PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

HLTAID005 - PROVIDE FIRST AID IN REMOTE SITUATIONS You examine the head and face for possible fractures, eye trauma or head injuries (be careful to not move the head if spinal injury is suspected); if eyes are closed, open or ask the casualty to open their eyes and check the pupil for size and if it reacts to light; check the chest movements (look for rise and fall, assess for slow or fast breathing, gasping for breath or noisy breathing); check for penetrating injuries (do not remove any penetrating objects); press gently against the chest and abdomen with flat palm of your hand(s) to assess pain response from casualty; visually observe all limbs to see if there is any spontaneous movement; if conscious, ask casualty to wriggle their fingers and toes and to squeeze your hand with each hand. You also look at the skin and note its colour (pale, pink, red etc.) then feel the skin for temperature (compare with temperatur of your own skin if needed; note if it is hot, cold or clammy); pat down the body and limbs to check for wetness that may suggest bleeding and deformities (e.g. swelling, crooked limb, protruding bone to indicate area of injury). Note down all findings and continue the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS) and the casualty’s mental status. Vital signs How do you assess and interpret vital signs, including respirations, temperature and pulse? Respirations You assess a casualty’s respiration by counting the number of breaths per minute measured at rest. You do this by counting how many times the chest rises per minute. Bear in mind that the breathing rate may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. Note whether the casualty has difficulty breathing. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 and 20 breaths per minute. A casualty who takes less than 8 breaths per minute, or more than 24 breaths per minute, probably needs immediate medical care. Temperature Body temperature varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and (in women) the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature can range from 36.5 to 37.2 degrees Celsius for a healthy adult. Temperature can be measured orally, rectally, axillary (in armpit), by ear, by skin. Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). Average skin temperature is warm and skin should feel dry to the touch. Noticeable skin colour changes may indicate heart, lung or circulation problems. Pulse Pulse is the measurement of the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse can also indicate the heart rhythm and strength of the pulse. The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. A person’s pulse can be found on the side of the neck, on the inside of the arm, or at the wrist. For most people, it is easiest to take a casualty’s pulse at the wrist. You do this by using your first and second fingertips (do not use your thumb); press firmly but gently on the artery until you feel a pulse and then count the pulse for 60 seconds. Also determine whether the pulse may be described as rapid, strong or weak.

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PADI RTO