early
Access “122”
Early
First Aid/CPR
“You”
Early
Defibrillation
“EMS”
Early
Advanced Care
“Hospital”

7. Responsibilities As A first Aider
1. Assess the situation quickly and safely and
call for appropriate help.
2. Protect casualties from possible danger.
3. Identify the nature of illness or injury
affecting casualty.

8. 4. Treat the most serious condition first.
5. Remain with a casualty until appropriate care
is available.
6. Arrange for the casualty’s removal to hospital
or into the care of a doctor.
7. Report your observations to those taking care
of the casualty.

9. PRIORITY OF CASUALTIES
1. Save the conscious casualties before the unconscious
ones as they have a higher chance of recovery.
2. Save the young before the old.
3. Do not expose your own life to danger while doing
First Aid. In the event of immediate danger, get out
of site immediately.

10.  If possible, wear disposable gloves
 Wash your hands carefully afterwards.
Infection control
 If possible, keep any minor wounds
covered with a plaster or bandage.
 Dispose of soiled items appropriately.

12. Universal Precautions for Airborne
& Bloodborn Pathogens
HIV & Hepatitis
Tuberculosis
Gloves & Respiratory Barrier
devise must be used to
prevent transmission of
diseases

13. Personal protective Equipment.
Protective eye wear MasksGloves:
Gowns:

14. DURING TREATMENT
1. avoid coughing, breathing, or speaking over the
wound
2. avoid contact with body fluids
3. use only clean bandages and dressings
4. avoid treating more than one casualty without
washing hands and changing gloves
Infection control (continue)

15.  AFTER TREATMENT
1. clean up both casualty and yourself
2. clean up the immediate surrounding area
3. dispose of dressings, bandages, gloves and
soiled clothing correctly
4. wash hands with soap and water

16. A – Alert – will talk but may be drowsy.
V – Responds to Voice – responds to simple
commands, eg ‘open your eyes’, or may respond to
simple questions.
P – Responds to Pain – will react to a pinch on the
back of the hand.
U – Unresponsive – there is no response at all.
Levels of consciousness

17. Causes of
unconsciousness:
 Fainting
 Imbalance of
heat
 Shock
 Heart attack/
angina pectoris
 Stroke
 Head injuries
Asphyxia/hypoxia
/near drowning
 Asthma
 Anaphylaxis
 Poisoning
 Seizures
 Diabetic
emergencies

18. Vital Signs
Vital sign are:
Physical signs that indicate an individual is alive,
such as:
1. heart beat (pulse)
2. Respiratory rate
3. Temperature
4. blood pressures

19.  Body Temperature (Temp.):-
Body temperature reflect the balance between
the heat produced and the heat lost from the
body.
Normal range for temp. is :- ( 36.2 C to
37.4 C )

20. Methods of temperature
measurement
Oral Temperature:
The oral site, or mouth is convenient. The area
under the tongue is the direct proximity to the
sublingual artery.
Thermometer is applied under the tongue for 3-5
minutes

21. The oral site is contraindicated for:
1- clients who are uncooperative
2- very young
3- unconscious
4- Client who has shivering
5- clients who prone to seizures
6-Psychiatric patients
7- clients who mouth breath
8- Those who have had oral surgery
9- Those who continue to cough and talk during temperature
assessment.

22. The alternative of oral temperature are:
Axillary, rectal, and Tympanic membrane (Ear).
Note: when you take axillary temperature, you
have to add 0.5 C. For example, 37 C will
change to 37.5 because the blood vesicles is
deep.
While in rectal temperature you have to minus
0.5 C. For example, 37 C will change to 36.5
because the area is too hot.

23.  Pulse Rate:- is a wave of blood created by
contraction of the left ventricle of the heart .
• Pulse rates are measured in beats per minute.
• The pulse is assessed for rate, rhythm,
strength, and equality.

24. Normal ranges:-
 Newborn (80-180) B/M
 Infants (80-140) B/M
 Toddlers (90-140) B/M
 5-8 years (75-120) B/M
 Adult (60-100) B/M
 Older age (60-100) B/M
`
In Adult:
 Pulse less than 60 B/M is called Bradycardia.
 Pulse more than 100 B/M is called tachycardia.

25.  Tow types of pulse
1. Peripheral pulse
• For a regular rhythm, count number of
beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
• For an irregular rhythm, count number of
beats for a full minute.

26. Temporal
Carotid
Brachial
Radial
Femoral
Popliteal
Posterior
tibial
Dorsalis pedis
Pulse sites

27. 2. Apical pulse :- is a central pulse it is located
at the apex of the heart .
The most accurate site for pulse
assessment in infants and small
children is the apical site.

28.  Respirations:-Is the act of breathing
(inhalation , Exhalation).
 Inhalation : refers to the intake of air into the
lungs.
 Exhalation : refers to breathing out of gases
to the atmosphere .

29. Age Average range
Adulthood
Men
women
14_18 Breaths/Minute
16_20 Breaths/Minute
Normal respiratory rates
Assessing Respiratory Rate

30. Procedure for taking respiratory rate
 While your fingers are still in place for the
pulse measurement, after counting the pulse
rate, Observe a full inspiration and expiration,
if breathing is normal, count for 30 sec. and
multiply by 2. While if breathing is abnormal
count for 60 second.

31. Assessing Blood Pressure
Blood pressure refers to the force of the blood against
arterial walls. Pressure is highest when the ventricle
are contracted (systolic pressure), and lowest when
the ventricle are relaxing and re-filling (diastolic
pressure).

32.  CATEGORIES FOR BLOOD PRESSURE
LEVELS IN ADULTS (AGES 18 AND OLDER)
Category Systolic Diastolic
Normal <120 mm
Hg
<80 mm Hg
Prehypertension 120–139 80–89
Hypertension 140 and
over
90 and over

33. Abnormal blood pressure measurements
1- High Blood Pressure
Also called Hypertension refers to a persistent
systolic pressure greater than 135 to 140 mm
Hg and a diastolic pressure greater than 90
mm Hg.

34. 2- Low Blood Pressure
Also called Hypotension a condition in which
arterial blood pressure is abnormally low, For
example, 96/60 mm Hg.
Causes:
1. after excessive fluid loss (e.g through
diarrhea, burns, or vomiting).

35. 2. following severe blood loss ( hemorrhage).
3. Myocardial Infarction
4. pulmonary embolism.
5. sever infections.
6. allergic reactions.
7. Anemia

36. 3- Postural hypotension:
Postural or orthostatic hypotension is sudden but
temporary drop in BP when rising from a
reclining position.
Is most common in those with circulatory
problems, those who are dehydrated, or those
who take diuretics or other lower BP.
Postural hypotension causes dizziness and
fainting.