NSTP NOTES

SHOCK

Shock - not to be confused with emotional shock – is a life-threatening condition. It happens

when the body isn’t getting enough oxygen to the vital organs. Find out what to look for and
what to do.

Shock is the state of insufficient blood flow to the tissues of the body as a result of problems
with the circulatory system. Initial symptoms of shock may include weakness, fast heart rate,
fast breathing, sweating, anxiety, and increased thirst. This may be followed by confusion,
unconsciousness, or cardiac arrest, as complications worsen.

Objectives of FIRST AID for SHOCK

● To improve circulation of blood
● To ensure an adequate supply of oxygen
● To maintain normal body temperature

Signs and symptoms

● rapid, weak, or absent pulse
● irregular heartbeat
● rapid, shallow breathing
● lightheadedness
● cool, clammy skin
● dilated pupils
● lackluster eyes
● chest pain
● nausea
● confusion
● anxiety
● decrease in urine
● thirst and dry mouth
● low blood sugar
● loss of consciousness

What causes shock to occur?

Anything that affects the flow of blood through your body can cause shock. Some causes of
shock include:
● severe allergic reaction
● significant blood loss
● heart failure
● blood infections
● dehydration
● poisoning
 ● Burns
● Crushing injury
● Infection
● Heart attack
● Perforation
● Shell bomb and bullet wound
● Rupture of tubal pregnancies
● Anaphylaxis
● Starvation and disease

ANAPHYLAXIS

Angioedema of the face such that the boy is unable to

open his eyes. This reaction was caused by an allergen
exposure.

How is shock diagnosed?

First responders and doctors often recognize shock by its external symptoms. They may also
check for:
● low blood pressure
● weak pulse
● rapid heartbeat

Once they’ve diagnosed shock, their first priority is to provide lifesaving treatment to get blood
circulating through the body as quickly as possible. This can be done by giving fluid, drugs,
blood products, and supportive care. It won’t resolve unless they can find and treat the cause.

Once you’re stable, your doctor can try to diagnose the cause of shock. To do so, they may
order one or more tests, such as imaging or blood tests.

How is shock treated?

Shock can lead to unconsciousness, breathing problems, and even cardiac arrest:
● If you suspect that you’re experiencing shock, get medical help immediately.
● If you suspect that someone else has gone into shock, call the emergency problem and
provide first aid treatment until professional help arrives.
First aid treatment
If you suspect someone has gone into shock, call the emergency hotlines Then follow these
steps:
● If they’re unconscious, check to see if they’re still breathing and have a heartbeat.
● If you don’t detect breathing or a heartbeat, begin CPR.

If they’re breathing:
● Lay them down on their back.
● Elevate their feet at least 12 inches above the ground. This position, known as the shock
position, helps direct blood to their vital organs where it’s most needed.
● Cover them with a blanket or extra clothing to help keep them warm.
● Check their breathing and heart rate regularly for changes.

If you suspect the person has injured their head, neck, or back, avoid moving them.

Apply first aid to any visible wounds. If you suspect the person is experiencing an allergic
reaction, ask them if they have an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen). People with severe
allergies often carry this device.

It contains an easy-to-inject needle with a dose of hormone called epinephrine. You can use it to
treat anaphylaxis.

If they begin to vomit, turn their head sideways. This helps prevent choking. If you suspect
they’ve injured their neck or back, avoid turning their head. Instead, stabilize their neck and roll
their entire body to the side to clear the vomit out

First Aid and Preventive Management of SHOCK

● Proper Posture
● Proper Heat
● Proper Transfer

Dangers of Shock
● Lead to death
● Predisposes body to infection
● Lead to loss of body parts
 WOUNDS

Wound is an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or another impact, typically one in
which the skin is cut or broken.

Two classifications of wound

● Open wound is an injury involving an external or internal break in body tissue, usually
involving the skin. Nearly everyone will experience an open wound at some point in their
life. Most open wounds are minor and can be treated at home.

Falls, accidents with sharp objects, and car accidents are the most common causes of open
wounds. In the case of a serious accident, you should seek immediate medical care. This is
especially true if there’s a lot of bleeding or if bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes

Four types of open wounds

● Abrasion
An abrasion occurs when your skin rubs or scrapes against a rough or hard surface. Road rash
is an example of an abrasion. There’s usually not a lot of bleeding, but the wound needs to be
scrubbed and cleaned to avoid infection.

● Laceration
A laceration is a deep cut or tearing of your skin. Accidents with knives, tools, and machinery
are frequent causes of lacerations. In the case of deep lacerations, bleeding can be rapid and
extensive.

● Puncture
A puncture is a small hole caused by a long, pointy object, such as a nail or needle. Sometimes,
a bullet can cause a puncture wound.

Punctures may not bleed much, but these wounds can be deep enough to damage internal
organs. If you have even a small puncture wound, visit your doctor to get a tetanus shot and
prevent infection.

● Avulsion
An avulsion is a partial or complete tearing away of skin and the tissue beneath. Avulsions
usually occur during violent accidents, such as body-crushing accidents, explosions, and
gunshots. They bleed heavily and rapidly.

How dangerous is the open wound?

It can cause:
● Hemorrhage
● Infection
● shock.
First Aid Management for Open Wound With Severe Bleeding
● C- Control Bleeding
● C- Cover the wound
● C- Care for shock
● C- Call or refer to physician

First Aid Management of Wound With Bleeding Not Severe (Home Care)
● Clean the wound with soap and water.
● Apply mild antiseptics.
● Cover wound with dressing and bandage.

● Closed wound, the skin’s surface is not broken; therefore, tissue damage and any
bleeding occur below the surface. The simplest closed wound is a bruise. A bruise
develops when the body is bumped or hit, such as when you bump your leg on a table or
chair.

The force of the blow to the body damages the soft-tissue layers beneath the skin. This causes
internal bleeding. Blood and other fluids seep into the surrounding tissues, causing the area to
swell and change color. A more serious closed wound can be caused by a violent force hitting
the body. This type of force can injure larger blood vessels and deeper layers of muscle tissue,
which may result in heavy bleeding beneath the skin and damage to internal organs.
First Aid Management for Closed Wound
● I - ice application
● C - compression
● E - elevation
● S- splinting

● To care for a closed wound, you can apply an ice pack to the area to decrease bleeding
beneath the skin.
● Applying cold also can be effective in helping to control both pain and swelling.
● Fill a plastic bag with ice and water or wrap ice in a wet cloth and apply it to the injured
area for periods of about 20 minutes.
➢ Place a thin barrier between the ice and bare skin.
➢ Remove the ice and wait for 20 minutes before reapplying.
➢ If the person is not able to tolerate a 20-minute application, apply the ice pack for
periods of 10 minutes on and off.
➢ Elevating the injured part may help to reduce swelling; however, do not elevate
the injured part if it causes more pain.
● Do not assume that all closed wounds are minor injuries. Take the time to find out
whether more serious injuries could be present.
● With all closed wounds, help the person to rest in the most comfortable position possible.
In addition, keep the person from getting chilled or overheated.
● It also is helpful to comfort and reassure the person.
● Be sure that a person with an injured lower extremity does not bear weight on it until
advised to do so by a medical professional.
 BURNS

Burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially among children. The term
“burn” means more than the burning sensation associated with this injury. Burns are
characterized by severe skin damage that causes the affected skin cells to die.

This results from heat, chemicals, electricity or solar or other forms of radiation.

Most people can recover from burns without serious health consequences, depending on the
cause and degree of injury. More serious burns require immediate emergency medical care to
prevent complications and death.

Common causes of Burn

● Carelessness with matches and cigarette smoking.
● Scald from hot liquid.
● Defective heating, cooking and electrical equipment.
● Immersion in overheated bath water.
● Use of such chemicals such as lye, strong acids and strong detergents.

Types of BURN Injuries

● Thermal Burn - Not all thermal burns are

caused by flames. Contact with hot objects,
flammable vapor that ignites and causes a flash or
an explosion, and steams or hot liquid are other
common causes of burns. A thermal burn is a type
of burn resulting from making contact with heated
objects, such as boiling water, steam, hot cooking
oil, fire, and hot objects. Scalds are the most common type of thermal burn suffered by
children, but for adults thermal burns are most commonly caused by fire.

Factors to Determine theSeriousness of Thermal Burns

1. The depth
● 1st degree – (superficial thickness burn): The damage is restricted only to the outer or
topmost layer (epidermis) of the skin.
● 2nd degree – (partial thickness burn): The damage crosses the epidermis and reaches
the layer (dermis) underneath.
● 3rd degree – (full thickness burn): The deepest layer (hypodermis) of the skin is
damaged.
● 4th degree - (full-thickness burns): The skin is destroyed completely with damage to the
underlying structures, such as nerves, tendons, and bones.
2. The Extent to the affected Body Surface Area-Rule of Nine, Rule of Palm
3. Location of the Burns
4. Victim’s Age and Medical Condition
Care for Thermal Burn
First and Second Degree Burn
● Relieve pain by immersing the burned area in cold water or by applying a wet, cold cloth.
● If cold water is unavailable, use any cold liquid you drink to reduce the burned skin’s
temperature.

Third Degree Burn

● Cover the burn with a dry, non-sticking, sterile dressing or a clean cloth.
● Treat the victim for shock by elevating the legs and keeping the victim warm with a clean
sheet or blanket.

● Chemical Burn - Chemical burns

can be caused by many substances, such
as strong acids, drain cleaners (lye), paint
thinner and gasoline. Chemicals will
continue to cause tissue destruction until
the chemical agent is removed.

Care for chemical burn

● Immediately remove the chemical by flushing with water.
● Remove the victim’s contaminated clothing while flushing with water.
● Flush for 20 minutes or longer.
● Let the victim wash with mild soap before a final rinse.
● Cover the burned area with a dry dressing or for large areas use clean pillowcase.
● If the chemical is in the eye, flush it for 20 mins. using low pressure.
● Seek medical attention immediately for all chemical burns.
 ● Electrical Burn - An
electrical burn is a skin burn that
happens when electricity comes in
contact with your body. When
electricity comes in contact with
your body, it can travel through your
body. When this happens, the
electricity can damage tissues and
organs. This damage can be mild or severe – and it can even cause death.

The injury/severity from exposure to electrical current depends on the type of current (direct or
altering), the voltage, the area of the body exposed and the duration of contact.

Care for Electrical Burns

● Unplug, disconnect, or turn off the power. If that is impossible, call the Power Company
or ask for help
● Check the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation).
● Provide Rescue Breathing or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation if needed
● If the victim fell, check for spine injury
● Treat the victim for shock
● Seek medical attention immediately.

Electrical injuries are treated in burn centers.

How do I heal a burn quickly?

The speed at which a burn heals depends on the cause of the burn and how extensive and
deep the burn is.

Antibiotic creams can prevent or treat infections due to burns. Serious burns need regular
cleaning of the wound, replacing the skin (skin grafting), and a rich supply of fluids and nutrition
with a few to several days of hospital stay.

General tips for healing a burn quickly include:

● Keep the burn clean and protected with a dressing
● Avoid rubbing or scratching the skin; trim your nails regularly
● Moisturize the burnt skin after the wound heals to prevent scarring (petroleum jelly can
be used 2 to 3 times a day)
● Increase your protein intake
● Drink plenty of water
● Wear a hat and long-sleeved tops and apply a sunscreen lotion while in the sun
● Wear loose clothes
● Ask your doctor if you can use antibiotic creams or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
to hasten wound healing
What happens if a burn is left untreated?
The most common complications of an untreated burn, depending on its depth, include
infections and scarring.

Severe cases of deeper burns that cover an extensive part of the body can lead to dehydration,
shock, and even death if left untreated.

Preventing all degrees of burns

The obvious best way to fight burns is to prevent them from happening. Certain jobs put you at
a greater risk for burns, but the fact is that most burns happen at home. Infants and young
children are the most vulnerable to burns. Preventive measures you can take at home include:
● Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.
● Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
● Place a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
● Test smoke detectors once a month.
● Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
● Keep the water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
● Measure bath water temperature before use.
● Lock up matches and lighters.
● Install electrical outlet covers.
● Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.
● Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear gloves during chemical use.
● Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.
● Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.
● Clean out dryer lint traps regularly.

It’s also important to have a fire escape plan and to practice it with your family once a month. In
the event of a fire, make sure to crawl underneath smoke. This will minimize the risk of passing
out and becoming trapped in a fire.
 POISONING

Poison is any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) that tends to impair health or causes death when
introduced into the body or onto the skin surface.

Common Poison
● Household products
● Contaminated food/raw food
● Venomous animals
● Medications
● Hazardous chemicals
● Carbon monoxide

Ways in which poisoning may occur

● Ingestion - by mouth
● Inhalation - by nose
● Injection - by animal bites, stings, syringes
● Absorption - by skin contact

Ingested poisoning - is one in which introduced into the digestive tract by way of the mouth.

Signs and symptoms of ingested poisoning

● Altered mental status
● History of ingestion poison
● Burns around the mouth
● Nausea and vomiting
● Abdominal pain/diarrhea
● Odd breath odors

Instances when vomiting should not be induced

● If unresponsive.
● Cannot maintain an airway
● Has ingested an acid, a corrosive such as lye, or a petroleum product such as gasoline
or furniture polish
● Has a medical condition that could be complicated by vomiting, such as heart attack,
seizures, and pregnancy

First aid for ingested poisoning

● Try to identify the poison.
● Place the victim on her left side.
● Monitor ABCs of life.
● Save any empty container, spoiled food for analysis.
● Save any vomitus keep it with the victim if he or she is taken to an emergency facility
Absorbed poisoning - is a poison that enters the body through the skin.

Signs and symptoms of absorbed poison

● History of exposures
● Liquid or powder on the skin
● Burns
● Itching
● Redness, rash, or blisters

First aid for absorbed poison

● Remove the clothing.
● With a dry cloth, blot the poison from the skin. If the poison is dry powder, brush it off.
● Flood the area with copious amounts of water.
● Continually monitor the patient’s vital signs.

Injected poisoning - is a poison that enters the body through a bite, sting, or syringe.

Injected poisoning
● Insect bites
● spider/scorpion bites
● Marine life sting
● Snake bites
● Human and animal bites

Signs and symptoms of insect bites

● Stinger may be present
● Pain
● Swelling
● Possible allergic
● Reaction

Signs and symptoms of spider/scorpion bites

● Bite mark
● Swelling
● Pain
● Nausea and vomiting
● Difficulty in breathing or swallowing

First aid for spider/scorpion ring

● Wash wounds.
● Apply a cold pack.
● Get medical care to receive antivenom.
● Call the local emergency number, if necessary.
Signs and symptoms of marine life sting
● Possible marks
● Pain
● Swelling
● Possible allergic reaction

First aid for marine life sting

● Soak area in vinegar (if jellyfish).
● Soak in non-scalding hot water until pain goes away (if stingray).
● Clean and bandage the wound.
● Call the local emergency number, if necessary.

Signs and symptoms of snake bites

● Two puncture wounds
● Swelling and redness around the wounds
● Pain at the bite site
● Difficulty breathing
● Vomiting and nausea
● Blurred vision
● Sweating and salivating
● Numbness in the face and limbs
● Shock

First aid for snake bites

● Note the time of the bite.
● Keep calm and still as movement can cause the venom to travel more quickly through
the body.
● Remove constricting clothing or jewelry because the area surrounding the bite will likely
swell.
● Don’t allow the victim to walk. Carry or transport them by vehicle.
● Do not kill or handle the snake. Take a picture if you can but don’t waste time hunting it
down.

Signs and symptoms of human and animal bites

● Localized redness around your wound
● Warmth around the bite area
● Red streaks leading away from the bite
● Fever
● Swelling
● Pain
First aid for human and animal bites
● Calm and reassure the person.
● Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before treating the wound.
● Wash your hands again afterward.
● Stop the wound from bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean, dry cloth.
● Wash the wound. Use mild soap and warm, running water. Rinse the bite for 3-5
minutes.
● Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound. This may help reduce the risk for infection.
● Put on a dry, sterile bandage.
● If the bite is on the neck, face, hand, fingers, or feer, call your provider right away.