PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

HLTAID003 - PROVIDE FIRST AID Burns What are the different types of burns? There are three types of burns that can be categorised as either superficial burns affect only the outer skin layer. The skin is red, slightly swollen and painful to touch. Sunburn usually falls into this category; partial thickness burns go into the second skin layer and appear as blisters on red, splotchy skin; full thickness burns involve all layers of the skin – even underlying tissue. These serious burns are often painless due to nerve destruction. They appear as charred black or dry and white areas. How do you manage burns and what causes lightning and radiation burns? It is important that you do not peel off clothes or break blisters. When possible, elevate burnt limbs and only apply water. If you are trained and local regulations allow and if you are beyond open flames, provide emergency oxygen to casualties with major burn injuries. Remember, inhalation of flames or heated and/or toxic gases can cause injuries and be life-threatening. These injuries may not be obvious. Therefore, suspect inhalation burns whenever the face, nasal hair and eyebrows are burned, when the casualty coughs up black particles or toxic substances are present. Lightning burns can be caused by direct strike or a side flash while radiation burns can be caused by ultraviolet rays, welding, lasers, industrial microwave equipment and nuclear emissions. You should treat any large burn on the face, hands, feet, groin, buttocks or a major joint as a medical emergency. Continue the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS). Crush injuries What causes crush injuries and do they become life-threatening? A person can be crushed by a car, falling objects, industrial accidents or even by pressure from another person. If an object crushing a person is over the head, neck, chest or stomach area, it is life-threatening and the object should be removed as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so. A casualty who has suffered a crush injury may appear alert and not obviously hurt. However, the person should still be transported to the nearest medical facility as deterioration may occur at a later stage due to damage sustained. Diabetes What are two types of diabetes? Diabetes is caused by one of two conditions in the body: either by high blood sugar (Type 1 - this results in a diabetic coma, diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperglycaemia ) or low blood sugar (Type 2 - this results in insulin shock, insulin reaction or hypoglycaemia ).

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PADI RTO