First Aid

First aid is always a good thing to be familiar with in times of need. Below are injuries and their respective treatments most common to an earthquake scenario. Please be advised that first aid should be performed by someone who has the proper qualifications to reduce the risk of further injury. There are many courses available to the public to be able to learn first aid and other skills. They can be found in the “training courses” subheading in the “Be Prepared” section or by clicking here.

Training Courses

The below treatments are Canadian Red Cross recognized first aid methods. These methods are supported by the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and many other life saving services.

When the term “EMS” is used, it is referring to “Emergency Medical Services” such as an ambulance, etc.

 

Nosebleeds

Causes of Nosebleeds

  • Forceful nose blowing
  • Trauma to the nose
  • Dry weather conditions
  • High blood pressure
  • Bleeding disorders

Preventing Nosebleeds

  • Use a humidifier if the air indoors is dry
  • Wear protective athletic equipment when participating in sports that could cause injury to the nose
  • Encourage gentle nose blowing

Signs and Symptoms of Nosebleeds

  • Blood coming from the nose

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1 if the person looses consciousness, if the bleeding continues after 15 minutes, if the bleeding starts again, or if the bleeding was caused as a result of a medical condition or head injury.
  4. Have the person sit with their head slightly forward while pinching the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Once you have controlled the bleeding, tell the person to avoid rubbing, blowing, or picking the nose because this could start the bleeding again.
  6. If the person looses consciousness, place them in the recovery position to allow blood to drain from the nose.
  7. If the bleed was caused by an object in the nose and the object is easy to grab, then gently pull it out. However, don’t feel around inside the nostril with your finger. If there is an object in the nose that you cannot remove easily, the person should seek medical attention.

Notes

  • If the nosebleed was caused by a severe head injury, do not pinch the nose.
  • After everything is treated, have the person rub a little water-soluble jelly inside the nostril to help keep it from drying out.

 

Cuts and Scrapes

A cut is a wound where the skin has been split open or torn away. The edges of the wound can be jagged or smooth.

Scrapes are wounds where the skin has been rubbed or scraped away.

Causes of Cuts and Scrapes

  • Any object that rubs or scraped the skin away
  • A sharp object

Sign and Symptoms of Cuts and Scrapes

  • Possible bleeding
  • Pain

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. There is usually minimal bleeding with scrapes. If this is the case, go directly to step 4. If there is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound until it stops.
  4. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
  5. If possible, rinse the wound for five minutes with clean, running tap water.
  6. If an antibiotic ointment or cream is available, put it on the wound as recommended by a pharmacist. Ask the person if they have a sensitivity to any antibiotics, such as penicillin. If so, do not apply the ointment.
  7. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and/or bandage.

Notes

  • Watch for signs of infection in the days to come.
  • If there is a great deal of dirt or contamination in the wound, the injured person should seek medical attention.
  • If the blood soaks through the dressing, add more dressings on top. Do not remove the soaked dressings that are in direct contact with the wound! If you cannot control the bleeding, make sure the person gets medical attention immediately.
  • Stitches may be needed for the cut if:
    • The edges of the skin don’t fall together
    • The wound is more that 2.5 cm long
    • The wound is near joints on the hands or feet
    • The wound is on the face
  • Stitches will speed up healing, reduce the chance of infection, and leave a less noticeable scar.

 

External Deadly Bleeding

Preventing Deadly Bleeding

  • Be familiar with your surroundings
  • Keep all sharp objects, such as knives, in a safe place
  • Be aware of any machinery in the workplace
  • Wear appropriate safety equipment at work
  • Be familiar with your equipment
  • Get proper training on machinery in the workplace
  • Stay alert

Signs and Symptoms of External Deadly Bleeding

  • Large amounts of bleeding
  • Signs of shock

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Have someone call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Expose the wound.
  5. Apply direct pressure to the bleeding.
  6. Secure dressing.
  7. Provide continual care until EMS personnel arrive.

 

Impaled Objects

If the object that created the injury is stuck in the wound, it is called an impaled object.

Causes of Impaled Objects

  • Any force that causes an object to penetrate the skin and underlying tissues

Signs and Symptoms of Impaled Objects

  • An object sticking out of the body
  • Pain
  • Shock
  • Bleeding

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Leave the object in place.
  5. Stabilize the object by putting bulky dressings around it.
  6. Use bandages to keep the dressings in place.
  7. Continue treatment until EMS personnel arrives.

 

Internal Deadly Bleeding

Signs and Symptoms of Internal Deadly Bleeding

  • Bruising in the injured area
  • Soft tissues (such as the abdomen) that are tender, swollen, or hard
  • Shock
  • Blood in saliva or vomit
  • Pain

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Help the person rest in the most comfortable position.
  5. Provide continual care until EMS personnel arrive.

Note

  • You should suspect internal bleeding in any injury that involved a forceful blow to the body
  • Internal bleeding is more difficult to recognize than external bleeding because the signs and symptoms are less obvious and they may take longer to appear

 

Concussion

A concussion happens when a blow to the head shakes the brain inside the skull. This can result in bleeding and/or swelling in or around the brain.

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

  • In most cases, if someone looses consciousness, it is for only a short period of time, although sometimes it lasts several minutes
  • The person may say that they “blacked out” or “saw stars”
  • Sometimes the person is confused or has memory loss

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1 if you are unsure of how serious the injury is.
  4. Provide continual treatment until help arrives.

 

Head and Spine Injuries

Head and spine injuries can be fatal. People who survive can have physical difficulties and problems with how their brain works. This includes paralysis, speech and memory problems, and behavioral disorders. Head and spine injuries may lead to permanent disability.

Causes of Head and Spine Injuries

  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • Falls
  • Recreation/sport injuries
  • Violent acts, such as assault

You should suspect that there are head and spine injuries in the following situations:

  • A fall from any height
  • Any diving injury
  • A person found unconscious for unknown reasons
  • Any injury that involves a strong blow to the head or trunk
  • Any injury that causes a wound in the head or trunk
  • A motor vehicle collision or roll-over or ejection from a vehicle
  • Any injury in which the person’s helmet is damaged
  • A lightning strike
  • Electrocution

Signs and Symptoms of Head Injuries

  • Changes in level of consciousness and behavior
  • Severe pain or pressure in the head
  • Blood or clear fluid coming from ears of nose
  • Heavy bleeding from the head
  • Unusual bumps on the head
  • Seizures
  • Problems breathing or seeing properly
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Unequal pupil size
  • A headache that won’t go away
  • Weakness or an inability to use a leg or arm
  • Loss of balance
  • Bruising of the head, especially around the eyes and behind the ears

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Once you reach the person, make sure the head and spine move as little as possible by placing your hands on both sides of the person’s head. Gently support the person’s head in the position in which you found it until EMS personnel arrive.
  5. If the person is wearing a helmet, leave it on unless it makes it difficult for you to manage the person’s airways.
  6. Do not let go of the head.
  7. Unless the person is in immediate danger, do not move them.

 

Amputations

An amputation is a complete or partial severing of a body part. Although there is a lot of damage to the tissues, bleeding is usually not severe.

Causes of Amputations

  • Any force great enough to completely or partially cut or tear away a limb from the rest of the body

Signs and Symptoms of Amputations

  • Shock
  • Pain
  • A part of the body completely or partially disconnected from the rest of the body
  • Bleeding

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Treat any bleeding with direct pressure.
  5. Try to retrieve the amputated body part.
  6. Wrap the amputated part in a clean cloth or gauze.
  7. Place the amputated part in a plastic bag.
  8. Keep the amputated part cool by placing the bag on ice and wrap it so that the body part does not freeze.
  9. Label the container that contains the body part (person’s name, date, and time).
  10. Make sure the amputated part goes with the injured person to the hospital.
  11. Provide person with continual care until EMS personnel arrive.

 

Bone, Muscle, Joint Injuries

Types of Injuries

  • Sprain – the stretching or tearing of ligaments at a joint
  • Strain – the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons
  • Dislocation – an injury that moves a bone out of its normal position at a joint
  • Fracture – a break, chip, or crack in a bone. In an open fracture, the bone breaks through the skin; in a closed fracture, the skin isn’t broken

Causes of Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries

  • Falls
  • Awkward or sudden movements
  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • A direct blow to the body
  • Repetitive forces, such as running (stress fractures)
  • Many contact and non-contact sports

Signs and Symptoms of Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries

  • Pain
  • Deformity or a broken bone sticking out of the skin
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Inability to move the body part or difficulty moving it
  • The sound of a snap or pop when the injury happened
  • Shock

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. Treat the injury using the RICE method:
    • Rest – have the person stop what they were doing.
    • Immobilize – Immobilize the injured area in the position that you found it.
    • Cold – Cool the affected area for 20 minutes of every hour for the first 24 to 48 hours. If you use ice, put some sort of thin cloth or pad between it and the bare skin to avoid freezing the skin.
    • Elevate – Keep the injured area above the level of the heart if possible. However, do not raise the injured area if moving it will cause pain.
  5. Provide continual care until help is present.

 

Crush Injury

A crush injury occurs when there is a great deal of pressure on a part of the body. It is often caused by being squeezed between two heavy or immobile objects.

Signs and Symptoms of a Crush Injury

  • Person may still be crushed under the object(s) or between two objects
  • Possible wound
  • Deformity
  • Signs of Internal bleeding
  • Shock
  • Pain

Treatment

  1. Check the scene for danger.
  2. If it is safe to do so, check the person.
  3. Call EMS/9-1-1
  4. If object makes it difficult for the person to breath or impairs their circulation, try to remove the object; otherwise, leave them as they are.
  5. Provide continual care until EMS personnel arrive.