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There are times when we come in contact with accident victims and cannot help them just because we don't know how to.
So many people have died as a result of road crashes because of lack of help and we have read severally that road accidents are one of the top 10 causes of death in Nigeria.
The Federal Road Safety Commission has put together some information that would help you know what do do peradventure you volunteer to help a road crash victim.
Read on:
First Aid is the immediate treatment given to an injured person or someone that suddenly falls ill, before the arrival of medical personnel.
First Aid treatment is mostly rendered in a state of emergency. It involves careful application of accepted principles of treatment; using facilities available to the first Aider and within the short scene to the hospital; proper handling of causalities facilitates administration and reduces the chances of complications.
• Every road user is expected to have basic knowledge of First Aid
• A First Aider must have an aid kit and be able to improvise when necessary (i.e. getting things from the immediate environment to replace the item needed. E.g. part of clothing for bandages, light woods for splints etc)
• Ensure that you are before proceeding on the First Aid i.e. leave hazardous location, remove battery terminals, put on hand gloves
• Follow the A, B, C categorization of traffic crash victims strictly
• Never assume the role of a doctor, evacuate victims to the hospital
• Make use of by-standers when necessary in transporting victims
Note- Improper handling can worsen the victim's condition
First Aid is aimed at saving life, preventing injuries from becoming worse and promoting recovery by relieving pain as fast as possible.
General Rules of First Aid:
The first things to do in first aid procedure in order of importance are:
A. Remove the casualty from the danger or remove the danger from the casualty
B. Assess the victim and treat the most urgent casualties at an accident scene.
There are different categories of casualties:
1. Casualties with life threatening conditions such as cessation of breath, or circulation of blood and the unconscious.
2. Casualties with serious injuries, head and spinal cord injuries and casualties with impelled objects
3. Casualties with fractures, minor injuries, bruises and scald
C. Casualties with life threatening conditions are mostly the unconscious, move them with great care. Before moving them, watch out for spinal cord injuries. Put the unconscious in a comfortable position (prone or recovery position) to ease respiration.
D. Give artificial respiration (mouth to mouth, or mouth to nose respiration) for casualties with breathing problems.
E. Restore the functioning of the heart by instituting the principle of external cardiac massage (chest compression) if heart has stopped working.
F. Guard against shock by stopping severe bleeding and pains.
G. Reassure the victim to give him confidence of recovery from whatever condition he/she may be in.
H. Control the crowd, keep them away to ensure adequate supply of fresh air and prevent them from inciting causalities.
I. Do not give the casualty anything to eat or drink.
Observe CONSCIOUSNESS-
Is he conscious?
If he is breathing and answers questions, then - Lie the victim on his back and keep him warm.
If he is breathing but does not answer questions, then - Put him in the recovery position to stop him choking on his own blood, tongue or vomit.
Ensure the victim's blood is discreetly handled so that it does come in direct contact with your blood.
J. Handle casualty properly in a case of suspected fracture of the spinal cord. DO NOT LIFT casualty alone until there are enough helpers (four to six persons).
K. Transport the casualty to the hospital or any nearby medical center without delay.
Observe AIRWAY- is he breathing?
If he does not reply to questions and not breathing, then:
Loosen any tight clothing around his chest or neck
Check to see if there is any blockage in his mouth or windpipe. Clear out if possible
carefully tip the head backwards placing one hand under the neck and the other under the head.
Bring the jaw forward so that the tongue is not blocking the airway
If the victim does not start to breath normally, you will need to give the "kiss of life".
The Kiss of Life:
Keep his head tilted backwards and pinch his nostrils with your thumb and index finger.
With the other hand, take hold of his chin and open his mouth. Take a deep breath and place your mouth over his.
Breathe out slowly into his mouth, His chest should rise
Take your mouth away, his chest should fall
Take another deep breath.
Repeat about every second until the victim starts to breathe normally.
DON'T GIVE UP! It may take some time for him to be able to breathe on his own.
NOTE: Use a clean cloth or handkerchief to cover your mouth while breathing into the victim's mouth.
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BLEEDING
If the victim is bleeding heavily, undertake arterial bleeding control by putting pressure points or by use of tourniquet, which is tying a bandage immediately below the wound, making sure it is only tight enough to allow the insertion of the little finger under it, so as not to restrict ΔΌ¬‚ow of blood to the extremities which could cause gangrene.
However, if the bleeding is not heavy, use your hand to apply pressure over the wound using a gauze, clean cloth or handkerchief for 5-10 minutes.
Additionally, raise the bleeding site above heart level if it is a limb.
THE RECOVERY POSITION:
Place the victim on his back on a level surface. Kneel beside him.
Loosen any tight clothing.
Extend the arm and leg nearest to you. His elbow and knee should be slightly bent.
urn his head towards you.
Grip his far shoulder and upper thigh and gently pull him towards you so that he can roll on to his front.
Pull his jaw forward to make sure that his tongue is at the front of his mouth and not blocking his airway.
Check for a pulse in his wrist, or temples or by placing two fingers beside the Adam's apple.
Protecting his neck, turn him on his back.
Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of his breastbone. Keep your palm and fingers off his chest.
Cover this hand with your other hand. Keeping your arms straight. rock forward to press down firmly on his breastbone.
Repeat every (five) seconds
VOLUNTEERS:
• Stop to help at every traffic crash scene
• By-standers are to cooperate with first Aider
• Do not compound the pain of the victim with your expressed emotion
• Help to clear obstructions
• Do not constitute obstructions
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