notes for BFA 2010

what you'll be expected to know(theory) :

• wounds
• types of bleeding
• types of burns
• fracture
• dislocation
• degree of burn
• shock
• heat exhaustion
• heatstroke
• stings

what you'll be expected to know(practical) :

• arm sling
• elevation sling
• choking
• recovery position
• head to toe survey (maybe)

Theory

wounds:

1. contusion (bruise)

• due to a blunt object
• eg boxing
• capillaries bleeding
• skin may split

2. incised wound

• due to a sharp object
• eg pen knife
• a clean and straight cut
• vessels may be cut- profuse bleeding

3. laceration

• tear in skin
• eg barbed wire, claws, barbed machinery
• edges irregular
• tissues more damaged and bruising than incise wound

4. puncture wound

• wound has a clean cut but rugged opening at the back
• eg gunshot

5. abrasion( graze)

• due to sliding fall/ friction burn
• superficial wound , top of skin scraped off

Quiz for this:

If a gangster was punched on his stomach, what wound is he likely to have?

ans: contusion

If a maniac accidentally stabbed himself, what wound is he likely to have?

ans: puncture wound

Next lesson: Types of Bleeding

1. arterial bleeding
2. venous bleeding
3. capillary bleeding

Arterial bleeding:

• blood is rapid and profuse
• bright red blood
• spurts out

Venous bleeding:

• blood flows at a steady rate
• dark red blood
• gushes profusely

Capillary bleeding:

• slow ooze
• slight blood loss
• usually a bruise is bleeding is into tissues

Quiz for this:

What should you do to reduce the bleeding process?

ans: apply direct pressure

Next lesson: Types of burns

1. dry burn
2. scald
3. electrical burn
4. cold injury

Dry burn:

• eg carpet burn
• usually due to friction

Scald:

• eg due to hot vapour/ liquid

Cold injury:

• eg frostbite/ dry ice/ liquid nitrogen

Electrical burn:

• due to high/ low voltages
• low: domestic cable appliances
• eg charger for phones
• high: cable for homes
• eg tv cable (maybe)

Degree of Burn:

1. 1 degree (superficial burn)
2. 2 degree (partial thickness burn)
3. 3 degree (full- thickness burn)

Quiz for this:

How should you help a person whose hand is still stuck in the electrical switch and is still being electricuted?

ans: try pulling him away with a non-metallic material/ dry material

Should you use a toothpaste to relieve the pain of the burn?

Ans: No, this may worsen the burn as toothpaste is sticky

Next lesson (fracture):

Defination of fracture:

It is a partial/complete crack or break in a bone

To recognise it:

pain/ swell/ disformity

*To help casualty who has a fracture, perform arm sling + immobilisation

1. open fracture

a break of bone but skin is still intact. No sign of bone protruding out of skin

2. closed fracture

a break of bone and skin is 'cutted'. Bone is protruding out of skin.

3. Dislocation

its when a bone and joint (eg collar bone) has lost its original position

Quiz for this:

what should you never do to a casualty with dislocation?

ans: you should never try relocating the bone back

Next lesson (shock):

• may be defined as failure of circulatory system to perfuse tissues of a body
• may be due to: blood loss/ vessel dilate/ decrease in cardiac output
• can lead to death if untreated
• to recognise: restlessness, extreme thirst, rapid shallow breathing, rapid weak pulse, clammy skin

Quiz for this:

What is the cause of shock?

1. fluid volume loss only
2. blood vessel dilation only
3. decreased cardiac output only
4. all of the above

ans: 4

Next lesson (heat exhaustion):

• severe tiredness due to loss of body fluid through excessive sweating from strenuous activity

symptoms:

• heavy sweating
• cramps in arms, legs
• headache
• clammy, pale skin
• rapid pulse + breathing
• nausea/ vomitting

how? what should i do? :

1. help casualty to cool place
2. lay him down + raise legs
3. give him water to drink
4. monitor breathing + pulse

Next lesson (heat stroke):

• occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature (above 40 degrees celcius)
• maybe due to high fever/ long heat exposure

how to recognise?

• headache
• restlessness
• hot flushed/ dry skin
• rapid strong pulse
• body temperature >4o degrees

what to do?

1. move casualty to cool place
2. remove as much outer clothing as possible
3. cool casualty by wrapping him with a wet sheet and keep it wet till body turns to 38 degrees
4. if no sheet available, use a fan
5. after body temperature turns to 38, change towel with a dry one

Last lesson (stings):

1. insect stings
2. stings by marine creatures
3. animal stings

1 insect stings:

• extract the stings with forceps if possible
• apply cold compress to relieve pain
• advise casualty to see a doctor if pain and swelling persists

2. marine creatures:

• pour vinegar/ sea water to stop stinging cells from releasing venom
• dust dry powder over affected area. so that stinging cells can stick together
• brush off powder with a clean pad
• monitor casualty for breathing

3. animal bites

• wash wound with soap + water
• pat wound dry with gauze
• do dressing
• seek medical attention

Quiz for this:

Should you use a fluffy/ non-fluffy pad to brush off the powder?

ans: non- fluffy. as the fluff of the fluffy pad may stick onto the skin and worsen the injury.

In addition:

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (aka CPR)

*This post is done based on what i can mostly remember. Hence if you've taken down notes during lesson, thats a good thing.

* Jiayous for tomorrow exam ^^