PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

What is internal bleeding? It is difficult to recognise internal bleeding. However, Emergency Responders should always suspect internal bleeding when a person is injured. Injuries that commonly cause internal bleeding include those caused by a violent blunt force or when an object penetrates the skin and damages internal organs. Car accidents and falling from extreme heights may also cause internal bleeding. Unlike external bleeding, internal bleeding may also be due to medical conditions such as ulcers, haemophilia (a lack of ability to clot blood from a wound) or aneurysm (internal bursting of a blood vessel). Common signs of internal bleeding include anxiety and restlessness, rapid breathing, rapid and weak pulse, unconsciousness and pale tongue along with bleeding from a body opening such as the ears, mouth and nose. Three symptoms of internal bleeding include, pain and tenderness around the affected area, thirst and nausea. Unlike external bleeding, Emergency Responders can do little for a person with internal bleeding. If you suspect a casualty has internal bleeding, call EMS immediately, keep the patient comfortable and immobile (unless in harm’s way). Internal bleeding typically requires surgery. Cardiac conditions What are the indications of cardiac arrest and how do you manage them? Cardiac arrest symptoms are immediate and drastic and may include a sudden collapse, no normal breathing and a loss of consciousness. Other indications may precede sudden cardiac arrest, such as fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations or vomiting. If the casualty is not breathing normally begin CPR/defibrillation as soon as possible. Ensure you also alert EMS. Choking and airway obstruction How do you recognise upper airway obstruction? Airway obstruction may be partial or complete and may be present in the conscious or the unconscious casualty. Typical causes include relaxation of the airway muscles due to unconsciousness, inhaled foreign body, trauma to the airway, severe allergic reaction. During partial obstruction breathing is laboured and may be noisy, some escape of air can be felt from the mouth. During complete obstruction, there may be efforts at breathing or no sound of breathing, there is no escape of air from nose and/or mouth. How do you manage foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO, or choking)? Assess the severity, check if there is an effective cough. Effective cough (mild airway obstruction): encourage coughing and continue the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS) until EMS personnel arrive. Ineffective cough (severe airway obstruction): if casualty is conscious, call EMS, give up to 5 back blows – if this is not effective, give up to 5 chest thrusts. If casualty is unconscious, call EMS and commence CPR.

PADI RTO HLTAID002 - PROVIDE BASIC EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT Bleeding control What is severe bleeding? Experience tells you that when the skin and underlying tissue is cut, scraped or punctured, there’s going to be blood. How much blood flows from the wound and how quickly it leaves the body is what determines whether it’s a minor problem or severe, life-threatening bleeding. As we’ve learnt, the human body contains about six litres of blood. Rapid loss of just one litre is dangerous and can lead to death. Because severe bleeding is life-threatening you, as an Emergency Responder, need to be able to recognise and manage this during a primary assessment. Severe bleeding management is the first S in the last step of the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS). What are the basic principles for the control of severe bleeding? First, ensure safety for the casualty and yourself, the Emergency Responder – use barriers. Stop the bleeding to conserve the casualty’s own blood. Remember to reassure the casualty during first aid care and encourage rest. Transport casualty to the hospital or call Emergency Medical Services if they appear pale, sweaty, agitated and thirsty due to blood loss (these indications may be associated with internal bleeding). What are the three types of bleeding and how is each identified? In general, there are three types of external bleeding. In an emergency, it’s not critical for you to diagnose the exact type of bleeding. However, by knowing the differences you’ll be better able to judge how severe the bleeding is and how best to manage it. During Skill Development you’ll learn how to control severe bleeding using direct pressure and pressure points. Arterial Bleeding Bright red blood that spurts from a wound in rhythm with the heartbeat. This is the most serious type of bleeding since blood loss occurs very quickly. If a major artery is cut, death can occur within a minute Venous Bleeding Dark red blood steadily flowing from the wound without rhythmic spurts. This bleeding can also be life-threatening and must be controlled as quickly as possible. Capillary Bleeding Blood slowly oozing from the wound. This slow bleeding may stop on its own or is typically easy to handle with direct pressure. Any time a casualty has severe bleeding, use barriers, activate EMS immediately and quickly provide care to prevent excessive blood loss.

HLTAID002 - PROVIDE BASIC EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT

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