First aid

The four main points of first aid

If you meet someone who is injured and needs first aid, it is important that you can quickly step in and help. To ensure effective and quick first aid, you must always remember the four main points of first aid.

When you arrive at an accident situation, there can be a lot going on at the same time and the situation can seem chaotic. It is therefore important that you always refer to the four main points of first aid:

1. Create security

2. Assess the person

3. Call for help

4. Give first aid

Accidents require quick and effective action to reduce the consequences and create safety. When you experience an accident, it is important to stop it so that it does not develop or get worse. Start by getting an overview of the extent of the accident by checking the surroundings and evaluating the situation.

Are there conditions that could put you at risk?
Are you or the victim threatened by fire, toxic smoke or gasses?

The most important thing is:

Own security:
- When you are stressed, you often forget your own safety. It is crucial that you protect yourself first so that you do not become a victim yourself. You must remember that you cannot help others if you yourself have been injured. Traffic accidents, fires and drowning accidents are dangerous for those trying to rescue the injured.
To stop the accident:
- To create safety, the scene of the accident must be secured. This means that the traffic must be stopped, the engine must be switched off, the electricity must be cut off and so on. If the accident cannot be stopped, it may be necessary to carry out an emergency evacuation of the injured person

Once you have created safety, you must find out what help the injured person needs

Start by checking if the person is conscious.

Start by speaking loudly and clearly.
If the person does not answer, you can lightly shake the person's shoulders.
If the person is unconscious, they will lie limp.
It is always dangerous to be unconscious.
It is therefore important to ensure free airways, breathing and blood circulation.
It is also called the ABC principle:

stands for Airway
stands for Breathing
stands for Circulation (blood circulation) It is important to examine the accident victim in the order mentioned, as free airways are important for breathing, which is important for blood circulation

3. You must now assess what help is needed. Depending on the situation and the injury, you must contact the emergency center on 112, seek an emergency room, a doctor or, for example, a dentist. You must clearly explain to the emergency center:

What has happened:
- Tell e.g. whether the sick or injured person is awake or unconscious.
Where it has happened:
- Where should the ambulance crew go on arrival? How many were injured: In the case of road accidents, this is also important information that you must give to the emergency centre. Remember that it is the emergency center that ends the call, so you are sure that all information is given correctly.
- Emergency telephones If you are on a motorway, you can use the emergency telephones, which are placed in pairs on each side of the motorway at a distance of 2 km. If you are alone with a person in danger of death, you must start by giving first aid and then call for help.
Denmark's official app for the 112 emergency call center:
- With Denmark's official 112 app, you can initiate a call to the emergency center and at the same time send the mobile's GPS coordinates. When the accident is over, you can thus get help as soon as possible.

4. First aid is all the help given to the sick or injured.

It is important that you always cooperate with the sick or injured person, reassure and support them.
If the casualty has a pulse and is breathing, ensure a clear airway by placing him in a locked lateral position.
Locked side position is used when you have to leave a person who is breathing normally.
Or if there are conditions that make it most appropriate to camp the person on the side. For example, in case of vomiting, facial lesions or the like. Stable side bearing is also called stable side bearing, also called locked side bearing.
Now you can start providing psychological first aid: Psychological first aid is included in all situations where physical first aid is provided. Here are some pointers on how to best provide support and care:
Act calmly: If you have to help in an accident situation, it is of great importance to others at the scene of the accident that you try to act calmly when you have to secure the accident scene and give first aid.
Talk to the injured person: In the situation where you are giving physical first aid, you must talk to the injured person and tell them all the time what you want to do. An unconscious person can hear well, even if they can't answer you.
Practical help: Help with collecting personal belongings so that the injured person can take them to the hospital. If clothes are torn and you have the opportunity to cover the injured person with a blanket, it is a good idea. The curious need not stay at the scene of the accident.
Listen: When the situation permits, you or another helper should stay with the injured person. Sit next to the person and listen to them. Place a hand on the casualty's shoulder. Some say and do nothing, while others cry or talk confusedly about things they had to fix or achieve because it has not yet dawned on them what has happened. Others may react with anger or helplessness. Let the person talk, you don't have to do or say anything. You just have to listen.
Presence: Do not leave the uninjured alone. Help them if possible. with finding out who can come and be with them when they get home.

The four states of consciousness

Awake:
- The person usually reacts to accusations and answers relevant questions.
The foggy:
- The person is awake but seems confused, does not answer relevant questions and cannot focus. Can sometimes appear drunk and aggressive. Seen, among other things, in diabetes and concussion.
Sleeping:
- The person does not respond to ordinary speech, but can be woken by loud speech and/or Rusken.
Unconscious:
- The person does not react to loud speech or noise.

There can be many reasons for unconsciousness. As a rule, it is either due to illness, accident or accident, for example drugs, alcohol poisoning, drug poisoning, infections (high fever), diabetes, lack of oxygen, cardiac arrest, cerebral haemorrhage, blow to the head, blood loss or fluid loss (dehydration).

Regardless of the cause, being unconscious is a life-threatening condition. If the tongue blocks the airways when we sleep, we will unconsciously make sure to move to be able to breathe that way. This is the body's way of protecting the airways. When the injured person becomes unconscious, muscles and reflexes do not work. If the casualty is lying on their back, the tongue, which is a muscle, will fall back and block the upper airway, causing the casualty to suffocate.

An unconscious person will also not be able to cough or otherwise remove vomit that blocks the airways. Vomiting in unconscious people is often seen in poisoning with medicine, alcohol or drugs and can also be seen in resuscitation after cardiac arrest, head injuries and stomach disease.

Perform first aid

Basic life-saving first aid

Here you will get a brief overview of basic life-saving first aid for adults - also called cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Here's how you do it:

1. Is the person unconscious?

Speak and speak with restraint in person.

2. Are there free airways?

Create free airways
Look, listen and feel for a maximum of 10 seconds
If there is normal breathing, the person must be placed in a stable side position

3. Is there NOT normal breathing?

Call for help: Call 1-1-2 as soon as possible, and always before starting CPR and artificial respiration.

4. Give cardiac massage and artificial respiration

Alternately give cardiac massage with 30 pressures and 2 breaths
Maintain a constant pressure depth of 5 - 6 cm
Continue until the person shows signs of improvement: when the person opens their eyes and breathes normally or when professional help takes over.

5. If there is normal breathing, place the person in a stable side position

Locked side bearing/stable side bearing

Kneel next to the person. Place the arm closest to you at a right angle from his body. The palm must face upwards. Bend his other arm in front of the body and place the hand so that the back of his hand comes up on his cheek closest to you. Your palm should be facing his. Bend his farthest leg and pull on the knee so that you roll him over into the side position. Straighten the bent leg so that both hip and knee are bent 90 degrees. Turn the head upside down so there is a free airway. Continue to check his breathing

Mental first aid

Care
Protect
Comfort
Support
Give
connect
Educate
Look for basic needs
Active listening
Give hope
Protect from further damage
Opportunity to speak without pressure
Compassion
Addressing and acknowledging concern
Discuss coping strategy
Social support
Offer to come back to talk
Return

Concussion

With a concussion, the brain has been affected to such an extent that there has been fluid leakage in the brain around the affected area

Symptoms

Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Visual disturbances
Fatigue
Loss of short-term memory

The first aid for a person with one or more of the above symptoms is close observation for at least 24 hours to ensure that the condition does not worsen. If the person becomes increasingly unwell, an emergency room or doctor must be sought as soon as possible.

Combustion

A burn injury occurs when the skin comes into contact with fire or heat, but can also occur from electricity, radiation or caustic chemicals. There are four degrees of burn. For major burns, call 112 or get emergency medical help as soon as possible. Frostbite can look like burns

Types of combustion

Degree of combustion

The least serious burns are those where only the outer layer of the skin is burned
A sunburn is a typical 1st degree burn
The skin is usually red and swollen and it hurts
The outer layer of the skin is not burned through, and thus there are no wounds
A first degree burn is treated as a minor burn unless there are larger areas of damage in the hands, feet, groin, seat or over a major joint
This type of combustion can be managed even with water and more water

Degree Combustion

When both the outer skin layer and the next skin layer (the dermis) are burned, the burn is called a second degree
Blisters form and the skin becomes intensely red
Second degree burns cause severe pain and swelling
If a second degree burn is no larger than 5-7 cm in diameter, it is treated as a first degree burn
If the burned area is larger, or if the burn has occurred on the hands, feet, groin, seat or over a larger joint, you must see a doctor as soon as possible

Degree Combustion

The most severe burns do not hurt because the nerve endings are destroyed. These burns involve all the layers of the skin, including the subcutaneous tissue
Fat, muscles and even bones can be damaged
Areas may be charred or appear dry and white

Degree Combustion

Burning through all layers of the skin plus muscle, tendon or bone tissue

Sprain

A sprain occurs when there is a large and incorrect load on the joints. When, for example, you step on the wrong foot, the entire body weight will stress the ligaments abnormally and thereby strengthen the ligaments.

Symptoms are:

Swelling
Pain
Reduced mobility
Discoloration.

Use the R.I.C.E principle for first aid

R= remainder
- Keep the damaged area at rest for the first day
I = Ice
- Cool the damaged area with ice or cold water. cool for about 30 minutes and then take a one-hour break. Repeat until the swelling is gone.
C=Compression
- Be sure to compress the injured area immediately to limit internal bleeding. Either with a t-shirt, a compress or whatever you have on hand. After 10-20 minutes a support bandage can be placed around the joint.
E=Elevation
- Elevate the injured area above heart level to minimize pressure on the injured body part. Avoid leaning on or using the damaged body part until the swelling has subsided.

Nosebleed

If a person has a nosebleed, the person must sit with their head slightly forward so that the blood can drain. pinch with two fingers on the bridge of the nose between the soft and hard part for about 10 minutes. Don't put your head back as the blood runs down the throat. If the nosebleed does not stop after 30 minutes, see a doctor or emergency room.

Epilepsi

Epilepsy is a disease of the brain in which certain areas easily run wild or send uncoordinated impulses through the nerves. This triggers attacks of universal convulsions, i.e. epileptic seizures

Symptoms

Unconsciousness
Universal cramps
Possibly. Departure of urine

First aid

Be calm, even if it looks violent. the person is not in pain, is not suffering and is not in danger
Try to lay the person down and loosen tight clothing around the neck
protect head against impact
don't try to stick anything between your teeth, it won't help and can hurt
When the convulsions have ceased, the person is placed in a stable side position to create a free airway.
Stay with the person until the person is conscious and able to fend for themselves
Ambulance, doctor, hospital is only necessary if the shortness of breath lasts more than a few minutes or it recurs.

Diabetes

Diabetes is caused by reduced or no production of the hormone insulin in the pancreas. Insulin's job is to transport sugar from the blood into the cells. If you have diabetes and have an attack, it can either be due to too little sugar in the blood (low blood sugar) or too much sugar in the blood (high blood sugar). Low blood sugar is most dangerous as it develops quickly and can lead to unconsciousness. High blood sugar can also lead to unconsciousness, but this will often develop over several days.

Symptoms of low blood sugar

Development is fast
the person is unclear, restless, aggressive and may look like a drunk
normal breathing, sweaty skin, tremors in muscles
may develop into unconsciousness, possibly cramps

First aid for low blood sugar

If the person is awake, something sweet to drink or eat must be given. no light products.
Remember, an unconscious person must not be given anything to drink or eat
In case of unconsciousness. step by step first aid.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Development is slow
The person is normally awake, but may progress to unconsciousness
Dry skin
Sometimes rapid, deep breathing with a smell of acetone
Nausea and vomiting
Lethargy

First aid for high blood sugar

Step-by-step first aid
- If you are in doubt whether your blood sugar is high or low, give sugar. it doesn't make a big difference if the blood sugar is already high, but it can make a difference if the blood sugar is low

Safe handling of materials and substances

Follow all established procedures and perform work duties as you have been trained.
Be careful and plan ahead. Think about what can go wrong and pay close attention to what you are doing while working with or around hazardous materials.
Always use required safety and materials, inspect it carefully before each use to ensure it is safe to use. Replace worn material; it will not provide adequate protection.
Ensure that all containers are properly labeled and that the materials are contained in an appropriate container. Do not use chemicals that are not contained or labeled correctly. Report damaged containers or illegible labels to your principal immediately.
Read labels and safety data sheets before using any material to ensure you understand hazards and precautions.
Use all materials only for their intended purpose. For example, don't use solvents to wash your hands or gasoline to clean equipment.
Never eat or drink while handling hazardous material. If your hands are contaminated, do not use cosmetics or handle contact lenses.
Employees who handle hazardous materials must read labels on chemicals they use or handle and have safety data sheets available to refer to that explain how to properly handle, store, and clean up spills, and that explain appropriate first aid procedures.
Store all hazardous materials properly, separate incompatible materials and store in ventilated, dry, cool areas.
Employees must keep themselves and the work area clean. After handling hazardous material, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Clean work surfaces at least once per change so that contamination risks are minimized.
Learn about emergency procedures and equipment. Understanding emergency procedures means knowing evaluation procedures, emergency reporting procedures and how to handle fires or spills/leaks. It also means knowing what to do in a medical emergency if a colleague is injured or overcome by chemicals.
Keep eyewash and shower stations clean. Test them at least once a month to ensure they are working properly and keep them available; don't let clutter build up around the stations.