PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

HLTAID003 - PROVIDE FIRST AID

Principals and procedures for first aid management This section provides information when dealing with common injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Abdominal injuries What are the two most common mechanisms of injury categorised as abdominal trauma? The abdomen can be injured in many types of trauma; injury may be confined to the abdomen or be accompanied by severe, multisystem trauma. The nature and severity of abdominal injuries vary widely depending on the mechanism and forces involved, thus generalisations about mortality and need for operative repair tend to be misleading. Abdominal trauma is typically also categorised by the mechanism causing the injury which can be injury caused by a blunt trauma or a penetrating injury. Blunt trauma may involve a direct blow (e.g. a kick), impact with an object (e.g. a fall on bicycle handlebars), or sudden deceleration (e.g. a fall from a height, vehicle crash). The spleen is the organ damaged most commonly, followed by the liver and a hollow viscous (typically the small intestine). Penetrating injuries may or may not penetrate peritoneum (a membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs) and if they do, may not cause organ injury. Stab wounds are less likely to damage intra-abdominal structures than gunshot wounds; in both, any structure can be affected. Penetrating wounds to the lower chest may cross the diaphragm and damage abdominal structures. Signs of abdominal injury may include bruising or blood coming from the body, bright red and frothy coughed up from the lungs, vomiting blood which may be bright red or dark brown, blood stained urine, rectal bleeding and vaginal bleeding. If bleeding is contained within the body, symptoms may include pain, tenderness, swelling at the effected site, swollen, tight abdomen, nausea, vomiting, pale tongue, pale clammy sweaty cold skin. Basic care of a wound What are the principles of basic wound care? Remember to stop, think, then act – assess the scene and alert EMS if necessary. Protect yourself and your casualty from disease transmission by using barriers, if available. Do not delay emergency care if barriers are not available. Perform a responsiveness check by giving the Responder Statement and then, if unresponsive, tapping the shoulder or arm. Perform a primary assessment and continue the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS). Examine and note the injury, cleanse, close and cover the wound. Apply direct pressure, elevate and immobilise the wound (if required) and rest.

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PADI RTO